ESTATE TAX
Equipment Appraisal for Estate Tax
Equipment appraisal services for estate tax covering date-of-death fair market value, IRS Form 706 filings, and estate settlement, prepared in accordance with USPAP. Ironclad Desktop Valuations appraises machinery, construction, IT, and medical equipment for estates and executors nationwide.
- Date-of-Death Fair Market Value
- IRS Form 706-Ready Reports
- Qualified Appraisal, No On-Site Visit
ASSET TYPES
Ironclad Desktop Valuations Appraises Machinery, Construction, IT, and Medical Equipment for Estate Tax
Manufacturing & Industrial Machinery
Production lines, CNC machines, and plant machinery valued at date-of-death for estate schedules and Form 706.
Construction & Heavy Equipment
Excavators, loaders, dozers, and attachments appraised for estate settlement and equitable distribution among heirs.
IT & Office Equipment
Servers, workstations, and networking gear valued for closely held business interests inside an estate.
Medical & Laboratory Equipment
Diagnostic, imaging, and lab equipment appraised for practice estates and decedent business assets.
Restaurant & Food Service Equipment
Commercial kitchen and food service assets valued for estate tax returns and beneficiary buyouts.
Farm & Agricultural Equipment
Tractors, implements, and agricultural machinery appraised for farm estates and special-use valuation elections.
ESTATE TAX REQUIREMENTS
How Executors Value Equipment for an Estate Tax Return
Estate tax valuations turn on the equipment's fair market value as of the decedent's date of death, the standard the IRS uses for the value of estate assets reported on Form 706, United States Estate Tax Return. An estate may instead elect the alternate valuation date under Internal Revenue Code Section 2032, which values assets six months after death. We determine which date applies to your estate and document the market evidence behind the value.
These values support the executor's or administrator's Form 706 filing, the equitable distribution of assets among heirs, and any beneficiary buyout of estate equipment. When a closely held business is part of the estate, its machinery and equipment often need a separate, defensible valuation to support the overall business value.
Each report is prepared in accordance with USPAP and documents condition, age, remaining useful life, and comparable market data, so the number holds up under IRS examination and probate court review. A federal estate tax return is generally due nine months after the date of death. Tell us your filing deadline or probate hearing date, and we confirm the timeline up front. See our equipment appraisal pricing for estate reports.
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
How Your Estate Tax Appraisal Works
- 01
Submit Equipment Details
Provide photos, specifications, model and serial numbers, purchase records, and condition information for the equipment in the estate.
- 02
Date-of-Death Value Analysis
Our certified appraisers research comparable sales and market data to establish defensible fair market value as of the date of death or the elected alternate valuation date.
- 03
Form 706-Ready Report
Receive a USPAP-compliant appraisal documenting date-of-death value for the estate schedules, Form 706, and distribution to heirs.
USPAP COMPLIANT
Certified Equipment Appraisers for Estate Tax Valuations
Every estate tax appraisal we deliver is prepared in accordance with USPAP. Our appraisers hold credentials with leading organizations such as the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and the NEBB Institute (CMEA), so executors, estate attorneys, and the IRS receive a qualified, defensible valuation.
ASA Accredited
CMEA
CAGA
USPAP
FAQ
Estate Tax Appraisal Questions
What value standard is used to appraise equipment for estate tax?
Equipment in an estate is valued at its fair market value as of the decedent's date of death. Fair market value is the price the equipment would change hands for between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither under compulsion and both reasonably informed. We document that value with comparable sales and market data in a USPAP-compliant report that supports the value reported on Form 706.
What is the alternate valuation date, and can the appraisal use it?
The alternate valuation date is an election under Internal Revenue Code Section 2032 that lets an estate value its assets six months after the date of death rather than on the date of death itself. It is typically elected when asset values have declined and the election reduces the estate tax. When your estate uses it, we prepare the appraisal to that alternate date instead.
When does equipment need to be appraised for an estate tax return?
A federal estate tax return, Form 706, is generally due nine months after the date of death, and probate courts set their own inventory deadlines. Because the appraisal supports both, it should be completed well before those dates. Tell us your filing deadline or hearing date and we confirm up front whether we can meet it, with expedited service available.
How is business equipment inside an estate appraised?
When a decedent owned a closely held business, the machinery and equipment inside it usually need a separate, documented valuation that feeds into the overall business value reported to the IRS. We appraise the tangible equipment to defensible fair market value so the estate's business valuation rests on supported numbers rather than book value or estimates.
Can a desktop appraisal be used for estate tax and probate?
Yes. USPAP standards govern how an appraisal is developed and reported, not how the property is inspected. Our desktop methodology applies the same market analysis and documentation used in an on-site inspection, producing a defensible date-of-death valuation suitable for Form 706 and probate review without the cost and delay of a site visit.
Settle the estate with a defensible equipment value.
USPAP-compliant, date-of-death fair market value reports for Form 706 and probate, on a timeline confirmed up front.