Taxation Law Articles

According to our understanding and as a result of an extensive study of tax law, IRS internal norms, as well as the law regulating foreigners’ status in Brazil. We have come to the following understanding of the ever so controversy question, do foreigners need to declare their international assets in Brazil when having permanent visa?

If you are planning on visiting any country, it is always helpful to be familiar with the rules governing the import and export of currency and other securities. In Russia these issues are regulated by Federal Law from 10.12.2003 No.173-FZ “On Currency Regulation and Currency Control” and Customs Legislation.

The State Administration of Taxation has issued the Provisional Measures of Applying the Exempt, Credit and Refund Method to Zero-rated Value-added Tax Services in Their Transformation from Business Tax to Value-added Tax under the Pilot Program (the “Provisional Measures”) on April 5th, 2012, which has retrospectively become into effective since January 1st, 2012.

Acts of generosity are beautiful things for the most part, but there is a reason to proceed with caution when you are planning your estate for the good of your loved ones. In some cases, a gift or inheritance can be detrimental, causing more problems than providing benefits to your loved ones.

Estate taxes are federal taxes placed upon any estate above a certain net worth. The net worth of an estate is the value of all property and financial assets minus the total of debts that are owed.

Now that we are getting well into the year it is important to recognize the fact that there are some significant changes to the tax laws scheduled to kick in at the end of 2012. These alterations may make it necessary for you to make changes to your estate plan and perhaps your long-term financial plan as well.

At the present time the details regarding the way that the late TV icon Dick Clark planned his estate have not yet been made public. One thing is for sure though: If Clark did not take steps to gain tax efficiency his heirs will be faced with an enormous estate tax bill.

None of us really like the idea of sitting down and planning for our death, yet as the old saying goes “the only things that are certain in life are death and taxes. Interestingly, the two go hand in hand in many cases. If you do not plan for your death, your estate will likely owe more taxes than had you taken the time to plan ahead.

For many individuals, buying their first home is difficult because of the need to save up enough money to make the initial payment or to cover the closing costs. However, you may be able to use funds you saved in your traditional IRA to buy a home without incurring the 10% early withdrawal penalty (but you will probably still have to pay the regular income taxes on the distribution).

Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) is a tax imposed on capital gains made by companies and individuals in Cyprus. - Application - It is applied to any gain that is attributable to: a) the disposal of immovable property located in the Republic; and b) the sale of shares in a company that owns immovable property in the Republic provided that the relevant company is not listed on a recognized stock exchange.

In a challenging financial climate, it has never been more important to comprehend the system of taxation in the jurisdictions in which you operate. One needs to be fully aware of the entire picture concerning applicable fiscal provisions and the advantages that one jurisdiction may present over another in order to make informed and correct choices about various venues for undertaking international business.

The new Detailed Rules of the Provisional Regulations on Value-added Tax of the People’s Republic of China (the “VAT Rules”) and the new Detailed Rules of the Provisional Regulations on Business Tax of the People’s Republic of China (the “Business Tax Rules”) were issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation on October 28, 2011 and will become effective as of November 1, 2011.

There are a number of things about the Federal estate tax that do not seem fair to many observers. One of them is the fact that it is a tax that is imposed on resources that are still in your possession after you paid taxes. They are not subject to more taxes by virtue of their very existence while you are alive. But the event of your death is somehow viewed as a taxable one by the powers that be.

One frequent topic of discussion this time of year is the way bankruptcy will affect tax refunds. Some people assume that all future refunds may somehow be set off against what they owe; others assume that the government may keep it for some period of time. It is important to make sure that you know what can happen to a tax refund, both to minimize the impact, and so you can plan accordingly.

Creating a comprehensive estate plan is a complicated undertaking and requires a thorough understanding of all the myriad tax laws that will impact your plan. This can be difficult under normal circumstances. In an election year, it becomes increasingly difficult as the fate of many tax laws is uncertain. This is not, however, the time to become complacent. Doing nothing could cost you a substantial amount in taxes.

When most people make an appointment to sit down with their estate planning attorney, they have given some very serious thought to how they want their assets to be distributed upon their death. If you are like most, you have done this as well as thought about the need to provide for your family in the event you die an untimely death. These are the things that most people think about when it comes to estate planning.

