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Form 706 Compliance Issues for Estates Anticipating Challenges With Includable Property, Tax Calculations, Valuation Elections and More
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013, 1:00-2:50 pm Eastern
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Form 706 Compliance Issues for Estates Seminar
Jerome Deener, Fox Rothschild
May 7, 2013
Yahne Miorini, Miorini Law
Today’s Program
Overview Of Federal Estate Tax Concepts
[Yahne Miorini]
Determining Includable Property
[Jerome Deener]
Deductions And Credits
[Yahne Miorini]
Portability Elections
[Jerome Deener]
Impacts Of State Laws And Death Taxes, Wills And Trusts
[Yahne Miorini]
Frequent Estate Tax Audit Red Flags
[Jerome Deener]
Non-Resident/Non-Citizen, And Non-Citizen 706 Issues
[Yahne Miorini]
Slide 8 – Slide 18
Slide 130 – Slide 145
Slide 19 – Slide 39
Slide 40 – Slide 66
Slide 67 – Slide 120
Slide 121 – Slide 127
Slide 128 – Slide 129
Notice
ANY TAX ADVICE IN THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN BY
THE SPEAKERS’ FIRMS TO BE USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, BY A CLIENT OR ANY
OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF (i) AVOIDING PENALTIES THAT
MAY BE IMPOSED ON ANY TAXPAYER OR (ii) PROMOTING, MARKETING OR
RECOMMENDING TO ANOTHER PARTY ANY MATTERS ADDRESSED HEREIN.
You (and your employees, representatives, or agents) may disclose to any and all persons,
without limitation, the tax treatment or tax structure, or both, of any transaction
described in the associated materials we provide to you, including, but not limited to,
any tax opinions, memoranda, or other tax analyses contained in those materials.
The information contained herein is of a general nature and based on authorities that are
subject to change. Applicability of the information to specific situations should be
determined through consultation with your tax adviser.
6
OVERVIEW OF FEDERAL ESTATE TAX CONCEPTS
Yahne Miorini, Miorini Law
The American Taxpayer Relief Act Of 2012
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the Cliff Bill) ends the
worries of clawback risk.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act avoids draconian automatic
sunset provisions that were scheduled to take effect after 2012
under the Bush-era tax cuts in the Economic Growth and Tax
Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) and the Jobs and
Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRRA) (both as
extended by subsequent legislation, including the Tax Relief,
Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of
2010 (2010 Tax Relief Act).
8
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Cont.)
• Permanent
• Unification of the estate and gift tax
• Portability
• Tax rate is increased from 35% to 40%.
• Repeal of the surcharge on estates larger than $10
million
• Exclusion is made at $5 million in 2011, indexed with inflation
• 2013: $5.25 million
• Same exclusion for GST tax
9
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Cont.)
• Deduction for state death taxes remains the same = a deduction
• Before 2005, a credit was allowed against the federal estate
tax for state estate, inheritance, legacy, or succession taxes.
EGTRRA repealed the state death tax credit for decedents
dying after 2004 and replaced the credit with a deduction.
• Extensions of provisions for:
• Qualified conservation easements: The modifications to the
exclusion for qualified conservation easements are
permanently extended.
• Qualified family owned business interests (QFOBIs):
Permanent repeal of the estate tax deduction
• Installment payment of estate tax for closely held businesses
10
Qualified Conservation Easements
• Exclusion is available to any otherwise qualifying real property
without regard to the distance requirement IRC Sect.
2031(c)(8)(A)).
• The date to be used for determining the values to calculate the
exclusion is the date of contribution. IRC Sect. 2031(c)(2)
11
QFOBI
• A qualified family owned business interest is an interest in
trade or business with a principal place of business in the U.S.,
the ownership of which is held:
(1) At least 50% by one family,
(2) 70% by two families, or
(3) 90% by three families.
• If the interest was held by more than one family, the
decedent’s family must have owned at least 30% of the trade or
business.
12
QFOBI (Cont.)
Recapture events (IRC Sect. 2057(f)(2) – Watch out!
• Recapture tax provisions are still applicable if a specified recapture
event occurs within the 10-year period following the decedent’s death
and before the death of the qualified heir.
• Last day of entitlement to elect QFOBI as 12/31/2004 (DOD).
• Recapture tax means that an additional tax is imposed if there is a
recapture event.
• Recapture events are that the qualified heir:
• Ceases to meet the material participation requirements
• Disposes of any portion of his or her interest in the family-
owned business outside of family members
• Loses citizenship
• Moves the principal place of business outside of the U.S.
13
Installment Payments
• Deferred payment of estate tax for closely held business is
made permanent.
• Closely held business: Number of partners or
shareholders does not exceed 45 (prior to EGTRRA, the
maximum number was 15).
― IRC Sect 6166(b)(1)(B)(ii); 6166(b)(1)(C)(ii);
6166(b)(9)(B)(iii)(I);
• Entity must be engaged in an active trade or business.
• Election is not available for passive assets.
• If decedent has several closely held businesses, it will
be treated as one if 20% or more of the total value of
each one is included in the decedent’s gross estate.
14
Installment Payments (Cont.)
• Stocks of the holding company must be non-readily tradable to
qualify for purposes of the installment payment rules has been
made permanent.
• Installment payments:
• Five years
• 2% interest
15
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Cont.)
• GST tax: Extension of number of GST tax–related provisions scheduled
to expire after 2012
• GST deemed allocation and retroactive allocation provisions
• Clarification of valuation rules with respect to the
determination of the inclusion ratio for GST tax purposes
• Provisions allowing for a qualified severance of a trust for
purposes of the GST tax
• Relief from late GST allocations and elections
(See
http://www.plantemoran.com/perspectives/articles/2012/Page
s/congress-approves-eleventh-hour-agreement-to-avert-fiscal-
cliff.aspx)
16
New Tax Rates For 2013
• 2013 annual exclusion: $14,000
• 2013 non-citizen spousal exclusion: $143,000
• 2013 foreign gifts reporting obligation: $15,102
• Gifts of a value exceeding $15,102 in 2013 received from
foreign corporations or foreign partnerships must be
reported on IRS Form 3520.
17
DETERMINING INCLUDABLE PROPERTY
Jerome Deener, Fox Rothschild
19
Gross Estate
• Sect. 2031 generally defines the “gross estate” to include the value of
all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, to the extent
provided by sections 2033 et. seq.
20
Sect. 2033: Property In Which The
Decedent Had An Interest
• Decedent’s beneficial interest in property
• Beneficial interest in life insurance on others’ lives is included.
