Which States Don’t Charge a State Income Tax?

As you get older and plan ahead for retirement, it’s important to think about all the financial implications of the decisions that you make. For example, where will you live? This is important not just to choose how to be around family or the opportunities available with part time jobs for retirees in the area.

One of the biggest considerations for many people approaching retirement is whether or not the state taxes income at all. There are 9 states that have no income tax. In 2021 they are Wyoming, Washington, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Nevada, Florida and Alaska. There are also 28 other states around the country that have exemptions or credits to help taxpayers avoid paying taxes on social security at the state level.

They include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington DC. When making a retirement plan don’t forget to include the benefits of working directly with an estate planning lawyer.

What Happens to a Joint Bank Account When One Person Dies?

Ownership of certain accounts is an important thing to know in the back of your mind if you jointly share one with another person. While both of you are alive, this means you jointly own that entire account.

For most joint accounts, these will be created by the bank as a “joint account with right of survivorship.” This means that when one account owner passes away, the other remaining party on that account will automatically be the full owner of any assets inside.

While some accounts carry automatic rights of survivorship, others do not. That’s why you should always check with your bank directly; many family members have discovered after the fact that what seems like minor paperwork issues can stall the transfer of an account.

Most things associated with the transfer of a joint account are simple, but there are aspects to consider for the person who will inherit the account. For example, any income earned by that account has tax consequences. The tax situation can get even more complex if other assets owned by the decedent are subject to probate or estate taxes, too.

The bottom line is that in cases where you’re properly assigned as the joint owner of the account, you should automatically assume ownership of the account in full.

If you have an account with joint owners but also other assets inside your probate estate, it’s up to you to make sure you’ve properly planned for those assets in terms of a transfer to beneficiaries. An estate planning lawyer in New Jersey can help you figure out what your comprehensive estate plan looks like and how to proceed to accomplish your individual goals.

Biden Contemplating Significant Federal Tax Increase

Any change in presidential administration or big shifts in Congress could change current estate plan impacts, and that’s certainly true now. For business owners in particular, now is a good year to keep your eye on the news or your finger on the speed dial for your business, tax, and estate planning lawyer.

If you haven’t yet scheduled a consultation with your estate planning lawyer for 2021, you need to be aware of potential sweeping changes that could come to federal taxes.

For the first time in nearly 30 years, Biden is contemplating a massive federal tax increase that would raise the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% and the proposal on the table also considers increasing income taxes for those people who earn over $400,000 a year.

The next spending package will include further details about this anticipated tax increase. This would be the first significant federal tax increase in nearly three decades since the last significant raises to the taxes occurred in 1993.

Another aspect for business owners to be aware of with these possible tax changes on the table has to do with cutting back the preferences that certain businesses get. As of now, for example, LLCs are not subject to corporate taxes as pass-through entities.

If these sweeping changes do come to pass, you will want to have the support of an experienced estate lawyer to help you create a comprehensive strategy for your next steps with regard to your business. Do not hesitate to contact an estate planning lawyer in New Jersey to learn more.

 

What Do You Need to Know About Estate Planning Options with Potential Biden Tax Increases?

As we get closer to an election, it’s important to think about how your estate plan might need to be updated or changed altogether in light of who is elected. Some of the most common issues that have been popping up with Biden’s proposed tax plans have to do with accelerated capital gains and bonuses, deferring deductions and more.

Some important steps you’ll need to take before the end of the year depending on who is elected will rely on the insight and experience of your trusted estate planning attorney. There are several important things you need to have top of mind as a result of published proposals from Joe Biden or possible results from a legislative committee looking at revenue. These include:

  • Taxing of capital gains at ordinary income rates and similar treatment for dividends.
  • Potential eliminations of the step ups that exempt unrealized capital gains at death.
  • Acceleration of the Trump tax cuts that would start on January 1st, 2021 rather than January 1st, 2026.
  • Limiting deduction value to 28% even in cases in which the taxpayer’s income bracket is higher than that.
  • Imposition of a 12.4% social security tax.
  • Elimination of local and state income tax ceiling of $10,000.

