ESTATE TAX LEGISLATION UPDATE PLANNING AND POSSIBILITIES The 7 th Annual Dallas CPA Society Education Conference Michael J. Baldwin R. Thomas Groves, Jr

ESTATE TAX LEGISLATION UPDATE

PLANNING AND POSSIBILITIES

The 7th Annual Dallas CPASociety Education Conference

Michael J. Baldwin R. Thomas Groves, Jr. Sam K. Hildebrand

May 26, 2011

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IntroductionIntroduction

• What a decade this has been!• TRA 2010 marks a paradigm shift (at least

temporarily)• Outline of presentation

– Brief overview of TRA 2010– Effect on Estates of 2010 Decedents– Portability– Planning Ideas and Opportunities

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Brief Overview Brief Overview of TRA 2010of TRA 2010

History of Estate TaxHistory of Estate Tax

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The Economic Growth and Tax The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001

(“EGTRRA”) (“EGTRRA”)

• EGTRRA basics• Sunset on EGTRRA• 2010, the year to Die

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The Tax Relief, Unemployment The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (“TRA 2010”) Creation Act of 2010 (“TRA 2010”)

• The Baucus Bill• The Great Compromise

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Say Hello To The Estate Tax And Say Hello To The Estate Tax And Goodbye To Carryover Basis! Goodbye To Carryover Basis!

(TRA 2010 – SEC. 301) (TRA 2010 – SEC. 301)

• Remarkable Legislation• Repeal of the Repeal• End of Carryover Basis• Decedents Dying in 2010• Extensions to file/pay/disclaim

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Essential TermsEssential Terms

• Increase in Applicable Exclusion Amount of $5,000,000• Applicable Exclusion Amount Indexed to Inflation• Maximum Estate Tax Rate Equal to 35%• Reunification of Estate and Gift Tax Exemptions• Generation Skipping Transfer Tax Rate in 2010• Portability• Two Year Extension

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Effect on Estates Effect on Estates of 2010 Decedentsof 2010 Decedents

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Estate Tax or Estate Tax or Modified Carryover Basis?Modified Carryover Basis?

• The Default Regime: Estate Tax and FMV at Death Basis Adjustment Applies for 2010 Decedents

• The Elected Regime: Modified Carryover Basis Election for 2010 Decedents

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Modified Carryover Basis - Modified Carryover Basis - OverviewOverview

• General Rule. Property “acquired from a decedent” has a basis equal to the decedent’s adjusted basis or, if less, the fair market value of the property on the date of the decedent’s death

• $1.3 Million Basis Increase

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Modified Carryover Basis – Modified Carryover Basis – Overview Overview (cont.)(cont.)

• Adjustments to $1.3 Million Basis Adjustment– NOLs and Capital Loss Carryovers

– IRC Section 165 Losses as if Property Had Been Sold at Decedent’s Death

• Non Resident Non Citizen Decedents

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• $3 Million Basis Increase – Qualified Spousal Property

• Only Property Owned by Decedent at Death Qualifies for the $1.3 Million and $3 Million Adjustments– Jointly Owned Property

– Revocable Trusts

– Powers of Appointment

– Community Property

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• Property Not Qualifying for Basis Increase• Allocating Basis Increases

– On Return Required by IRD §6018– Revocable Only with Consent of Secretary

• Basis Increases Only for “Property “Acquired from the Decedent”

• No Basis Increases for IRD• Long Term Gains Holding Period

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To Elect or Not to Elect – To Elect or Not to Elect – Factors to be ConsideredFactors to be Considered

• Will the Election Change the Amounts of the Bequests?

• “Easy” Cases

• Complicated Cases

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To Elect or Not to Elect – To Elect or Not to Elect – Factors to be Considered Factors to be Considered (cont.)(cont.)

• Example

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• Example (cont.)

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• Executor MUST have a process!!

