BU - Estate Planning Flashcards
Ownership Titling: Separate or Individual
1 owner
asset is transferable with owner’s control
no automatic survivorship
100% probate exposed
100% included in gross estate
Ownership Titling: JTWROS
2 or more owners
transferable with out approval of JT
automatic survivorship at death of JT
not exposed to probate
50% of FMV if owners are spouses is included in gross estate
if owners are not spouses, then FMV x % of contribution
POA: non-durable
effective immediately until incapacitated
also used if a principal needs an agent to complete a task while on vacation
Ownership Titling: Tenancy by Entirety
2 owners; spouses
transferable with approval of JT
automatic survivorship to other owner
No probate
50% of FMV in gross estate
Ownership Titling: Tenancy in Common
Several owners
Transferable by each owner, separately and based on interest
No automatic survivorship, follows will or probate
exposed to probate, FMV of interest
FMV % of ownership is included in gross estate
Ownership Titling: Community Property
2 owners, spouses
transferable with both spouse’s approval
Automatic survivorship if titled WROS or Joint
Assets that do not transfer are exposed to probate
50% of the value of decedent’s interest is includible
POA: Durable
effective immediately until death
POA: general
effective immediately until disabled or incapacitated
authority to make broad array of decisions
POA: springing
effective when the principal is CONFIRMED incapacitated
can be timely
POA: special
agent only acts for a specific matter, ends when task is completed or time has expired
Step Up Basis Spousal JTWROS and Non-spousal JTWROS
Spouses split basis 50/50, and the surviving spouse receives full step up of dead spouse
non-spouses split basis based on % of contribution, the surviving tenants the dead tenants full step up
What is Testamentary Capacity (3)
The creator must know they are executing a will
The creator must be aware of what assets they own
The creator must know and remember their relationship with their beneficiaries
What causes a will to be invalid?
Fraud
The testator being subject to undue influence by someone benefiting from the will
Mistakes in the will clauses
Will not properly executed
Types of Will
Mutual will - agreement with another person to dispose of certain property interest
Reciprocal Will - each person designates all property be distributed to the other
Holographic Will - handwritten will
Nuncupative Will - oral will
How to avoid probate
Trusts
Law - JTWROS, Tenancy by the Entirety, joint bank, POD/TOD, life estates
Contract - named beneficiaries on insurance policies, retirement, pension, annuities
Per Capita
Assets distributed evenly amount all survivors
Per Capita by Generation
Assets distributed evenly by generations (similar to grandma’s)
Per Stirpes
Transferred to a deceased beneficiary’s children evenly
AVD
To receive lower valuation of the estate - reducing taxation
Executor makes the election
Valuation dates is 6 months from death
Selected 1 year of return filing - including extensions
Used on form 706
Assets excluded from AVD
Depreciating assets whose value declines over time, such as cars, patents, life estates and remainder interests
Property transferred via Will & subject to probate
Solely owned personal or real property
Tenancy in Common
Community Property
Property passing from the will into a testamentary trust
Property transferred by a pour over will into a trust
Life ins policy owned by the decedent who was not the insured
Property not transferred by will & subject to probate
Intestate property
Life ins proceeds payable to decedent’s estate
Homestead and exempt property allowances
Annual Exclusions apply only to present interest gifts
- Present gifts in Trusts: irrevocable trust and beneficiary will immediately receive income for life or certain term
- Present gifts to Minors:
UGMA/UTMA
529 Plans
2503(b) trust (multiple beneficiaries)
2503(c) trust (one beneficiary, income accumulates until 21)*exception
Future Interest Gifts Examples - do not apply for annual exclusion
Remainder interest in property
Trust that accumulates income (except 2503(c))
Non-income producing property in trusts: unless the trustee can sell and buy income producing property
Trust has a sprinkle or spray provision
Gift Splitting
Spouses only & would apply to ALL gifts that calendar year
Form 709 is filed separately by each spouse if the split value exceeds the annual exclusion;
Form 709 is filed by the donor spouse if the split gifts are less than the annual exclusion (ex: 20K), and the other shows “consent”
Form 709 is not filed if the entire gift is less than the annual exclusion
Qualified Disclaimers & Requirements
Treated as if the property went directly from the original transferor to the person who ended up receiving the property
Requirements: refusal or rejection in writing
The writing must be received no later than nine months after the later of:
- the date on which the transfer creating the interest is made, or
- the date the person disclaiming reaches age 21.
- The person disclaiming must not have accepted the property interest or any benefits of the property.
- Someone other than the disclaimant receives the disclaimed property interest. The person making the disclaimer cannot in any way influence the potential recipient of the property.
When to use a qualified disclaimer
Transfers involving large gifts
Tax-free to the contingent donee
Spouse is donee and doesn’t want the gift
You cannot benefit from the gifted property first, and then elect to treat the property as a qualified disclaimer. The election to use a qualified disclaimer to transfer the property is permanent and cannot be undone.
If gifted property with gains…
The donee will assume the donor’s basis & holding period
If gift taxes are paid by donor, there is a gift tax adjustment made to the donee’s basis
Gift tax adjustment = (FMV-OG basis / FMV or FMV-annual exclusion) x gift tax pd + basis
If gifted with a loss…
Wait and see what happens with the final sale
Need to know FMV on date of gift, original basis and final sale price
If Final Sale > original basis → original basis and holding period are used
If Final Sale < FMV on date of gift → FMV and date of gift are used
If Final Sale is between original basis & FMV on date of gift → no gain or loss
When can you elect ADV
Has to be elected by the executor
When the ADV will reduce gross estate value AND reduce gross estate tax and GSTT
Form 706 has to be filed by 1 year of date of death
Transfers with no limits (2)
Medical bills paid directly to the medical facility
Tuition paid directly to the school
Calculating Taxable Estate
Gross Estate - expenses, debts, taxes losses
Adj. Gross Estate - marital deduction - charitable deduction
=Taxable Estate
Generation Skipping Transfer
Skip person is 2 or more generations below the transferor GST task is addition to gift tax and estate tax GSTT annual exclusion of $16k and exemption of $12MM Flat tax is 40%
3 Types of GST
Direct skips
Taxable Distributions
Taxable Terminations
Direct Skips
Subject to an estate and gift tax - direct, no trusts involved
Transferor pays GST tax
Taxable Distributions
A distribution of income or corpus from a trust to a skip person, not otherwise subject to estate or gift tax G1 creates trust and G3 receives income
Transferee pay GST
Taxable Termination
Death, lapse of time, release of power or an interest in property held in a trust resulting in a skip person holding all the interest in the trust
G1 creates trust, G2 can receive income, upon G2’s death, the G3s hold all the interest
Trustee pays GST
Federal Estate Tax Calculation Steps (5)
- Determine the value of the gross estate (everything owned and owed)
- Arrive at the adjusted gross estate
- Determining the taxable estate
- Calculating the federal estate tax payable before credits
- Apply allowable credits to arrive at the net federal estate tax
What form used for estate taxes
Form 706 Filed by the executor and due within 9 months of the death
$12MM exclusion = $4.7M in taxes
Estate Formula
Gross Estate
- Expenses, debts, taxes & losses
Adjusted Gross Estate
- Marital deduction
- Charitable deduction
Taxable Estate