Avoiding The Federal Estate Tax – In 2010 and Beyond
What You Need To Know and Do In Your Estate Plan To Be Ready For 2011
The federal estate tax is currently not in effect. However, it will return at rates and in amounts
that have not been seen for some time. As of January 1, 2011 the IRS will be taxing all estates
of over 1 million dollars at rates of 42% to 55% depending on the size of the estate.
However, five billionaires have died since the federal estate tax was eliminated at 12:01 on January 1st 2010.
and as a result, their families will likely owe no tax as opposed to more than half of the estate value.
Since the federal estate tax ranges (when it is in effect) from a rate of 42% to 55% the federal government
has failed to collect billions in tax that it might otherwise have charged the billionaires’ estates.
The the deceased billionaires include, among others, Mr Bell, the founder of Taco Bell, George Steinbrener, who
needs no introduction, and philanthropist and media billionaire Mr John Kluge.
Kluge, who was well known in media circles, was the oldest member of the Forbes 400 Richest List
and had a net worth estimated to be in excess of $7 million dollars.
For more information on the federal estate tax click here. For more information on Mr. Kluge, see the
The New York Times which carried an article on Mr. Kluge as well as USA Today, The New York Daily News, and
CBS news.
So short of dying in 2010 what do you need to know and to do before the tax is imposed on your family?
First, stay informed. When you register for any one of our reports, you’ll be added to a list of smart consumers and you’ll
receive updates through our articles on what Congress is doing about the federal estate taxes. You can also peruse our articles, blogs, videos and checklists
that we provide at www.utbf.com/trust-estate and www.PaEstatePlanners.com.
Next, understand that even if your wills are designed to save on Federal estate taxes, they may no longer work properly and you might need to do more planning
to be prepared for 2011. Just get advice that applies to your situation.
Finally, be an informed consumer about the options and planning techniques often used by those with larger estates but which might also work for
families with more modest affluence who will be taxed after January 1, 2011. Click here for a selection of our reports for executors, trustees, and those doing estate planning.
David M. Frees III has been awarded the AVVO lawyer rating services highest rating of 10.0 – Superb.
