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Page 1: TRUIRJCA of 2010

What Does It Say and What Does It Mean to You?

Lewis W. Dymond, Jr.Merrell BaileyPaul BernsteinPeter Parenti

TRUIRJCA of 2010

Audio:Use your microphone and Speakers (VoIP) or

Call in using your telephone

Dial: 213.286.1201Access Code: 321-968-709

Page 2: TRUIRJCA of 2010

What Does It Say and What Does It Mean to You?

Lewis W. Dymond, Jr.Merrell BaileyPaul BernsteinPeter Parenti

TRUIRJCA of 2010

Page 3: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Circular 230

Pursuant to the rules of professional conduct set forth in Circular 230, aspromulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury, nothing contained inthis communication was intended or written to be used by any taxpayer for thepurpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer by the InternalRevenue Service, and it cannot be used by any taxpayer for such purpose. Noone, without our express prior written permission, may use or refer to any taxadvice in this communication in promoting, marketing, or recommending apartnership or other entity, investment plan or arrangement to any other party.

For discussion purposes only. This work is intended to provide general informationabout the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. The author, WealthCounsel, LLC or anyone forwarding or reproducing this work shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this work. This work does not represent tax, accounting, or legal advice. The individual taxpayer is advised to and should rely on their own advisors.

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Page 4: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Introduction

• “Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010”

• TRUIRJCA 2010.• An Amendment to H.R. 4853 passed earlier in

the year which authorizes funding of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.

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Page 5: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Temporary Extension ofSunset of EGTRRA 2010

Section 1.01 – Temporary Extension of 2001 Tax Relief.

Amends Section 901 of EGTRRA.• Substitute December 31, 2012 for December 31, 2010.• Effective as if included in the enactment of EGTRRA

2010.

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Page 6: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 301 - Reinstatement of Estate Tax; Repeal of Carryover Basis.– (a) IN GENERAL - Accomplished by repealing

Subtitle A and E of Title V of EGTRRA.• Subtitle A – made the Chapter 11 (estate taxes) inapplicable

to estates of decedents dying after 2009 and Chapter 13 (GSTT) inapplicable to generation-skipping transfers after 2009.

• Subtitle E – contained the modified basis adjustment under Section 1022.

− (b) Conforming Amendment.• Clean-up amendment to Section 2505(a)(1) from EGTRRA

language to deal with re-unification of the gift and estate tax.• This may take further work.

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Page 7: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 301 - Reinstatement of Estate Tax; Repeal of Carryover Basis.− (c) - Special election with respect to estates of

decedents dying in 2010.• Can opt back into repeal of estate tax and modified basis

adjustment under EGTRRA Section 1022.• Election applies the code as if the amendment repealing

the estate tax had not been made with respect to the repeal of Chapter 11 (the estate tax).

• Amendment eliminating the repeal of Chapter 13 (the GSTT) would still apply so the decedent will still be considered a transferor for GSTT purposes.

• But the GSTT rate is zero percent.

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Page 8: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 301 - Reinstatement of Estate Tax; Repeal of Carryover Basis.– (d) Extension of time until 9 months after date of

enactment.• Filing an estate tax return• GSTT returns;• Filing a basis allocation return;• Paying estate taxes; and• Making disclaimers (still need to satisfy state law).

− (e) Effective date− Retroactive application to end of 2009.

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Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 302 - Modifications to Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes.– (a) Modifications to estate tax

• Applicable exclusion amount increased to $5M.• Adjusted for inflation after 2011 to nearest $10K.• Maximum estate tax rate 35%.

− (b) Modifications to gift tax.− Restoration of unified credit against gift tax for gifts after

2010.For 2010 gifts determined as if applicable exclusion amount

were $1M.

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Page 10: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 302 - Modifications to Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes.– (c) Modification of generation-skipping transfer tax.

• GSTT rate for 2010 is 0%.• All other GST rules apply.• Generation-skipping transfers not exempt.

– 0% rate in 2010.– 35% rate after 2010.

• Generation-skipping transfers do not create an inclusion ratio of zero; must apply GST Exemption.

• GST Exemption equal to the applicable credit amount $5M.

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Page 11: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 302 - Modifications to Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes.– (d) Modification of estate and gift taxes to reflect

differences in credit resulting from different tax rates.• Modifications to IRC § 2001(b)(2) and § 2505(a). • Provide technical computational guidance for calculating the

tentative tax taking into account lifetime gifts.• Includes guidance for determining the amount of the credit for

gift taxes paid taking into consideration the amount of applicable exclusion amount.

