MONARCH ACCOUNTING GROUP
  • Home
  • Solutions
    • CFO Services
    • Cloud ACCOUNTING
    • Bookkeeping Services
    • QuickBooks Training
    • Income Taxes
    • Other Services
  • Resources
    • Tax Rates
    • SmartVault
    • Tax Tips
    • Tax Organizer
    • Record Retention Schedule
  • Reviews
  • Meet Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Estate Taxes: What EVERYONE Should Know

6/15/2020

0 Comments

 
Most taxpayers ignore the federal estate tax, thinking they will never be touched by it. Unfortunately, you do this at your own peril. Why? Because states often have this tax AND politicians have a habit of frequently changing the rules. The best approach for all taxpayers is to understand the basics of the estate tax. Here is a quick summary of common questions you should be able to answer.
 
Q. Who pays estate taxes?
A. The tax is levied against the estate of a deceased person, which is considered a separate legal entity by the IRS. But the surviving family is effectively responsible for paying the estate tax because it cuts into their inheritance.
 
Q. What is included in the taxable estate?
A. Your estate includes personal property owned at the time of death, such as a home, cars, cash, collectibles and investments. Investments include securities, real estate, bank accounts and retirement accounts. The total taxable estate is the value of these assets minus deductible expenses and debts.
 
Q. How are assets valued?
A. The value for tax purposes is generally the property’s fair market value (FMV) on the date of death. Therefore, the basis for computing gain or loss is stepped up to this value. For example, if Diane Monet paid $10,000 for a painting and it’s worth $25,000 at her death, the estate value is $25,000. There are other valuation options in addition to FMV, so this area can get complicated in a hurry.
 
Q. How is the estate tax calculated?
A. For federal purposes, the tax is 40% of assets in excess of the federal exemption. The federal exemption for 2020 is $11.58 million. The exemption amount is scheduled to decrease to $5 million in 2026. There continues to be an ongoing debate over what this federal exemption amount should be, so it is a good idea to pay attention to future discussions out of Washington, D.C. to understand how it could impact your estate.
 
Q. Can a married couple double the exemption?
A. Yes. If handled correctly, a couple can effectively shelter up to $23.16 million ($11.58 million times 2) from federal tax in 2020. Remember, this amount is scheduled to be dramatically reduced in 2026.
 
Q. What is an inheritance tax?
A. Not to be confused with an estate tax, an inheritance tax is paid by those who receive the money from the estate of the person who dies. While there is no federal inheritance tax, six states (Iowa, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Kentucky, Nebraska and Maryland) could tax you if you inherit money.
 
Q. What about state taxes?
A. Eight states and the District of Columbia currently have an estate tax. The exemption amounts in these states vary, with one as low as $1 million! If you live in one of these areas you better know the rules and have a plan: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon and Washington.
 
Q. How are gifts to others handled?
A. When you give a gift to someone, the federal government generally does not care. But when the value of all gifts to one person in a given year exceed an annual threshold, you must report this to the federal government. This threshold in 2020 is $15,000. The gift tax rules are currently incorporated into the estate tax system. So careful planning is required in this area, especially if you are providing gifts to help finance various items like someone else's education.
 
Does this cover everything about estate taxes? Not by a long shot. But hopefully by understanding some of the basics, you will have a better idea of knowing when to ask for help.

"Tax Tips" are published to provide current tax information, tax-cutting suggestions, and tax reminders. If you would like more information on anything in "Tax Tips," or if you'd like to be on our mailing list to receive other tax information from time to time, please contact our office.
 
The tax information contained in this site is of a general nature and should not be acted upon in your specific situation without further details and/or professional assistance.
 
We are trusted CPA advisors servicing Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Willowbrook, Darien, Naperville, and all Chicagoland area. 

Do you need assistance with your business and/or personal tax returns? Would you like to have a trusted source for your accounting, allowing you additional time to focus on increasing your business? Do you use QuickBooks, or plan to in the future, for your accounting? We include these in all our service packages, customized to fit your personal or business needs.   
 
We are currently accepting new clients. Your initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our experienced staff is available to help you streamline your accounting, giving you more free time for yourself. Set up an appointment today by calling (630) 320-3720 or email us at info@monarchaccountinggroup.com. 
 
For more free resources, such as Tax Rates, Tax Organizers, and Record Retention Schedules, access our website www.monarchaccountinggroup.com.

Monarch Accounting Group, Inc
145 Tower Drive, Suite 4
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
Phone (630) 320-3720

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    BLOG

    To better serve our clients and friends, to keep you up-to-date and informed, our blog is a resource for tax tips and overall accounting related articles. We hope you find this useful!


    CATEGORIES​

    All
    Business Owners: Must Know
    IRS Tax Tip
    Monthly Newsletter
    Tax Return: Must Know
    Tax Tip Of The Week


    ARCHIVES

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Phone: (630) 320-3720

Monarch Accounting Group Inc
145 Tower Drive, Suite 4
Burr Ridge, IL 60527-7836
Email: Info@MonarchAccountingGroup.com


Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • Solutions
    • CFO Services
    • Cloud ACCOUNTING
    • Bookkeeping Services
    • QuickBooks Training
    • Income Taxes
    • Other Services
  • Resources
    • Tax Rates
    • SmartVault
    • Tax Tips
    • Tax Organizer
    • Record Retention Schedule
  • Reviews
  • Meet Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us