One of the remarkable changes to the 2010 tax law increases the amount a taxpayer may gift on a tax-free basis from $1 million to $5,120,000 ($10,240,000 per couple) for 2012, more than five times greater than any gift tax exclusion previously offered.

With the recent changes to the estate tax, many people have become confused about estate planning. Unfortunately, a lot of the confusion is because people have misinterpreted the changes to the tax. It has some people thinking that the increase in the estate tax exclusion limit means that they do not need to plan for their estate at all. Nothing could be further than truth.

You have to be extremely careful about giving gifts of significant value in light of the looming threat of the federal gift tax. Right now this tax carries a 35% rate, and if this was not high enough it is scheduled to rise to 55% at the beginning of 2013.

Persons, be either Dominican nationals or foreigners desiring to buy, resell or in any way dispose of real estate in the Dominican Republic should note that Dominican Republic real estate laws and regulations particularities make it preferable to conduct a due diligence and review process through independent counsel in order to verify legal and tax status of the property before any formal decisions or payments are made.

A proper understanding of the various federal, state and local government licensing and regulatory regimes in the Hotels, Hospitality and Tourism markets in Nigeria is critical to the execution and substance of a viable business plan in any of these sectors. This Legal Alert is our contribution to your achieving this objective. - Legal Alert – April 2012 – Hotels & Tourism Licensing and Regulatory Regimes

If you were to enjoy extraordinary financial success one of the first things that may cross your mind would be to share the wealth with your loved ones. While generosity is almost universally viewed as a positive trait, you would do well to consider the tax code before you divest yourself of any significant quantity of resources.

Tax laws have a direct and significant impact on your estate plan. During an election year, such as this year, the fate of many tax laws is often uncertain. Scheduling a review of your current estate plan with your estate planning attorney is a good way to make sure that your plan takes advantage of the current tax laws and anticipates any scheduled changes.

When you are a child you are taught to understand right from wrong. Because so much effort is put into making this point to you, unfairness can seem like a very big deal when you are a youngster. Then, little by little, the landscape of childhood starts to pass away, and you come to understand that the way of the world as we know it is inherently unfair in some ways. But that doesn't mean you lose your ability to see right from wrong.

If you have found yourself in financial hardship, you may believe that you are out of options. However, bankruptcy is not your only choice. Through debt settlement, tax resolution, or another form of debt relief, you could be able to get your life back on track.

Estate planning serves two very important functions. First, it allows you to decide what will happen to your estate assets upon your death. A secondhand corresponding, function is that estate planning allows you to structure those assets in a way that will minimize the tax consequences associated with the transfer of estate assets.

There are two primary advantages to utilizing gift giving as a part of your inheritance planning strategy. For one thing you get to enjoy the simple pleasure of doing something nice for a loved one while you are still alive. This is good for you emotionally, but it is good for your heir as well because he or she doesn't have to juggle the grief/happiness conundrum that goes along with receiving an inheritance.

As we watch the countdown on New Year's Eve it is a heady time indeed. Another year beckons, full of change and pregnant with possibility. Before you know it, that fateful time arrives and champagne corks take flight, people break into heartfelt song, and anything seems possible. But when you wake up the next morning and make it to work a day or two later, you tend to find the world looking pretty much the same as it did before all of that change that went down on New Year's Eve.

You might have heard that you can give some of your money to your heirs before you pass away without any tax consequences. While this is sometimes the case, if you do not speak to an estate planning attorney before you give your money away, you might be making a big mistake. A well-intentioned, but improperly given, gift can cause more problems and greater financial burdens than anyone wants deal with.

It would be logical to consider giving gifts to people that you would otherwise be leaving inheritances to while you are still alive in an effort to gain estate tax efficiency. However, the powers that be are well aware of this logic as well. Therefore, there is a gift tax in place that is unified with the estate tax.

Federal estate taxes are taxes that will be owed upon your estate after you pass away. Your estate will owe taxes if your assets are worth more than a certain amount. The maximum estate tax rate is quite high, so finding ways to decrease your taxable estate is vital.

Trusts, both revocable and irrevocable, offer a variety of options that allow you to tailor your estate plan to your specific needs and desires. If you have an estate that extends beyond a basic Last Will and Testament, you should understand the differences between these two types of Trusts.