• Appears to be an attempt to legislatively modifyPLR 9250004.

• There is a difference of opinion as to how this plays out if we have a total Sunset.

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Page 12: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 302 - Modifications to Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes.– (e) Conforming amendment.

• Repeals Section 2511(c), the provision that went into effect in 2010 treating all transfers in trust as gifts unless the trust is wholly “grantor trust” as to the donor.

– Effective date.• Retroactive as to December 31, 2009.• Except as to the gift tax re-unification.

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Page 13: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 303 – Applicable Exclusion Amount Increased by Unused Exclusion Amount of Deceased Spouse.– Further modification of applicable exclusion amount for

estates and gifts after 2010.• Sum of:

– Basic exclusion amount $5M adjusted for inflation; and– For a surviving spouse, any deceased spousal unused exclusion

amount (DSUEA).

• Deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for a surviving spouse is the lesser of:

– The basic exclusion amount; or– The basic exclusion amount of the last deceased spouse, minus– The sum of that spouse’s taxable estate and adjusted taxable gifts.

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Page 14: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 303 – Applicable Exclusion Amount Increased by Unused Exclusion Amount of Deceased Spouse.– Special Rules.

• Election Required – DSUEA not available unless timely estate tax return filed, amount computed and election made.

• IRS may examine prior returns after period of limitations with respect to DSUEA.

• Secretary to prepare regulations.

– (b) Conforming Amendments.• Indexed $5M and filing thresholds apply to basic exemption

amount not exemption amount.

– Effective date• December 31, 2010.

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Page 15: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title IIITemporary Estate Tax Relief

Section 304 – Application of EGTRRA Sunset to this Title.– Section 901 of EGTRRA applies to the

amendments made by this section (sic).

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Page 16: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Title VIITemporary Extension of Certain

Expiring Provisions

Section 725 – Tax-free distributions from individual retirement plans for charitable purposes.– Termination date of IRC § 408(d)(8) extended through

December 31, 2011 retroactive to January 1, 2010.– Client age 70 1/2 or over may make charitable donation

up to $100,000 directly from IRA accounts to charity.– Donations made in January, 2011 may be counted as

having been made in 2010.

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Page 17: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Elect out of Estate Tax;Elect into Modified Basis

Adjustment

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Page 18: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

With the retroactive reinstatement of the estate tax, the carryover basis provisions of I.R.C. § 1022 are repealed, effective January 1, 2010.– However, the Executor (IRC § 2203) of the estate

of a decedent who died in 2010 may elect to have the modified basis rules of I.R.C. § 1022 apply “with respect to property acquired or passing from the decedent” within the meaning of I.R.C. § 1014(b)).

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Page 19: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

With the retroactive reinstatement of the estate tax, the carryover basis provisions of I.R.C. § 1022 are repealed, effective January 1, 2010.– If the election is made the estate tax will not apply

and I.R.C. § 1014(a) will not apply.– If no election is made, the Estate Tax will apply to

estates of decedents who died in 2010 and the fair market value basis rules of I.R.C. § 1014(a) will apply.

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Page 20: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

• The election shall be made at such time and in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate shall provide.

• Such an election once made shall be revocable only with the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate. (The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service).

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Page 21: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

• In almost all cases for 2010 estates of less than the available applicable exclusion amount, now $5M, the election should not be made.

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Page 22: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

• Section 1022 – Treatment of property acquired from a decedent dying after 12/31/2009.– 1022(a) – In general.

• Carry over basis.• Treated same way as property transferred by gift. • Basis is the lesser of decedent’s adjusted basis or fair

market value on date of death

– 1022(b) – Basis increase for certain property• $1.3M of basis increase. $60K for non-resident non-citizens• No restrictions on who can receive• Must be “acquired from a decedent” – won’t apply to QTIP

property or Section 2041 power of appointment property22WealthCounsel, LLC

Page 23: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

• Section 1022 – Treatment of property acquired from a decedent dying after 12/31/2009.– 1022(c) –Additional $3M basis increase for “qualified

spousal property.” • Outright transfers to spouse or QTIP. • Spouse has a “qualified income interest.”• All income on at least an annual basis.• No person has a power to appoint to any person other than

spouse.• May not apply to general appointment trusts or even

survivor’s trust on a joint RLT.