All of these important and complicated issues should be discussed directly with your trusted estate planning lawyer. Make sure to schedule a consultation as soon as possible after the election if there are significant tax changes on the table.

Study Shows That Taxes Are a Leading Reason Americans Renounce Their Citizenship

Moving to a different state carries its own set of unique estate planning concerns but moving abroad makes them even more complicated. According to 2016 data shared by the US State Department, approximately 9 million Americans actually live in foreign countries.

The Treasury Department found that in the first quarter of 2020, over 2,900 Americans actually renounced their citizenship. A recent study found that 7 out of 10 US citizens who live in another country believe that they should not be required to file US taxes.

More than 4,000 American ex-patriots were included in this recent study and it continues to be a problematic issue for these individuals who have to comply with extra reporting requirements and forms at tax time.

One-fifth of the participants in that same study actually said they were thinking about giving up their citizenship in the near term and 40% of them said that the burden of filing taxes each year was a big reason for doing this. US citizens, as well as resident aliens, are required to file a state, gift and income tax returns and pay any levies owed regardless of where they live.

This means their income around the world still remains subject to taxes. Americans living abroad also must comply with additional tax requirements. This can eb a very complicated situation for someone who does not have a team of professionals to help them.       

Use Tax Planning to Reduce What You Owe

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good opportunity to engage in the process of tax planning by speaking with your accountant and other retirement planning professionals. 

Tax planning can be instrumental in helping to reduce the total amount of money that you owe on your taxes. The prospect of reviewing your income taxes can be overwhelming for many, and this is especially true after the overhauled tax law that came into being towards the end of last year.

Now is an appropriate time to verify that you have considered all possible aspects of updating your financial and tax plan. First of all, review your withholding decision and update your W-4 if needed.

You can use line six on your W-4 to state an extra amount that you would like withheld from your account before year end. You can submit an updated W-4 in the future if you want to take that extra withholding out in the future.

You can use a calculator on the IRS website to identify where and whether or not your withholding decision has been appropriate based on your individual and family circumstance. Furthermore, discuss the estimates of your 2018 and 2019 income tax situation to avoid unwelcome bills from the IRS about balances that are due. Maximizing contributions to your available retirement plans is a common strategy used before the end of the year.

Additional contributions can be made for those people age 50 years or older and taxpayers can always explore their flexible spending account and figure out how to use these funds before the end of the year occurs. The new tax law doubled the standard deduction with more than 90% of tax payers now claiming that standard deduction, it will be important to discuss the tax planning options and how this affects you with your accountant and estate planning professional.

What Is an I Love You Will?

Since the federal estate tax exemption is at an historically high level of over $11 million, this leads to many questions brought by a client to estate planning attorneys about portability mechanism. These portability mechanisms have to do with a client’s unused exemption at death and many people are choosing to keep their estate planning as simple as possible and elect to leave all of their assets directly to the surviving spouse. NJ-estate-lawyer

Bear in mind that the federal estate tax exemption is portable, however, the exemption associated with the federal generation skipping transfer tax is not.

This means that the GST exemption in situations in which all assets are left behind to a surviving spouse could be wasted. GST planning is often not an issue for most families because of the high exemption levels. However, those with significant wealth could make mistakes related to GST planning. Besides the tax issues associated with this portability exemption, many clients today are not married to the parent of his or her children. Some clients might not care exactly about who will benefit from their assets, but many do have exact provisions and guidelines that they want to enact.

The appropriate method through which to do this is by using a trust to establish some level of control and peace of mind for the client. A trust enables you to determine what happens to these assets and how they can be passed on to future generations while also allowing some conditional provisions that can make things easier for you as well as your loved ones.

Getting some peace of mind with your estate planning begins with scheduling a consultation with an experienced lawyer who is highly knowledgeable about the constantly evolving aspects of the estate planning process and one who will keep you informed as state and federal laws related to estate taxes change in the future so that you are always updated with the right planning.

