what is income in respect of a decedent ird 
income in respect of a decedent ird refers to untaxed income that a decedent had earned or had a right to receive during their lifetime taxes on ird are owed by the individual beneficiary or entity that inherits this income however ird also counts toward the decedent s estate for federal estate tax purposes potentially drawing a double tax hit fortunately the beneficiary may be able to take a tax deduction for the estate tax paid on ird the beneficiary must declare ird as income for the year in which they receive it understanding income in respect of a decedent ird ird is defined in internal revenue code section 691 2 sources of income include the following 3other sources of ird are ird is also any income from sales commissions and ira distributions owed to the decedent at the time of their death 1