Recent Developments

Do we still have an estate tax? We might not by the time you read this. The latest estate tax proposal would exclude $5 million from estate tax for each person, and let the surviving spouse use any remaining exclusion from the first to die spouse. This would be an effective $10 million in assets that could pass free of federal estate tax without even requiring a bypass trust under your will. The rate was proposed to be reduce on estates of $25 million or less to the same rate as capital gains tax, currently 15% (scheduled to increase to 20%), and double that on larger estates (which is still much less than the current rate).  Whether this bill or some variation passes, bear in mind that estate planning is much more than saving estate taxes if done properly. Effective estate planning is never one-dimensional. It requires addressing asset protection, coordinating insurance and investment planning,  succession planning for a business or professional practice, influencing how your heirs will use the money, protecting loved ones, income tax planning, and much more.  Much will change, but the need for planning will not. Example: If your estate is not taxable for estate or GST purposes, you could bequeath all assets into a dynasty trust to protect them from any future estate or other tax, save state income tax, protect assets from heirs' divorce and creditors. This type of planning remains limited because of the costs of the GST tax. Lifting that burden means more planning, not less. More benefits, not just less tax. Powers of attorney often had elaborate gift provisions. Eliminating them might harm your heirs in the event of your disability, so simply deleting those clauses because of the inapplicability of a tax advantage could be a huge mistake. Thoughtful planning will remain important. Even if the estate tax is repealed, it won't simultaneously repeal our litigious legal system, so protecting assets will remain a priority. That means trusts will continue to be the vehicle of choice for gifts and bequests, but they will be modified to address the new tax landscape. Caution - if the estate tax wanes, might the government re-emphasize income tax increases to raise revenues? If so, family partnerships and LLCs will have a different focus. Forward thinking taxpayers will lay that ground work now.