15-30-2151. Tax on beneficiaries or fiduciaries of estates or trusts. (1) A tax is imposed on the fiduciaries or the beneficiaries of estates and trusts in the same manner and to the same extent as federal income tax is imposed on them under the Internal Revenue Code.

(2) The fiduciary is responsible for making the return of income for the estate or trust for which the fiduciary acts, whether the fiduciary or the beneficiaries are responsible for the payment of the tax with reference to the income of the estate or trust. The fiduciary shall include in the return a statement of each beneficiary's distributive share of net income, whether or not distributed before the close of the tax year for which the return is made, and at the request of the department shall furnish a copy of the federal income tax return for the estate or trust as provided in 15-30-2619. The department may require a fiduciary of an estate or trust to provide a copy of the federal schedule of the beneficiary's share of income, deductions, and credits when filing the Montana individual income tax return.

(3) The tax imposed on the fiduciary of the estate or trust must be paid by the fiduciary.