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Page 24: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

Only “Property Acquired” from a decedent is entitled to a step-up in basis under § 1022(b) and (c).– IRC Section 1022(e).

• Not General Power of Appointment property.• Not Surviving-Spouse-via-QTIP property.• Not IRC Section 2036 or 2038 property.

i.e. Grantor dies during GRAT or QPRT.

• Not IRD assets (IRA accounts).• Not property received via gift within 3 years of death except

yes property received via gift within 3 years of death from spouse.

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Page 25: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

• The carryover basis report under § 6018 is required to be filed with the decedent’s final in come tax return. I.R.C. § 6075(a).

• The due date for filing this report may also be deferred up to 9 months after the date of enactment (December 17, 2010).− TRUIRJCA 2010 § 301(d)(1)(A).

• Draft of Form 8939 draft was released by IRS just before TRUIRJCA 2010.− IRS is collecting comments.− May be revised as a result of TRUIRJCA 2010.

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Page 26: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

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Page 27: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

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Page 28: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

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Page 29: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

• Factors to consider when making the decision for taxable estates:− Estate tax payable currently vs. the capital gain

tax on the future sale of assets.− Anticipated dates of sales of assets.− Ability to allocate basis adjustments up to the fair

market value at the date of death for assets that will likely be sold in the near future.

− Anticipated future capital gains rates (and ordinary income rates for “ordinary income property”).

− Weighing the present value of anticipated income tax costs against the current estate tax amount

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Page 30: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

Factors to consider when making the decision for taxable estates:− 35% estate tax or…

30

Income Tax Rates

Ordinary Income

Long Term Capital

Gains TaxOrdinary Income

Long Term Capital Gains

Medicare Surtax on Investment

Income

2010-2012 2010-2012 2013+ 2013+ 2013+

10% 0%

15% 0% 15% 15% 0%

25% 15% 28% 20% 0%

28% 15% 31% 20% 0%

33% 15% 36% 20% 3.8%

35% 15% 39.60% 20% 3.8%

Page 31: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

• Resolving potential disputes among heirs:− Whether to make the election?

− Where the marital deduction share goes to the spouse; and

− The non-marital deduction share goes to deceased spouse’s children.

− What property gets the limited basis increase?− Family agreement with court approval.− Pro rata allocation with court approval.

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Page 32: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

Fred dies, leaving $6.3M estate to Child.• Fred’s basis in the $6.3M estate is $5M.

– Estate tax calculation.• $6.3M estate - $5M exemption = $1.3M taxable estate.• $1.3M TE x 35% tax = $455,000 estate tax due.

– Income tax calculation.• $6.3M assets - $5M basis = $1.3M in gain.• Section 1022(b) Special Basis Allocation of $1.3M.• Child’s basis is $6.3M, so complete step-up in basis.

• Easy, choose carryover basis.

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Page 33: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis ElectionFred dies, leaving $8M estate with basis of $2M to wife Grace.– Estate tax calculation

• $8M estate – unlimited marital exemption = zero taxable estate = zero estate tax.

• Complete step-up in basis under Section 1014.• If left in QTIP, can make partial QTIP election to preserve $5M

exemption amount or possible disclaimer to remainder beneficiaries.

– Elect out of estate tax and into Section 1022• $8M assets - $2M basis = $6M in built in gain.• Only $4.3M of basis adjustment available; special basis allocation of

$1.3M plus spousal basis adjustment of $3M.• Adjusted basis of $6.3M vs. $8M basis with estate tax.

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Page 34: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

• Fred dies, leaving $9M estate with basis of $6M all LTC assets.• $3 million to Child A.

• H’s basis is $2 million.

• $6 million to Child B.• H’s basis is $4 million.

• Estate tax would be 35% x $4M = $1.4M.

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Page 35: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis Election

Fred dies, leaving $9M estate with basis of $6M all LTC assets (continued).• Carryover basis looks like easy answer, right?

• Adjusted basis of $7.3M ($6M + $1.3M).• LTC gain of $1.7M ($9M minus $7.3M).• Total income tax @ 15% LTCG = $255,000.• Total income tax @ 20% LTCG = $340,000.• Medicare Surtax @ 3.8% = $64,600.• Total between $314,600 and $404,600 vs. $1.4M.

• But Executor allocates basis of $1.3M to A or B.• All to A? All to B? ½ to each? 1/3 to A and 2/3 to B?• What if Executor is Child A or Mother of Child B?• Cost to complete and calculate Form 8939?

