Update on the Estate Tax for MDs and Us All

Senate Refuses Repeal

By Children’s Home Society of Florida Foundation

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On July 21, 2010, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) offered an amendment to the unemployment bill that would repeal the estate tax. Sen. DeMint noted that the White House is creating a difficult environment for “small businesses that are already facing higher income taxes and higher investment taxes.”

The Proposal

The proposed amendment was defeated on a vote of 39-59. Democratic Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) supported the abolition of the estate tax. Republican Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME) and George Voinovich (R-OH) opposed the abolition of estate tax.

Assessment

Sen. Lincoln and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) continue to advocate an estate tax compromise. Under the compromise, the $3.5 million exemption from 2009 would be increased over 10 years to $5 million and the top 45% estate tax rate would be reduced to 35% over that same time frame.

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Editor’s Note: The political pressure on the Senate continues to rise. Following the March death of Houston oilman Dan Duncan with a $9 billion estate, the news media noted that the government had lost $2 to $3 billion on that estate alone. When New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner passed away with an estimated $1.1 billion estate, news media suggested that he hit a “home run” by dying in 2010 with no estate tax. While action is not likely before the election, there now seem to be two general patterns to a potential Senate compromise. First, the estate tax exemption will start at $3.5 million and increase to a higher number over ten years. Second, the estate tax rate will begin at 45% and decrease again over that same decade. The House majority has held strongly to a $3.5 million exemption and 45% top tax rate, so the final compromise would also need to reflect their preferences.

Conclusion

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Slow, Steady Progress on Estate Tax and Extenders

Increased Exemption Possible?
By Robert Giese
bob.giese@chsfl.org

Senate Finance Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) has been in intensive negotiations with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) over the estate tax. Sen. Kyl and Sen. Lincoln have proposed increasing the $3.5 million exemption that was applicable in 2009 to $5 million per person. In addition, the previous estate tax rate of 45% would be reduced to 35%.

Ongoing Negotiations

Negotiations have been ongoing for several weeks. On May 11, 2010, Sen. Kyl reported, “We have an agreement about how we would like to move forward and an agreement on many of the offsets.” He continued by observing that the offsets are still subject to discussion. It is estimated that the offsets will be from $60 billion to $80 billion.

An Option

While the details of the proposed compromise have not been released, several aides suggested that it may include an estate tax option in 2010. If the option is enacted, lawyers, financial and estate planners could choose either the repeal of estate tax and lose part of the step-up in basis under the 2010 rules or select the new compromise estate exemption and estate tax rate.

Assessment

It may occur that the tax extenders and the estate tax are combined in one legislative bill. Senate Budget Chair Kent Conrad (D-ND) observed this week, “You have got 13 legislative weeks. It seems to me it would be wise to put all the tax measures together.”

Conclusion

The House proposal for the offsets for the tax extenders (including the IRA charitable rollover) is to change the “carried interests” of hedge fund managers from being taxed at capital gain rates to ordinary rates. It now is possible that the change in the law will occur, but it may be phased in over a number of years.

Editor’s Note: The Senate continues to attempt to complete work on the estate tax and the tax extenders by early June. The estate planning community and the charitable community are both hopeful that the Senate will resolve the current great uncertainty in planning by passing compromise legislation in both areas.

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