Litigation

Re Unifying Estate and Gift Tax Exemptions...Don't "Bauc" At it!

By John Darer

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) today introduced legislation which would make permanent many of the Estate tax cuts enacted in 2001.  The bill would make permanent the estate tax levels ($3.5 million exemption/45% top rate) in effect in 2009; index the exemption for inflation; provide so-called "portability"; and would unify estate and gift tax exemption levels at $3.5 million.  The AALU, an association of which this author is a member, has been the principal advocate for estate and gift tax reunification because it would greatly simplify estate planning and help clients by removing an artificial and harmful barrier that discourages earlier intergenerational transfers. While considerable work remains to be done, the introduction of this legislation by Senator Baucus represents significant progress toward the goal of a reasonable, sustainable estate tax reform that will enable clients to plan with certainty. 

Full post as published by Structured Settlements 4Real on March 26, 2009 (boomark / email).