Slide Intentionally Left Blank
22
Sect. 2035: Adjustments For Certain
Gifts Made Within Three Years Of Death
• 2035(a): Interest transferred by the decedent that, if it had been
retained by the decedent as of his/her death, would have been
includible in the decedent’s gross estate under sections 2036,
2037, 2038 or 2042. Sect. 2035(a)(2)
– Excluded: Bona fide sale for an adequate and full consideration
in money or money's worth
23
Sect. 2035: Adjustments Fr Certain Gifts
Made Within Three Years Of Death (Cont.)
• 2035(b): Requires the federal gift tax paid by the decedent or the
decedent's estate on any transfers made after 1976 by the
decedent or the decedent’s spouse within three years of the
decedent’s death to be included in the decedent’s gross estate.
24
Sect. 2036: Transfers With
Retained Interests
• 2036(a)(1): Decedent retains “the possession or enjoyment of” or
“the right to the income from” the transferred property or property
interest.
• Excluded: Bona fide sale for an adequate and full
consideration in money or money's worth
25
Sect. 2036: Transfers With
Retained Interests (Cont.)
• 2036(a)(2): Decedent retains the right for life (or for any similarly
prescribed period) to say who may enjoy transferred property or the
income therefrom, even if the decedent has put it beyond the power
to claim enjoyment or income for the decedent’s own benefit.
26
Sect. 2036: Transfers With
Retained Interests (Cont.)
• 2036(b): Decedent directly or indirectly retains voting rights in a
“controlled corporation”; deemed a retention of the “enjoyment” of
transferred property so as to trigger Sect. 2036(a)(1).
– “Controlled corporation” is defined as a corporation in which the
decedent owns, directly or by attribution under Sect. 318, stock
possessing at least 20% of the combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the corporation; or if the decedent has a
right to vote (either alone or in conjunction with any other
person) at least 20% percent of the combined voting power.
27
Sect. 2036: Transfers With
Retained Interests (Cont.)
• Transfer can be made directly by the decedent, or indirectly as in a
deemed transfer under the reciprocal trust doctrine.
• Amount includible in gross estate is the value of the transferred
property upon death (not the value of the retained interest).
28
Sect. 2037: Transfers Taking
Effect At Death
• Sect. 2037 includes property in a decedent’s taxable estate if the
decedent has made a transfer of the property to take effect only at or
after the decedent’s death, and has retained a reversionary interest
in such property (perhaps expressly) that has a value just before the
decedent’s death in excess of 5% of the value of the property
transferred.
• Excluded: Bona fide sale for an adequate and full
consideration in money or money's worth
29
Sect. 2038: Revocable Transfers
• Sect. 2038 applies to include the value of an interest in property
when the decedent has transferred such property, but “enjoyment
thereof was subject at the date of his death to any change through
the exercise of a power (in whatever capacity exercisable) by the
decedent alone or by the decedent in conjunction with any other
person (without regard to when or from what source the decedent
acquired such power), to alter, amend, revoke, or terminate, or
where any such power is relinquished during the 3-year period
ending on the date of the decedent’s death.”
– Excluded: Bona fide sale for an adequate and full consideration
in money or money’s worth
30
Sect: 2038: Revocable
Transfers (Cont.)
• Unlike Sect. 2036, which taxes the entire property transferred by the
decedent, Sect. 2038 only taxes the value of the interest over which
the decedent maintains the power to alter, amend, revoke,
terminate, etc. …
31
Sect. 2039: Annuities (With
Survivorship Proceeds)
• Sect. 2039 generally includes the value of annuities that are payable
to the decedent during lifetime and continue after the death of the
decedent, or that provide for proceeds to be paid to beneficiaries.
– Excluded: Life insurance contracts (covered by Sect. 2042)
32
Sect. 2039: Annuities (With
Survivorship Proceeds), Cont.
• Sect. 2039(b) restricts the inclusion of an annuity in a decedent’s
estate to the proportionate value of the annuity paid for by the
decedent.
33
Sect. 2040: Joint Interests
• Sect. 2040(b): As to spousal joint property interests (with right of
survivorship) created after 1977, Sect. 2040 includes one-half (1/2)
of the value of such property in the decedent’s estate.
– Inapplicable when the surviving spouse is not a U.S. citizen
34
Sect. 2040: Joint Interests (Cont.)
• Sect. 2040(a): Other joint property is fully includible in the
decedent’s taxable estate, except to the extent that the surviving
tenant or tenants contributed to the cost of the acquisition of the
property.
35
Sect. 2041: Power Of Appointment
• Sect. 2041 includes property over which the decedent holds a
general power of appointment.
• Excluded:
1. Powers subject to ascertainable standards
2. Pre-1942 powers
3. Powers held with adverse party or creator
36
Sect. 2042: Proceeds Of Life Insurance
• Sect. 2042 includes life insurance proceeds in the decedent’s
taxable estate if:
1. Proceeds are receivable by the decedent’s executor, or
2. Proceeds are receivable by other beneficiaries and the
decedent has any incidents of ownership in the policy at death.
37
Sect. 2043: Transfers For
Insufficient Consideration
• Sect. 2043(a) applies to a transfer under sections 2035, 2036, 2037,
2038 or 2041 for some consideration; but not a bona fide sale for
adequate and full consideration.
– Includible amount is “the excess of the fair market value at the
time of death of the property otherwise to be included on account
of such transaction, over the value of the consideration received
therefor by the decedent.”
38
Sect. 2043: Transfers For
Insufficient Consideration (Cont.)
• 2043(b) states that the relinquishment of marital rights is generally
not consideration.
DEDUCTIONS AND CREDITS Yahne Miorini, Miorini Law
Introduction
There are five parts to Form 706, nine schedules to determine the gross
estate and seven schedules to determine the applicable deductions.
Schedules A through I are used to determine the gross estate.
Schedules J through O plus Schedule U are used to determine
applicable deductions.
Schedules P and Q are used to determine applicable tax credits.
It is good practice to include all of the schedules and mark “0” on those
schedules that do not show any assets, exclusions or deductions.
40
Schedule J
• Schedule J – Funeral and administrative expenses
― Funeral: Allowable "reasonable expenses"
― Tombstone, burial lot, cost of body transportation
― “Reasonable expenses” based on the decedent’s wealth and standard
of living
― Administrative expenses can be allocated as the fiduciary’s discretion
between Form 706 and the estate’s income tax return.