 

Understanding the Power of Charitable Giving Options Following Tax Reform

Tax reform can have far reaping changes, impacts, and considerations for families who were thinking about or who are already involved in charitable giving. Understanding your options is important since giving to charity can help you to accomplish many individual goals regardless of the tax planning. The non-tax benefits associated with charitable giving are often important when it comes to planning as well as motivating your underlying decisions. 

According to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017, many donors, aside from wealthy individuals making significant donations, will get any benefit from tax donations. This means that non-tax motives are the major giving motivation for donors than ever before.

It’s important to realize, however, that charitable giving can still take an important role in your financial strategy and that charitable giving can take many different forms. There are many ways to provide benefits to charities through a wide range of estate and financial plans. You might, for example, give bequests or gifts that could be deferred.

For those couples who wish to give to charity and do not have children, a simple adjustment to a scheme that would typically be tax oriented can reap significant charitable benefits for an organization since the couple’s most common goal is going to be to take care of one another. But they may wish to put together an estate plan that transfers all of their assets or many of their assets after both parties pass away.

On the death of the second person, an estate plan can help to accomplish this goal by passing on the necessary assets after selecting a charity in which both individuals are actively involved. Charitable giving often begins with a consideration of what you find important and consideration of the various goals and organizations you’ve been involved with over the course of your life can help to clarify this and give you clarity over how to proceed. A consultation with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney is a good first step.

 

Don’t Allow This Mistake to Swallow Thousands of Dollars Out of Your Estate

The estate tax exemption is currently set at multiple million per person. While conventional planning techniques, at a very basic level, can cover you from a tax perspective, they might not address the family conflicts, and in particular, one of the leading mistakes that people make when looking ahead to their future is in appointing the smartest or perceived brightest child to oversee your estate. estate-plan-NJ

This could end up being a mistake, however, if you are not careful. While conventional planning opportunities can help assist with tax problems, they might not go far enough to address family dynamics that will long outlast your savings and you.

This is why it is important to have an estate planning attorney who is knowledgeable about possible issues of family conflict and one who can help you avoid these challenges and to successfully navigate a plan that looks into the best interests of you as well as your individual family members. The support of a lawyer is instrumental in outlining what is in your best interests and how to minimize the potential for conflicts and legal issues down the line.

Watch Out for Telephone Tax Scams This Year

The elderly are exposed to all different types of possible financial fraud, and unfortunately, tax scams are on the rise. Telephone tax scams have become extremely prominent in recent years and despite the fact that there have been featured in the news media and warnings from the federal government, it is tempting to want to deal with these tax situations sooner rather than later. Chances are though, however, that the IRS is not calling you directly. 

Some of the most common forms of these telephone tax scams right now, tell a person that they are going to be prosecuted if they do not make a payment immediately. Tax scams ate always on the rise nearing tax season, particularly any phone calls that threaten criminal prosecution, lawsuits or police arrest.

The IRS says to avoid giving any personally identifying information over the phone. More than likely when the IRS reaches out to a person who has a tax issue, this will be done in writing and will come on official IRS letterhead. Over the phone, people may threaten you and try to encourage you to give personal identifying details, such as your bank account, to make a payment. But this is not the IRS. Many of these criminals impersonate IRS agents and promise you a big refund if you give them private information.

According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, reports that were filed with that agency have led to more than $54 million in payments from victims to these phone scams. Being aware of these scams is one of the best ways to protect your assets from being decimated, now or in the future. If you have concerns about how to protect your assets appropriately, schedule a consultation with an experienced estate planning lawyer today.

What You Need to Know About Filing Taxes After a Loved One’s Death?

Many clients who are suddenly facing the prospect of losing a loved one find themselves in over their head and extremely confused about the next steps they need to take. There may be nothing certain about life except death and taxes, but filing and paying taxes after a loved one has died can seem like a lot to do. get help doing taxes with a loved one's estate

The final return must be done whether it falls to an executor or the heirs. If an individual passes away during the year and he or she received income, then a tax return is needed.

If your spouse passes away during the year, you can file married, file in jointly or married filed separately, whichever of these gives you the preferred tax treatment of your income. Sometimes you must carry out different tax calculations in order to determine this.

