We use cookies to improve your experience and optimize user-friendliness. Read our privacy policy for more information on the cookies we use and how to delete or block them. To continue browsing our site, please click accept.
Winning Back-Office Strategies to Boost Your Business Agility
VIEWpoint Issue 1 | 2023
2023 Compliance Trends: Staying Ahead in an Evolving Regulatory E...
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 changed the federal estate-tax rules by significantly increasing the amount that individuals can pass to their beneficiaries tax free. Now that most estates will not incur a federal estate-tax liability, there are new opportunities for taxpayers to lower the future income taxes of their intended beneficiaries.
Under current law, an estate may be worth as much as $5.43 million before federal estate taxes will apply. (This exclusion amount increases to $5.45 million in 2016 due to IRS inflation adjustments.) When certain requirements are met, married couples may potentially exclude up to twice this amount from estate tax (e.g., $10.86 million in 2015 or $10.9 million in 2016) by using the tax law’s exclusion “portability” provisions.
With such a high exclusion amount, most taxpayers face little risk of incurring federal estate-tax liability. Instead of trying to reduce their estates by making lifetime gifts, taxpayers may want to consider keeping selected assets in their estates. This strategy could reduce the capital gains taxes their heirs will owe if they later sell the assets.
How so? Upon sale, capital gains tax will apply to the difference between an asset’s “basis” and the net sale proceeds. “Basis” is generally equal to an asset’s original cost, plus improvements, minus depreciation. However, assets passing through an estate generally receive a step-up in basis to their fair market value on the date of death. For example, securities purchased for $10,000 that are worth $75,000 when the owner dies will have a basis of $75,000 to the person who receives them from the estate. If that person sells the securities for $75,000, no capital gains tax would be due. In contrast, assets transferred as lifetime gifts receive no basis step-up.
Because the value of many assets — such as investments and houses — tends to increase over long periods, leaving these assets in the estate can substantially reduce the future capital gains tax liability of beneficiaries in the event the assets are subsequently sold.
However, each individual taxpayer’s situation is different, so each gifting strategy should be separately analyzed to determine the best course of action.
To improve consistency in basis reporting, a recently enacted law requires executors of estates to report the value of estate assets to both the IRS and the person receiving an interest in the property, generally within 30 days after filing the estate-tax return for the estate.
The new law is applicable for federal estate-tax returns filed after July 31, 2015. However, for statements required to be filed with the IRS or furnished to a beneficiary before February 29, 2016, the IRS has delayed the due date of the statements until February 29, 2016.
Please contact our tax advisors if you need help with your tax planning or with preparing basis-reporting statements for an estate.
This publication is distributed for informational purposes only, with the understanding that Doeren Mayhew is not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional opinions on specific facts for matters, and, accordingly, assumes no liability whatsoever in connection with its use. Should the reader have any questions regarding any of the news articles, it is recommended that a Doeren Mayhew representative be contacted.
A quick registration is required to view our resources.
You will only be asked to do this one time (unless you don't save your browser cookies).