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Thursday, May 19, 2011 Planning with the $5 Million Gift Tax ExemptionIn the last issue of The Wealth Counselor, we took a closer look at the
new tax law in effect for 2011 and 2012, examining some of the opportunities and challenges that face estate planning professionals
as we incorporate these changes and uncertainties into our client's estate plans.
3:51 pm hst In this issue, we will look more closely at the powerful planning opportunities that exist for the next two years with the $5 million gift tax exemption. Let's begin with a quick review of the new law. Gift, Estate and GST Exemptions and Tax Rates In 2011 and 2012, the gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions are all $5 million and the tax rate is 35%. If Congress does not act again, in 2013 the exemption will be $1 million and the top tax rate will be 55%. This is the current law and must be considered in all planning. The portability of the gift and estate tax exemption between spouses was also introduced, but only for spouses who both die between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012. Planning Tip: Note that, unlike a surviving spouse's ability to use a predeceased spouse's unused unified credit, the new law does not allow a surviving spouse to use the unused GST tax exemption of a predeceased spouse. This is just one weakness of the new portability provision. Planning Tip: Be cautious when deciding how to plan for insurance needs, disclaimers and how to fund the bypass trust, considering whether to plan for a $5 million exemption or some lower (e.g., $1 million) exemption. Also, the portability of exemption between spouses may not be around after 2012. Be sure your clients understand the exemption is scheduled to revert to $1 million in 2013, that these uncertainties exist, and that their planning will need to be updated as the laws change. Income Tax We also have lower income tax rates for the next two years, but President Obama has made it clear he wants higher tax rates in 2013. Unless there are changes in the next two years, in 2013 the long-term capital gains rate will increase to 20%, the maximum tax on qualified dividends will go back to 39.6%, and the additional 3.8% surtax will be introduced. Planning Tip: Take advantage of the lower income tax rates that we have for the next two years, and look for opportunities to accelerate income into 2012. Choose an 11/30 year-end for any estates currently being administered to maximize the lower income tax rates for as long as possible. 2010 Planning Revised The estate tax was reinstated for 2010, with a $5 million exemption and 35% tax rate. Estates may elect out and pay no estate tax, but the modified carryover basis rules would apply. The gift tax exemption in 2010 remains at $1 million with a 35% gift tax rate. Planning Tip: Because of the "sunset," there may be only a two-year window of opportunity to make substantial gifts using the $5 million gift exemption. Tax Planning Opportunities in 2011 and 2012 With the gift tax exemption at $5 million per person, we can expect a huge transfer of wealth over the next two years. Those who have already used their $1 million exemption now have an additional $4 million to use for gifts. And while we cannot be absolutely certain that the $5 million gift tax exemption will be honored if it returns to $1 million in 2013, it would certainly make sense for Congress to do so. Let's look at some of the planning opportunities that will immediately maximize these transfers. Planning Tip: Start meeting with your wealthier clients now to discover which properties they could give away now that will be relatively painless for them. Spousal Access Trusts The general concept of a Spousal Access Trust is that one spouse can transfer up to $5 million in trust for the benefit of his/her spouse, children and future generations. Benefits include asset protection, estate tax protection, direct descendent protection (property stays within the bloodline) and income shifting. Risks are the reciprocal trust doctrine and grantor trust rules. In U.S. Estate of Grace, 395 US 316 (1969), the Supreme Court developed a two-part test to determine whether trusts will be ignored because they are "reciprocal": a) the trusts must be inter-related and b) the trust creation and funding must leave the grantors of the trusts in essentially the same economic position as they would have been in if they had created the trusts naming themselves as life beneficiaries. If both parts are met, the IRS and/or the courts will uncross the trusts and include the value in each of the grantor's gross estate, nullifying their careful planning. Planning Tip: To avoid the reciprocal trust doctrine, the lawyer on the planning team must take care to draft outside of the Grace doctrine and not make the trusts identical. Be sure to file the gift tax return and allocate the GST exemption if desired rather than rely on the automatic allocation rules. Gifts to an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust Life insurance can be used to provide income for a family, pay estate taxes, and as an income tax shelter. If structured properly so that the trust maker does not have any incidents of ownership, none of the assets (policy proceeds) of an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) will be included in the trust maker's taxable estate, making them free of both income and estate taxes. ILITs will become more popular as income tax rates increase, in 2013, from the current 35% rate to39.6% or even to 43.4% for clients subject to the 3.8% surcharge. The general concept is that the ILIT is the owner and beneficiary of the policy on the trust maker's life. The trust maker makes gifts to the trust to cover the insurance premiums, and the trustee makes the premium payments. At the trust maker's death, the proceeds are paid to the trustee who can use the