In response to many questions about the filing and payment deadline extension announced Friday in Notice 2020-18, the IRS posted 24 questions and answers on its website Tuesday. Does this relief provided in the Notice apply to estate and gift taxes? A: No, normal filing and payment due dates continue to apply to estate and gift [...]
Most of us lead hectic lives, but it is important to take time to designate or update beneficiaries for all your assets as part of an estate plan. Notably, you should be aware that designations for retirement plans and life insurance policies supersede beneficiary dispositions in your will. Keeping that in mind, here are seven [...]
Even if you are in good health, do not dismiss the possibility that you could be incapacitated at some point. It is important to take precautions in the event you suddenly cannot manage your personal and financial affairs. One common means of ensuring some measure of protection is to create a “power of attorney.” In [...]
Are you caught between the needs of young children and elderly relatives like your parents? If so, you are part of the growing segment of the population known as the “sandwich generation.” In particular, it may be difficult to care for loved ones as they grow older and require more care. To compound the problems, [...]
The charitable remainder trust (CRT), which has been a valuable estate planning tool for decades, has not been forgotten. Currently, the usual 15% tax rate on long-term capital gains is increased to 20% for upper-income investors, while a 3.8% surtax may also apply to a portion of your investment income. Thus, CRTs remain a popular [...]
It takes dedication, innovation and a little luck—or perhaps a lot of luck—to turn a vision into a successful business. This might be your life story or the story of someone you are close to. But what will happen to the small business when the owner is no longer able to chart the course? According [...]
The IRS has provided some estate planning comfort for well-to-do individuals. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the estate tax exclusion was raised to $10 million, indexed for inflation. That provides plenty of leeway for most families. However, like many other TCJA changes for individuals, this provision is scheduled to “sunset” after 2025. [...]
Many music lovers were dismayed by the recent death of Aretha Franklin, the famous recording artist. Also dismaying: The “Queen of Soul” passed away without a legally enforceable will. This could lead to serious complications. What about you? If you do not have a will in place, do not wait any longer. There are numerous [...]
Benefits for future generations With a traditional IRA, you can build up a nest egg over time without paying any current tax, including an account where you have deposited a rollover from a qualified plan like a 401(k). However, if you do not need to draw heavily on the IRA, assets may be preserved for [...]
Reports of the death of the federal estate tax are premature. Significantly, the TCJA retains the federal estate- and gift-tax systems but doubles the federal estate tax exemption to $11.2 million for 2018. (The $5 million exemption was scheduled to be indexed to $5.6 million in 2018.) This increase will vanish after 2025. As a [...]