Senator Baucus's Attempt to Reinstate the Generation Skipping Transfer Tax and the 45% Gift Tax as of December 2 is Defeated

Senator Baucus’s attempt to reinstate the generation skipping transfer tax and the 45% gift tax rate as of December 2, that we reported on last Friday, was defeated in a Senate vote Saturday morning.

For clients considering 2010 generation skipping gifts, it may be advantageous to expedite those gifts in order to avoid the risk of a tax law change reinstating the generation skipping transfer tax that is effective as of the "date of introduction" (i.e., the date a bill is introduced in Congress), rather than as of the "date of enactment" (i.e., the date the President signs a new law). Be aware, however, that there is still the risk of retroactive application of a change in the tax law to a date prior to the date of introduction.

For those clients considering 2010 gifts that are not generation skipping gifts, the same considerations apply. However, the risk of being subject only to a higher gift tax rate than the present 35% due to delaying the gifts is not nearly as significant as the risk of being subject to a higher gift tax rate coupled with a generation skipping transfer tax for generation skipping gifts.

If you have been contemplating a significant gift in December, please contact the member of our Tax Group with whom you have been working to discuss how you should proceed.

This report is a publication of Loeb & Loeb LLP and is intended to provide information on recent legal developments. This report does not create or continue an attorney client relationship nor should it be construed as legal advice or an opinion on specific situations. For further information, feel free to contact us or other members of the firm. We welcome your comments and suggestions regarding this publication.

Circular 230 Disclosure: To assure compliance with Treasury Department rules governing tax practice, we inform you that any advice (including in any attachment) (1) was not written and is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalty that may be imposed on the taxpayer, and (2) may not be used in connection with promoting, marketing or recommending to another person any transaction or matter addressed herein.