Tax Planning NJ

An estate plan can be created that will minimize the amount of taxes owed to the government both during your life and upon your passing.

Mackerer Law Offices LLC can analyze your assets and create a plan that minimizes the overall taxes imposed on your wealth both during your life and at death including estate taxes, inheritance taxes, capital gain taxes, death taxes, and net investment income taxes. There are strategies and planning techniques that can be used to either minimize or avoid these taxes.

The New Jersey inheritance tax remains unchanged.  The inheritance tax applied is based on who receives property after death.  The tax ranges from 0% for spouses, domestic partners, and lineal ancestors and descendants to a maximum of 16% for siblings, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, or any other heir/beneficiary. Gifts of $499 or less are exempt from the inheritance tax.

New Jersey’s estate tax was repealed for individuals dying on or after January 1, 2018.  For individuals dying prior to January 1, 2017, the estate tax applies to estates with assets that exceed $675,000 in value. For individuals dying during the calendar year 2017, the estate tax applies to estates with assets that exceed $2,000,000. 

New York imposes an estate tax based on the overall value of the estate and began increasing the exemption for an estate for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2014. Due to New York’s fiscal year running from April 1 until March 30 the following year, the exclusion amount applies for decedents dying between that period rather than on a calendar year basis. Until March 30, 2017, the exclusion amount from New York’s estate tax was $4,187,500.  On April 1, 2018, the exemption moved to $5,250,000 and on January 1, 2019, the basic exclusion amount moved to be on par with the Federal exclusion before the application of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  As of January 1, 2022, the New York exclusion is $6,110,000.  Importantly, New York phases out the exclusion if an estate exceeds the exclusion. If the estate is more than 105% of the exclusion, the entire estate is subject to New York estate tax without any exclusion applying.

Pennsylvania imposes an inheritance tax that applies to estates at rates that depend on who is receiving property from the estate. The rates are 0% for property left to a surviving spouse (or charitable entities), 4.5% for property left to lineal descendants (children, grandchildren), 12% for property left to siblings, and 15% for property left to any other heir/beneficiary.

The Federal estate tax applies to estates with total assets that exceed $12,060,000 for individuals who pass away in 2021. This allows a married couple with assets up to $24,120,000 to be passed to beneficiaries free of the federal estate tax with a properly structured estate plan.  The exemption will increase each year for inflation, but sunsets at the end of 2025.  The exemption in 2026 will revert to prior law and is expected to be between $6,500,000 to $7,000,000. 

 

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