Important Estate Planning Tips You Should Act on Now
Like all things, tax laws constantly change. Together, we need to respond quickly and strategically to the new developments in the tax law landscape. While you should not wait to review your estate plan in light of the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), neither should you make a knee-jerk reaction.
The best decisions are made when you carefully analyze all angles of your estate plan to come up with the best strategy for you and your family. The law’s benefits will accrue most for those who take a proactive approach rather than those who wait until the last minute. Here are several reasons the tax changes need to be top of mind:
- The increase in the standard deduction and reduction in individual tax rates means you may now be taking home more of your weekly/monthly pay. Taking some of this money and investing it into your future may be a great action to take.
- The elimination of the personal exemption means that depending upon your marital status and number of dependents, you may not be able to lower your taxable income as much as you had in the past. For some people, this might mean a higher tax bill, despite the decreased individual rates.
- The limitations on deductions for state and local income taxes (SALT) means that for those in states or communities with high income taxes, taxable income may not be reduced as much as it had been in past; because you will not be able to get credit for the other forms of income tax you have paid. However, if this is a concern for you, we may have some strategies (such as an Incomplete Non-Grantor Trusts) to help alleviate the new tax burden.
- With the increase in the unified credit to $10,000,000, indexed for inflation ($11,180,000 for 2018), there has been a reduction in the overall number of estates affected by the estate tax. If your previous planning centered around saving estate tax, you should re-evaluate to make sure the plan still works for your long-term objectives (now that estate tax may not be a concern). You may also want to take advantage of the exemption increase by making lifetime gifts, especially if you had previously used up your exemption in previous years.
- With the effective repeal of the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act effective in 2019, you will now have the choice of whether or not to carry health insurance coverage without suffering the penalty of a fine. However, with no requirement for coverage, it is speculated that the cost of insurance in the marketplace could increase without the additional participants. As open enrollment occurs this fall, consider how you would cover medical expenses as you make coverage decisions.
New tax developments are especially pertinent if you are a business owner. With a possible 20% income tax deduction for pass-through entities, you should review entity selection for your business operations as soon as possible. Now is also the time to consider gifting of interests to reduce the limitations inherent in the qualifying business income calculation and to utilize the increased gift tax exemption.
If you have a “specified service business” as an attorney, doctor, dentist, consultant, or similar profession, it may make sense to separate any “non-service” businesses out of your service business — such as real estate or clerical activity. Utilizing multiple trusts may help you achieve a larger QBI (qualifying business income) deduction.
Do Not Just Think About Taxes!
The implications of the TCJA go much further than taxes. You need an estate plan that takes a thoughtful approach to asset protection, privacy, retaining control, avoiding issues like guardianship and probate, and ensuring that your loved ones are cared for in years to come. These aspects of estate and financial planning are constant regardless of fluctuations of tax reform.
Collaboration with the attorneys of MendenFreiman LLP is critical for long-term success. We are ready to help you plan for whatever comes next. Contact us to learn how we can help you fully protect you and your family.
