Complete repeal of the federal estate tax is scheduled to take effect for a one year window during 2010. But what if the estate tax is repealed permanently? What effect would that have on testamentary charitable gifts from those who are no longer subject to the tax? Some planners suggest that with more to give, people might give more. Others argue that in the absence of a tax incentive, people will give less. In this article, Chapman University law professor Frank J. Doti examines the historical data to suggest an answer.  MORE »

In part one of this article, Michael Pusey, CPA speculated that estate tax repeal could have the inadvertent affect of disqualifying testamentary CRTs and additions to them. In part two, he roles up his sleeves to discuss in detail the technical issues and current IRS positions that will need to be addressed to resolve this problem.  MORE »

In part one of this two part article, J. Michael Pusey, CPA shares his thoughts regarding the technical qualification problems that federal estate tax repeal might present for testamentary CRTs and transfers to them, the use of non- qualified CRTs, and planning for the gift tax, state inheritance tax, and new carry-over basis rules.  MORE »

The impact of the biases in favor of married couples found in state laws and in the federal tax code on planned giving for unmarried couples is explored in this article by Chris Yates. The usefulness of various planned giving vehicles for these non- traditional couples is examined and observes that, depending on the circumstances, these couples may be among the best or the worst prospects for planned giving.  MORE »