funds to purchase assets from the estate and provide liquidity for estate taxes and other expenses. The trustee can make discretionary distributions of income and principal during the lifetime of the trust's beneficiaries, which can include the trust maker's spouse, children and future generations. Assets that remain in the trust are not included in the beneficiaries' estates and are protected from creditors. Planning Tip: Using the $5 million gift and GST exemption amounts can provide substantial amounts of life insurance (think single or 2-pay premium) and benefit the grantor's children without future estate, gift and/or GST tax. Planning Tip: Be very cautious about canceling existing insurance policies now. If possible, wait until 2013 nears, when we will know what the exemption will be at that time. Dynasty Trusts Generally, a dynasty trust is one that benefits multiple generations, and none of the trust assets are included in the trust maker's or any of the beneficiaries' taxable estates. Not being taxed at each generation (historically at 45-55%) allows the assets to grow tremendously over the years. However, there is a generation-skipping transfer tax that applies when a transfer is made by the grantor to a "skip person" (grandchild, great-grandchild, or other person more than 37.5 years younger than the grantor). Currently, each grantor is allowed a lifetime GST exemption on the first $5 million of taxable transfers directly to a skip person or to a trust that could benefit a skip person. A husband and wife can combine their GST exemptions. This perhaps temporary GST exemption increase will make dynasty trusts even more popular over the next two years. The dynasty trust established in the right jurisdiction can theoretically go on forever, with the trustee making discretionary distributions for the lifetime of each beneficiary in each generation. Advantages include creditor protection, divorce protection, estate tax protection, direct descendent protection, spendthrift protection and consolidation of capital, which typically results in higher returns and better management options. Planning Tip: The choice of situs is critical. Choose a state with no income tax, good creditor and divorce protection, and no Rule against Perpetuities. Make sure you file a gift tax return. If the trust maker allocates enough GST exemption to cover the entire gift, neither the gift nor any distribution from the trust will ever be subject to the GST tax. Planning Tip: Be aware of the President's budget proposal to limit GSTT-exempt trusts to 90 years, regardless of the applicable rule against perpetuities. While this was introduced in 2011 and will not likely gain support in the current Congress, this may gain support in the future. Income-Shifting Trusts The concept here is to shift income to younger family members to reduce income taxes. Parents can move up to $10 million ($5 million each) in income-producing assets gift tax-free to their children who can then use the income to invest or purchase insurance. Example: A husband and wife gift $10 million of non-voting S-Corporation stock to their four children (15% each) via using Qualified Sub-Chapter S Trusts. There is no gift tax because the parents use both of their $5 million gift tax exemptions. After the gift, 15% of the income generated by the S-Corporation will pass through to each child. Benefits include creditor protection on the assets; estate tax savings because the assets are being transferred to the children and out of the parents' estates; and income tax savings because the children will pay income taxes at a lower rate than their parents. Over time, this can save a tremendous amount in income taxes. Long-Term Tax Planning Opportunities Lifetime Gifting After the $5 million exemption has been used, it may be advantageous to give away more and pay the gift tax at the current 35% gift tax rate. Also, the gift tax is "tax-exclusive" while the estate tax is "tax-inclusive." A taxable gift of $1.00 makes the donor liable for a $0.35 gift tax, for a total of $1.35. On the other hand, $1.35 in a decedent's estate taxed at 35% nets only $0.88 to the heirs. Planning Tip: As was the case in 2010, gifting can be a wait and see scenario. As we get closer to 2013, we hope to know what the 2013 gift tax rate will be. If the rate is moving to 55%, it would be advantageous to make additional gifts and pay the 35% gift tax in 2012 rather than wait and pay a 55% gift or estate tax in 2013. Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) The creator of a GRAT retains an annuity payout for a fixed term. At the end of the annuity term, any residual assets remaining in the trust pass to the remainder beneficiaries, such as the trust creator's children, free of any gift and estate tax (but not free of GST tax exposure). The tax treatment of a GRAT is based on the assumption that the GRAT assets will grow at exactly the Section 7520 rate in effect at the time the GRAT was established (2.4% in January, 2011). If the GRAT assets outperform the 7520 rate, there will be a larger than anticipated (for tax purposes) balance to transfer to the trust's remainder beneficiaries at the end of the annuity term. In addition, all income earned by the GRAT during its term is taxed to the trust's creator because the trust is "defective" for income tax purposes, allowing for an enhanced probability of having a tax-free gift to the remainder beneficiaries. Planning Tip: GRATs are currently most effective for property that is extremely volatile or is difficult to value, or for large estates that have already used their $5 million exemption. Unlike a dynasty trust, a GRAT can only create a one-generation transfer unless GST exemption is allocated to it based on the actual value of the trust assets at the end of the annuity term. Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGT) An IDGT is a trust that is a grantor trust for income tax purposes, but not for gift, estate, and GST tax purposes. IDGTs are especially powerful right now for wealthy clients because of the $5 million gift and GST tax exemptions and historically low interest rates. Using an IDGT, a married couple can currently gift up to $10 million in undivided interests in highly appreciating assets, then sell additional interests in the same assets to the IDGT. The value of both the donated and the sold assets can be discounted due to minority interest. If the assets are wrapped in an LLC or limited partnership, their value may also be adjusted for lack of marketability and lack of control. The trust then pays an installment note back to the trust maker. Assuming the growth rate on the assets sold to the IDGT is higher than the interest rate on the installment note, the difference is passed on to the trust beneficiaries free of any gift, estate and/or GST tax. Also, because the IDGT is a grantor trust (i.e., "defective" trust for income tax purposes), no capital gains tax is due on the installment sale, the interest income on the installment note is not taxable to the grantor, and all income earned by the trust is taxed to the grantor, effectively allowing for a tax-free gift to the trust's beneficiaries equal to the tax burden borne by the grantor. Discretionary distributions of income and principal are made to the trust beneficiaries during their lifetimes, and all assets in the IDGT remain outside of their taxable estates. Planning Tip: The grantor should make an initial gift of at least 10% of the total transfer value to the IDGT or have other security for the financed sale so that the IDGT has sufficient capital to make its purchase of assets from the grantor commercially reasonable. Conclusion Estate planning professionals have an exceptional window for transfer opportunities in 2011 and 2012 with the $5 million estate, gift, and GST tax exemptions; lower income and estate tax rates; and still-depressed property values. And, as is often the case, these opportunities provide excellent opportunities to work with a team of advisors to provide the best possible results for mutual clients. To comply with the U.S. Treasury regulations, we must inform you that (i) any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this newsletter was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal tax penalties that may be imposed on such person and (ii) each taxpayer should seek advice from their tax adviser based on the taxpayer's particular circumstances. Friday, April 8, 2011 Portability of the Federal Estate Tax ExemptionPortability of the Federal Estate Tax Exemption
includes a provision giving the executor of the estate of a first spouse to die the option of shifting any unused estate tax
exemption amount to the surviving spouse. Thus, for example, if the first spouse used only $3,000,000 of his $5,000,000
exemption amount, his estate could elect to have the remaining $2,000,000 pass to the surviving spouse, giving her a total
of $7,000,000 of estate tax exemption. Although this portability provision seems simple on the surface, it introduces
important planning considerations and traps for the unwary. If you are in this Zone dot your i's and cross your
t's.
10:59 am hst Friday, April 1, 2011 IRS Extended Deadline
www.IRS.gov/newsroom
Public Contact: 800.829.1040 Treasury Dept. and
IRS Extend the Deadline for Filing Form 8939 Beyond the Previously Set April 18; Guidance to Follow with a New Deadline
IR-2011-33, March 31, 2011 WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today announced that Form 8939 is not due on April 18, 2011, and should not be filed with the final Form 1040 of persons who died in 2010. New guidance that announces the form due date will be issued at a later date and Form 8939 will be released soon after guidance is issued. Form 8939, Allocation of Increase in Basis for Property Acquired from a Decedent, is an informational return used to establish basis for income tax purposes of property acquired from a person who died in 2010. Under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, the estate tax was repealed for persons who died in 2010. The executors of the estates of certain decedents who died in 2010 were previously required to file an information return (Form 8939) relating to large transfers at death, which was due on the date of the decedent’s final Form 1040 or a later date specified in regulations issued by the Treasury Department. Enacted in December of last year, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 reinstated the estate tax for persons who died in 2010. The law allows executors of the estates of decedents who died in 2010 to elect to have the rules of the estate tax not apply to the property of a decedent’s estate. This election is to be made at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Treasury Department. Treasury and the IRS plan to issue future guidance that will provide a deadline for filing Form 8939 and for electing to have the estate tax rules not apply to the estates of persons who died in 2010. The prior deadline was April 18, which remains the deadline for filing a decedent’s final Form 1040 this filing season. The forthcoming guidance will also explain the manner in which an executor of an estate may elect to have the estate tax not apply. A reasonable period of time for preparation and filing will be given between issuance of the guidance and the deadline for filing Form 8939 and for electing to have the estate tax rules not apply. The Form 8939 is not currently available, but will be made available soon after the guidance is issued. Both will be made available on IRS.gov. ―30― Tuesday, March 29, 2011 Domestic Asset Protection Trust State Rankings
Monday, September 20, 2010 Its Complicated.
- Interest rates on promissory notes - GRATS - QPRTS - Charitable Remainder Trusts |
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