Focused And Personalized Attention
Concerning Your Estate Planning Needs

Gift tax deadlines warrant creative estate planning

by | Nov 5, 2012 | Trusts |

California residents, especially readers of this blog, are well-aware of the impending changes to the gift tax and the estate tax that will take place unless Congress acts quickly to pass new legislation before next year.

For people with sizeable assets, families with children and anyone else hoping to pass as many assets as possible to their beneficiaries without significant federal taxation, now is the time to take immediate action to organize and enact their estate plan so as to avoid these potentially high tax bills

With time quickly running out, estate planning attorneys and accountants are now basically swamped with requests of those wanting to act now before tax rates increase and tax-free estate amounts are slashed from over $5 million to $1 million. Additionally, the highest tax rate will jump from 35% to 55%, which can mean millions out-of-pocket in taxes for those with an estate that was previously tax-free.

Many people are turning to trusts as the mechanism to take advantage of the gift and estate tax breaks before they expire. Certain trusts can especially benefit those who want to transfer assets, but who are concerned about keeping enough assets to live on during their lives.

One such trust is known as a grantor retained annuity trust, or GRAT, which pays the donor in installments over a period of time before the balance is transferred to the beneficiary at a set date. Another similar trust, called a qualified personal residence trust, or QPERT, deals with real estate gifts. The QPERT can allow a person to remain in his or her home or property for a number of years before it is eventually transferred to the beneficiary outright.

Those who want to play it safe but still take advantage of these fleeting tax breaks should prepare to take the appropriate action for their situations immediately, before time runs out and taxes skyrocket.

Source: Fox 6 WBRC, “Coming changes in estate, gift taxes stir ‘frenzy’,” Dave Carpenter, Oct. 24, 2012

Let’s Do This Together.

FindLaw Network