― No double deductions allowed
― Interest: Federal estate tax deficiency interest is includable
― Executor’s commission, attorney and accountant fees closely
monitored by IRS
― Actually paid or reasonable expected to be paid
― Do not include attorney fees incidental to litigation incurred by
a beneficary
41
Schedule K
• Schedule K – Debts, mortgages and liens
― Part 1: Decedent’s debts, tax liabilities, obligations to
spouse at time of death
― In case of difficulty, a computation can be requested
to the IRS.
― Part 2: Mortgage for which the decedent is liable and
contingent liabilities
42
Schedule L
• Schedule L – Net losses during administration and expenses
incurred in administering property not subject to claims
― Casualty losses incurred during the settlement of the
estate
― Theft, fire, storm, shipwreck
43
Schedule M: Unlimited Marital Deduction
• The Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA) of 1976 has created an unlimited
marital deduction. The assets bequeathed to the spouse are treated as
deductions and are reported under Schedule M of the federal estate tax
return.
• One of the objectives of the act was to correct the discrepancy in tax
treatment between the community states and the non-community state.
• Community states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
• A homemaker surviving spouse in a community state would always keep half
of the assets of the community, and it’s only the other half of the community
assets that would be reported in the decedent gross estate.
• ERTA was to help unify the IRS treatment of husband and wife. The IRS
already treated the husband and wife as “one economic unit,” for income tax
purposes. ERTA expanded this concept for estate and gift taxes.
44
Schedule M (Cont.)
• Schedule M – Unlimited marital deduction
― Property interests passing to a surviving U.S. citizen
spouse may qualify for the marital deduction under IRC
Sect. 2056.
― A QTIP election can be made either for the entire value of
the trust or for a portion of it.
― The portion not reported on Schedule M should be
included in the gross estate.
― Deduction available to non-U.S. citizens through a QDT
(qualified domestic trust)
― Funding of marital deduction should be carefully reviewed
(audits).
45
Schedule M (Cont.)
• Property interests that you may not list on Schedule M
― The full value of a property interest that passes to the
surviving spouse subject of a mortgage, or other
encumbrance or an obligation of the surviving spouse
― Non-deductible terminable interest: Interest that will
terminate or fail after the passage of time, or on the
occurrence or nonoccurrence of a designated event. IRS
e.g.: file estate, annuities, estate for terms of years, and
patents
― Any property interest disclaimed by the surviving spouse
46
Schedule M (Cont.)
• IRS example of description:
One-half the value of a house and lot, 256 South West
Street, held by decedent and surviving spouse as joint
tenants with right of survivorship under deed dated July
15, 1975 (Schedule E. Part I. item 1) …
Proceeds of Metropolitan Life insurance Company policy
No. xxx, payable in one sum to surviving spouse (Schedule
D. item 3) …
Cash bequest under Paragraph Six of Will …
47
Schedule M: QTIP Election
• Election needs to be made by the executor.
• Election can be partial. If in a trust, you need a defined
fraction or percentage of the entire trust. The fraction or
percentage may be defined by means of a formula.
• The election is irrevocable. If you don’t make the election in
your filed Form 706, you cannot file an amended return to
make the election unless the amended return is filed on or
before the due date for filing the original Form 706.
• Election makes the property/interest as passing to the
surviving spouse as deductible interest.
• Presumption that you made the election when the
property/interest is listed on Schedule M.
48
Schedule M: QTIP Election (Cont.)
• Requirement of IRC Sect. 2056(b)(7)
― Surviving spouse is entitled to all of the income from the
property, payable annually or at more frequent intervals.
― During the life of the surviving spouse, nobody has a
power to appoint any part of the property to any person
other than the surviving spouse.
49
Schedule O
• Schedule O – Charitable deductions
― All interests qualifying for charitable deductions under IRC
Sect. 2066:
― Outright transfers to charitable organizations
― Qualified split interest charitable remainder trusts
― Property passing to charities by court decree
― Qualified conservation easements
― Outstanding charity pledge, if enforceable, is reported on
Schedule K, not on Schedule O.
― No limit on the amount of charitable deductions
50
Schedule U • Schedule U – Qualified conservation easement exclusion
― Maximum amount: $500,000
― Enable fiduciary to exclude a portion of the value of the land subject to
a qualified conservation easement
― Criteria to be met:
― Three-year ownership ending on the date of decedent’s death
― No later than the date of the election, a QCE has been made.
― The land is situated in the U.S. or one of its possessions.
― Conservation purposes are:
― Preservation of land for outdoor recreation, education or the public
― Protection of a relatively natural habitat/ecosystem
― Preservation of open space for scenic enjoyment or yielding
significant public benefit as determined by the government
51
Schedule P: Credits
• Schedule P – Credit for foreign death tax
― Applicable if decedent owned property overseas
― If the decedent is a non-resident U.S. citizen, the
following documents are required:
― Copy of property inventory
― Including schedule of liabilities claims against the
estate
― Copy of the return filed under the foreign inheritance,
estate legacy, succession tax or other death tax act
52
Slide Intentionally Left Blank
Schedule Q
• Schedule Q – Credit for tax on prior transfers
― Applicable when transferee receives property from a
transferor who died within the previous 10 years or died
two years after the transferee
― Property: Any interest which the transferee received the
beneficial ownership
― A credit may be allowed for property received as the
result of the exercise or non-exercise of a power of
appointment, when the property is included in the gross
estate of the donee of the power
54
Schedule Q (Cont.)
• Spouses don’t qualify unless the spouse was not a citizen of
the property passed outright to the spouse or to a qualified
domestic trust.
55
Schedule Q (Cont.)
Period Of Time Exceeding
Not Exceeding Percent Allowable
……. 2 years 100
2 years 4 years 80
4 years 6 years 60
6 years 8 years 40
8 years 10 years 20
10 years ….. None
56
Schedules R And R-1
• Generation-skipping transfer tax history:
The first generation-skipping transfer tax was enacted by the
1976 Act. This tax was created in order to prevent the avoidance
of transfer taxes over a period of successive generation. The tax
was tremendously complex. The 1986 act repealed it and
replaced with a new transfer tax applicable to all generation-
skipping transfers whether by way of a trust, trust equivalent, or
direct transfer. The generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax applied
to estate tax and gift tax. This tax was created for people dying
after Oct. 22, 1986. The tax is imposed only on the value of the
interests in property that actually pass to certain transferees,
who are referred as “skip persons.”
57
GST: Generation-Skipping Transfers
The GST tax brings new concepts such as “transferor” and “generation.”
