In Depth
UPDATE: On November 9, 2017, the Senate Finance Committee released “policy highlights” of its forthcoming version of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. Like the House bill, the Senate version doubles the “death tax” exemption (starting in 2018 from $5.6 million to $11.2 million). But in stark contrast to the House version, the Senate bill would not repeal the estate tax. Stay tuned here for further developments on the estate tax component of the Congressional push for tax reform.
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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act introduced by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Kevin Brady, on November 2, 2017, if enacted in its current form, would make the following changes to the federal estate, gift and generation-skipping tax regimes:
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After December 31, 2017, the estate, gift and GST exemptions each increase to $10 million, plus the inflation adjustment applicable under current law. As the previously announced inflation adjustment figure for 2018 is $5.6 million, the new exemption figures starting January 1 would be $11.2 million.
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Other than the exemption figures, the estate, gift and GST tax regimes would remain unchanged until 2024.
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Effective January 1, 2024:
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The estate and GST taxes would be repealed;
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The step-up in basis for assets held at death would be retained; and
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The gift tax rate would drop from 40 percent to 35 percent.
Please stay tuned for further developments as these provisions may change or be eliminated as the tax legislation moves through Congress.
