by Christine | May 24, 2013 | Estate Tax, Inheritance Tax |
Even if death and taxes are the only things certain in life, state legislators say they can never be certain about death taxes. The fiscal cliff-bridging budget set and made “permanent” the estate tax at a generous $5.25 million exemption amount. Good news, right? But...
by Christine | May 16, 2013 | Estate Tax, Gift Tax, IRS |
In 1972, President Richard Nixon cruised to re-election. “The Waltons” premiered on CBS. And Sumner Redstone, who wasn’t yet a global media mogul, (allegedly) made a taxable gift to his children and failed to file a return. Why wouldn’t you file a gift tax return if...
by Christine | May 8, 2013 | Beneficiary Forms, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, LIfe Insurance, Trusts, Wills |
Consider the people who fill out forms designating who inherits assets like an insurance policy and then never go back and revise the forms when, for instance, they divorce and remarry. And then, there are the parents who have not determined who will serve as...
by Christine | Apr 29, 2013 | Credit Shelter Trust, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Portability, Trusts |
Even if your state has no estate or inheritance tax, there are other reasons to have a credit shelter trust. Here are a few … Even amongst recent tax law changes, there are certain estate planning tools that are still good ole’ standbys for your estate plan. ...
by Christine | Apr 25, 2013 | ATRA 2012, Budget, Estate Tax, Federal Estate Tax, Inheritance Tax |
Although the new $5.25 million exemption shields the vast majority of estates from federal taxes, state estate taxes are alive and well. Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia impose some type of death tax, and most kick in at a level much lower than the...
by Christine | Apr 19, 2013 | ATRA 2012, Estate Law, Estate Tax, Gift Tax, Portability |
Although the new law has been hailed as a welcome relief from the old rules, it still can be deep water. Consider consulting a reliable estate-tax pro. With budget uncertainty over our heads, it’s nice to know there are some laws that are (supposedly) set in...