You can withdraw money from your IRA at any time, but there are sometimes penalties or income tax associated. The rules vary depending on whether you have a Roth or a traditional IRA and, as with a 401(k), the “magic” age is 59 ½.

Over the last few years Israel has become an attractive jurisdiction for tax planners, the following article will provide information on some of the tax benefits which new immigrants or returning residents can obtain.

A comprehensive double tax agreement between Guernsey and Malta was signed on the 12th March, 2012.

While the ability to decide who will receive your assets upon your death is certainly an important feature of estate planning, the ability to reduce, or even avoid, the tax consequences of transferring wealth and assets upon your death is an equally important facet of estate planning.

Sometimes you just cannot do it alone. When you need an expert dealing with the IRS, a Seattle IRS lawyer is just the ticket. Perhaps you have a business overseas and require help with your taxes. Maybe the IRS is making an audit of your company and you feel a bit queasy about it. If there are any allegations of tax fraud, you definitely want someone on your side fighting for you.

Dealing with the IRS is never pleasant, even when you do not owe the agency money. When you're behind on filing or owe back taxes, it can be downright scary. If you fear that your wages will be garnished or your bank account levied, it's time to consult with Seattle tax lawyers who can help guide you and determine the next steps to resolve the issues.

The Internal Revenue Service is a very intimidating entity to most people. When you are behind on filing, failed to file past tax returns or simply cannot afford to pay what you owe, it can cause undue stress and anxiety. An experienced Renton IRS attorney can help put an end to the stress you are under, and the harassment. You may fear that your bank account will be levied, or that you may even be put in jail.

After much debate the House of Representatives finally voted into law the new Cyprus International Trust Law. The bill that was enacted on the 9th of March 2012 aims to modernise the framework of international trusts and have positive impact on investment.

When buying property in Cyprus there are a number of additional costs and taxes of which every buyer should be aware prior to committing to an acquisition. It is extremely important that a potential buyer plans for and takes into account each of the following incidental costs that will occur when buying property in Cyprus.

The Israeli Tax Authority issued recently a tax circular entitled: Determining the date of ceasing to be Israeli resident and the date when a foreign resident becomes Israeli resident.

On 10 February 2012, the income tax treaty (Treaty) between Belgium and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was published in the Belgian Official Gazette. As Belgium is the first country with a treaty with the DRC, the Treaty may be an important impetus for bilateral financial, commercial and trade relationships between the DRC and Belgium. This can also be beneficial in an international context.

From a purely legal perspective, there is no such term as “raid” in the Tax Code. All the necessary forms, legal grounds and procedure for carrying out inspections of the subjects of entrepreneurial activity, as well as the procedure for execution of documents per results of such inspections, are regulated by the Tax Code of Ukraine. From a practical perspective, however, tax inspection visit can quickly escalate into a battle for your company’s survival.

As a Leominster resident, you have probably given considerable thought and consideration to how you wish to structure your estate plan in order to transfer your estate assets to family members and loved ones upon your death.

Home ownership has long been the foundation of wealth building in the United States. If you are like most Americans, your home is your single most valuable possession. As a result, if you were to reduce the taxable value of your home you could go a long way toward mitigating your estate tax exposure.

San Jose estate planning attorneys invariably speak to many clients who feel as though the estate tax is fundamentally unfair. Their clients register multiple complaints, but the primary reason that they cite is the fact that the estate tax is an instance of double taxation.

TEFRA stands for the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982; however, it has evolved into a much different use in the parlance of New Jersey tax lawyers. TEFRA is the common acronym used to describe the judicial, examination, and processing requirements that apply to most entities treated as partnerships for income tax purposes.

Like all tax systems, the Congolese tax system is characterized by the multiplicity of taxes notably: direct taxes on revenue; indirect taxes on spending; and taxes on capital. Taxation can be either spontaneous or organized by the authorities. To encourage certain business, the State generally grants aid in two forms: through subsidies and very low interest loans or through exemptions or reductions in tax payments. This article gives the Tax highlights of the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC].

There are two basic reasons why estate planning is so important. First, estate planning allows you to decide what will happen to your assets upon your death. Second, by planning ahead, you can substantially decrease the tax consequences of transferring your estate assets to family members or loved ones. In the absence of planning, your estate assets may be subject to either estate or gift taxes, both of which can significantly drain estate assets.