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Page 36: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Carryover Basis ElectionFred dies, leaving $20M estate with basis of $5M one half to wife Grace and one half to his children.– Estate tax calculation.

• All property receives full step-up in basis.

• $10M to wife – no estate tax.

• $8.75M to children - $10M minus $1.75M estate tax (($10M - $5M ) x 35%).

– Elect out of estate tax and into Section 1022.• $10M to wife – basis of $2.5M increased to $5.5M.

– Built in LTC gain of $4.5M vs. no built in LTC gain.

• $10M to children – basis of $2.5M increased to $3.8M.– Built in LTC gain of $6.2M vs. estate taxes of $1.75M.

• What if beneficiaries don’t plan to sell assets?

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Page 37: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

(GSTT)

Page 38: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

Section 302(c) – Modification of Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax.– GSTT rate for 2010 is 0%.– All other EGTRRA GSTT rules apply.– GST Exemption equal to the applicable credit

amount $5M.– GSTT rate after December 31, 2010 is 35%.– Subject to Sunset per EGTRRA Section 901 as of

December 31, 2012.

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Page 39: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

Planning with a larger GST Exemption.– Avoid temptation to believe that GSTT planning has

become irrelevant because of the $5M exemption.– Current $5M GSTT exemption makes it easy to

create dynasty trusts that will:• Be exempt from estate taxes; GSTT taxable distributions;

and GSTT taxable terminations.• Asset protected.• For as long as applicable RAP provision will allow.

– We don’t know how long the $5M GST Exemption will be with us.

• Subject to Sunset provisions.• Dynasty trust are designed to last a long time and further

modification is likely.39

Page 40: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

Planning with a larger GST Exemption.– GST Exemption used to be a very limited resource.– Sometimes it could be difficult to decide how to

best use and leverage this limited resource:• Multi-generational gifting trusts.• Multi-generational ILITs.• Multi-generational IDGTs.

– With larger GST Exemption our choices are less limited and easier to implement.

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Page 41: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

Designing Multi-Generational Trusts.– Design so that gifts to the trust are completed gifts.– Design to avoid inclusion in grantor’s estate.– Design to avoid estate tax in beneficiaries’ estates

by making sure that no beneficiary has a general power of appointment.

– Design to benefit multiple generations by using cascading trusts.

– Allocate sufficient GST Exemption to always have an inclusion ratio of zero.

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Page 42: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

• Summary of Multi-Generational Gifting Trust Strategy.– Create a multi-generational irrevocable trust.– Typically will use Crummey powers to qualify as

present interest gifts and use annual gift tax exclusion.

– With prior limited GST Exemption this was frequently considered to be a less efficient use of the GST Exemption because of lack of leveraging.

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Page 43: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

• Summary of Multi-Generational ILITs.– Create a multi-generational irrevocable trust.– Use gifts to purchase life insurance.– Typically will use Crummey powers to qualify as

present interest gifts and use annual gift tax exclusion.

• Frequently it was difficult to find enough Crummey beneficiaries to pay the annual premium.

• With increased gift tax exemption can use exemption to purchase a single premium policy.

– Before there may not have been sufficient GST Exemption to cover all of the premium payments.

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Page 44: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

• Summary of IDGT Strategy.– Create a multi-generational irrevocable trust.– Design so that transfers are completed gifts.– Designed to avoid estate tax inclusion in Grantor’s

estate.– Include provision(s) that cause the trust to be

deemed to be owned by the Grantor for income tax purposes without causing estate tax inclusion(IRC §§ 671 through 679).

– Allocate GST Exemption to any transfers so that IDGT has an inclusion ratio of zero.

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Page 45: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

• Power of IDGTs– Grantor taxed on income.

• Payment of taxes by Grantor not considered a gift.• Assets in IDGT grow faster when Grantor pays income taxes

– Sale of assets to an IDGT by the Grantor are ignored for income tax purposes.

• Estate freeze• Purchase of value adjusted family investment entities.

– Grantor trusts with same grantor can exchange properties without recognition of income, capital gains or capital loses (PLRs 200434012 and 200606027).

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Page 46: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Generation-SkippingTransfer Tax

• Now Easier to Overcome IDGT Limitations.– Limited amount of GST Exemption, limited amount

that can be transferred to IDGT and maintain inclusion ratio of zero.

