When a person dies, you might be wondering who is responsible for paying his or her taxes. Generally, the person’s estate or trust is responsible for those liabilities and pays them before making distributions to the beneficiaries. In situations where the liabilities exceed the assets (i.e. insolvent), state law governs which creditors get paid first. …
There are numerous ways to own real estate and these ownership arrangements have significant legal and tax ramifications. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular arrangements and what might happen after death. First, let’s assume that John and Jane Smith are married, and that Joe Nelson is John’s business partner. John died …
Even in death, you cannot escape your IRS reporting requirements, including FBAR reporting and penalties. In U.S. v. Wolin, 126 AFTR 2d 2020-XXXX (DC NY, 09/28/2020), Leo Ziegel owned a Swiss bank account. He had signature authority over the account and wrote checks and made withdrawals from the account for his benefit between 1999-2008. Ziegel …
Ever wondered what happens to the contents of abandoned safety deposit boxes? Turns out after a number of years held by the state and listed on sites such as https://azdor.gov/unclaimed-property it ends up being auctioned off and starting today you can bid on what was inside! The Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) will hold a …
In Season 6, Episode 5 of Parks and Recreation, Ben Wyatt tells Ron Swanson “If you die and you don’t have a real will, most of what you own will go to the government”. While in certain cases there is a sliver of truth to that statement, in Ron’s situation it would not apply. Now …
Dean Danielson was a U.S. citizen who formed a corporation called Sugar Creek in the 90’s. The company was in the business of selling Swiss annuities, and he opened two foreign bank accounts (one in Canada and one in Lichtenstein) in the company’s name. In the years 2006 through 2009, the amounts in those bank …
Transfer tax and foreign tax figures are among those that are adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases. Thomson Reuters Checkpoint has calculated these figures for the year 2021 using the chained Consumer Price Index from August 2020. Don’t miss: Reasonable compensation for S-Corporation shareholder employees The annual gift tax exclusion will remain at $15,000 and the …
If a loved one dies, are you responsible for his or her unpaid debts? The FTC Consumer information website includes helpful information about dealing with the debts of a deceased relative. While FTC’s information is great – here’s my best advice: Check with an Attorney! An attorney can help you navigate the process and deal …
According to The Project on Student Debt, the average student debt at graduation in 2018 ranged from $19,750 in Utah to $38,650 in Connecticut, and new graduates’ likelihood of having debt ranged from 36% in Utah to 76% in New Hampshire. While the job market is bright, this much debt makes it very difficult for …
When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was passed, it prohibited individual taxpayers from claiming miscellaneous itemized deductions for any taxable year beginning after 12/31/2017 and before 01/01/2026. After two years, the IRS has finally issued proposed regulations to clarify how the rules on miscellaneous deductions apply to trusts and estates. Don’t miss: What …