The Federal Estate Tax

The Federal Estate Tax PDF Author: David Joulfaian
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 026255111X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 213

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Book Description
A comprehensive and accessible account of the U.S. estate tax, examining its history and evolution, structure and inner workings, and economic consequences. Governments have been levying some form of inheritance tax since the ancient Egyptians did so in the seventh century BC. In the United States, the federal government experimented with various forms of inheritance taxes, settling on an estate tax in 1916 and a gift tax in 1932. Despite this long history, there are few empirical studies of the federal estate tax. This book offers the first comprehensive look at U.S. estate and inheritance taxes, examining their history and evolution, structure and inner workings, and economic consequences. Written by David Joulfaian, a veteran economist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the book provides accessible accounts of such topics as changes in tax laws, issues of equity, the fiscal contribution of the estate tax, and its behavioral effects. Joulfaian traces the evolution of U.S. inheritance taxes from 1797 to the present, noting that the estate tax rate and base expanded through 1976, then began to decline. He describes the tax itself, explaining that it currently applies to estates and gifts in excess of $11.18 million, and outlines applicable deductions and credits. He sketches a profile of taxpayers and their beneficiaries; surveys the revenues from estate and gift taxes; and discusses the effect of estate taxation on labor decisions, saving and wealth accumulation, charitable giving, life insurance ownership, and other economic activities. Finally, he addresses criticisms of the estate tax and analyzes its shortcomings. Accompanying tables present a wealth of data gathered by Joulfaian in his research and not available elsewhere.

The Federal Estate Tax

The Federal Estate Tax PDF Author: David Joulfaian
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 026255111X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 213

Get Book

Book Description
A comprehensive and accessible account of the U.S. estate tax, examining its history and evolution, structure and inner workings, and economic consequences. Governments have been levying some form of inheritance tax since the ancient Egyptians did so in the seventh century BC. In the United States, the federal government experimented with various forms of inheritance taxes, settling on an estate tax in 1916 and a gift tax in 1932. Despite this long history, there are few empirical studies of the federal estate tax. This book offers the first comprehensive look at U.S. estate and inheritance taxes, examining their history and evolution, structure and inner workings, and economic consequences. Written by David Joulfaian, a veteran economist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the book provides accessible accounts of such topics as changes in tax laws, issues of equity, the fiscal contribution of the estate tax, and its behavioral effects. Joulfaian traces the evolution of U.S. inheritance taxes from 1797 to the present, noting that the estate tax rate and base expanded through 1976, then began to decline. He describes the tax itself, explaining that it currently applies to estates and gifts in excess of $11.18 million, and outlines applicable deductions and credits. He sketches a profile of taxpayers and their beneficiaries; surveys the revenues from estate and gift taxes; and discusses the effect of estate taxation on labor decisions, saving and wealth accumulation, charitable giving, life insurance ownership, and other economic activities. Finally, he addresses criticisms of the estate tax and analyzes its shortcomings. Accompanying tables present a wealth of data gathered by Joulfaian in his research and not available elsewhere.

Effects of the Federal Estate Tax on Farms and Small Businesses

Effects of the Federal Estate Tax on Farms and Small Businesses PDF Author: United States. Congressional Budget Office
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Family farms
Languages : en
Pages : 60

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Book Description


Rethinking Estate and Gift Taxation

Rethinking Estate and Gift Taxation PDF Author: William G. Gale
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 9780815719861
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 544

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Book Description
Although estate and gift taxes raise a small fraction of federal revenues, they have become sources of increasing political controversy. This book is designed to inform the current policy debate and build a conceptual basis for future scholarship. The book contains eleven original studies of estate and gift taxes, along with discussants' comments. The essays provide background and historical information; analyze the optimal taxation of estates and gifts; examine the effects of the tax on charitable contributions, saving behavior, the distribution and level of wealth, tax avoidance and tax evasion; and explore the effects of alternatives to estate taxation.

Federal Estate and Gift Taxation in a Nutshell

Federal Estate and Gift Taxation in a Nutshell PDF Author: John K. McNulty
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 586

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Book Description
Wealth Transfer Taxation; Constitutionality; The Federal Estate Tax, Gift Tax and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Outlined; Unification of Transfer Taxes; Gratuitous Transfers; Transfers During Life; Donative Intent; Consideration; Property; Transfer; Inclusion in the Gross Estate; Alternative Valuation Date; Liability for Tax; Incomplete Transfers; Transfers in Contemplation of Death; Retained Interests or Powers; Revocable Transfers; Special Valuation Rules and "Estate Freezes; " Jointly-Owned Property; Community Property; Property Settlements; Life Insurance; Annuities; Employee Death Benefits; Powers of Appointment; Inclusion; Valuation; Exemptions; Exclusions; Future Interests; Deductions (Charitable, etc.); Marital Deduction; Split Gifts; Unified Credit; International; Estate Planning; Reforms and Fundamental Alternatives.

