Steve Novak: Estate and Gift Tax Lawyer

Estate and gift taxes are imposed by the federal government on the transfer of property from person to another, either at death (estate tax) or while the giver of the property is still alive (gift tax). This article provides a brief overview of both forms of transfer.

Estate Tax in Utah

Estates are required to file a federal estate tax return if the value of the “gross” estate, minus certain deductions, is above a certain dollar amount ($5.49 million in 2017). The gross estate includes the value of all property in which the decedent had an interest at the time of his or her death — including such items as real estate, stocks and bonds, mortgages, notes and cash, insurance on the decedent’s life, and jointly owned property. If spouses own property in joint tenancy, and one dies, one half of the value of the jointly held property is included in the gross estate of the deceased spouse.

Utah Estate Tax Exemptions

Personal Exemption. The “personal estate tax exemption” allows a certain amount (or all) of a deceased person’s estate to transfer free of the estate tax. This has changed over time, reaching the $5.49 million mark in 2017. At any time Congress may increase or decrease this amount, or even repeal the estate tax altogether.

Marital Deduction. A deceased person’s estate can pass tax free to a surviving spouse, as long as the surviving spouse is a U.S. citizen and the deceased spouse’s interest in the estate passes to the surviving spouse outright (in other words, the property transfers directly to the spouse upon the decedents death).

To understand how the marital deduction and personal estate tax exemption might work in practice, suppose Bob dies leaving an estate worth $12 million. Putting aside community property issues for the moment, assume that his will states that $6.49 million go to his wife, and $6.49 million to his daughter Kate. In this situation, no part of the $6.49 million Bob leaves to his wife will be subject to the estate tax (as long as Bob’s wife is a U.S. citizen and all the property included in the $6.49 million passes to her outright). Of the $6.49 million Bob leaves to Kate, however, $1 million will be subject to the estate tax (the $6.49 million minus the first $5.49 million that is tax-free under the 2017 personal estate tax exemption).

Other deductions. Other deductions against the gross estate include certain administrative expenses, funeral expenses, claims against the estate, certain taxes and other indebtedness and charitable bequests.

Have a Tax Lawyer File the Estate Tax Return

The executor, personal representative, or person in possession of the estate’s assets must file the estate tax return within nine months of the decedent’s death. The estate can apply for a six-month extension of time to file, but the taxes must be paid within nine months of the decedent’s death. The time for payment of the estate tax may be extended in certain circumstances.

State Estate Taxes

Some states also impose estate taxes. The state in which the decedent lived may impose an estate tax, and states where real estate or personal property is located may also impose an estate tax. The law of each state having any connection to the property in question must be consulted in order to assess any tax consequences associated with the property transfer.

Federal Gift Tax

The gift tax is a tax on the legal transfer of property from one person to another, during the giving person’s lifetime. Certain gifts are exempt from the gift tax, including:

Gifts valued at a dollar amount of $14,000 or less to any one individual in a single calendar year (as of 2017);
Gifts to a spouse;
Payment of tuition or medical expenses on someone else’s behalf;
Charitable contributions; and
Certain gifts to political organizations.

Free Consultation with a Utah Gift and Estate Tax Lawyer

If you are here, you probably have an estate issue you need help with, call Ascent Law for your free estate law consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.