With the tax cuts enacted by the Bush administration scheduled to expire at the end of 2010, estate taxes in the U.S. are expected to revert to higher rates that applied in 2001 and
a lower estate tax exemption of $ 1 million.
Not exact matches
The only gain for those in higher brackets is the larger
exemption and
lower top
tax on
estates.
New Yorker is one of only fifteen states an
estate tax and our
exemption levels are among the
lowest and our rates are among the highest.
However, your
estate may still be subject to state
estate taxes due to significantly
lower exemption amounts.
If the
estate tax was reinstated at unfavorable rates (such as a
lower exemption or higher
tax rate), it might make sense to make a gift in 2010 and pay the 35 %
tax instead of waiting and incurring a higher rate as part of a reinstated
estate tax.
The combination of
lowering the
exemption and increasing the rate so sharply will cripple small businesses whose owners lack sufficient liquid assets to pay the
estate tax.
Once again, if life insurance is included in the gross
estate, it will be subject to
taxes at the state level and the
exemptions for state
taxes are much
lower than the federal
exemptions.
The state
estate tax exemptions are usually much
lower (MA has only a $ 1M
exemption for instance).
«Congress can
lower the
exemption tomorrow if they choose so families who ignore
estate taxes are setting themselves up for a potential congressional sucker punch.»
And while there are states with far
lower exemptions for state
estate taxes — New Jersey is a mere $ 675,000 and Massachusetts is $ 1 million — many families don't set up trusts to avoid those
taxes.
The bottom line, though, is that in today's
low - return environment, not wanting or needing permanent life insurance anymore — whether due to a change in
estate planning needs because of the increased - and - now - portable $ 5.25 M
estate tax exemption, or a general change in needs and circumstances, or a policy that is in danger of lapse due to underperformance — is not necessarily a reason to cancel it.