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Official form guide
Form 706-SM: 706 (Schedule M)
Internal Revenue Service Form 706 Schedule M is a supplemental schedule attached to the estate tax return that reports property passing to a surviving spouse, including qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) and other interests, and computes the net amount after estate taxes.
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IRS Form 706-SM - 706 (Schedule M)
Internal Revenue Service Form 706 Schedule M is a supplemental schedule attached to the estate tax return that reports property passing to a surviving spouse, including qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) and other interests, and computes the net amount after estate taxes.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Failing to attach the required written disclaimer for a qualified disclaimer will invalidate the election.
- 2Indicating “No” on line 1 when a qualified disclaimer actually occurred.
- 3Omitting the required written disclaimer attachment for a qualified disclaimer.
- 4Leaving any of the surviving spouse citizenship or birth questions on line 2 blank.
- 5Failing to list QTIP property on line 4 or entering amounts in the wrong column.
Plain English
Schedule M tells the estate how much property the surviving spouse receives and whether any of it is QTIP property. It adds up those amounts, subtracts any estate or GST taxes, and shows the net value that moves to the spouse.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2025-08-27 22:10:19
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when reporting property that passes to a surviving spouse, including qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) and other property, as part of Form 706.
- Do not use it when no property passes to the surviving spouse or when filing Form 706 solely for other purposes without marital property.
- Check Schedule W (Form 706) instead when you need to report marital deduction assets separately from Schedule M.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Filing an estate tax return for the decedent
Primary estate tax return required before attaching Schedule M
✓ Verify gross estate exceeds filing threshold
Reporting marital deduction assets separately
Lists marital deduction property to be referenced in Schedule M totals
✓ Ensure Schedule W is attached and totals match
Electing portability of DSU E with no marital property
Use only Form 706 when gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts is below the basic exclusion amount
✓ Confirm no QTIP or other property is reported on Schedule M
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Did any property pass to the surviving spouse as a result of a qualified disclaimer?
Copy of written disclaimer (section 2518(b)) · Attached to Schedule M
Surviving spouse citizenship status (line a)
Proof of U.S. citizenship or naturalization documents · Section a of Schedule M
QTIP property interest (line 4)
Description, CUSIP/EIN, amount · Line 4 entries
Other property passing to surviving spouse (line 8)
Description, CUSIP/EIN, amount · Line 8 entries
Federal estate taxes payable (line 13a)
Amount of federal estate tax attributable to Schedule M assets · Line 13a
Before you submit
- 1Verify the decedent’s name and Social Security number match Form 706.
- 2Confirm the surviving spouse’s citizenship status is indicated in line a.
- 3Attach a copy of any qualified disclaimer as required by line 1.
- 4Enter the surviving spouse’s date of birth, country of birth, and naturalization details if applicable.
- 5List all QTIP property in line 4 with description, CUSIP/EIN, and amount.
- 6Sum the amounts in column (iv) of line 4 and enter the total on line 5.
- 7List all other property in line 8 and compute the total on line 9.
- 8Calculate federal, other death, and GST taxes payable (lines 13a‑c) and enter the sum on line 13d.
- 9Compute the net amount on line 14 and transfer it to Part V, item 21 of Form 706.
How to file this form
- 1Fill Schedule M with all required information and retain a copy for your records.
- 2Attach any qualified disclaimer copies and supporting statements and verify they are included.
- 3Combine Schedule M with the completed Form 706 and double‑check that totals match.
- 4Mail the assembled return to the IRS via certified mail and keep the mailing receipt as proof of filing.
Known limitations
- 1If you are not required to report the value of an asset, you must identify the property but make no entry in the last column.
- 2Schedule M is not required when the gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts is less than the basic exclusion amount and no property passes to the surviving spouse.
- 3The form applies only to property passing to a surviving spouse; it does not cover other beneficiaries.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Decedent Info
2 items
Full legal name and date of death of the deceased individual.
Employer Identification Number assigned to the estate.
Executor
1 items
Name, address, and contact information of the appointed executor.
Assets
1 items
Total value of all assets owned by the decedent at time of death.
Deductions
1 items
Funeral expenses, debts, administrative costs, and charitable bequests.
Tax
1 items
Tax calculated on taxable estate exceeding the applicable exemption amount.