Under IRC Sect. 2652(a), the transferor is the donor or the decedent. The
generation is defined among the family lines. There is the generation of
the transferor, which includes the transferor, the transferor’s spouse and
the transferor’s siblings. The children are part of the next generation;
the grandchildren are part of the generation following. If the transfer is
made outside the family, generations are determined by ages. A person
who was born not more than 12½ years after the decedent is in the same
generation of the decedent. A person born more than 12½ years, but not
more than 37½ years, after the decedent is in the first generation
younger than the decedent. A similar rule applies for a new generation
every 25 years. Therefore, a skip person is a natural person who was born
more than 37 ½ years after the decedent.
58
GST Skipping Transfers (Cont.)
• There are three types of generation-skipping transfers:
― taxable terminations,
― taxable distributions, and
― direct skips.
59
GST Skipping Transfers (Cont.)
• A taxable termination occurs upon the termination of an interest in
a trust. After the termination event, the skip person holds all interest
in the trusts. For instance, dad created a trust, giving the income for
life of his daughter and the remainder to his granddaughter.
• A taxable distribution exists when there is a distribution of principal
or income from the trust to a skip person. For instance, mom created
a trust providing payment of income and principal to her children and
grandchildren. What is collected by the grandchildren is subject to
GST tax.
• A direct skip is when property is transferred without compensation
to a skip person. Among family members, a skip person would be a
grandchild. For a non-family member, a skip person is a person of two
or more generations below the transferor.
60
GST (Cont.)
• A married couple may elect to treat generation-skipping
transfers as being made one-half by each spouse. The QTIP
election used for estate tax purpose is separate and ignored
for GST tax. The fiduciary may allocate part or all of the
decedent’s GST exemption to the property. Because each
person is entitled to a GST exemption, indexed for inflation,
the GST election on a QTIP trust allows using two times the
GST exemption. This is a reverse QTIP election. See IRC Sect.
2652(a)(3)
61
GST: Tax Allocation
• The amount of tax imposed on any generation-skipping
transfer is determined by multiplying the “taxable amount” by
the “applicable rate.”
• See IRC
2602
62
GST: Taxable Amount
• The taxable amount varies depending on the transfer.
• For a taxable distribution transfer, the taxable amount is the transfer
received by the transferee, reduced by the expenses incurred in the
determination, collection or refund that Chap. 13 tax imposed.
• For a taxable termination transfer, the taxable amount is the value of
property received at the termination reduced by deductions similar
to Sect. 2053.
• For a direct skip transfer, the taxable amount is the amount
received. The taxable distribution transfer and the taxable
termination transfer are tax-inclusive transfers, while the direct skip
transfer is a tax-exclusive transfer. In a tax-inclusive transfer, the tax
is calculated on the amount of the transfer.
63
GST: Applicable Tax Rate
• The applicable rate of tax is defined as the maximum transfer
tax rate then in effect, multiplied by the inclusion ratio.
• See IRS
264(1a)
64
Inclusion Of Prior Gift Tax
• On Line 4 of IRS Form 706, you need to lists the cumulative
amount of adjusted taxable gifts (IRC Sect. 2503). The
computation of gift tax payable uses the IRC Sect. 2001(c)
rate schedule in effect as of the date of death, rather than
the actual amount of gift taxes paid with respect to the gifts.
― PB: Top bracket tax rates decreased from 55 % (2001) to
35% (2010). There are situations in which the gift tax paid
was greater than the tax calculated using the rate in
effect at the date of death.
― IRS Web site warns about software used by practitioners
that will require manual input of the gift tax payable line,
and errors resulting in underpayment of estate tax due.
65
PORTABILITY ELECTIONS
Jerome Deener, Fox Rothschild
Portability
• What is portability?
– The Sect. 2056 estate tax marital deduction allows spouses to
deduct unlimited amounts for property that passes from a
decedent to his or her surviving spouse.
67
Portability (Cont.)
• Made permanent by ATRA, a surviving spouse is entitled to a total
estate tax exemption (“applicable exclusion amount,” or “AEA”)
consisting of two components:
• The “basic exclusion amount” (BEA), currently $5.25 million, as
indexed for inflation; and
68
Portability (Cont.)
• The “eeceased wpouse’s unused exclusion amount” (DSUE), which
is defined as:
– The lesser of (a) the BEA and (b) the “Applicable
Exclusion Amount” (AEA) of the surviving spouse’s last
deceased spouse over the combined amount of the last
deceased spouse’s taxable estate plus adjusted taxable
gifts. Code §2010(c)(4), as amended by ATRA, and
Treas. Reg. §20.2010-2T(c)(1)(ii)(A).
69
Portability (Cont.)
• Example:
– First spouse dies with $2 million, $1 million outright, to surviving
spouse and $1 million in a credit shelter trust (CST).
– First spouse has used $1 million of $5.25 million exemption,
leaving $4.25 million unused exemption.
– Surviving spouse dies with $9 million and the credit shelter trust
of $1 million.
• Surviving spouse’s estate pays no federal tax.
70
Portability (Cont.)
Gross estate: $ 9M
Less: BEA of surviving spouse (5.25M)
unused exemption of first
spouse (DSUE) (4.25M)
Total 0
Plus: Credit shelter trust Not included
71
Portability (Cont.)
• Variation: If first spouse has $5.25 million, and surviving spouse
has $5.25 million, and first spouse leaves his $5.25 million to
surviving spouse outright:
– No estate tax in first estate and no exemption used
– Surviving spouse has a taxable estate of $10.5 million but has
her own $5.25 million BEA and a $5.25 million DSUE, so the
surviving spouse’s estate pays no federal estate tax.
72
Portability (Cont.)
– In all, a husband and wife together have $10.5 million of exemption. This is accomplished without shifting assets during spouses’ lives, without credit shelter trust and no matter which spouse predeceases the other.
– Portability also applies for purposes of the lifetime gift exemption. The applicable credit for gift tax purposes under Sect. 2505(a) refers to the estate tax credit amount under Sect. 2010(c), “which would apply if the donor died as of the end of the calendar year.” The 2010(c) credit includes the DSUE, so the gift tax exemption also includes the DSUE.
73
Portability (Cont.)
• Example, H-1 used $2,000,000 of exemption by leaving it
in a credit shelter trust. Wife has $3,250,000 DSUE plus
$5,250,000 basic exclusion amount. If she makes lifetime
gifts of $3,250,000, do they come from DSUE or basic
exclusion amount, or pro rata?
– From the DSUE. Treas. Reg. §25.2505-2T(b)
– If W-1 remarries and she predeceases second spouse,
she has her full exemption of $5,250,000 to give H-2.
74
Portability (Cont.)
