Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

House cancels estate tax repeal, extends current tax rate
Washington Post | December 3, 2009 | Staff

Posted on 12/03/2009 11:51:04 AM PST by MaestroLC

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 161-173 next last
To: fanfan
Maybe yes, maybe no.

Ordinarily, an asset must be valued at its "fair market value " on the date of death (or alternate valuation date). If the samll business value is at least 50% of the value of the decedent's gross estate, it may qualify for "special use valuation" which, as of 2009, could reduce estate taxes by as much as $450,000.

There are catches, however.

101 posted on 12/03/2009 4:40:39 PM PST by Mr. Lucky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC

How long before they ban living trusts?


102 posted on 12/03/2009 4:44:09 PM PST by Rebelbase (Green bean casserole is a culinary curse upon mankind)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: YankeeReb; All

Regarding your house, probably not a good idea to put it in the kids name. Currently if you sell the house you can deduct $250,000 for one owner and $500,000 for two owners from any capital gains value tax you would owe the government. When you die, your children inherit the property at the value it is on the day you die. If it is under $3.5 or $7 million they will not owe capital gains if they sell it soon thereafter.


103 posted on 12/03/2009 4:46:55 PM PST by gleeaikin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Lucky
My original post regarding LegalZoom was in reply to Freeper GraceG's post concerning small to mid-sized businesses.

Your remark about someone worth $3.5 Million is hardly relevant.

Do try to pay attention. :)

104 posted on 12/03/2009 5:00:23 PM PST by Churchillspirit (9/11/01...NEVER FORGET.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: pheasant

No way, Emocrat is perfect!


105 posted on 12/03/2009 5:08:13 PM PST by ecomcon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: votemout

“...you can draw from the cash value without repaying or paying taxes...”

Not true. My father had to take a bit of money from his life insurance plan and paid a whopping big amount for taxes!


106 posted on 12/03/2009 5:09:20 PM PST by SatinDoll (NO Foreign Nationals as our President!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Lucky; fanfan
If a parent leaves an insurance policy of $3.5 Million or more, the gov. takes 45% of the money.

Life insurance policies payouts are tax-free, since they are legally and financially considered an "equal value replacement". This is why life insurance is an essential part of the "rich and famous" estate-tax planning. Also explains why insurance companies, on average, but not vocally, are not in favor of eliminating estate tax.

107 posted on 12/03/2009 5:09:51 PM PST by CutePuppy (If you don't ask the right questions you may not get the right answers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 101 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

not quite ... they (Life insurance proceeds) are non taxable up to the 3.5 million estate value (2009). That which exceeds 3.5 million is taxable at the 45% or higher rate.

A 4 million dollar policy, assuming there was zero other assets ....(not likely, few insurance companies would write a policy that size without assets) would have 500,00 taxable at 45%


108 posted on 12/03/2009 5:16:20 PM PST by HiramQuick (work harder ... welfare recipients depend on you!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy; Mr. Lucky

Thanks for your replies.


109 posted on 12/03/2009 5:18:08 PM PST by fanfan (Why did they bury Barry's past?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

That’s true for large policies only if they are owned by someone other than the insured. Kids, trust, partnership, etc.


110 posted on 12/03/2009 5:24:36 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (Perfection is the enemy of Good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC
I've moved all my business and personal capital offshore.

Eff this commie coup.

I only remain physically to torture them.


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

111 posted on 12/03/2009 5:34:49 PM PST by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Balding_Eagle

Yes, life insurance policy generally should not be “owned” by an insured or be a part of his taxable “estate”.


112 posted on 12/03/2009 5:35:45 PM PST by CutePuppy (If you don't ask the right questions you may not get the right answers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 110 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

I think the analysis is wrong, but I can’t prove it.

When there is a tax on an amount “over a limit”, it generally applies to the amount over the limit.

It would be rare for a tax to be applied such that a person who inherited 3.5 million would actually end up with MORE money than a person who inherited 3.6 million.

Of course, the estate tax is mostly another jobs program for lawyers.


113 posted on 12/03/2009 5:47:40 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: The Comedian

What sort of business are you in?

Farmers and small business-people can’t do that.

How does Farmer Brown move his 3000 acres overseas?
How does Joe the Plumber move his local customer base overseas?


114 posted on 12/03/2009 5:49:50 PM PST by sinanju
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: GraceG

“I think being a member of the Bar should EXCLUDE you from serving in the Legislative branch.”

Now, that would wipe out one heckuva part of the House and Senate, wouldn’t it?

Not that there is anything wrong with that.


115 posted on 12/03/2009 5:56:29 PM PST by OldPossum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: GraceG
Looks like it's time for ole Bob and others like him to start exercising their 2nd Amendment right.

These people are just beggin for it!

116 posted on 12/03/2009 6:07:37 PM PST by unixfox (The 13th Amendment Abolished Slavery, The 16th Amendment Reinstated It !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: sinanju; All
What sort of business are you in?

Financial analysis and information technology.

And your point is well taken. The heart and soul of this country is its agricultural backbone.

I would recommend selling up, and going Galt.

If South Africa is any model, and it is, the collectivists will starve themselves to death in under a single growing season.

Do not grow food. Do not harvest. Do not feed.

Let the parasites know what it is to do, or die, without the endless patience and help of the productive host of the American Right.


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

117 posted on 12/03/2009 6:12:59 PM PST by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies]

To: GraceG
This is nothing buy a lawyer employment act as a lot of medium sized farms and small to mid sized family business...

I knew a lawyer who was a partner in a decent sized law firm which did a lot of tax work for businesses. He was explicit that his entire practice was devoted to protecting his clients' assets from the government. Pure and simple. He was a busy man, and one of the "good lawyers" I have known.

118 posted on 12/03/2009 6:22:28 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: RockinRight
They WANT to lose next fall, don't they?

And I desperately hope & pray that the American sheeple, will vote these demoRAT bastards out of office, and GIVE THEM THEIR WISH!!! DemoRATs generally are re-elected about 99% of the time with margins of 60-65% or better. The average American voter is dumber than dirt to keep voting these traitors in election after election, until the demoRAT literally falls over dead... aka Fatso Ted Kennedy and awaiting nearly comatose & incoherant Robert Byrd to finally kick the bucket. In the meantime he & other mega-term demoRATs keep on getting elected no matter what they do, say, get caught in bribery or corruption, or how they vote. Unbelieveable!!!

119 posted on 12/03/2009 6:26:20 PM PST by rcrngroup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT
It would be rare for a tax to be applied such that a person who inherited 3.5 million would actually end up with MORE money than a person who inherited 3.6 million.

The confusion stems from applying and trying to compare two different classes of taxes to the same estate, which is what this bill is going to eliminate. That's just one of the reasons (not the moral one) why estate taxes and the probate process should be eliminated completely, and why good estate / trust lawyers are worth their hefty fees.

Of course, the estate tax is mostly another jobs program for lawyers.

That, in addition to ability of the state to intrude into people's lives and financial behavior, about sums it up.

120 posted on 12/03/2009 6:33:03 PM PST by CutePuppy (If you don't ask the right questions you may not get the right answers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 113 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 161-173 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson