Contact Us
free consultation
(303) 713-9147
December 30, 2016 Posted In Estate Planning,Estate Taxes,Firm News
by Colorado Estate Matters
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the federal estate and gift tax limits for 2017, based on inflation.
IRS Reveals 2017 Estate and Gift Tax Limits
Here’s the breakdown of some of the most significant changes put in place for the coming year:
To shed some more light on what these exemptions and exclusions mean and how you may be able to take advantage of them in estate planning. Our Denver estate planning lawyer has answered some common questions about estate taxes and gift taxes below.
For the purposes of calculating estate taxes in 2017, it is important to understand what assets are included in, versus excluded from the taxable estate. According to the IRS, the “Gross Estate” includes anything a decedent owned or had interest in at the time of death. This can include both probate and non-probate property like (but not necessarily limited to):
In contrast, assets typically not included in the Gross Estate are those that are owned by a decedent’s spouse entirely, as well as “lifetime” gifts that are complete (i.e., there are no outstanding powers or controls exerted over those gifts).
Yes, and the specific options you have will depend on the nature of your estate, as well as your beneficiaries and your overall estate planning goals.
For instance, you may want to designate certain assets for charity or give gifts to loved ones now (or in the near future). It’s advisable that you speak to an estate planning lawyer to find out more about your best options for minimizing future estate and/or gift tax liability.
The exclusion effectively allows couples to double the amount of their gifting without having to pay estate or gift tax. In fact, even if only one of the spouses is doing the gifting, that spouse can still give up to the doubled limit without worrying about any tax implications. That’s because the IRS still recognizes that the amount came from a couple, according to IRS Code § 2513.
For experienced help with estate planning and/or estate taxes, contact a trusted estate planning attorney at Colorado Estate Matters, Ltd. Our team of skilled lawyers provides a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to our clients’ estate planning and administration needs – and we are ready to meet with you and develop an plan for protecting your interests (and meeting your goals) as you proceed with any aspect of estate planning or administration.
We can discuss your estate planning needs and different options during our consultation. To schedule this meeting, call us at (303) 713-9147 or email us using the contact form at the top of this page.
From our offices in Denver, we serve clients throughout the southwest and southeast Metro Area, including (but not limited to) people in Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Castle Rock, Parker, Aurora, Greenwood Village, Englewood, Centennial, Wheatridge, Golden and Arvada.