• In order to utilize portability, a specific election must be made on
the federal estate tax return (Form 706) of the deceased spouse.
Further, despite the running of the statute of limitation on the
decedent’s estate tax return or gift tax return(s) with respect to the
computation of the DSUE, the IRS may examine the returns of the
deceased spouse to determine the amount of the DSUE for
purposes of computing the surviving spouse’s applicable exclusion
amount. See explanation of Treasury regulations later
75
Portability (Cont.)
• Portability does not apply to the GST exemption.
• However, this does not necessarily preclude the concurrent use of portability and both spouses’ GST exemptions.
• In the case of a bequest to the surviving spouse in a trust that is eligible for the QTIP election, the executor can make both (i) the QTIP election (making the trust qualify for portability) and (ii) the Code Sect. 2652(a)(3) “reverse QTIP election” (permitting GST exemption of the deceased spouse to be allocated to the trust).
76
Portability (Cont.)
• Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the surviving spouse will be able to apply his/her DSUE against the value of the QTIP trust, and the QTIP trust will be partially or fully exempt from generation-skipping transfer tax (depending upon whether the first deceased spouse’s GST exemption was sufficient to attain a zero GST inclusion ratio).
• Election of portability can have adverse New Jersey and New York estate taxes in the estate of the first spouse to die.
77
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning
• If the surviving spouse remarries, the DSUE can potentially
disappear.
• Reason: The DSUE is only available from the last deceased
spouse.
• If a surviving spouse remarries and then outlives the second
spouse, the DSUE from the first deceased spouse is gone.
78
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
• Example: H1 dies with a taxable estate of $1 million, leaving a $4.25
million DSUE for W. W marries H2, who has a taxable estate of
$5.25 million and leaves it all to H2’s children, thus using his entire
$5.25 million exemption and leaving W with no DSUE. W’s $4.25
million DSUE from H1 is gone.
79
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
• Appreciation on property placed in a CST is excluded from the
estate of the surviving spouse, but appreciation is not sheltered if
instead assets pass outright and portability is relied upon.
• Portability does not apply to the GST exemption. Therefore, in order
to take advantage of the GST exemption of the first spouse to die, it
is advantageous to continue to fund a CST. If a deceased spouse
leaves everything to the surviving spouse outright, the family will
lose $5.25 million of $10,500,000 potential GST exemption.
80
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
• Hard-to-value assets held in a CST (LLC, FLP or closely held
stock) will not be subject to estate tax in survivor’s estate.
However, if DSUE is elected, such hard-to-value assets can be
subject to the IRS scrutiny in the estate of the surviving spouse.
81
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
• Portability does not apply to state estate taxes.
– States like New York and New Jersey have decoupled
from the Federal $5,250,000 exemption. New York:
$1,000,000 exemption and New Jersey: $675,000
– Both states take the position that if a federal 706 is filed
for any reason, and a QTIP election is made on the
federal return, then the state QTIP election must be
consistent with the federal QTIP election.
– This has an impact if portability is considered.
82
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
– H and W are New Jersey residents. H has $3,250,000
and W has $3,250,000. H’s will provides that all of his
estate passes to W, and H’s estate elects portability.
– W gets $5,250,000 DSUE from H.
– On W’s death, she has her own $5,250,000 exemption,
plus DSUE from H to shelter her $6,500,000 from
federal tax. No New Jersey tax is imposed in first
spouse’s estate. No QTIP election is made, and nothing
on New Jersey return is inconsistent with the federal
return.
83
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
– On survivor’s death, the New Jersey tax on the $6,500,000
taxable estate = $574,000 (New Jersey will not recognize
DSUE from first spouse’s estate).
– In the alternative, if H’s assets consist of $3,250,000 in his
name and instead pass into a CST, H’s DSUE is $2,000,000.
Even though estate is under the $5,250,000 federal filing limit,
H’s executor files a 706 to elect DSUE. No QTIP election is
made on the federal 706, since QTIP is not necessary. New
Jersey (and New York) positions are that QTIP for state
purposes only may not be made, because that election is
inconsistent with the federal return filed. herefore, on death of
H, the estate owes state estate tax on a taxable estate of
$3,250,000 = $205,200.
84
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
– If H’s estate did not elect DSUE, H’s estate would not file a
federal 706, and New Jersey and New York positions are that his
estate can make a state-only QTIP election to bring the state tax
to zero.
85
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
– Executor’s conundrum:
• Elect DSUE and pay $205,200 to protect $3,250,000 (plus
appreciation) from future federal tax?
• Or, don’t elect DSUE, forego state tax in H’s estate and
hold onto $205,200, but without protection against federal
estate tax on future appreciation
86
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
• Alternative:
– Consider leaving an amount equal to the state exemption (for
New Jersey, $675,000) in a credit shelter trust (thereby using the
deceased spouse’s state exemption), with the remainder of the
federal exemption amount (for New Jersey, $4,575,000 in 2013)
in a “QTIP-able” trust for the surviving spouse’s benefit. The trust
would provide all income is payable to surviving spouse for life,
plus principal for surviving spouse’s needs of health,
maintenance and support. No state estate tax upon the death of
the first spouse, and the surviving spouse can elect QTIP and
therefore take advantage of portability (in the case of New
Jersey, the surviving spouse’s DSUE would be $4,575,000).
87
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
• The surviving spouse can then gift away his/her income interest in the QTIP trust, which is subject to the ascertainable standard, retaining his/her interest in the principal of the QTIP trust. Under Code Sect. 2519, this is considered a gift of the surviving spouse’s entire interest in the trust ($4,575,000, if no appreciation). Surviving spouse may apply his/her $4,575,000 DSUE against this $4,575,000 gift, making it tax-free and removing the QTIP trust assets from his/her New Jersey taxable estate. In all, no state estate tax will have been paid on the first deceased spouse’s $5,250,000. At the same time, the surviving spouse still has some access to the QTIP trust assets via his/her beneficial interest in the QTIP trust principal.
88
Tax And Non-Tax Reasons Not To Rely Upon
Portability In Lieu Of Trust Planning (Cont.)
• An outright disposition to the surviving spouse in lieu of a CST
forgoes many non-tax benefits such as creditor protection, asset
management, the ability for the deceased spouse to control the
ultimate disposition of the assets upon the death of the surviving
spouse, and the ability for the surviving spouse surviving spouse to
control disposition if beneficial interests to family members during
surviving spouse’s lifetime.
