Estate Flashcards
What kinds of property are considered separate in a community property state?
- Income earned by spouses prior to marriage
- Property received as a gift by one spouse
- Property inherited by one spouse
- Interest earned on separate assets held by one spouse as sole owner
What is the main tax advantage of community property?
It gets a full step-up in basis (LTG property, not ordinary income property) in the entire property if at least one-half of the whole property is includible in the deceased spouse’s gross estate.
What is quasi-community property?
Property that would have been community property except for the fact it was acquired while the couple was living in a noncommunity property state.
Is Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship property (JTWROS) included in the probate estate of the decedent?
No
How is JTWROS property (nonspouses) taxed when the first owner dies?
The full value of JTWROS is included in the gross estate of the first tenant to die unless the survivor can establish ownership (consideration) of some portion of the property before joint tenancy was created.
How is JTWROS property held by spouses taxed when the first owner dies?
If a married couple are the only joint tenants, when the first spouse dies, his or her gross estate must include one half of the property’s FMV as of the date of death.
What is the surviving spouse’s basis in property that was JTWROS after one spouse dies?
It is 1/2 of the old basis (regardless of who “paid”) plus 1/2 of the date of death value.
Can JTWROS property be disclaimed?
Yes
What is Tenancy by the Entirety
Just like JTWROS but can only be held by spouses
Can Tenancy by the Entirety property be disclaimed?
No. Severance can only occur with the mutual consent of both parties
What is the benefit of Tenancy by Entirety?
In most states, it is protected from the claims of each spouse’s separate creditors but are not protected from the claims of both spouses’ joint creditors.
Can Tenancy in Common property be disclaimed?
Yes
What kind of title does a Trustee hold?
Legal title
Explain Elective Share
In almost all states, a surviving spouse who has not inherited a certain minimum amount provided by state law has a right to take a share of the deceased spouse’s estate.
What is the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act (USDA)
It provides that any people who die within 120 hours of each other, by law, are deemed to predecease each other.
What is a Totten Trust?
A revocable trust in a bank account in which the depositor is named “trustee” for another’s benefit. The depositor retains the right of withdrawal until death. When the depositor dies, the balance passes to the beneficiary.
Can a will be revoked if it is intentionally destroyed or shredded?
Yes
What is a holographic will?
One that is in the testator’s handwriting and signed. A holographic will can be accepted by courts.
What is a nuncupative will?
An oral will. It must be made in the presence of witnesses - generally during a final illness or combat situation.
What is the key feature of a testamentary trust?
It does not automatically take effect upon the death of a decedent. It becomes effective only if the will creating the testamentary trust is admitted to probate. But a testamentary trust does not go through probate.
What transfers made within three years of death are included in the gross estate of the transferor?
- Certain transfers of life insurance by the insured
2. Any gift TAX paid out-of-pocket on gifts within three years of death (included under the gross-up rule)
Are survivor annuities included in a decedent’s gross estate?
If the survivor is to receive periodic payments (rather than a lump sum) the present value of the future payments is included in the gross estate.
Are life estates included in a decedent’s gross estate?
A life estate is not included in a decedent’s gross estate, unless it is a retained life estate - then it is.
What three deductions are taken from the adjusted gross estate to arrive at the taxable estate?
- Marital Deduction
- Charitable Deduction
- State Death Taxes
What is added back to the Taxable Estate to arrive at the Tentative Tax Base?
Taxable Gifts
What is the Prior Transfer Credit?
A credit given when property is included in the transferor’s taxable estate (paying tax) and the transferee dies within 10 years of the transferor (also paying tax).
What is a Five or Five Power?
A “power” to take either $5,000 or 5% of a trust. It that is the limit of assets that can be taken, then the assets of the trust are not included in the “power holder’s” estate.
True or False?
A special power may not be exercised in favor of the holder or the financial equivalent of the holder. (A holder’s child is not considered the financial equivalent of the holder.)
True
Is a life estate included in a decedent’s gross estate?
No, because the decedent transfers nothing at death.
Is a deathbed check mailed to a relative considered a gift?
It may not be if the check does not clear before the donor’s death. If funds don’t clear, then it has not been completed.
When a life insurance policy is given as a gift, what is the gift tax based on?
The replacement value of that policy.
What are gifting strategies for closely-held businesses?
Family Limited Partnerships, LLCs or gifting closely-held stock will reduce the value of the business interest in the donor’s estate (but watch out for gifts of stock in a closely held corporation - it may disqualify the state from Section 303 or Section 6166 elections.
True or False?
Gifts of a future interest do not qualify for the gift tax exclusion?
True
What are the exceptions to the rule about future interests?
- Gifts in trust of future interests on behalf of minors
- 2503(c) trusts
- Crummey trusts
- 529 plans
What is the annual exclusion for a gift to a noncitizen spouse?
$155,000
What is the value of the gift for gift tax purposes?
The FMV on the date of the gift
How is the donee’s basis calculated for income tax purposes?
- If the FMV on the date of the gift is greater than the donor’s adjusted basis, then the donee’s basis is equal to the donor’s basis increased by any gift tax PAID by the donor that is attributable to the appreciation (must be appreciated property to get increased basis).
- If the FMV on the date of the gift is less than the donor’s adjusted basis, then a loss is measured using the FMV on the date of the gift. A gain is measured using the donor’s basis.
- If the sale price of the gift is between the donor’s basis and the FMV on the date of the gift, neither gain nor loss is recognized.
When will the donor of a gift recognize a gain?
When he is gifting property subject to indebtedness that is greater than its cost to the donor. Gain = excess of debt over basis.
When is a gift tax Form 709 required?
- Any year you gift more than $15,000 to any non-spouse
- Whenever you make a gift of a future interest in any amount
- When a gift is made for which spouses want to elect gift splitting. (Two returns will need to be filed if, after the split, the values exceed the annual exclusion.)
Does a gift tax return need to be filed to “split” a gift is it is community property or JTWROS?
No. It is considered one-half owned.
When is there a gift of money in a joint tenancy bank account?
When the funds are withdrawn by the donee, not upon creation.
When is there a gift of money in a joint tenancy U.S. Savings bond?
When the bond is redeemed.
What are the five types of exempt gifts?
- qualified payments made directly to an educational institution for tuition
- qualified payments made directly to a medical provider
- gifts to a spouse
- gifts to a qualified charity
- gifts to the President of the U.S.
To be split a gift, do you need to be married at the time of the gift, or when you file your return?
At the time the gift is made.
How are charitable contributions of a life insurance policy valued for the income tax deduction?
It is the cash value of the policy or the cost basis, whichever is less (and then limited by AGI) because life insurance is treated as an ordinary income asset, not a LTCG asset that can be valued at FMV for charitable deduction purposes.