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This article deals with the legal status of prenuptial agreements under English law.

The lifetime credit shelter trust offers a way to lock in the benefits of the increased lifetime gift exemption of $5 million per person, as provided in the Tax Relief Act of 2010, without giving that much away immediately. One spouse can set up the tax-sheltered trust for the other without paying any gift tax, or they each can set up a trust of as...

Expected changes in gift, estate, and generation-skipping taxes after 2012 has led many families and advisors to conclude that 2011-2012 presents a valuable, two-year window of opportunity to update estate plans. However, certain developments suggest the best results may be obtained by acting sooner rather than later.

The increase in the lifetime gifting limit, combined with the temporary nature of the current estate and gift tax law, open a window of opportunity for wealth transfer. Leveraged gifts can safeguard the benefits of this situation by compressing the value of the gift for tax purposes while amplifying the impact of the wealth transfer.

President Obama's proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 includes a reduction in the real estate exemption, a minimum 10-year term for new GRATs, and restrictions on valuing family-controlled entities as well as higher tax rates and reduced savings from itemized deductions for higher-income individuals.

This paper addresses a planning technique designed to allow taxpayers to take advantage of the increased exemptions available for the next two years while maintaining some control over the ultimate disposition of wealth.

The Tax Relief Act forestalled tax increases for this year, but the future tax environment remains uncertain. Investors need to optimize current tax breaks while considering the impact of potential tax increases on everything from broad wealth management strategies to leveraging debt for tax efficiency.

Because certain tax rules are only in place through 2012, flexibility in estate planning documents is important to make sure that your executor can adapt your plan to changing circumstances. And because these changes only apply to federal estate tax, the impact of state estate taxation should be included in your planning.

Every state has its own set of rules for assessing income tax against a trust. In some situations, a trust might be required to file tax returns in three or more separate states. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a case that addresses how a state may tax a particular trust. We take a closer look at that decision and how it impacts state taxa...

With the new year around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what you can do now to manage your tax bill for 2019. To help you get started and avoid last-minute scrambling for tax deductions, there are five topics you should discuss with your tax advisor: capital gain opportunities; capital loss opportunities; making your K-1 a...

As taxpayers head into the homestretch of 2019, some might be surprised that most of the year-end tax highlights for businesses refer to provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in late 2017. It makes sense, though, when considering that the IRS has released a host of regulations and other guidance interpreting many of the new rules. Moving ...

A discussion on BKD's “Simply Tax” podcast on the importance of year-end planning. Guests Holly Pantzer and Susan Jones join host Damien Martin for a closer look at key considerations for individuals following the recent tax law changes as they share their firsthand experiences from recent year-end planning discussions. Here's a...

Many states are imposing a millionaire’s tax with huge implications for top earners. Explore how aggressive tax-loss harvesting can soften the blow.

Is there a better way for investors to donate to charity? Learn how to maximize a portfolio’s tax benefits—and increase the size of the gift—through charitable giving.

The SECURE Act of 2019 (the “Act”) has been signed into law and went into effect on January 1, 2020. It has several income tax provisions that affect individual taxpayers, including two important areas, retirement accounts and 529 college savings plans. The Act provides a good incentive to review the naming of your beneficiaries an...