Money that is received from IRAs, life insurance annuities or other pensions may have tax implications that need to be handled and appropriate tax planning is essential. Funds are received, taxes become due and it can become a serious problem if no planning was done to cushion the shock of the tax bill.

When dealing with a multitude of issues after losing a loved one, getting financial assistance may seem like just one more step. However, a few minutes with a professional can be a stress reliever and can give you a clear course of action. It is especially important to consider the financial tax return implications when business partners are involved. Even if the partners are spouses, there are numerous considerations that need to be carefully calculated and taxes filed for the business that may include a final business return. Business taxes are extremely complicated and require the insight of a professional.

Top Questions to Ask Your Estate Planning Attorney After the Passage of The New Tax Law

 

Now that the new tax law has come into place, plenty of people are thinking about what they need to do in order to protect themselves and their future. This often warrants a conversation with your estate planning lawyer, who can tell you more about what you need to know. An estate plan often needs to be updated based on your individual circumstances as well as shifts in state and federal laws. The aggressive tax reform that was recently passed should prompt you to schedule a consultation directly with an attorney. Ensuring that your plan is up to date can make things much easier for your loved ones in the future. The following questions should be considered by anyone who believes that an update to their estate plan may be in order. get help with 2018 tax laws by hiring a NJ estate planning lawyer

Even if you are not yet sure whether you need to revise your strategies or existing documents, a lawyer can help point you in the right direction and give you greater peace of mind about the future. These top questions include:

  • Will my estate tax picture be impacted by the new federal law?
  • How does my marriage or divorce get affected by the exemption limit?
  • Do I have to worry about any state estate taxes because of a property I own in other locations?
  • Are my estate documents customized to avoid unintended consequences and carry out my individual wishes?
  • How soon should I schedule another review of my estate plan?

 

Top Concerns for High Net Worth Clients in Light of New Tax Changes

Many people are taking the opportunity to look at their current estate plans and tax plans in light of new tax laws in the U.S. While everyone can benefit from a regular review of their estate planning tools, high net worth clients have the most to gain from setting up a time to talk about estate planning and asset protection planning.

There are a number of different tax implications for wealthy families currently facing the restructuring of their estate and tax plans. Trusts can provide valuable protection from divorcing spouses and creditors and also enhance the control of an individual over how a beneficiary inherits wealth. 

This is particularly important for families that have addiction, mental illness, or spendthrift considerations. Furthermore, trusts can be used to help preserve wealth for numerous generations.

Since numerous different states will have their own estate tax regimes and you may own property in multiple states at the same time, anyone who owns property or resides in those states should continue to plan around these state level taxes.

For very high net worth clients who still have exposure to the federal estate tax or live and own property in states with their own estate tax, traditional wealth transfer strategies identified by an experienced estate planning lawyer can be helpful.

                                                                                                                

The New Tax Laws and Property Taxes In New Jersey

Are you getting ready to file your tax returns in New Jersey? Many people who rushed to pay their 2018 property taxes before December 1st will not be able to deduct this expense from their 2017 state income taxes, according to research from the New Jersey Society of CPAs. The IRS recently issued instructions that certain 2018 pre-payments were deductible from federal income taxes in 2017. plan for taxes and estates with a lawyer

While this is true at the federal level, the same is not true for state income taxes. Homeowners may be in for an unfortunate surprise when they realize that their attempts at end of year planning to increase their federal property tax deduction will have no impact on their exact 2017 New Jersey income tax returns.

Setting aside a time to talk to an experienced estate planning attorney in New Jersey can give you a great deal of peace of mind and clear planning strategies for your best interests. You need to look to the year ahead and ensure that you’re using strategies that both work for you as well as truly protect your interests.

It can be a minefield to try and decipher tax laws on your own. Thankfully, however, with the help of a lawyer this process can be made that much easier. Sitting down with an attorney and walking through your current strategies to identify whether or not they will still work for you is a valuable exercise and one you should consider carefully.