– Sale of assets to an IDGT by the Grantor must be commercially reasonable.

• Seed money needed.• Personal guarantees.

– Increase in GST Exemption greatly increases IDGITs’ power and easy of use.

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Page 47: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Portability of Deceased Spouse’s

Unused Exclusion Amount(DSUEA)

Page 48: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Portability

• Requirements:– Married at time of death.– Death of spouse occurs after December 31, 2010.– Election to transfer any DSUEA must be made on

timely filed 706.– May only be transferred to a surviving spouse.– The DSUEA (or lack thereof) of the last deceased

spouse wipes out any DSUEA previously transferred to the surviving spouse by an earlier deceased spouse.

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Page 49: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Portability

• Additional Information:– For Estate and Gift tax purposes.– GST Exemption is not portable; any unused GST

Exemption cannot be transferred to a surviving spouse.

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Portability

• Query:– Must a surviving spouse die before December 31,

2012 to get the benefit of a DSUEA?– Does a DSUEA acquired before Sunset disappear

on December 31, 2012?

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Page 51: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Portability

• Example 1:– Paul and Grace are married and neither has made

any taxable gifts.– Paul dies in 2011 leaving his entire $3M estate to a

Bypass Trust. His executor makes an election on a timely filed federal estate tax return to permit Grace to use Paul’s unused exclusion amount.

– Result: Grace now has an applicable exclusion amount of $7M (Her $5M Basic Exclusion Amount plus $2M DSUEA from her deceased husband, Fred)

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Page 52: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Portability

• Example 2:– Same facts as example 1.– Grace marries Brad after Paul has died. Brad dies

in 2012. Brad left his entire $4M estate to his children. He has only $1M DSUEA to pass on to Grace.

– Consequence: The $2M DSUEA Grace previously received from Fred is trumped by Brad’s subsequent death.

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Page 53: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Portability

• Example 2 (Result):– If Brad’s executor makes an election on a timely

filed federal estate tax return to permit Grace to use Brad’s DSUEA, her applicable exclusion amount is $6M ($1M less than she had prior to Brad dying).

– If Brad’s executor does not make such an election or does not file an estate tax return, Grace’s applicable exclusion amount is limited to her basic exclusion amount of $5M ($2M less than she had prior to Brad dying).

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Page 54: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Portability

• Example 3:– Same facts as in Examples 1 and 2, except that Grace,

not Brad, dies in 2012.– Grace left her entire $3M estate to a Bypass Trust.

Therefore her DSUEA is $4M. (Grace’s $7M applicable exclusion amount minus the $3M left to the Bypass Trust.)

– If Grace’s executor makes an election on a timely filed federal estate tax return to permit Brad to use Grace’s unused exclusion amount, his applicable exclusion amount is $9m. (Brad’s Basic Exclusion Amount of $5M plus Grace’s $4M DSUEA.)

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Portability

Are Bypass Trusts Now Irrelevant?

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Portability

• Reasons to Consider Continued Use of Bypass Trusts:– Asset Protection.– Certainty.– Remarriage Protection.– Maximizing and Preserving GST Exemption.– Increase in Value Post Death.– State Estate Taxes.– Income Tax Shifting.

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Page 57: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Portability

• Reasons to Consider Continued Use of Bypass Trusts:– DSUEA is not indexed for inflation.– No 3-Year Statute of Limitation on 706 of deceased

spouse filed with DSUEA election.– Maximizing DSUEA upon remarriage (thereby

having the opportunity of sheltering $15M).– Portability may end on December 31, 2012.

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Page 58: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Portability

• What About Loss of Step-Up in Basis?– Capital gains taxes on growth of value of assets in

Bypass Trust are an issue.• Utilize language that permits a Trust Protector to grant the

surviving spouse a testamentary general power of appointment.

• Include language granting the surviving spouse a formula testamentary general power of appointment.

• Other capital gains tax deferral or avoidance tools can be used.

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Charitable Donationsfrom IRAs

Page 60: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Charitable Donations from IRA

• Sample client 1040 directing gift from IRA

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Charitable Donations from IRA

• Client Takes Distribution as Income; Charitable Deduction Limited to 50% AGI

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Charitable Donations from IRA

• Client Owes Income Tax

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Page 63: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Dealing withContinued Uncertainty

Page 64: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Dealing with Continued Uncertainty

• Title III– “Temporary Estate Tax Relief.” – What can we expect over the next two years?