With the ever increasing amount of taxes, consumers have found ways around some of the rules for the time being. One recent way in which they have been able to avoid the high expense of taxes is through online purchases. Buying items online is not a completely new concept, but is more recent and has been steadily gaining greater popularity.

For anyone with a substantial estate, the never-ending search for mechanisms to transfer those estate assets without incurring estate taxes should include the use of both the gift tax exemption and the yearly gift tax exclusion. With estate taxes typically running at 35 percent or more, any tactic that can be employed in the estate planning arsenal to avoid the payment of estate taxes should be considered.

After you pass away, the transfer of assets to your loved ones may seem like a relatively simple and straightforward task. It should be but the realities of the tax code can make it rather challenging to avoid a significant portion of your legacy being consumed by the IRS.

Our firm often deals with consultations on the effects of VAT for a foreign company developing an activity in Spain through a representative office. This is one of the easiest ways of entering into the Spanish market. In that scenario, the foreign company does not need to incorporate any companies in Spain nor create a branch.

In the context of a severe lack of liquidity in the Spanish public finances and with the purpose of increasing revenue for Corporate Tax collection, on August 19, 2011, the government urgently approved two significant changes for Corporate Tax in relation to offsetting the losses incurred by Spanish companies.

To date there are 80 Double Taxation Agreements in force in Spain. For some years, the number of these agreements has been increasing significantly, and this makes international tax planning much easier. Among recent agreements, we can highlight: Among recent agreements, we can highlight the one existing with Panama, which came into force last July, which aims for this country to be removed from the list of countries regarded by Spanish tax authorities as tax havens.

The Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2011 has among other things consolidated all the personal income tax reliefs or allowances into one consolidated tax allowance/relief of 21% of an individual's gross annual income. The residue of a person's income is then liable to a graduating personal income tax charge of between 7% to 24% per annum. The rules concerning expatriate income earned from businesses in Nigeria has also changed.

For parties with assets and or beneficiaries in multiple jurisdictions it is imperative to ensure a proper estate plan is in place. Unless proper steps were taken in estate planning there could be adverse tax consequences that could have otherwise been planned for and perhaps avoided to achieve the testator’s goals. This article examines the consequences of failing to make such a plan where the deceased resided in both Israel and Canada with beneficiaries and assets in both jurisdictions.

If you were to ask the typical person walking down the street he or she would probably tell you that a certain amount of taxation is necessary. Most Americans don't mind paying their fair share of taxes. The problem arises when you feel as though you're being taxed unfairly or taxed twice on the same resources. When you look at the federal estate tax closely you see that it is in fact an instance of double taxation and this rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

As part of the Federal Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Congress temporarily eliminated estate taxes for the year 2010 only. However, they returned in 2011. Currently, estates worth over $5.12 million owe federal estate taxes. In some states, these large estates owe state death taxes, too.

Although it has been long time to have CFC regulation in Turkey, in parallel with the increasing rate of growth of Turkish economy, many major entrepreneurs making Turkey related businesses required to focus on management of their taxation policies in consideration of CFC regime in Turkey.

In accordance with national law, free economic zones (free enterprise zones) are part of the customs territory of the Republic of Moldova, economically separated, with strictly demarcated perimeter, where for local and foreign investors, according to the law, are allowed on preferential conditions different types of business activities.

The Cyprus Parliament approved last December the increase of the VAT rate by 2%, i.e. from 15% to 17%, and this new 17% VAT rate will be implemented on 1 March 2012. The VAT Service has clarified that the increase does not affect the products and services that fall under the reduced VAT rates of 5% or 8% or zero VAT rate, according to the VAT legislation.

You’ve probably heard a lot about Ponzi schemes recently in the news — about people becoming unimaginably wealthy through fraud, only to watch their empires, built on dishonesty, collapse about them — but how many people who are not NJ tax attorneys truly understand what a Ponzi scheme is and how it works? Grasp the fundamentals of a Ponzi scheme, and you too can keep yourself from being victimized by perpetuators of this white collar crime.

Israeli tax law system, tax rates, and update of new changes following Israel Tax Reform: Trajtenberg Proposals.

It’s vital to understand how much your property taxes are going to cost before you purchase a property. If complications with your taxes arise after you have purchased your property, a real estate attorney can help you address any legal issues and find a resolution. Property tax is a tax assessed on real estate by the local government. The tax is based on the value of the property (including the land) that you own.

