Once Removed Episode 18: The Reciprocal Trust Doctrine
A large part of business sucession planning is structuring the transfer of business ownership. While outright transfers can be less complex, transferring ownership in trust can provide practical benefits that are worth...more
Business succession planning and estate planning are often linked together, particularly in the case of closely held family businesses. In the case of a shareholder who wishes to pass along their shares of an S corporation as...more
The May 2025 Section 7520 rate for use with estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs, QPRTs and GRATs is 5.00%, which is the same as the April 2025 Section 7520 rate...more
The April 2025 Section 7520 rate for use with estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs, QPRTs and GRATs is 5.00%, which is 0.40% less than the March 2025 rate. The April applicable federal rate (“AFR”) for use with a...more
February 2025 Interest Rates for GRATs, Sales to Defective Grantor Trusts, Intra-Family Loans and Split Interest Charitable Trusts - The February applicable federal rate (“AFR”) for use with a sale to a defective grantor...more
As 2024 quickly comes to a close, the new year will bring a change in the presidency, a new Congress, and potential changes to policies and laws that could impact individuals of all wealth levels. Going into the election,...more
On this episode of “Splitting Heirs,” Warren K. Racusin welcomes back Sharon L. Klein, President of Family Wealth for the Eastern US Region of Wilmington Trust Company and member of the Estate Planning Hall of Fame, to...more
This CLE/CPE webinar will provide estate planners insight on recently issued IRS guidance regarding basis adjustments for irrevocable grantor trusts. The panelist will discuss key items and challenges stemming from Revenue...more
This podcast often discusses the elements of a trust, and how to grant access, control and flexibility to beneficiaries and trustees. But for tax and other purposes, the donor typically cannot retain those kinds of powers. ...more
Although the IRS is now on high alert for wealthy individuals, new and existing planning opportunities are available, such as tax-free gifts and other advantageous planning. Wealthy individuals and families should take...more
Grantor trusts allow for tax deductions on income generated by trust assets whereas non-grantor trusts do not allow for these deductions. It is crucial for people to carefully decide which type of trust is best for their...more
A family vacation home offers an escape from the stresses of everyday life, and an opportunity for bonding. Parents return to their vacation homes year after year, creating memories with their children and grandchildren. If...more
Trusts come in many variations, rendering them often difficult for non-attorneys to follow and comprehend. Indeed, this variation can often be seen in the nomenclature used for trust arrangements, which includes terms such...more
The May Section 7520 rate for use with estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs, QPRTs and GRATs is 3.0%, a sharp increase from the April rate of 2.2%. The May applicable federal rate (“AFR”) for use with a sale to a...more
Under the Internal Revenue Code’s “grantor trust” rules, the grantor of a trust may be treated as the “owner” of all or part of the trust. As such, the grantor is taxed on the trust’s income and reports its deductions...more
You likely are aware, from the news and our prior communications, that Congress currently is considering proposals that may have a significant impact on many estate plans. Although we still cannot be certain which, if any, of...more
Taxpayers have long utilized trust arrangements for the transfer of wealth to beneficiaries or for the protection of assets from creditors. Generally, there is nothing nefarious about these types of arrangements. Rather,...more
In the recent case of Heiting v. United States, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals denied the taxpayer’s claim-of-right deduction pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 1341. The case stemmed from the taxpayer’s attempt...more
Federal interest rates increased slightly for November of 2021. The November applicable federal rate ("AFR") for use with a sale to a defective grantor trust, self-canceling installment note ("SCIN") or intra-family loan with...more
Certain revenue-raising proposals that would have affected the transfer tax regime and estate planning of high-net-worth individuals and trusts, which were included in the prior proposed bill in the House of Representatives,...more
The U.S. House of Representatives bill released last month proposes several changes to the current rules governing trusts where the grantor pays the income tax, but the value of which is not included in the grantor’s estate...more
Act Now Before the Window of Opportunity Closes - By now you have probably heard that the House Ways and Means Committee introduced legislation a few weeks ago (see Let the Estate Tax Planning Games Begin - But Where Will...more
On September 10, 2021, the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means released a draft of proposed legislation that, if enacted into law, would reduce the estate tax exemption and significantly limit the effectiveness of certain...more
The U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means’ tax proposals would significantly impact estate planning for high net worth individuals if enacted. Gift, estate and GST exemption amounts would be decreased; grantor trusts would...more
The House Committee on Ways and Means has proposed a tax plan intended to fund President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" $3.5 trillion infrastructure program. Among the many changes in this proposed tax plan are three that...more