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Form 706-SU: 706 (Schedule U)
Internal Revenue Service Form 706 is the estate tax return; Schedule U (Form 706) lets the executor claim a qualified conservation easement exclusion, applying a 30% multiplier to the net easement value and using a 0.40 factor when line 10 meets the threshold.
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IRS Form 706-SU - 706 (Schedule U)
Internal Revenue Service Form 706 is the estate tax return; Schedule U (Form 706) lets the executor claim a qualified conservation easement exclusion, applying a 30% multiplier to the net easement value and using a 0.40 factor when line 10 meets the threshold.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Entering a line‑10 value lower than line‑9 disqualifies the conservation easement exclusion.
- 2Failing to attach Schedule U to Form 706 before filing.
- 3Leaving line 3 blank about ownership during the three‑year period before death.
- 4Omitting the required “0.40” entry on line 14 when line 10 is equal to or exceeds line 9.
- 5Entering a line 11 result of 0.100 or less, which stops the calculation and disqualifies the exclusion.
Plain English
Schedule U is attached to the estate tax return and lets the executor exclude the value of a qualified conservation easement from the gross estate. The form requires describing the land, confirming ownership during the three‑year period before death, and performing a series of calculations to determine the allowable deduction.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2025-08-29 22:10:23
- 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 the executor wants to claim a qualified conservation easement exclusion on the decedent’s estate.
- Do not use it when the estate lacks a qualified conservation easement or the land was not owned by the decedent or family in the three years before death.
- Check Form 706 instead when only the standard estate tax return is required without a conservation easement claim.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Estate without any conservation easement
No easement exclusion needed, so the regular estate tax return suffices
✓ Verify that no qualified easement is being claimed
Estate with qualified conservation easement but land not owned during 3‑year period
Eligibility criteria not met, so Schedule U cannot be used
✓ Confirm ownership test fails
Estate where line 10 meets or exceeds line 9, triggering automatic 0.40 factor
The schedule still required to calculate deduction using 0.40 factor
✓ Ensure line 10 ≥ line 9 before skipping lines 11‑13
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Part I Election
Executor’s declaration of election · Schedule U header
Line 2 – Ownership test
Proof of ownership for decedent or family during 3‑year period · Deed, title records
Line 9 – 30% multiplier
Estate tax value of land (line 8) · Computation on Schedule U
Line 11 – Ratio calculation
Values from lines 8 and 10 · Schedule U calculations
Line 14 – 0.40 factor
Result of line 13 subtraction · Schedule U
Before you submit
- 1Verify the decedent’s name and SSN match Form 706.
- 2Complete Part I election by filing Schedule U with Form 706.
- 3Answer Yes/No on line 2 regarding 3‑year ownership.
- 4Provide detailed description of the land on line 1.
- 5Calculate lines 4 through 10 accurately, using the 30% multiplier on line 9.
- 6If line 10 ≥ line 9, enter 0.40 on line 14 and skip lines 11‑13.
- 7If line 10 < line 9, perform lines 11‑13 calculations and enter resulting factor on line 14.
- 8Sign the schedule as the executor before attaching to Form 706.
How to file this form
- 1Attach Schedule U to the completed Form 706 and include it in the filing packet as proof of filing.
- 2Mail the packet to the IRS address specified in the Form 706 instructions as proof of filing.
- 3Obtain a certified mailing receipt or tracking number as proof of filing.
- 4Keep a signed copy of Schedule U and Form 706 in your records as proof of filing.
- 5Check the IRS acknowledgment or account transcript to verify acceptance as proof of filing.
Known limitations
- 1The form does not apply when the land was not owned by the decedent or family during the three‑year period before death.
- 2The form does not apply when the ratio on line 11 is 0.100 or less, indicating the estate does not qualify for the exclusion.
- 3The form does not apply to easements that are not qualified conservation easements under the statutory definition.
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 is the August 2025 edition (revision date August 2025). The source directs users to www.irs.gov/Form706 for the latest information.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision reads August 2025 as shown on the form header.
- Fee — Not stated in the official source — verify on the agency site.
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source — verify on the agency site.
