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More Tax Law Changes for the Tax Year 2011
This article is intended only as a starting point to help you become informed about tax-law changes; it does not constitute tax advice. Please see your qualified tax professional for detailed advice.
Through 2012, the tax on qualified dividends remains at zero for taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets, and is 15% for all other taxpayers.
Through 2012, taxpayers in the 10% and 15% brackets will not owe capital gains tax on the sale of assets they've owned for more than one year. Long-term capital gains tax rates remain at 15% for all other taxpayers. Short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Estate Tax
Although the federal estate tax was set to jump to 55% for estates of more than $1 million in 2011, last-minute Congressional maneuvering resulted in a much less onerous rate for people who die with a lot of assets. The top estate tax rate is 35% for 2011 and 2012, and it only affects those who have amassed estates of more than $5 million. Those who inherit assets will also once again receive a step-up in the cost basis of those assets, meaning that the inherited assets are valued at their fair market value as of the decedent's death.
Given the more generous estate-tax limits, you may be assuming that a visit to your estate planning attorney isn't necessary, but even if you don't anticipate that you will ever amass $5 million in assets, there's more to creating an estate plan than sidestepping taxes. A properly crafted estate plan will detail how you would like your assets distributed after you are gone.
The annual gift-tax exclusion stays the same as it was in 2010: $13,000. That means you can gift $13,000 apiece to an unlimited number of people this year without having to worry about a gift tax or even fill out the gift-tax paperwork.
Financial Consultant Ann Arbor
Dividend TaxThrough 2012, the tax on qualified dividends remains at zero for taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets, and is 15% for all other taxpayers.
Wealth Management Ann Arbor
Long-Term Capital Gains TaxThrough 2012, taxpayers in the 10% and 15% brackets will not owe capital gains tax on the sale of assets they've owned for more than one year. Long-term capital gains tax rates remain at 15% for all other taxpayers. Short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Estate Tax
Although the federal estate tax was set to jump to 55% for estates of more than $1 million in 2011, last-minute Congressional maneuvering resulted in a much less onerous rate for people who die with a lot of assets. The top estate tax rate is 35% for 2011 and 2012, and it only affects those who have amassed estates of more than $5 million. Those who inherit assets will also once again receive a step-up in the cost basis of those assets, meaning that the inherited assets are valued at their fair market value as of the decedent's death.
Given the more generous estate-tax limits, you may be assuming that a visit to your estate planning attorney isn't necessary, but even if you don't anticipate that you will ever amass $5 million in assets, there's more to creating an estate plan than sidestepping taxes. A properly crafted estate plan will detail how you would like your assets distributed after you are gone.
Investment Management Ann Arbor
Gift TaxThe annual gift-tax exclusion stays the same as it was in 2010: $13,000. That means you can gift $13,000 apiece to an unlimited number of people this year without having to worry about a gift tax or even fill out the gift-tax paperwork.