89
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Best Situations To Utilize
Portability – Income Tax Benefits
• Retirement assets
– Prior to DSUE, if a married taxpayer had a large IRA but
insufficient non-retirement assets to fully fund a CST, a decision
had to be made as to whether:
91
Best Situations To Utilize Portability –
Income Tax Benefits (Cont.)
– To take advantage of: the income tax benefits of
leaving an IRA to a surviving spouse (i.e., the
spouse’s ability to roll the IRA into his/her own IRA
using favorable required distribution rules, convert to
a Roth IRA, etc. …), at the risk of potentially wasting
estate tax exemption; or
– To maximize the estate tax benefits of fully funding a
credit shelter trust, but accelerate payout to the
surviving spouse
92
Best Situations To Utilize Portability –
Income Tax Benefits (Cont.)
• Now, with portability, the taxpayer may name the spouse as the
IRA beneficiary without wasting any of the deceased spouse’s
estate tax exemption. The surviving spouse may take the IRA, roll
it over, name new beneficiaries to get a longer stretch-out and/or
convert to a Roth IRA, either all at once or over a number of years.
» Example: Taxpayer has a $3 million IRA and $2
million of other assets. Taxpayer names spouse as
the IRA beneficiary and leaves the rest of his assets
in a CST. Upon death, spouse receives the $3
million IRA, $2 million is placed in the credit shelter
trust, and taxpayer’s estate elects to transfer
taxpayer’s unused exemption ($3.25 million) to
spouse.
93
Best Situations To Utilize Portability –
Income Tax Benefits (Cont.)
• Note: While the $3.25 million estate tax exemption is not wasted,
the income and growth of the IRA will not excluded from the
spouse’s taxable estate.
• Paying IRA proceeds to a CRT for New Jersey/New York
exemption purposes may still be considered, in some cases.
94
Best Situations To Utilize Portability –
Income Tax Benefits (Cont.)
• Asset basis step-up
– Assets passing pursuant to portability will receive an income tax
basis step-up in the estate of the surviving spouse, whereas
assets held in a CST would not be entitled to such a basis
adjustment.
– Now that income tax rates are increasing as expected, the
income tax value of a basis step-up will increase relative to the
transfer tax value of removing assets’ appreciation from the
taxable estate of the surviving spouse.
95
Portability Regulations
• On June 15, 2012, the Treasury Department issued temporary and
proposed regulations aimed at resolving some of the issues left
open by the portability statute.
• Timely filed return
96
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Code Sect. 2010(c)(5)(A) provides that the portability election must
be made on the deceased spouse’s timely filed estate tax return,
within the “time prescribed by law (including extensions) for filing
such return.”
– Under the regulations, the last return filed by the due
date (including extensions) will supersede any previously
filed return. Therefore, an executor can supersede a
previously filed portability election. Once the due date
has passed, the election is irrevocable. Treas. Reg.
§20.2010-2T(a)(4)
97
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
– Issue: If an estate is under the federal threshold (and so
technically is not required to file a federal 706), is the estate
subject to the same election deadline as a taxable estate?
– Regs: Yes; Treas. Reg. §20.2010-2T(a)(1) states that any
estate making the portability election is required to file a timely
Form 706 under Code Sect. 6018(a).
98
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• “Complete” estate tax return
– Notice 2011-82 states that by filing a “properly prepared
and complete” Form 706, an estate is considered to
have made the portability election.
– Issue: For an estate under the federal threshold, what is
considered “properly-prepared and complete?”
– Regs:
99
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Treas. Reg. §20.2010-(a)(7)(i) provides that an estate tax return
prepared in accordance with all applicable requirements is
considered complete and properly prepared.
• However, Treas. Reg. §20.2010-(a)(7)(ii) provides a break for
smaller estates, stating that executors of estates that are not
otherwise required to file an estate tax return do not have to report
the value of certain property that qualifies for the marital or
charitable deduction.
100
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
– If this special rule is used, then the executor must estimate the
total value of the gross estate and report the estimate as a
range on Line 1, Part 2 of the Form 706. The new form is not
available yet, so until it is, the executor must round the
estimate to the nearest $250,000 and attach to the Form
706.
– All other information regarding the marital/charitable deduction
property (description, ownership, beneficiary, etc. …)
101
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• The special rule is not available if:
– The value of the property relates to, affects or is needed to
determine the value passing from the decedent to another
recipient;
– The value is needed to determine the estate’s eligibility for Code
Sect. 2032 , 2032A, 6166 or other provision;
102
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
– Less than the entire value of the property is eligible for the
martial or charitable deduction; or
– A partial disclaimer or partial QTIP election is made with respect
to the property.
103
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
– The rule will also generally not apply in states where a
separate estate or inheritance tax return is required (i.e., New
Jersey and New York).
• Opting out of portability
– To opt out, Treas. Reg. §20.2010-2T(a)(3) requires an
executor to make an affirmative statement on the estate
tax return signifying the decision to have the portability
election not apply.
– Or, just don’t file a timely return
104
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Executor responsible for making the election
• Issue: A commenter to Notice 2011-82 noted that while
existing regulations allow a surviving spouse to file a Form
706 in certain cases, Code Sect. 2010(c)(5) permits only
the executor to file the estate tax return and to make the
portability election.
• Regs: Treas. Reg. §20.2010-2T(a)(6)(i) provides that an
appointed, qualified and acting executor or administrator is
the party to file the Form 706 and make the portability
election.
105
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
– In the case of an estate without an appointed executor,
any person in actual or constructive possession of any
property of the decedent may file the return to elect
portability or to opt out. Treas. Reg. §20.2010-
2T(a)(6)(ii)
– A portability election made by such a “non-qualified
executor” cannot be superseded by another “non-
qualified executor” of the same decedent’s estate.
106
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Computation of portability election
• Treas. Reg. § 20.2010-2T(b)(1) requires that an executor include a computation of the deceased spouse’s unused exclusion amount (DSUE) on the estate tax return.
• The current 706 does not include a section for computation of the DSUE.
• Therefore, Treas. Reg. §20.2010-2T(b)(2) provides a transition rule which permits, prior to a new 706 being released, the preparation of a complete and properly prepared 706 to be deemed as the computation of the DSUE.
107
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Method of calculating the DSUE
– Code Sect. 2010(c)(4) defines the DSUE as the lesser of the (i)
basic exclusion amount or (ii) the excess of (A) the basic
exclusion amount of the last deceased spouse over (B) the
amount with respect to which the tentative tax is determined
under Code Sect. 2001(b)(1) on the estate of the deceased
spouse.
108
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
– Example 3 of the JCT explanation of TRA 2010 contained a
calculation of the DSUE that effectively used the applicable
exclusion amount rather than the basic exclusion amount,
confusing practitioners.
