Instructor
Mary Jane Hourani
Instructor
Mary Jane Hourani, MM, EA, NTPI Fellow, Tax Accountant
Mary Jane has been practicing since 1993, working for a couple larger Tax, Accounting, & Audit Firms in before transitioning to her own practice in 2005.
Mary Jane has a Master of Management from Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration as well as a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Michigan University in Public Administration with a focus in Organizational Development and Governmental Accounting.
She is credentialed as an Internal Revenue Service Enrolled Agent, allowing her to practice before the IRS. With this credential, she has direct oversite by the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility. She is also a National Association of Enrolled Agents NTPI Fellow.
Mary Jane has been an Instructor of Tax for Michigan State University Tax School since 2008 as well as a speaker for several trade organizations since 2005.
Mary Jane has been a Contributing Editor and Contributing Author of the National Tax Workbook for the Land Grand University Tax Education Foundation since 2009. She writes and compiles tax course packs used by Michigan State University Tax School and other trade organizations. She is a former H&R Block Instructor/Trainer.
Mary Jane is a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, National Association of Tax Professionals, American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, and is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
This course provides tax professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the legal, fiduciary, and tax-related responsibilities of an executor (or personal representative) in administering a decedent’s estate. Participants will explore the executor’s role from initial appointment through final distribution, with emphasis on federal tax compliance, estate accounting, and risk mitigation. Learners will gain actionable insights into filing final returns, managing estate assets, handling debts and distributions, and navigating IRS procedures.
1. Identify the legal and fiduciary duties of an executor under federal and state law.
2. Determine filing requirements for Form 1040, Form 1041, and Form 706.
3. Apply rules for income in respect of a decedent (IRD) and basis adjustments.
4. Analyze estate asset management, debt settlement, and distribution protocols.
5. Navigate IRS procedures including EIN application, notice requirements, and audit risks.
6. Evaluate executor liability and strategies for minimizing personal exposure.
7. Implement best practices for estate accounting, recordkeeping, and communication with beneficiaries.
1. Defining an Executor and their responsibilities.
2. Estate Administration
3. Tax Obligations and reporting requirements
4. Income in Respect of a Decedent (IRD)
5. Executor Liability & Risk Management
6. Filing decedents Form 1040, Form 1041, and Form706.
