Alerts
Reminder: Additional Gifting Opportunities in 2012
August 30, 2012
Tax legislation passed at the end of 2010 temporarily lowered the federal estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer ("GST") tax rates to 35 percent; increased for 2011 and 2012 the federal estate tax exemption from $3.5 million to $5 million; increased the federal GST tax exemption from $1 million to $5 million and reunified the federal estate and gift tax exemptions so that an individual can gift up to $5 million through 2012 free of federal gift tax. Additionally, because such legislation indexed the federal estate, gift and GST tax exemptions for inflation, such exemptions have increased further, from $5 million to $5.12 million for 2012. In order to take advantage of the increased exemptions and low transfer tax rates, as well as historically low interest rates, you may wish to implement one or more of the planning techniques discussed in this Alert before the end of this year.[1]
Increased Exemptions, Low Tax Rates
You may wish to consider making substantial gifts this year, while transfer tax exemptions are high and transfer tax rates are low.
- Currently, married couples that fully utilized their federal gift tax exemption in 2011 by making aggregate gifts of $10 million, reduced by prior taxable gifts, have an additional $240,000 (and individuals have an additional $120,000) that they can give without paying any federal gift tax.
- Those who did not utilize their gift tax exemption in 2011 still have until December 31, 2012, when the tax legislation is scheduled to expire, to make aggregate gifts of up to $10.24 million for a married couple (up to $5.12 million for an individual), reduced by prior taxable gifts, without paying any federal gift tax. Whether such gifts make sense from a tax perspective will depend on your specific situation, including consideration of whether any state gift tax might apply. (The federal gift tax exemption is in addition to the following, which you can give each year free of federal gift tax: $13,000 to an unlimited number of people; unlimited payments of tuition directly to qualifying educational organizations; and unlimited payments directly to providers of medical care or medical insurance.)
- The federal gift tax rate is scheduled to revert to 55 percent in 2013 (from 35 percent now). To the extent that you wish to make gifts in excess of your current $5.12 million exemption, you should consider making these gifts this year while the federal gift tax rate is only 35 percent.
- Now is also a good time to consider transferring assets into a long-term GST exempt trust. A married couple establishing GST exempt trusts today can shield assets worth up to $10.24 million (plus all future appreciation) from wealth transfer taxes for approximately 100 years in New York or in perpetuity in certain other jurisdictions.
- By utilizing the balance of your remaining lifetime gift tax exemption, you may also save substantial state estate tax on your death. Since the majority of states do not impose a gift tax, any gifts made by residents of such states will not create a state gift tax liability. Many of these states (including New York), however, do impose an estate tax; therefore, to the extent that you reduce your estate by lifetime gifts, your estate will save state estate tax on these amounts. For example, if a New York resident who has not yet made any taxable gifts, gives away $5.12 million before the end of 2012, his estate will save approximately $460,000 in New York estate tax at his death as compared to the New York estate tax his estate would owe if he were to make such gifts at his death.
Historically Low Interest Rates
With IRS interest rates at near all-time lows, you may wish to consider estate planning techniques such as intra-family loans, GRATs and sales to irrevocable grantor trusts. These techniques generate the most transfer tax savings when IRS interest rates are low.
Review Wills and Revocable Trusts
Many Wills and revocable trusts include a provision creating a trust (an "exemption trust") that will be funded with the maximum amount that can pass free of federal estate or GST tax at the person’s death. Given the increased federal estate and GST tax exemption amounts for 2012 (i.e., $5.12 million), you should review your estate plan and your finances to determine whether it is appropriate for you and your spouse to fund your respective exemption trusts with the maximum exemption amount (or possibly a lesser amount), if the exemption remains at a high level. To arrive at such determination will require a case-by-case analysis based upon your financial, tax and personal circumstances.
Please contact your attorney at Schulte Roth & Zabel at your earliest convenience if you wish to discuss these or other gifting opportunities as they may apply to your specific financial and personal situation. These valuable transfer tax opportunities will expire at the end of 2012 and, in some instances, may be very beneficial to implement well in advance of that deadline.
[1] The tax laws discussed in this Alert apply only to persons who are citizens or residents of the United States. Additionally, the techniques mentioned are described in greater detail in SRZ's Nov. 4, 2011 Alert, Unique Gifting Opportunities Through the End of 2012.
This information has been prepared by Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and is presented without any representation or warranty as to its accuracy, completeness or timeliness. Transmission or receipt of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship with SRZ. Electronic mail or other communications with SRZ cannot be guaranteed to be confidential and will not (without SRZ agreement) create an attorney-client relationship with SRZ. Parties seeking advice should consult with legal counsel familiar with their particular circumstances. The contents of these materials may constitute attorney advertising under the regulations of various jurisdictions.