– Treas. Reg. §20.2010-2T(c)(1)(ii)(A) states that Code Sect.
2010(c)(4)’s reference to “basic exclusion amount” should be
read “as if” it stated “applicable exclusion amount” instead.
109
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Effect of gift taxes paid and payable on the DSUE
• Treas. Reg. §20.2010-2T(c)(2) provides that amounts on which
gift taxes were paid by a decedent are excluded from adjusted
taxable gifts, for the purpose of computing the DSUE.
» Example: Married decedent made a $2,000,000 gift
in 2009 and paid gift tax on the excess over
$1,000,000. Decedent dies in 2012, when the
federal exemption is $5,120,000. Surviving spouse’s
DSUE is $5,120,000 - $1,000,000 (not $2,000,000)
= $4,120,000.
110
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• When the DSUE is available to the surviving spouse
• Treas. Reg. §§20.2010-3T(c)(1) and 25.2505-2T(d)(1)
provide that the DSUE is available to the surviving spouse
immediately after the death of the deceased spouse.
• If the portability election is made but then revised/superseded, it
could present an issue as to who makes a large gift immediately
following the deceased spouse’s death.
111
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Last deceased spouse limitation
• Treas. Reg. §§20.2010-3T(a)(3) clarifies that remarriage alone does not affect who will be considered the last surviving spouse and does not prevent the surviving spouse from including in the surviving spouse’s applicable exclusion amount the DSUE of the deceased spouse who most recently preceded the surviving spouse in death.
• While the applicable credit amount for gift tax purposes under Code Sect. 2505(a)(1) is the credit in effect under Sect. 2010(c) that would apply if the donor died as of the end of the calendar year, the identity of the “last deceased spouse” is determined upon the date of the gift (not as of the end of such year). Treas. Reg. §25.2505-2T(a) (see also § 20.2010-3T(a) for a comparable rule for estate tax purposes)
112
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Ordering rule for gifts
• Treas. Reg. §25.2505-2T(b) provides that when a surviving spouse
makes a taxable gift, the DSUE of the last deceased spouse is first
used up before any of the surviving spouse’s basic exclusion
amount is used.
113
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Multiple spouses
– Treas. Reg. §25.2505-2T(c) permits a surviving spouse
to use DSUEs from successive deceased spouses.
– In other words, no “portability recapture”; a surviving
spouse cannot “hoard” DSUEs from multiple spouses for
estate tax purposes, but can use successive DSUEs for
gifting (after the death of each spouse)
» Example: Husband 1 dies married to Wife 1, with a
$1,000,000 DSUE. Wife 1 makes a $1,000,000
taxable gift, using the entire DSUE amount. Wife 1
then marries Husband 2, who dies the next day with
a $5,000,000 DSUE. Wife 2 may make a gift of up to
$10,000,000 tax free (she is not limited to
$10,000,000 total).
114
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Examination of the deceased spouse’s Form 706 upon the death of the
surviving spouse
• Issue: Code Sect. 2010(c)(5)(B) allows the IRS to examine the
returns of the deceased spouse to determine the proper DSUE
available to the surviving spouse. Commentators were concerned
over the scope and effect of such an examination.
• Regs: Treas. Regs. §§20.2001-2T(a), 20.2010-2T(d), 20.2010-
3T(d), 2505-2T(e) provide that the IRS’ examination of a
deceased spouse’s return (i) may result in the adjustment of the
surviving spouse’s DSUE at any time but (ii) may only result in an
assessment of additional tax with respect to the deceased
spouse’s return within the deceased spouse’s period of limitations
under Code Sect. 6501 (generally three years).
115
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• The ability of the IRS to examine returns of a deceased
spouse applies to each transfer by the surviving spouse to
which a DSUE is or has been applied. So, the IRS may
examine upon the filing of a Form 709 by the surviving
spouse or Form 706 by the surviving spouse’s estate.
• The Code Sect. 6501 statute of limitations for assessment
of a tax on the surviving spouse’s return is not extended by
virtue of the IRS’ ability to examine the returns of deceased
spouses.
116
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Non-residents who are not citizens
• Treas. Regs. §§ 0.2010-3T(e) and 25.2505-2T(f) provide that a
non-resident surviving spouse who was not a citizen of the U.S. at
the time of such surviving spouse’s death may not take into account
the DSUE of any deceased spouse of such surviving spouse, except
to the extent allowed under a treaty obligation of the U.S.
117
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• Portability and property passing into a QDOT
• Treas. Reg. §§20.2010-2T(c)(4) provide that the executor of a decedent’s estate claiming a marital deduction for property passing to a QDOT shall calculate the decedent’s DSUE on a preliminary basis for purposes of electing portability. However, this amount will decrease as distributions are made from the QDOT, and additional estate tax is payable by the decedent’s estate under Code Sect. 2056A.
• Treas. Reg. §§20.2010-3T(c)(2) provide that the earliest date that a DSUE may be included in determining a surviving spouse’s applicable exclusion amount is the date of the event that triggers the final estate tax liability of the decedent under Code Sect. 2056A.
118
Portability Regulations (Cont.)
• As such, the decedent’s DSUE will generally be available for
transfers occurring by reason of the surviving spouse’s death, but
not available to the surviving spouse during his/her lifetime (unless
the QDOT is terminated during the surviving spouse’s lifetime).
119
IMPACTS OF STATE LAWS AND DEATH TAXES, WILLS AND TRUSTS
Yahne Miorini, Miorini Law
State Estate Tax History
I. Before the EGTRRA, states were following the federal estate
tax, and they had a death tax credit carved out of the
federal estate tax reported on Line 15 of the Form 706.
However, their due dates and filing requirements may have
been different.
II. The death tax credit has been replaced with a deduction that
is reported on Line 3b of the Form 706.
III. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 made the deduction
permanent.
121
Decoupling States
Some states have refused to see their income reduce and have
decoupled from the federal estate tax.
I. Separate estate tax for three states:
A. Connecticut ($2 M)
B. Oregon ($1 M)
C. Washington ($2M)
122
Decoupling States (Cont.)
II. Pick-up tax for 10 jurisdictions:
II. $5 million: Delaware, North Carolina
III. $2 Million: Maine
IV. $1 million: District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, New York
V. Other: New Jersey ($675,000), Rhode Island ($910,725)
III. Modified pick-up tax for: Hawaii ($5 M), Illinois ($4 M),
Vermont ($2.75 M)
123
Decoupling States (Cont.)