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Time and Manner of Making the Time and Manner of Making the Modified Carryover Basis Regime Modified Carryover Basis Regime

Election and Basis ReportingElection and Basis Reporting

• Modified Carryover Basis Reporting– Statutory Due Date– Statutory Information Required for Modified Carryover Basis

Report – Statutory Information to be Provided to Beneficiaries

• Draft Form 8939

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Time and Manner of Making the Time and Manner of Making the Modified Carryover Basis Regime Modified Carryover Basis Regime Election and Basis Reporting Election and Basis Reporting (cont.)(cont.)

• TRA 2010 §301(c): election is to be made “at such time and in such manner” as prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate

• IRS Guidance to Date

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GST and 2010 DecedentsGST and 2010 Decedents

• Election of Modified Carryover Basis Regime – 2010 Decedent is Deemed “Transferor”

• GST Applicable Tax Rate in 2010 is Zero

• 2010 GST Exemption is $5 Million

• Election Out of Automatic Allocation for 2010 Direct Skip Transfers

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Extensions of Time for File Estate Tax Extensions of Time for File Estate Tax Return, to Pay Estate Tax, to File GST Return, to Pay Estate Tax, to File GST

Return, and to Make DisclaimersReturn, and to Make Disclaimers

• Estate Tax – September 19, 2011

• GST Tax - no earlier than September 19, 2011 (but no tax)

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Extensions of Time for File Estate Tax Extensions of Time for File Estate Tax Return, to Pay Estate Tax, to File GST Return, to Pay Estate Tax, to File GST Return, and to Make Disclaimers Return, and to Make Disclaimers (cont.)(cont.)

• Disclaimers – for decedents dying before December 17, 2010, disclaimers can be made any time until September 19, 2011

• Roadblocks– Acceptance– State Law Time Limitations

– Texas Legislation

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PortabilityPortability

What would Myth Busters say about it?

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PortabilityPortability (cont.)(cont.) Three Important Definitions:1. “Applicable exclusion amount” is the sum of (a) the basic exclusion

amount and (b) for a surviving spouse, the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount (“DSUEA”?).

2. “Basic exclusion amount” is the estate tax exclusion amount – $5 million, indexed for inflation from 2010, but with no adjustment until 2012.

3. “Deceased spousal unused exclusion amount” is the lesser of (1) the basic exclusion amount or (2) the basic exclusion amount of the surviving spouse’s last deceased spouse over the combined amount of such deceased spouse’s taxable estate and such deceased spouse’s adjusted table gifts.

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PortabilityPortability (cont.)(cont.)

Example 1 Facts:• Husband 1 has a $1 million taxable estate at his death, which he left to

children from a previous marriage.

• Wife marries Husband 2.

• Husband 2 dies and leaves his $10 million pool cleaning business to his children from a previous relationship, completely using his applicable exclusion amount.

• Wife dies owning a taxable estate of $9 million.

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Example 1 Results:• Wife’s applicable exclusion amount is $5 million, NOT $9 million, because

Wife’s last deceased spouse was Husband 2, who had used his applicable exclusion amount. Her estate will be subject to tax on her excess $4 million.

• MORAL: DON’T MARRY SOMEONE RICH IF THERE IS A CHANCE THAT HE MIGHT DIE BEFORE YOU (ESPECIALLY IF HE IS LEAVING HIS FORTUNE TO SOMEONE ELSE!)

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Example 2 Facts:• Husband 1 dies and uses $3 million dollars of application exclusion

amount, leaving $2 million of DSUEA to be potentially used by Wife.

• Wife marries Husband 2.

• Wife dies owning a taxable estate of $3 million (which she leaves to her children from the previous marriage) and having a $7 million applicable exclusion amount.

• Husband 2 then dies owning a taxable estate of $9 million.

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Example 2 Results:• Uncertain. According to the statute, Husband 2 would have an

applicable exclusion amount of $7 million (his $5 million and Wife’s $2 million DSUEA) and his estate would owe $700,000 of estate tax. But, the Joint Committee on Taxation would say that his applicable exclusion amount is $9 million and his estate would not owe any estate tax.