Estate Planning- A Good Idea Even If the Death Tax Ultimately Disappears

Are you currently following all the news about potential tax updates? If so, you’re not alone. Many people are expressing their concerns about whether or not tax issues will affect them if a major reform comes into play. estate tax reform

Congressional Republicans and the White House have proposed a new tax reform plan that eliminates the Federal Estate Tax. However, while this would make it easier for some people to simplify their estate planning, avoiding complex strategies to produce a potential tax bill, this doesn’t mean that you should necessarily ignore estate planning overall. First of all, you want to ensure that your assets go to where they are needed the most.

The more complicated your family situation, the greater the need for a comprehensive estate plan. Remember that some states will still have state-level estate taxes. The majority of states do not have an estate tax, but six states have inheritance taxes that apply to the recipients of gifts and 14 states in addition to the District of Columbia have state level estate taxes. The exemption amounts are often much lower than the federal exemption of $5.49 million.

The need for federal tax planning in and of itself will also not go away and you should never skimp on estate planning because there are many different goals that you can still accomplish with this process and benefit from the insight of an attorney, who can help you to identify strategies to pass along your accumulated assets to your loved ones. Scheduling a consultation with an experienced estate planning attorney today is strongly recommended.

 

It Makes Sense to Do Your Year-End Tax Planning Now

 

It might seem like you’re still just beginning the fourth quarter but it is still a good opportunity to consider your 2017 tax return. Wanting to get ahead over the fall can make things easier for you after the busy holidays. You may even be able to make your New Year a happier one with a reduced tax burden or a larger refund. plan for taxes and estates with a lawyer

Looking ahead to 2018, businesses and individuals need to be aware of the potential for late tax legislation and prepare for any of the responsibilities and requirements that could come with tax reform being a major priority for the current presidential administration. Tax planning opportunity should always be discussed with your team of advisors including your financial professional and your estate planning lawyer. Delaying income till 2018 and accelerating your deductions this year is one of the best ways to minimize your 2017 tax bill. This is particularly true if tax reform causes tax rates to go down in the next year.

Accelerating your deductions into 2017 and pushing income into 2018 could lead to a permanent tax benefit if the tax rates are indeed lowered.

You may also be able to request, for example, getting your year-end bonus later if it is standard practice at your company. If you are a freelance employee, you could also postpone billing. By doing so you may be able to claim larger credits, deductions and tax breaks for 2017 that are phased out over varying levels of adjusted gross income. This could include higher education tax credits, deductions for student loans interest and child tax credits. Some individuals may find that it is better to accelerate income into 2017 and this should be discussed directly with your financial professional.

Could Partnership Income Tax Rules Help You with Estate Planning?

It’s no surprise to anyone who has engaged in the estate planning process already that there are plenty of strategies out there to help you accomplish your planning goals while also passing on as much wealth to the next generation as possible. Many of these tools, though, could still be subject to generation-skipping taxes or other measures Congress has put in place. One novel strategy that could help minimize taxes is by granting a family member partnership interests in a family business.

The most common way to think about estate planning without using this tool involves reducing the values of assets that will be included in an estate in order to pass on the future appreciation to the next generation taking control of that asset. This is usually done with tools like intentionally defective grantor trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, or qualified personal residence trusts. While all of these certainly have their place, each does come with some disadvantages that could compromise your ability to accomplish estate planning goals.

advanced tax planning strategies lawyer

Partnership income tax law provisions, however, could be the solution you’ve been searching for. A family business already taxed as a partnership, for example, could help accomplish estate planning goals successfully. You can reallocate portions of income and use transfer of appreciation or current value without having to tap into any lifetime or annual exclusions. Even better, this can help you avoid the negative implications of a generation-skipping transfer tax. There are a lot of complex strategies that can help high net worth families, but these should always be evaluated carefully by an experienced estate planning lawyer due to their complexity. All of the details really matter when it comes to strategies like this.

When looking for estate planning solutions, it’s good to have an eye towards strategies that help you accomplish multiple goals at once. The right estate planning lawyer can play a critical role in helping you identify these.

