Gift and Estate Tax

Most families won’t owe federal estate tax, but the rules around gifts and inheritances can still affect your planning. Knowing how they work helps you make informed decisions.

Estate Tax Monster Still Lurks

This historical 2010 article examines uncertainty over whether Congress would reinstate the federal estate tax in 2011, including proposed exemption amounts and tax rates.

Estate Tax Uncertainty Has No End In Sight

This historical January 2010 article reviews competing congressional estate tax proposals and the uncertainty over exemption amounts and tax rates.

Confidence in Estate Tax Fix is Waning

This August 2010 article examines declining confidence that Congress would pass estate tax legislation before 2011 and the potential tax consequences if it did not.

Prepare for the Return of the Estate Tax

This 2010 article discusses the scheduled 2011 return of the estate tax and summarizes strategies involving life insurance, trusts, gifts, education expenses, medical expenses, and Roth IRAs.

Senate Republicans and Democrats Unable to Reach Agreement on Estate Tax

This historical January 2010 article reports that Senate Republicans and Democrats broke down in negotiations over the estate tax exemption amount and rates.

Is There Hope for New Estate Tax Legislation in 2010?

This historical article examines the uncertainty surrounding federal estate tax legislation in 2010, including proposed exemption levels, tax rates, and possible retroactive application.

Repeal of Estate Tax Causes Problems with Bypass Trusts

This historical 2010 article explains how the temporary repeal of the estate tax could cause bypass-trust provisions to place an entire estate in trust and potentially disinherit a surviving spouse.

House May Consider Estate Tax in April

A January 2010 article reports that the House Ways and Means Committee planned to consider retroactively restoring the prior year's estate tax in April.

Wall Street Journal Illustrates How Death of Estate Tax May Cost Heirs More

A 2010 Wall Street Journal example compared two estates and explained how the repeal of the estate tax could cause some heirs to owe more tax on appreciated stock.

Death of the Estate Tax May Cost Heirs More

This historical 2010 article explains how the temporary federal estate tax repeal replaced the step-up in basis with carry-over basis rules, potentially increasing heirs’ capital gains tax burdens.

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