Coordination of State and Federal Inheritance, Estate, and Gift Taxes

Coordination of State and Federal Inheritance, Estate, and Gift Taxes PDF Author: United States. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Gifts
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description


A Treatise on the Federal Estate Tax, Containing the Statutes, Regulations, Court Decisions, Treasury Decisions, Other Departmental Rulings, and Forms

A Treatise on the Federal Estate Tax, Containing the Statutes, Regulations, Court Decisions, Treasury Decisions, Other Departmental Rulings, and Forms PDF Author: Raymond Dunham Thurber
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Inheritance and transfer tax
Languages : en
Pages : 456

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Book Description


The Impact of the Federal Estate Tax on State Estate Taxes

The Impact of the Federal Estate Tax on State Estate Taxes PDF Author: Steven Maguire
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781481071420
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
An estate tax is a tax levied on the assets left behind by a decedent. The federal government and many state governments levy estate taxes or some type of tax on the transfer of assets at death. In 2012, the federal estate tax allows for a $5.12 million exclusion and a top rate of 35%. The federal estate tax is scheduled to revert to the pre-2001 structure on January 1, 2013, with a $1 million exclusion and top rate of 55%. The Administration's FY2013 budget proposes a federal estate tax with a $3.5 million exemption and top rate of 45% for 2013. Many states also levy estate or inheritance taxes (or both) that are linked to federal law. If the federal estate tax is allowed to revert to pre-2001 law, state and federal estate tax revenue will increase significantly by imposing a greater tax burden on estates than would an extension of 2012 law or the President's FY2013 budget proposal. The percentage increase in state estate tax revenue would likely be greater than the percentage increase in federal estate taxes under a return to pre-2001 law. The principal cause is the return of the federal credit for state death taxes when the tax changes originally enacted by the Economic Growth Tax Relief and Reconciliation Act in 2001 (EGTRRA, P.L. 107-16) expire. Before EGTRRA, all 50 states and the District of Columbia imposed an estate tax where state estate taxes were linked directly to the federal credit for state death taxes paid ("death" taxes because the credit could also be used for inheritance and succession taxes). The dollar-for-dollar credit meant that state taxes were not an additional burden, creating the equivalent of a revenue sharing arrangement between the federal government and the states as most states structured their taxes to match exactly the federal credit. EGTRRA gradually replaced the federal credit with a deduction. Because of this change to a deduction, state estate and inheritance taxes were no longer offset on a dollar-for-dollar basis and, as a result, imposed an additional burden on estates and heirs. States were then lobbied for relief from this additional estate tax burden. As a result, by 2012, just 16 states and the District of Columbia imposed an estate tax and 8 states imposed an inheritance tax (2 states levied both). As Congress considers the future of the federal estate tax, questions concerning the coordination of the tax with the states have arisen. This report examines the interaction of federal and state estate taxes under three policy alternatives: (1) extend the 2012 law, (2) revert to the pre-2001 law, and (3) return to the 2009 law as proposed in the Administration's FY2013 budget proposal. A fourth option, repeal of the federal estate tax, has also been proposed. If the federal estate tax were repealed, repeal of most remaining state estate taxes would likely follow. This option, however, would most likely be considered in the context of broader tax reform and is beyond the scope of this report. Which course of action Congress will choose is uncertain and the impact on the states is unclear. What is more certain is that coordination with states would likely reduce administrative and compliance costs of the estate tax, increase the progressivity of the code generally, and possibly increase the economic efficiency of state estate taxes.

Impact of the Federal Estate Tax on State Estate Taxes

Impact of the Federal Estate Tax on State Estate Taxes PDF Author: Steven Maguire
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781457835803
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description


Federal Estate and Gift Taxes

Federal Estate and Gift Taxes PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Decedents' estates
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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Book Description


Federal Estate and Gift Taxation

Federal Estate and Gift Taxation PDF Author: W. Leslie Peat
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 300

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Book Description