Your client is Jon Jake, the executor of the Estate of Beth Adams, a widow. Mrs. Adams died 11 years after the death of her husband, Sam. Mr. Jake seeks assistance in the preparation of the estate tax return for Mrs. Adams, whose estate consists primarily of real estate. Mrs. Adams's estate will be divided equally among her three adult children except for $50,000 willed to charity. The real estate has been appraised at $10.8 million by her son-in-law (who is married to one of Mrs. Adams's three children), a real estate appraiser. You have a number of
real estate clients and have considerable familiarity with property values for real estate located in the same general area as the estate's property. Your "gut feeling" is that the appraised values may be understated. As a tax advisor, what responsibilities do you have for making additional inquiries? What information should you provide Mr. Jake concerning possible penalties?