Mom and i have joint checking and savings acct. I am POA and as per her Will I am sole beneficiary of all assets( savings and checking and a small life insurance are all there is I DO HER INCOME TAX VIA TURBO TAX and she always gets her taxes paid from pension back as a refund.. IT will be a small refund less than$ 500 and perhaps the fees to lawyer may make it not cost effective ?
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p559.pdf
There is a line on the Form 1040 that allows for direct deposit of income tax refunds.
Turbo Tax has a discussion on "Death in the Family."
IRS Form 1310 asks whether you will distribute the income tax refund according to the laws of your state:
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1310.pdf
https://www.irs.gov/uac/Form-1310,-Statement-of-Person-Claiming-Refund-Due-a-Deceased-Taxpayer
I haven't filed this for several years, and w/o downloading the specific form I don't recall what other data you might have to provide. I believe that I also filed another form advising of representation of a deceased person, but it may have been in connection with a trust.
I would download the Form 1310 as well as any instructions, and determine what other information you might need to file it and get the refund.
I don't know what requirements the state of NY might have to get any state refund.
https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/How-to-Apply-for-an-EIN
https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Deceased-Taxpayers-Filing-the-Estate-Income-Tax-Return-Form-1041
and this:
https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Deceased-Taxpayers-Probate-Filing-Estate-and-Individual-Returns-Paying-Taxes-Due
Don't be put off by the small business and self employment aspect. The third paragraph in the link above explains the issues.
There's also a 706 form which has to be filed but only if the estate reaches a value of $1.5M, which from your initial post wouldn't affect you (and probably everyone who posts here).
My understanding of TurboTax programs, at least for individuals, is that they prompt with a lot of questions, so if you have an estate tax program with your TurboTax, it should help guide you through. (I've never used it; I do my returns manually as I prefer not to rely on canned tax programs unless they're professional ones such as those used by paid tax preparers or attorneys).