Category Archives: AALU

“Buy-sell arrangements (“BSAs”) address how the business or other business owners can “buy-out” an owner’s interests after a specified triggering event, such as death.  To be effective, the terms and structure of a BSA must be tailored to the unique needs of each business and business owner; there is no “one size fits all” form.  BSAs also should take a comprehensive approach to buy-outs, addressing not just an owner’s death, but also disability, divorce, and bankruptcy, among other events.  Business valuation and buy-out funding are also critical to a BSA’s success.”

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“In legacy and life insurance planning, using ILITs to acquire life insurance was almost automatic. Now, with lower federal estate tax rates and higher exemptions, some clients may feel saddled with old ILITs that no longer match their goals or provide the intended tax benefits, even though retention of the life insurance makes financial and investment sense.” 

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“Per Notice 2018-37, the IRS plans to issue future guidance that could help clarify the income taxation of SLATs, post-divorce.  Regardless, clients and advisors should be proactive in addressing these issues when planning with SLATs.  New SLATs should incorporate trust provisions that specifically address spousal trust rights in the event of a divorce.  Existing SLATs should be reviewed to confirm the impact of divorce, with consideration given to addressing spousal trust rights in a post-nuptial agreement if the SLAT fails to do so. Clients with existing SLATs that are contemplating divorce should review the SLAT’s tax ramifications as part of their negotiations, well before any final settlement, and consult with a tax advisor in collaboration with the divorce attorney to coordinate the technical tax aspects of any settlement.”

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“Heckerling presenters emphasized that flexibility in planning will remain key for families and advisors through the on-going roll-out of the TCJA and related guidance.  Given the TCJA’s temporary nature, the possibility for future tax law changes depending on future election outcomes, and the many moving parts of planning for the “modern” family, successful plans will require active management and on-going monitoring of both federal and state tax and legal developments.” 

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“Relatively small shifts in applicable interest rates can have a disproportionate effect on the performance of rate-sensitive legacy planning. Appreciating the potential economic impact of the rate changes and how other factors, such as payment structure, term selection, and asset valuation, also can complement overall performance, may help clients and advisors to better customize the planning to achieve the intended goals.”

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“Planning with the higher federal gift and estate tax exemption may be a “use it or lose it” proposition.  With the elimination of clawback and the limited window for higher exemptions, families able to make significant lifetime gifts may want to fully exhaust their exemptions before 2026, such as by using large gifts to fund dynasty trusts, implement business succession plans, and/or fund exit plans for existing planning arrangements (e.g., installment sales to grantor trusts or split-dollar arrangements).”

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“With its recent success in disputing the valuation of the reimbursement rights in economic benefit GSDs, the IRS is doubling down on its challenges to these arrangements.  Clients with existing EB GSDs should meet with their advisors now to review their options, putting together an action plan that can be implemented promptly, as needed, if and when there is a final decision on EB GSD valuation.  Clients considering new EB GSDs should contemplate the purpose of the arrangement and understand that no valuation discount may apply upon transfer of the GSD reimbursement.”

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“The IRS has issued long awaited guidance concerning the proper reporting of cash and noncash charitable contributions…Failure to comply strictly with these requirements can result in a denial for some or all of a claimed deduction.”

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“As creators (“grantors”) of irrevocable grantor trusts must pay the trusts’ annual income taxes without receiving any trust benefits, advisors typically suggest incorporating a tax reimbursement power that gives the trust flexibility to reimburse the grantor for the tax payment. Despite their prevalence, however, tax reimbursement powers must be crafted and used with care, not simply exercised as a matter of course.” 

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“Despite positive opinions on GSD gift taxation, the Tax Court’s analysis of the potential estate taxation of economic benefit GSDs will require a long, hard look at these arrangements and their continued viability.  For the first time, two very recent Tax Court opinions (Est. of Cahill v. Commissioner and Est. of Morrissette v. Commissioner) have discussed the court’s view of the estate taxation of economic benefit GSDs.  Neither Cahill nor Morrissette is a final decision on the merits. Yet the court’s reasoning in Cahill strongly suggests that, at least in that case, the Tax Court may find that the parent’s estate includes the full value of the reimbursement right under the economic benefit GSD.  This finding would eliminate the possibility of a significant valuation adjustment for the reimbursement and undercut one rationale for using economic benefit GSDs in estate tax planning.” 

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