17

Sep

Surviving Spouses Need To Be Aware Of Potential Changes To The Estate Tax

Clients who have lost their spouse within the past two years may want to speak to us if his or her estate is close to $6 million. Why? Because there are pending tax proposals before Congress that would reduce the current $11. 7 million exemption down to approximately $6 million on...

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17

Sep

A $10 Million Tax Benefit for Small Business Investments

by Andy Strauss The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2018 (“TCJA”) reduced corporate and personal income tax rates (top personal rate fell from 39. 6% to 37% and the top corporate rates are now a flat 21%), but also eliminated many deductions. Notable deductions that were elim...

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17

Sep

Tax Law Roulette

Speculating about tax law legislation is a lot like speculating about the weather. Even when you use the best instruments (barometers, hygrometers, radar, etc. ), the weather can throw you a surprise from left field. The same can also be said for predicting tax legislation. Logic...

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17

Sep

Opportunity Zones: Are They the Right Opportunity for You?

What are Opportunity Zones? Opportunity Zones have attracted a lot of publicity since they were created in 2017. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created tax incentives designed to encourage investors with capital gains to reinvest those gains into low-income and undercapitalized commun...

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17

Sep

End of Year News

We are almost at the end of another year, so it's a good time for us to highlight some estate planning strategies for you, caution against some common pitfalls and give a preview of possible things to come. The Estate Tax—The Sky’s The Limit, Or AlmostMost of u...

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17

Sep

Federal Transfer Taxes

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the annual inflation adjustments for the 2019 tax year: 2017 2018 2019 Gift and Estate Tax Exclusion $5,490,000 $11,180,000 $11,400,000 GST Tax Exemption $5,490,000 $11,180,000 $11,400,000 Gift Tax Annual Exclusion $14,000...

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17

Sep

Does the New Tax Act Reduce the Income Tax Benefits of Giving to Charity and How to Encourage Larger Donations?

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which became effective on January 1, 2018, affects almost every area of income tax law, including charitable giving. An individual’s cost to donate money to charity has traditionally been reduced by the tax benefits afforded charitable deductions under s...

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17

Sep

Estate Planning Opportunities Arise with Passage of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which came into effect on January 1, 2018, is the most significant overhaul of the tax code since 1986. Although it was meant to simplify the tax code, it is very complex and will undoubtedly be subject to ongoing modifications and interpretation...

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17

Sep

Using Life Insurance instead of an Internal Revenue Code Section 529 Qualified Tuition Program

Grandparents are often very fond of establishing savings accounts intended for grandchildren’s education. If they can do so with tax advantages, it is even better! Frequently a grandparent will consider starting a Section 529 Savings Plan for the grandchild because financial advi...

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17

Sep

2018 Estate Tax and Gift Tax Changes

“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future. ” Yogi Berra With the recently passed tax bill there is finally an official pronouncement from the IRS on the 2018 estate and gift tax exemptions. The IRS announced in October of this year that the gifting exemption bot...

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17

Sep

Value is in the Eye of The Holder and the IRS Views Things Differently

Just as beauty is in the eye of the holder, it is often said that value is in the eye of the holder since it is a relative term and depends upon the context. In estate planning, the great majority of IRS challenges to wealth transfers focuses on hard to value assets. The New York...

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17

Sep

The Tax Benefits of Educational Trusts

Use of standalone Educational Trusts – those created specifically for the educational (and sometimes medical) expenses of children and grandchildren – is far less common since the ready availability of 529 Plans. 529 Plans have contribution limitations (varying by state) that are...

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