Once Removed Episode 19: The Step-Transaction Doctrine and the Case of Smaldino
Once Removed Episode 18: The Reciprocal Trust Doctrine
Once Removed Episode 16: Gift and Estate Tax, Inflation Adjustments for 2024
Once Removed Episode 17: Annual Gifting to Individuals: Options, Opportunities and Pitfalls
To Give or Not to Give: Considerations for Year-End Gifting
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 provided major changes to the Internal Revenue Code, specifically doubling the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemption (collectively, the exemption) from...more
In a significant legislative shift, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 doubled the exemption amounts for estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes (collectively known as “Death Taxes”). As of 2024, the federal...more
Because each donor is treated as a separate party for tax and other purposes, donors often involve others in making gifts. For example, a donor might transfer assets to his or her spouse, so the spouse actually makes the gift...more
In 2024, the federal estate, gift, and Generation Skipping Transfer tax exemption amount increased from $12.92 million to $13.61 million per individual (a combined $27.22 million for a married couple), representing an...more
Each year, certain estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax figures are subject to inflation adjustments that go in effect on January 1. Below are the current adjustments for 2024....more
On January 1, 2024, the amounts that individuals can gift free of federal gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax rose to $13,610,000 for individuals and $27,220,000 for married couples due to inflation adjustments....more
The New Year brought inflation adjustments to the federal and some states’ gift/estate tax exemption amounts, thereby increasing the amount individuals can gift during life and at death free of federal and state gift and...more
The beginning of the year is a good time to think about annual gifts to descendants and other beneficiaries. Episode 17 will walk through some options to make efficient use of annual gifting and also address some potential...more
Current tax laws provide historically high exclusion amounts for the federal estate and generation skipping transfer tax. These exclusion amounts, however, are slated to sunset by roughly 50% at the end of 2025. ...more
The IRS has announced the official estate and gift exclusion amounts for 2024. For an estate of any decedent dying during calendar year 2024, the Federal applicable exemption will increase from $12.92 million to $13.61...more
The federal gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemptions for 2024 are historically high and present significant tax-free gifting opportunities next year.The gift and estate tax exemptions will increase...more
Lately, friends, family, and clients seem to be asking the same questions: “When should I think about estate planning? Is it actually necessary for me to have an estate plan?” As life is unpredictable, it is better to start...more
At the beginning of 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) increased the amounts individuals can gift free of federal gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax. The amounts now stand at $12,920,000 for individuals and...more
With the summer almost in the rearview, gift-giving may not feel like a top priority. From a tax planning perspective, however, it might be the perfect season to consider making substantial gifts to benefit your family....more
From time to time, we provide updates in the estate planning area. While the November 2022 federal elections resulted in a divided Congress that dampens the likelihood of major federal tax legislation, we thought this would...more
Does your estate plan call for making gifts to your grandchildren or other loved ones more than one generation below you? Or, perhaps to nonrelatives more than 37½ years younger than you?...more
As we start the new year, this Federal Tax Update highlights estate planning-related federal tax information that may be helpful as you consider planning options for 2023. Because Congress could pass legislation that changes...more
There are more estate planning opportunities as a result of inflation-adjusted figures recently released by the IRS. The gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax exemption amounts are each increasing to...more
During 2022, COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, global inflation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the uncertainty about the Build Back Better Act (BBBA), the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), and the Inflation Reduction Act...more
If you want to pass money to future generations without having it subject to gift and estate taxes, then a dynasty trust may be right for you. A dynasty trust allows trust assets to be used for the benefit of multiple...more
Now that we are firmly into 2022, there are a number of federal tax changes to consider before making gifts. In sum: Gift tax annual exclusion increases from $15,000 to $16,000 - Gift/estate tax lifetime exemption...more
Our annual estate and tax planning newsletter discusses certain concepts and techniques that should be considered in 2022 by our clients and friends in California. Perhaps the most important recent development was the failure...more
As we start the new year, this Federal Tax Update highlights estate planning-related federal tax information that may be helpful as you consider planning options for 2022. Because Congress could pass legislation that changes...more
The estate and gift tax regimes have been permanent and unified since the passage of The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the "2012 Act"). In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "2017 Act") significantly increased the...more
Last month, the House Ways & Means Committee (the "Committee") approved draft legislation (the “Legislation”) as part of Congress' ongoing $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation process. The Legislation includes significant tax...more