In North Carolina Department of Revenue v. The Kimberley Rice Kaestner 1992 Family Trust, the U.S. Supreme Court was asked to review North Carolina’s attempt to tax an out-of-state trust. Justice Sotomayor, writing for a unanimous court, said the case was about the limits of a State’s power to tax a trust. “The North Carolina […]
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The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2021 (now “of 2024”) may have taken on new life recently as Kamala Harris promised, if elected, to make housing affordable. That promise has to be funded somehow and the “how” of it seems to be rolling back the estate and gift tax exclusion amounts significantly. At […]
On July 19, 2024, the IRS published final regulations regarding required minimum distributions (RMDs) from qualified plans. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are the minimum amounts you must withdraw from your retirement accounts each year. You generally must start taking withdrawals from your traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and retirement plan accounts when you reach […]
Stetson’s College of Law announced that it will offer a graduate certificate program for Elder Law Attorneys who need tax knowledge, but not the Tax LL.M. They state: Many cases affecting clients involve tax issues. Because clients often fall in the middle class, they do not always need sophisticated tax planning. But, attorneys who represent […]
The amounts below are the estate tax exclusion amounts as provided by the IRS. Unless Congress takes action, in 2026, the exclusion amount will revert to the pre-2018 level ($5,490,000, adjusted for inflation) per deceased person. You can, however, use your exemption now. On November 26, 2019, the IRS clarified that individuals taking advantage of […]
In 2021, we blogged about a valuation case, Connelly v. U.S., 20 F. 4th 412 (8th Cir. 2023). We noted at the time that a Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed. On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case, ruling for the United States. Justice Thomas, writing for a unanimous […]
On November 28, 2023, the IRS Office of Chief Counsel published a memorandum addressing whether modification of an irrevocable grantor trust to add a tax reimbursement clause not previously in the trust constituted a taxable gift. The IRS concluded that it does constitute a taxable gift by the trust beneficiaries because the addition of a […]
Each year statutory provisions require the IRS to adjust tax rates based on inflation. Although we’re a bit tardy posting the numbers, here are the ones that matter most for our purposes. Gift Tax Annual Exclusion: $18,000 per recipient or $36,000 per recipient for a married couple. This is not a limit on gifting, but […]
In a case to be argued on December 5, 2023, Moore v. United States, the question presented is whether the Sixteenth amendment authorizes Congress to tax unrealized sums without apportionment among the states. The case concerns Congressional taxation under the 2017 Tax and Jobs Act (TCJA) which imposed a mandatory repatriation tax on pre-2018 profits […]
In Notice 2023-54, the IRS granted relief to individuals and retirement plans from taking required minimum distributions in 2023. This applies to both individual accounts and inherited IRAs where distributions were mistakenly taken although no distribution was required. This relief appears to be the result of the IRS’s delay in issuing final regulations under the […]
Until recently, the IRS has said little (if anything) regarding whether assets the beneficiary of an irrevocable trust receives get a step up in basis following the Grantor’s death. With issuance of Revenue Ruling 2023-2, that has changed. The IRS has spoken. In RR 2023-2, the IRS posed the following hypothetical which I’ve edited slightly: […]

There are several steps in setting up a tax exempt organization. We’re reviewing them here. However, this post is not designed to tell you anything other than the set-up process and it is not intended to be tax advice. CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE: To comply with the requirements imposed by the United States Treasury Department, any […]

On June 12, 2023, the Tennessee Court of Appeals (Knoxville) upheld a settlement agreement requiring the recipient of funds in an investment account to pay his share of capital gains taxes. The case, In re Hunt, E2022-00649-COA-R3-CV, arose during the probate of Dr. Robert McPhail Hunt, Jr.’s estate. Hunt purportedly married Zulkifli Atim in Canada […]

The following is a mishmash of information on various Elder Law, Special Needs Law, and Estate Planning issues. It also includes anything else we found interesting during the month of June, 2023. We will continue updating from time to time throughout the month. Last updated 6/8/2023. Keep in mind, you are using linked content at […]

