POMS Reference

RS 01802: Self-Employment - Trade or Business

A. OPERATING POLICY — GENERAL

The income of a beneficiary from an estate or trust operating a trade or business is excluded because the:

  • Estate or trust, not the beneficiary, is engaged in the activity, and;

  • Beneficiary is not the operator of the trade or business.

If the deceased was a partner in a business, and a question arises as to whether the administrator or executor of the estate has jurisdiction over the entire trade or business or only a part of it, seek advice from the ARC, Programs.

B. OPERATING POLICY — ADMINISTERED BY BENEFICIARY

Even though the administrator is also a beneficiary of the estate, the estate rather than the individual is carrying on the business which belongs to the estate. Until there has been a complete distribution of the assets of the estate, the earnings of the business are not NESE attributable to the administrator-beneficiary.

C. OPERATING PROCEDURE

Assume the NE from the business do not belong to the beneficiary unless;

  • There has been partial distribution of the estate which vests the business to him;

    or

  • The issue is directly raised.

If so, develop; the facts and make a determination. See RS 01802.034.

D. OPERATING POLICY — NO ADMINISTRATION

If a business is operated by a beneficiary after the death of the owner, the earnings are the NESE of the beneficiary.