Indianapolis estate planning attorneys are often asked questions about the tax ramifications of giving and receiving gifts. If you receive a cash gift from someone is this income considered to be taxable under IRS regulations? The answer to this question is no with an asterisk of sorts. You don't have to claim the face value of a cash gift. But if you were to receive an appreciable asset such as a certificate of deposit you would be liable for the earnings above and beyond the … [Read more...] about I Received a Gift – Is It Taxable Income?
Taxes
Effective Long-Term Planning Requires Awareness & Flexibility
Long-term planning should be viewed holistically. One phase of your life leads into another and everything culminates with your eventual passing. So retirement planning and estate planning are naturally intertwined into a long-term financial plan. No sports teams is going to take to the field or the court without any type of a game plan. The game of life is much more serious than any single sporting event, but unfortunately far too many people go through life without … [Read more...] about Effective Long-Term Planning Requires Awareness & Flexibility
Indiana Inheritance Tax Being Phased Out
Indianapolis estate planning attorneys often talk about the federal estate tax. However, depending on the state within which you reside you may be faced with death taxes on the state level as well as the federal level. At the present time we do not have an estate tax here in Indiana. We do however have a state inheritance tax but it is being phased out over a 10 year period. What is the difference between an estate tax and an inheritance tax? An estate tax is levied on … [Read more...] about Indiana Inheritance Tax Being Phased Out
Retirees: Beware of Property Tax Liens
Retirement planning involves doing some careful calculations. You don't want to work with ballpark figures because you may well be quite vulnerable financially during your twilight years. It is very likely that you will not be in a position to go out looking for a new career opportunity should you find yourself in financial need when you are 75 years of age or older. With the above having been stated you should be very cognizant of the impact that property taxes may have on your … [Read more...] about Retirees: Beware of Property Tax Liens
QPRT: Necessary in 2013?
In an estate planning context the acronym QPRT stands for a qualified personal residence trust. These instruments can be utilized to reduce the taxable value of your home as you are transferring it to a beneficiary. When you consider the fact that your home is in fact considered to be part of your estate by the Internal Revenue Service, a lot of people will be exposed to the estate tax in 2013 when the exclusion goes down to just $1 million. If your home is worth half of this or perhaps … [Read more...] about QPRT: Necessary in 2013?
Greater Resources, Greater Risks
Estate planning for high net worth families involves responding to some specific challenges. The first thing to brace yourself for is the federal estate tax. This tax could consume a significant percentage of your legacy if you don't take the appropriate steps. And in reality over a number of generations the federal death levy could conceivably consume the vast majority of the assets that you leave behind over time. If the resources are significant enough and succeeding … [Read more...] about Greater Resources, Greater Risks
Look Northward for Tax Savings, Asset Protection
Once you have accumulated a significant store of assets you can feel a sense of accomplishment and perhaps a little bit of relief. However, when you are standing on this plateau you have a new set of challenges that you must address. One of them is the necessity to protect these resources. If you were to become the target of a lawsuit and your assets were not positioned properly they could potentially be attached and this is certainly not acceptable. Anxious creditors could … [Read more...] about Look Northward for Tax Savings, Asset Protection
Indirect Gifting Can Be Tax-Free
If you have enjoyed a significant amount of success throughout your life you may be faced with a pleasant problem of sorts. The powers that be sit poised to consume a significant percentage of the resources that you intend to pass along to your loved ones via the imposition of the estate tax if they exceed a certain amount. To prevent people from giving gifts while they are still alive in an effort to get around the estate tax there is a gift tax in place. It is said to be unified … [Read more...] about Indirect Gifting Can Be Tax-Free
Will Your Beneficiaries Pay Taxes On Insurance Proceeds?
Tax matters are something to take into consideration when you are looking ahead toward the inevitable. With this in mind questions often arise about insurance policy proceeds. When the beneficiary receives insurance proceeds he or she will not be asked to pay Federal income tax when the transfer takes place. However, there is another tax that looms large for many individuals. If you own insurance policies personally the proceeds are considered to be part of your estate for … [Read more...] about Will Your Beneficiaries Pay Taxes On Insurance Proceeds?
Indianapolis Estate Planning Seminars
Free advice can be a bit dangerous to accept under certain circumstances. However, sometimes genuine expertise is available to you in a readily accessible and cost-effective manner. Just such an opportunity is presenting itself over the next couple of weeks here in the Indianapolis area. Our firm is going to be presenting some very informative seminars throughout the month of September and we would like to invite all of our readers to attend. At our seminars you will find out … [Read more...] about Indianapolis Estate Planning Seminars
