How the Tax Cuts Compromise Package Will Impact Estate Planning
Posted by Janet Brewer on Fri, Dec 31, 2010 @ 11:53 AM
High net worth clients taking action to maximize savings
In the past week or so, I’ve been contacted by a number of my high net-worth clients in Palo Alto, Atherton, Los Altos, Portola Valley, and Woodside who wanted to revisit their estate plans in light of the provisions of the tax cut compromise which affect the estate, gift, and generation skipping transfer (GST) tax. I applaud these clients for reviewing existing estate plans to ensure that their estate and gift tax savings are maximized.
Under the new law, the exemption amount for estate, gift, and GST is $5 million ($10 million for couples). This exemption amount is effective for 2010, 2011, and 2012. The estate, gift, and GST tax rate for 2010, 2011, and 2012 is 35%. Additionally the exemption amount will be indexed for inflation beginning in 2011.
Executors have an important choice
Pursuant to the new law, estates of decedents who died in 2010 can choose between applying the new estate tax rules and the former modified carryover basis rules.
In a nutshell, this ability to choose allows the executor of an estate to choose between paying estate taxes or capital gains taxes if and when the assets of the estate are sold. The larger the estate tax exemption amount, the more likely it is that the executor of an estate will choose to apply the estate tax rules.
New laws could impact key estate planning tools
At first glance, these reduced taxes rates and increased exemption amounts may appear to reduce the need for planning. However, that could not be further from the truth. The new laws could potentially impact the use of various estate planning tools including:
The new law may also impact charitable transfers. If your estate plan calls for the distribution of the applicable exemption amount to your heirs with the remainder going to charity, it’s quite possible that your wishes may not be carried out when the exemption amount changes (assuming that the exemption amount equals or exceeds the value of your estate). Therefore, it’s always advisable to revisit such self-adjusting clauses to ensure that any changes required to achieve your wishes are made.
Note for non-resident alients with U.S. assets
An important note of caution for non-resident aliens who own assets in the United States – the new law does not change your maximum estate and gift tax exemption of $60,000 per person ($120,000 per married couple). There are a number of steps you can take to lessen the impact of the estate and gift tax laws; those are unchanged by the new law.
Remember that this $60,000 limit can also impact green card holders who decide to move back to their “home” country and still own assets (such as a house) in the United States.
Because the new estate tax laws will undoubtedly have a significant impact on estate planning, now is the time for an estate plan check-up. Contact the Law Offices of Janet Brewer for help in drafting unique estate plans to protect assets in the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, or nearby.
All the best,