IV. Inheritance tax: Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska
(county), New Jersey, Tennessee
124
Impacts Of Decoupling
• Old tax clauses may result in state estate tax due.
• QDT may not be available.
• Maryland state system
125
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FREQUENT ESTATE TAX AUDIT RED FLAGS
Jerome Deener, Fox Rothschild
Audit Red Flags
• Real estate valuation issues
• Family limited partnership discount issues
• Limited liability company discount Issues
• Closely held corporation discount issues
• Terminating notes on death of decedents
(self-canceling installment notes)
• Lifetime gifts and transfers
• Expenses of administration
128
NON-RESIDENT/NON-CITIZEN, AND NON-CITIZEN 706 ISSUES
Yahne Miorini, Miorini Law
Non-Citizen Residents
• General rule
― Estate tax applies on all U.S. situs assets.
― Exemption of $5M
130
Non-Citizen Spouse
• Joint property
― ERTA does not apply.
― The Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA) of 1976 created
a presumption for couples that joint property or
properties held as tenant by the entirety are owned
50% by each spouse. This is an irrefutable presumption
but for properties acquired before the ERTA. See IRC
Sect. 2040 (b)
― IRS assumption that deceased owns 100% of the joint
property
― Non-citizen spouse has to prove his/her contribution.
131
Non-Citizen Spouse (Cont.)
• The Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA) of 1976 has created an
unlimited marital deduction.
• This presumption does not apply to non-U.S. citizen spouse.
The underlying purpose of this exception for a non-U.S. citizen
spouse was the concerns that a non-U.S. citizen spouse may
transfer the assets overseas prior to her/his death and/or
move permanently to her/his country of origin. Therefore, the
IRS could not collect the tax on the death of the surviving
spouse.
132
Non-Citizen Residents
• Unlimited marital deduction
― Does not apply to the non-U.S. citizen spouse
― Non-U.S. citizen spouse can qualify if he/she becomes
citizen before filing the tax return and/or if the assets are
held in a QDOT trust.
133
QDT Trust
• Even when the decedent’s spouse estate planning does not
provide for the creation of a QDT trust, the surviving spouse
can request to the IRS the creation of such a trust.
• Minimum requirements:
― All income to be paid to the surviving spouse for life
― No principal distributions to anyone other than the
surviving spouse during his/her life
― At least one U.S. trustee, and the trustee(s) must have the
power to withhold estate tax on any such distribution
134
QDT (Cont.)
• For trusts over $2M, a U.S. institutional trustee or a bond or a
letter of credit
― $600K of real property exemption to determine the
bond/LoC amount
• For trusts under $2M, if over 65% of assets in offshore real
property, a U.S. institutional trustee, posting of a bond or LoC
equal to 65% of the initial value of the trust assets
135
QDT (Cont.)
• Consequences of the QDT
― Distribution of principal during the life of the surviving spouse
― Except for distribution of hardship, subject to estate tax at
the top bracket of the deceased spouse
― Postponement of estate tax only
― The remaining principal in the trust on the death of the
second spouse will also be subject to estate tax in the
estate of the first spouse.
― On the death of the second spouse, the estate tax return of
the first spouse needs to be reopened.
― The trust assets will be taxed at the rate in existence at the
time of the first spouse’s death.
136
QDT (Cont.)
• Termination of the QDT:
― Becoming a US citizen
― Watch to distributions of principal
― At the death of the surviving spouse
137
Citizen Non-Residents
• Transfer certificate requirements
― Not required for U.S. assets administered by a U.S. executor
― Part A: If the value of the taxable assets in the U.S. exceeds $60,000,
you need to file IRS Form 706-NA (Special rules for 2010 see
IRS notice2011-66):
― List on Schedule A only the assets located in the U.S.
― Documents to be sent to Department of the Treasury, Internal
Revenue Service Center, Cincinnati, OH 45999
― Part B: If the value of the taxable assets in the US is equal or less than
$60,000:
― Documents to be sent to Department of the Treasury, Internal
Revenue Service, STOP 824G, Cincinnati, OH 45999
― Do not use From 706-NA
138
Citizen Non-Residents (Cont.)
Part B documents required:
• Copies of the decedent's last will and testament along with any
codicils; please include English translations if in another language
• One copy of each death tax or inheritance tax return and any
corrective statements filed with taxing authorities other than the
U.S.; please include English translations if in another language
• One copy of the decedent's death certificate; pease include English
translation if in another language
• An affidavit, which is a written declaration made under oath before a
notary public or other comparable local official. The affidavit may be
in the form of a letter.It must be signed by the executor,
administrator, or other personal representative of the estate and
include all of the following items:
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Citizen Non-Residents (Cont.)
― The decedent's date and country of birth
― The date of the decedent's naturalization as a U.S. citizen, or a
statement that the decedent had never become a naturalized
U.S. citizen
― A list of all the decedent's U.S. assets in which the decedent had
any interest at the date of death (whatever may be their legal
situs for U.S. estate tax purposes) and their values at the
decedent's date of death; for any U.S. bank or investment
account, please include the account number
― The decedent's citizenship and residence at the date of death
― Whether any of the decedent's U.S. bank accounts were used in
connection with a trade or business in the U.S.
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U.S. Expatriates
• Definition: Person who within 10 years before the date of
death lost U.S. citizenship or ended long-term US residency,
with the principal purpose of avoiding U.S. taxes
• Look at the dates: If after June 17, 2008, they are not
considered U.S. expatriate for the purpose of 706-NA
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Non-Citizen Non-Resident
• General rule
― Estate tax applies on all U.S. situs assets
― Exemption of $60,000
― Estate tax assessed at the same rate as for U.S. citizens
― Unlimited marital deduction available under conditions
― Charitable deduction available only for bequests to U.S.
charities
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Non-Citizen Non-Resident (Cont.)
• U.S. situs assets Include:
― Real estate property situated in the U.S., including houses
and condominiums
― Tangible personal property situated in the U.S. (jewelry,
antiques, artworks, cars)
― Shares of stock of U.S. corporations
― Cash deposits with U.S. brokers, money markets in U.S.
mutual funds, and cash in deposit boxes
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Non-Citizen Non-Resident Filing Requirements
• Must file Form 706-NA with tax return
― Form 706-NA: U.S. estate (and generation-skipping
transfer) tax return
• Form 706-NA
― “Foreigner” designation
• If there is a bilateral fiscal treaty, file IRS Form 8833 with tax
return
― Form 8833: Treaty-based return position fisclosure Under
sections 6114 or 7701(b)
― Explain briefly treaty based return position taken
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