On June 1, 2023, the IRS issued Tax Tip 2023-75. There, the IRS explained: When banks, credit unions, businesses and other payers file information returns with data that doesn’t match IRS records, the IRS sends them a CP2100 or CP2100A notice. The notices tell payers that the information returns they submitted have a missing or […]

IRS Notice 2023-30 set forth the safe harbor language for extinguishment and boundary line adjustment clauses required by y § 605(d)(1) of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0 Act). It addresses only amendments to extinguishment and boundary line adjustment clauses in accordance with § 605(d) of the SECURE 2.0 Act. This safe harbor […]

The IRS announced its commitment to providing meaningful service and assistance to meet taxpayers’ needs. In February, March, April, and May 2023, many IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers will be open on Saturdays. You do not need an appointment. Come prepared, bring documents: Current government-issued photo identification, Social Security cards for members of their household, including […]

H.R. 2617, commonly known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (which includes the SECURE Act 2.0), amended provisions in the tax code to allow special needs trusts to leave remaining funds in a retirement account to a charitable organization. The Bill became Law when signed by President Biden on December 29, 2022. The Senate Summary […]
The IRS says “it depends.” Different situations have different limitations periods (e.g., how long the IRS can go back to second-guess what you did). The following is a list of general guidelines based on current (7-21-2022) advice: Keep records for 3 years if situations (4), (5), and (6) below do not apply to you. Keep […]

A recent Forbes article by Matthew Erskine, 2022 Transfer Tax Update, suggests that now is the time to make gifts if you’re concerned that you might have a taxable estate. Since no one knows that Congress will do with the estate tax and gift tax, some advisors assume the Trump-era transfer tax cuts will remain […]

If you want someone to represent you in front of the IRS, you will need to execute Form 2848. The 2021 version is below. Updated versions are available at www.irs.gov.

The Build Back Better Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, November 19, 2021 on a mostly party-line vote. The White House describes the key provisions as: It lowers your costs to save you money on things like prescription drugs and health care and housing. It gets Americans back to work by providing […]
News Sources: Elder Law Attorney Daniel Tully has 9 questions you should ask before you or a loved one goes into a nursing home Elder Law Attorney Janet Colliton answers “Where is home when you have more than one?” Social Security proposal would raise revenue and temporarily enhance benefits Nursing homes can now lift most […]

In 2022, the annual gift tax exclusion will increase from $15,000 to $16,000 per recipient. In 2022, the estate and gift tax exemption will increase from $11.7 million to $12.06 million per taxpayer. See IRS provides tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2022. See also IRS Announces Increased Gift and Estate Tax Exemption Amounts Also […]

In 2021, the life-time estate and gift tax exemption is $11.7 million per donee (dead person or giftor). The exemption is scheduled to roll back to pre-2018 levels in 2026 unless extended by Congress. IRS Notice IR-2019-189 accompanied final regulations known as Anti-Claw Back regulations. These regulations essentially state that if you make a gift […]

Transfer of Partnership Interest Was Not Immediate Gift (TC) —————————————— The tax court was faced with whether gifts petitioners made of limited partnership interests to their adult children during 2000, 2001, and 2002 qualified as annual exclusions pursuant to section 2503(b). The court found that they did not. On September 11, 1997, petitioners formed Price […]

Section 1(e) of the Internal Revenue Code imposes an income tax on estate and trusts. 2021 federal income tax rates for estates and trusts are included in Revenue Procedure 2020-45. They are as follows: If taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $2,650Â – 10% of taxable income Over $2,650, but not over $9,550 […]

Internal Revenue Code IRS Regulations Internal Revenue Bulletin and here Revenue Rulings Revenue Procedures Tax cases since 1995 Actions on Decisions (AOD) Appeals Settlement Guidelines Chief Counsel Bulletins Information Letters IRS Written Determinations  (Private Letter Rulings (PLR), Technical Advice Memorandum (TAM), and Chief Counsel Advice (CCA)). Legal Advice Issued by Associate Chief Counsel Legal Advice […]