You gain a sense of satisfaction from acts of generosity that really cannot be adequately described in words. Being in a position to help others can be extremely rewarding, and even if you are giving in a totally selfless manner, there could be tax advantages realized through acts of giving.

If your estate is valued above a certain amount, your heirs will be faced with the prospect of paying the federal estate tax. At the present time the estate tax exclusion is $5,120,000 and the rate of the tax is 35%. So the portion of your estate that exceeds the exclusion amount is subject to the 35% tax.

Most people are accustomed to taking into account the tax ramifications of purchases expenses and investments as they apply to personal income taxes; however, estate taxes can potentially have an even bigger impact, yet are often forgotten.

Tax scams involve trying to cheat individuals out of their money. But it can also involve cheating the government, too. While some of these scams can be very persuasive, it is possible to stay out of their cross-hairs, if you know what to be on the lookout for.

An outline of the Highly Qualified Persons Rules, 2011 - Managing Growth - Malta has attracted much media attention as an up-and-coming onshore financial centre, particularly since the 2008 economic slowdown.

If you have spent a lifetime building up your estate, then you likely don’t want to lose half of it to estate taxes upon your death. Unfortunately, without careful estate planning, that can happen. Although each estate is entitled to an exemption amount which is subject to change, any estate assets above the exemption amount will be subject to the typically high rate of estate taxes.

Malta and Gibraltar signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) on the 24th January, 2012. It is understood that the Malta - Gibraltar TIEA is based on the bilateral version of the OECD Model Agreement on Exchange of Information on Tax Matters.

Owing the IRS money is stressful, particularly when there is absolutely no way that you can pay the amount you owe. There are various options available to taxpayers to help ease the stress when you owe a substantial amount of money, including an installment agreement. However, there are times when a taxpayer has exhausted all of the payment options; it is in these situations that a Seattle Offers in Compromise attorney may be able to help.

In estate planning circles the estate tax is always a core issue, but it was an especially hot topic in 2010. A provision contained in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (commonly referred to as the “Bush tax cuts”) called for a repeal of the estate tax for the 2010 calendar year. It was set to return in 2011 with an exclusion of just $1 million and a top rate of a whopping 55% (it was 45% in '09).

The “death tax” is a euphemism for the estate tax. Estate tax is imposed "on the transfer of the taxable estate of every decedent who is a citizen or resident of the United States.

A Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) has been signed between Malta and the Bahamas enabling a full exchange of information between the two countries on tax matters.

In 2009, Hawaii enacted a prospective fifteen-year civil statute of limitations for collection for most assessed tax obligations (Net Income Tax, General Excise Tax, Transient Accommodations Tax, Use Tax, Fuel Tax, Conveyance Tax, Rental Motor Vehicle and Tour Vehicle Surcharge, Nursing Facility Tax, and Insurance Premium Tax) via Act 166, Sections 6 through 14.

Payroll tax problems are highly unique by a number of measures. Payroll tax problems are generally regarded much more seriously than other tax issues and are also detected and moved against by the IRS much faster. In addition Payroll Tax Problems are different in another way – the number of people who can be personally liable. When it comes to payroll tax problems it’s not just the business owners or the “corporation” that can be held liable for the back taxes.

Anyone who has a substantial estate knows that avoiding estate taxes is one of the primary goals of estate planning. The estate tax rate changes on a regular basis; however, it is typically high, meaning an estate could lose as much as half of its value to taxes. One option for avoiding estate taxes is to gift assets to family members and loved ones during your lifetime.

Back in 2010, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the estate tax. The tax was repealed for that year due to provisions contained within the Bush era tax cuts. However, as the laws stood throughout most of 2010, the estate tax was scheduled to reappear in 2011. At that time the exclusion was scheduled to be $1 million, and the maximum rate was set at 55%.

Taxes are an interesting thing because they can spawn conflicting emotions. Money is hard earned and nobody wants to part with a significant portion their earnings and give them to the tax man. However, the vast majority of thinking people recognize the need to fund certain foundational elements of society.

Under § 16 (1) of the German Law on inheritance and gift tax a tax free amount on the taxable acquisition of up to €500 000 (depending on the degree of kinship) is generally granted. However, this exemption is only €2 000 if both the decedent and the beneficiary are not resident in Germany. The new law now allows to avoid choose the application of the full tax free amount if the beneficiary taxes his worldwide acquisition.