Signatures
1 items
The appointed executor must sign under penalty of perjury.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->The form shows a revision date of August 2025 and directs users to www.irs.gov/Form706 for the latest information; no changes beyond the revision date are noted in the source.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the form shows August 2025 revision.
- Fee — Not stated in the official source.
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source.
- Signature — Not stated in the official source.
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Keep a copy of the filed Schedule M and the certified‑mail receipt for at least seven years.
- 2Monitor for any IRS acknowledgment or notice regarding Schedule M.
- 3If an error is discovered, file an amended Form 706 with a corrected Schedule M.
- 4Store supporting documents such as the disclaimer and citizenship proof with the estate records.
- 5Update estate tax calculations if additional assets are later identified.
Sources
- SRCForm p.1 — title and revision date (August 2025).
- SRCForm p.1 — instruction to attach Schedule M to Form 706.
- SRCForm p.1 — requirement to attach disclaimer if qualified disclaimer (line 1).
- SRCForm p.1 — citizenship question for surviving spouse (line a).
- SRCForm p.1 — election out of QTIP treatment of annuities (line 3).
- SRCForm p.1 — lines for QTIP property (line 4) and totals (lines 5‑7).
- SRCForm p.2 — lines for other property (line 8) and totals (lines 9‑12).
- SRCForm p.2 — tax payable lines 13a‑13d and net amount line 14.
Common confusion points
Do I need to report assets that qualify for marital deduction?
Many think these assets are optional on Schedule M.
→ Check the instructions and determine if the gross estate is below the basic exclusion amount.
What if the surviving spouse is not a U.S. citizen?
Filers sometimes skip line e for foreign citizenship.
→ Enter the foreign country in line e.
Do I have to attach the disclaimer for every disclaimed property?
Only required when property passed due to a qualified disclaimer.
→ Attach a copy of the written disclaimer when line 1 is Yes.
Should I list the same property on both Schedule M and Schedule W?
Duplication can cause double counting.
→ List each property only on the appropriate schedule as instructed.
How do I calculate the net amount on line 14?
It requires adding totals and subtracting taxes, which can be confusing.
→ Add lines 7 and 11, then subtract line 13d.
What does ‘QTIP’ stand for and when do I elect out of it?
QTIP is qualified terminable interest property; the election question is technical.
→ Review line 3 and the related section 2056(b)(7)(C) instructions.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Schedule M (Form 706) — revise and re‑attach to corrected Form 706.
Questions about IRS Form 706-SM
What is IRS Form 706-SM used for?
Schedule M tells the estate how much property the surviving spouse receives and whether any of it is QTIP property. It adds up those amounts, subtracts any estate or GST taxes, and shows the net value that moves to the spouse.
What information does IRS Form 706-SM require?
Schedule M collects details of QTIP property on line 4, other property on line 8, totals on lines 5‑7, 9‑12, estate, GST, and other death taxes on lines 13a‑13c, and calculates the net amount on line 14.
How do I complete IRS Form 706-SM?
Complete line 1 by indicating if any property passed via a qualified disclaimer and attach the written disclaimer. Answer line 2 questions about the surviving spouse’s citizenship, birth date, country of birth, naturalization details, or foreign citizenship. If electing out of QTIP treatment, check line 3 and provide the election. List each QTIP interest on line 4 with description, CUSIP/EIN, and amount, then sum on line 5 and add any amounts from Schedule W on line 6 to obtain line 7. List non‑QTIP property on line 8, sum on line 9, add Schedule W amounts on line 10, and compute line 11. Add lines 7 and 11 for line 12, then report estate taxes (13a‑13c), compute total taxes (13d), and derive the net amount on line 14.
Do I need to report assets that qualify for marital deduction?
Many think these assets are optional on Schedule M. Check the instructions and determine if the gross estate is below the basic exclusion amount.
What if the surviving spouse is not a U.S. citizen?
Filers sometimes skip line e for foreign citizenship. Enter the foreign country in line e.
Do I have to attach the disclaimer for every disclaimed property?
Only required when property passed due to a qualified disclaimer. Attach a copy of the written disclaimer when line 1 is Yes.
Should I list the same property on both Schedule M and Schedule W?
Duplication can cause double counting. List each property only on the appropriate schedule as instructed.
How do I calculate the net amount on line 14?
It requires adding totals and subtracting taxes, which can be confusing. Add lines 7 and 11, then subtract line 13d.
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