IRS Permits Account Transcripts to Replace Estate Tax Closing Letters
Because it no longer automatically issues an estate tax closing letter, the IRS announced that an account transcript can substitute for a closing letter.
Estates
IRS Permits Same-Sex Couples to Recalculate Marital Exclusion Amounts
The IRS spelled out the procedures same-sex married couples should use to recalculate the transfer-tax treatment for property transferred to spouses before the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Account Transcripts Can Substitute for Estate Tax Closing Letters
Account transcripts that contain a specific transaction code and wording can serve as the equivalent of an estate tax closing letter.
Theft Loss Eligibility Is Broader for Estates Than for Individuals
For estates, fraud loss need only to have arisen from theft to qualify for a theft deduction.
2017 Inflation Adjustments and Tax Tables for 2018 Filing Season Released
IRS issued the annual inflation adjustments for 2017 for more than 50 tax provisions as well as the 2017 tax rate tables for individuals and estates and trusts.
Estate Can Take Theft Loss Deduction Related to Madoff Ponzi Scheme
An estate could take a theft loss deduction where a Ponzi scheme rendered an interest in an LLC the estate owned worthless.
QTIP Election Permitted Together With Portability
The IRS will treat a QTIP election as valid in certain situations, including where an executor of an estate makes a portability election to transfer the decedent’s unused applicable exclusion amount.
Understanding Qualified Domestic Trusts and Portability
This article discuses how transfer-tax rules for noncitizen spouses differ from the transfer-tax rules that apply to spouses who are U.S. citizens or residents.
Tax Planning Opportunities for Tax Attributes and the Decedent’s Final Tax Return
Careful and thoughtful advanced planning can result in substantial tax savings.
Consistent Basis Reporting Between Estates and Beneficiaries
Executors and practitioners will have to deal with questions and inconsistencies until the IRS addresses them.
IRS Issues 2017 Inflation Adjustments for Many Tax Provisions
The IRS issued its annual revenue procedure containing inflation-adjusted amounts for the 2017 tax year, affecting over 50 Code provisions, as well as the new tax rate tables for individuals and estates and trusts.
Recent Developments in Estate Planning: Part 2
This is the second part of a two-part article examining developments in estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax, and trust income tax.
Estate Valuation Discounts Would Be Prohibited Under Proposed Regulations
The IRS issued long-awaited proposed regulations designed to prevent taxpayers from lowering the estate and gift tax value of transferred assets.
Late Portability Elections After the Expiration of Rev. Proc. 2014-18
This item discusses relief available to the executor of an estate that fails to elect portability by failing to timely file an estate tax return.
Guidance Allows QTIP Election Where Executor Elects Portability
The IRS removed a prohibition on making a qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) election when the election would have been null and void because the estate had a zero estate tax liability.
How the COD Rules Apply to Grantor Trusts and Disregarded Entities
New regulations provide rules for determining who is the “taxpayer” for purposes of applying the Sec. 108 discharge-of-indebtedness rules to a grantor trust or disregarded entity.
Recent Developments in Estate Planning: Part 1
This is the first in a two-part series examining developments in estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax and trust income tax. Part 1 discusses legislative and gift and estate tax developments.
Proposed Regulations Would Affect Estate Valuation Discounts
The IRS issued long-awaited proposed regulations designed to prevent taxpayers from lowering the estate and gift tax value of transferred assets.
Post Initial Trust Term QPRT Considerations
The end of a QPRT’s initial trust term brings with it many potential issues.
Final Regulations Clarify COD Rules for Grantor Trusts and Disregarded Entities
The IRS finalized regulations that provide rules for determining who is the “taxpayer” for purposes of applying the Sec. 108 discharge-of-indebtedness rules to a grantor trust or disregarded entity.