While IRS Tax Liens are not as serious as levies, they are a warning shot across the bow and if action is not taken to satisfy the IRS, a levy or wage garnishment may be in the works. A lien will prevent a property owner from selling their home until the amount in question has been paid, or the lien has been removed by a court order.

The estate tax can have an enormous impact on the family members that you will be leaving behind and it is something to be very aware of when you are making preparations for the future. A single imposition of this federal levy is a big deal because it carries a 35% rate at the present time, and in fact this rate is scheduled to rise to 55% at the beginning of next year. But imagine having to pay this twice.

Many states enacted estate tax programs which supplemented the federal estate income tax laws. Known as “pick-up” taxes, state estate tax programs typically picked up where federal taxes left-off. Thus, since most estates did not owe federal income taxes, a small number of Floridians paid state pick-up estate taxes.

IRS wage garnishment can be stopped in essentially two ways; Either solve your tax problem or to cancel or delay the effects of the wage levy. Obviously it's better to resolve the IRS problem than to delay it however often an individual’s situation may require some actions to delay or negate the wage garnishment, giving the troubled taxpayer time to resolve the tax issues.

Below are answers to common questions troubled taxpayers ask when deciding on whether or not to retain the services of a tax attorney.

Nobody wants to pay their taxes twice, and this is why a lot of people take umbrage with the federal estate tax. The estate tax can be logically called an instance of double taxation, and we will explain by way of example. Let's say that you work for a company and receive direct deposits every two weeks throughout your forty-year career. When that money gets to your account it is going to be markedly less than your gross income, right?

In most cases, the Internal Revenue Service does not impose federal income taxes on inheritances. Thus, recipients of large inheritances may not have to pay income taxes on the value of their gifts. Instead, Congress enacted tax laws imposing the federal income tax liabilities on estates.

Planning all corporate taxes: income taxes, VAT, withholding taxes, dividends taxes and considering the tax impact on your business, should play a significant role in every financial step your company in Bulgaria undertakes. Even if you consider that your business is not currently in need, you can seek for taxing information as at the moment Bulgarian system almost apply tax free levying of income for residents and non residents.

The purpose of this Memorandum is to discuss certain procedures and operations relevant to a newly-formed California corporation. The summaries below are not a complete analysis of the areas discussed, rather they are provided to give a basic understanding of the legal requirements which California corporation should follow.

Many of you probably receive unsolicited junk e-mails offering different Asset Protection schemes. With so many "tax haven" jurisdictions and unlicensed companies selling unproven and unreliable Asset Protection techniques and entities, which do you trust? There are many flawed asset protection packages offered on the internet now days.

In America, it seems as though we are always worrying about one tax obligation or another. Everything from our income to the food we purchase is taxed. Most Americans devote a considerable amount of time and effort to limiting their tax burden throughout the year and looking for every possible deduction and credit at the end of the year.

Loan agreement is one of the most common ways of financing in Belarusian companies when a foreign shareholder provides a loan to the Belarusian Company. This article covers some crucial issues of receiving loans from foreign companies including currency and tax regulations.

Almost unknown in 1960, the value added tax (VAT) is now found in more than 130 countries, raises around 20 percent of the world’s tax revenue , and has been the centerpiece of tax reform in many developing countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It could seem as though there should be no problem transferring assets to others without incurring any undue expenses. Unfortunately, the IRS code does in fact stand in the way of cost-free asset transfers in many cases and this is largely due to the existence of the gift tax.

When the tax relief measure was signed into law in December that extended the Bush era tax cuts the estate tax parameters were affected. If the Bush cuts would have been allowed to sunset with no new legislation having been passed the estate tax would have returned to the 2001 level of 55%, and the estate tax exclusion would have been just $1 million. Instead we now have a $5 million exclusion and a 35% maximum rate of taxation.

On the surface it would seem as though you no longer have to worry about the estate tax if your estate is worth $5 million or less. Unfortunately, this is not completely true because the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 is going to expire at the end of 2012.

There are a lot of things about the estate tax that many people simply can't digest, and this is why there is always pressure being applied from some quarters to repeal the tax permanently. At the top of the list is the fact that the estate tax is imposed on assets that you have been able to accumulate after paying taxes throughout your life.