• Definitely a political football.• The one aspect of TRUIRJCA targeted by House

Democrats.

– Possibilities:• Permanent extension of TRUIRJCA - $5M and 35% rate.• Permanent extension of EGTRRA 2009 - $3.5M and 45%

rate.• Sunset - $1M exemption graduated rates up to 55%• Permanent repeal.

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Page 65: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Dealing with Uncertainty

• Increased use of Trust Protectors.– Amendment power to deal with tax changes.– Statement of intent.

• Decanting Provisions.– Coordinate drafting with state law.– Statement of intent.

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Page 66: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Dealing with Uncertainty

• Authorize Trust Protector power to grant a beneficiary a general power of appointment.

With increase in exemption amount may be more advantageous to include property in beneficiary’s estate to receive step-up in basis.

• Include a formula testamentary general power of appointment.

Give the beneficiary a testamentary power to appoint to the creditor’s of the estate that portion of the trust property that would not be subject to estate tax because of beneficiary’s exemption amount.

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Dealing with Continued Uncertainty

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Decoupled states:− Fund Marital Share with sufficient property to reduce

both federal estate tax and state death taxes to lowest amount.

− Divide Marital Share into two QTIPs− QTIP one equals amount necessary to reduce federal estate tax

to lowest amount. Elect QTIP treatment for both federal and state purposes.

− QTIP two equals additional amount necessary to reduce state death taxes to lowest amount. Elect QTIP treatment only for state purposes.

− If separate QTIP elections not allowed, elect QTIP treatment for both federal and state purposes. Then rely on Rev. Proc. 2001-38.

Page 68: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Dealing with Continued Uncertainty

Contingency for Possible Repeal.– All to a QTIP.

• Partial QTIP election.• Disclaimer to a bypass trust.

– All to a bypass trust.– Percentage division into Marital and Non-Marital

Shares.

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Page 69: TRUIRJCA of 2010

Dealing with Uncertainty

• Terminating Engagement vs. Continued Engagement.

• Terminating the Engagement.– Recommended procedure by the general estate

planning community.– Well drafted termination letter.– Secure client’s signature.– Limit malpractice exposure by shifting responsibility

to client to deal with future changes.– What does that say to the client?

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Dealing with Uncertainty

• Terminating Engagement vs. Continued Engagement

• Terminating the EngagementQuery:

Does terminating the engagement really limit malpractice for a failure to anticipate change when there was a substantial likelihood of change at the time of the engagement?

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Dealing with Uncertainty

• Continued Engagement – a glimpse into the future?– A number of practitioners have implemented client

maintenance programs as a mechanism for continuing the engagement post signing.

– Query:Does continuing the engagement with clearly defined responsibilities on the part of both the law firm and the client provide a better means of dealing with future uncertainty and preventing malpractice?

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Benefits of Client Maintenance Program

• Increase likelihood the client’s estate planning objectives will be achieved.– What is the likelihood that a plan drafted 10 – 20

years ago and not updated meets a client’s current goals and current tax law?

– Opportunity to review funding and beneficiary designations.

• Decrease malpractice.– Stronger relationship with client.– Proactively dealing with change.

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Benefits of Client Maintenance Program

• A steady source of revenue.– Maintenance fees.– Additional planning opportunities.– Estate administration.– Planning for other family members.

• Increased value and marketability of your practice.

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Implementing a Client Maintenance Program

One size does not fit all.– Examine what others are doing.

• Successes.

• Failures.

– Determine and clearly define the elements.• Pricing.

• Your responsibilities.

• Client’s responsibilities and consequence of breach by client.

• Termination procedure for client breach and attorney initiated.

• Create systems

– Determine what will work for you.

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A Word of Caution

• Don’t let the “tax tail” wag the estate planning “dog.”– Working with clients to implement a plan for the

responsible transfer of wealth involves more than avoiding or reducing estate taxes.

– The non-tax reasons for estate planning more important than estate tax reasons.

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More than a Career Choice

• Not just Attorneys.– Not just legal technicians.– Not just document drafters.– Not just selling a product.

• Attorneys and Counselors at Law.

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A Calling

• You help clients use, preserve, protect and transfer their wealth responsibly . . .– To provide for themselves.– Their children.– And perpetuate their goals, dreams and values for

future generations.

• Our Mission at WealthCounsel is to help you.– Visit our website www.wealthcounsel.com to

download today’s presentation.

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