- Signature — confirm the executor signs before filing, as required for any Schedule U filing.
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Store the signed Schedule U and supporting documents in the estate file for at least three years.
- 2Monitor the estate’s IRS account for the acknowledgment of the filing.
- 3Respond promptly to any IRS notice regarding the conservation easement exclusion.
- 4If an error is discovered, file an amended Form 706 with a corrected Schedule U.
- 5Retain copies of the amendment and correspondence for future reference.
Sources
- SRCForm p.1 — title shows Schedule U (Form 706) (August 2025) as the qualified conservation easement exclusion.
- SRCForm p.1 — election statement: executor is deemed to have made the election if filing Schedule U and excludes qualifying easements.
- SRCForm p.1 — line 2 question asks if the decedent or family owned the land during the 3‑year period ending on the date of death.
- SRCForm p.1 — line 9 instruction: multiply line 8 by 30% (0.30).
- SRCForm p.1 — line 14 instruction: if line 10 is equal to or more than line 9, enter “0.40” on line 14.
- SRCForm p.1 — line 11 note: if line 11 is equal to or less than 0.100, the estate does not qualify for the conservation easement exclusion.
- SRCForm p.1 — line 20 instruction: enter the smaller of line 19 or the exclusion limitation and also on Form 706, Part V, item 12.
- SRCForm p.1 — URL for latest information: www.irs.gov/Form706.
Common confusion points
Do I need to fill out Schedule U if I have a conservation easement?
The form is required only for a qualified conservation easement exclusion.
→ Confirm the easement meets the qualified criteria and that line 2 ownership test is satisfied.
Why is there a 0.40 factor on line 14?
The schedule specifies automatically using 0.40 when line 10 ≥ line 9.
→ Check that line 10 is equal to or greater than line 9 before skipping lines 11‑13.
What does the 30% multiplier on line 9 represent?
It applies to the net value after subtracting retained development rights.
→ Verify the calculation on line 8 and multiply by 0.30.
When should I perform the line 11‑13 calculations?
They are required only if line 10 is less than line 9.
→ Compare line 10 to line 9 and proceed accordingly.
How many decimal places should I use on line 11?
The instructions demand three decimal places.
→ Round the division result to three decimal places.
What if line 11 results in 0.100 or less?
The estate then does not qualify for the exclusion.
→ Stop the schedule and do not claim the deduction.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 706 — file an amended return to correct Schedule U errors.
Questions about IRS Form 706-SU
What is IRS Form 706-SU used for?
Schedule U is attached to the estate tax return and lets the executor exclude the value of a qualified conservation easement from the gross estate. The form requires describing the land, confirming ownership during the three‑year period before death, and performing a series of calculations to determine the allowable deduction.
Who must file IRS Form 706-SU?
The executor of the decedent’s estate files IRS Form 706 Schedule U.
What information does IRS Form 706-SU require?
The form gathers the executor’s election, a description of the conserved land and ownership history (Part II), and computes the exclusion amount using lines 4 through 20 (Part III).
How do I complete IRS Form 706-SU?
The executor begins with Part I, confirming the election under section 2031(c)(6). In Part II the land subject to the easement and the three‑year ownership test are entered. Part III requires calculating the estate‑tax value, adding prior easements, subtracting retained development rights, applying the 30 % factor, and completing lines 11‑14 as directed before entering the final deduction on line 20. The completed Schedule U is attached to Form 706 and signed by the executor.
Do I need to fill out Schedule U if I have a conservation easement?
The form is required only for a qualified conservation easement exclusion. Confirm the easement meets the qualified criteria and that line 2 ownership test is satisfied.
Why is there a 0.40 factor on line 14?
The schedule specifies automatically using 0.40 when line 10 ≥ line 9. Check that line 10 is equal to or greater than line 9 before skipping lines 11‑13.
What does the 30% multiplier on line 9 represent?
It applies to the net value after subtracting retained development rights. Verify the calculation on line 8 and multiply by 0.30.
When should I perform the line 11‑13 calculations?
They are required only if line 10 is less than line 9. Compare line 10 to line 9 and proceed accordingly.
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