• MORAL: DON’T TEMP FATE. IF YOU HAVE A LARGE DSUEA, FIND A WAY TO USE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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Is portability important or is it a Trojan horse?• Required estate tax return for deceased spouse required• No protection from creditors of transferred assets• Loss of control over ultimate disposition of property• Loss of protection from estate tax of income and appreciation• Loss of ability to allocate GST exemption• But, transferred assets do get income tax basis adjustment on

spouse’s death

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Planning Ideas Planning Ideas and Opportunitiesand Opportunities

Let the giving begin!

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Planning Ideas Planning Ideas and Opportunitiesand Opportunities (cont.)(cont.)

• A $5 million gift tax exemption? That’s great!• But, two important drawbacks:

– Loss of income tax basis adjustment– Potential recapture or claw back

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Opportunity or Trap – Opportunity or Trap – Recapture/ClawbackRecapture/Clawback

• Source of the Issue– Computation of Estate Tax and Adjusted Taxable Gifts– Form 706, Part 2, Line 4

• Potential Problems with Clawback– Estate Passes to Spouse or Charity– Insufficient Assets to Pay Tax– Implications Regarding Portability– Conflicts Among Beneficiaries

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Opportunity or Trap – Opportunity or Trap – Recapture/Clawback Recapture/Clawback (cont.)(cont.)

• Does Clawback Apply?• Gift Planning in Light of Clawback

– No Worse Position with Respect to Estate Tax Amount– Benefits of Gifts Notwithstanding Clawback– Possible Permanence or Extension of $5 Million Estate Tax

Exemption– Tax “Apportionment”/ Net Gifts

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• Three ways to use the $5 million gift tax exclusion, with no forced leaks back

– The Dynasty Trust– The Exclusion Trust for Spouse– The Self Settled Trust

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• Supercharge the gift– With valuation discounts

• We all know about valuation discounts– Minority interests in closely held businesses– Limited partner interests– Fractional interests in real property

• The surprise – we still can use them!– With grantor trusts

• Creates a tax free environment for the gifted property• Sometimes difficult to convince the client to pay tax without

the income

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• Three leaky tools to consider– Sales to Grantor Trusts

– Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts

– Qualified Personal Residence Trusts

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Planning Ideas Planning Ideas and Opportunities and Opportunities (cont.)(cont.)

Sale to Grantor Trust

GRANTOR GRANTORTRUST

Goal: If transferred asset appreciates at a greater rate than the promissory note interest rate, Grantor succeeds in passing assets to beneficiary at no gift tax cost.

(2) Grantor sells appreciating asset to grantor trust in exchange for low interest bearing promissory note

(1) Grantor gives seed funds

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Grantor Retained Annuity Trust

GRANTOR GRANTOR RETAINEDANNUITY TRUST

Goal: If the transferred asset appreciates at a rate greater than the Section 7520 rate, Grantor succeeds in passing assets to beneficiary at no gift tax cost.

(1) Grantor transfers appreciating assets to GRAT in exchange for an annuity payment over a set term

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Qualified Personal Residence Trust GRANTOR GRANTOR PERSONAL

RESIDENCE TRUST

Goal: Transfer home at fraction of its value and reduce Grantor’s estate further by grantor paying rent.

(1) Grantor transfers home to QPRT in exchange for right to occupy for a set term

(2) After set term, grantor pays rent for right to occupy

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• Life Insurance Planning– Should life insurance trusts be terminated?

– Should life insurance trusts continue and funding accelerated?

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• Charitable Planning– IRA Charitable Rollover Extended

– Conservation Easements - favorable tax treatment extended

– CLATs – still a great time to create CLATs

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• Wills and Revocable Trusts– Every will and revocable trust should be reviewed.

• The issues with formula clauses

• Income tax basis issues

• The need for flexibility– Powers of appointment

– Trust protectors

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Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Documents

ESTATE TAX LEGISLATION UPDATE PLANNING AND POSSIBILITIES The 7 th Annual Dallas CPA Society Education Conference Michael J. Baldwin R. Thomas Groves, Jr