 

 

 

 

What Trump’s Election Means for Wealth and Tax Planning

Now that Trump has been elected, it’s time to look forward to see what potential implications this has from a wealth and tax planning perspective. Of course, this is all dependent on the direction things go in January when he takes office, but there’s agreement across a typically-divided Washington that the tax code needs major reform. With the support from both sides of the aisle and a Republican Congress, there’s a good chance that bipartisan tax legislation will be on the agenda in the first 100 days of a Trump presidency. NJ tax attorney

The main gist of the tax plan is to reform the code by dropping income tax rates for businesses and individuals and raising the standard deductions. Personal exemptions would be repealed and itemized deductions limited. Furthermore, Trump has shared his desire to repeal the federal estate tax. However, the least is known about how a repealed estate tax would actually get through.

It’s not just individual income taxes that are going to take a hit, either. The corporate tax rate may be dropped from 35 percent to 15 percent. The majority of corporate tax expenditures will be eliminated except for research and development credits, and Trump also supports a one-time 10 percent tax for those who keep corporate profits offshore.

No matter what the changes end up being, it’s clear that the winds of change are blowing. Everyone, whether it’s an individual planning ahead for their estate or a business owner concerned about long-term tax planning and asset protection, should be prepared for considering new strategies in the near future. Partnering with a law firm where the attorneys have extensive experience interpreting these complex issues and translating them into strategies for individuals will be more important now than ever.

 

 

IRS Takes Aim at Estate Tax and Gift Tax Discounts on Entities

At the beginning of August, the Treasury Department issued proposed regulations under section 2704(b) of the Internal Revenue Code and a hearing has been scheduled for December 1st, 2016. These new regulations, while still in the proposal period, would take away all valuation discounts for inter family entity transfers that are controlled by the transferor or his or her family. irs

While these regulations might not take effect until sometime in the following year, it could be necessary to complete any discount related planning over the next several months. Some of the biggest changes adopted in the proposed regulations are outlined below. These regulations give a broad definition of control. For example, control is classified as holding 50% or more of equity in a company based as an LLC partnership or corporation. For limited partnerships, control is equivalent to having an interest in the LLC’s general partner. The proposed regulations would change valuations for transfer tax purposes of interests in family owned entities that are subject to restrictions on redemptions or liquidations.

Specifically, these restrictions will be disregarded in terms of valuing such interests for estate tax or gift tax purposes when the interest is transferred by a family member. The reasoning behind this is that after such a transfer the restriction would lapse or could be removed by the transferor or a member of his or her family. These would have a significant impact on wealth transfer tax valuation for family controlled entity interest. Practically no minority discounts would be allowed. In order to learn more about this process, you need to consult with a New Jersey estate planning and asset protection planning attorney. A knowledgeable attorney can help you protect your interests- reach out to our office today by contacting info@lawesq.net.

Comparing What You Need to Know About the Presidential Tax Reform Proposals in 2016

It’s expected that tax policy will be one of the biggest issues in the 2016 presidential campaign. To understand how various presidential candidates, view this issue, read on to learn more.tax forms

  • Estate tax. The Hillary Clinton plan propose increasing the highest estate tax rate to 45% and lowering the estate tax exclusion to $3.5 million. Donald Trump eliminates the estate tax entirely. Bernie Sanders would propose increasing the top estate tax rate to 65% and lowering the estate tax exclusion to $3.5 million.
  • Income tax: Rates on ordinary income. Hillary Clinton wants to add a 4% tax on income over $5 million. Donald Trump establishes four tax brackets with rates of 0%, 10%, 20% and 25%. The top rate applies to income over $150,000 for single filers and $300,000 for joint filers. Bernie Sanders, likewise establishes four new brackets but these are 37%, 43%, 48% and 52%. The top rate applies to taxable income over and above $10 million. All other tax brackets would be raised by 2.2%.

Although it’s impossible to predict just yet how these income and estate tax proposals could influence you, and whether they would be successful, you need to work with a knowledgeable attorney who can help guide you regardless of the changes made. Attorneys who are familiar with the changes made legislatively and at the turn of every new presidential administration can help explain to you how this would trickle down to you and what you can do to prepare for it in advance.

Do not hesitate to reach out to a New Jersey estate planning attorney to learn more.