Tax day is here. Are you ready to file? And just as important—are you taking advantage of all the savings and deductions available to you? Most people who do their own taxes are unaware of some of the lesser-known deductions which can help you save money come tax-time. We have a couple of articles we’d like… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Current Events
What Does the New Healthcare Legislation Mean for YOU?
Everybody knows the latest big news: President Obama’s health care reform bill was finally approved by the senate—for better or worse—and although politicians may still be arguing the benefits and evils of the bill across party lines, most Americans are asking one simple question: What does this legislation mean for me? CNN Health attempts to… Read More »
Estate Tax to Again Become an Issue in the House
Could it be that some movement finally happening in the House of Representatives with regard to the estate tax? It looks like it may be, if we are to believe this recent article in Bloomberg Business Week. According to the article, the House Ways and Means Committee has plans to begin discussions in April (after… Read More »
When and Why You Might Turn Down An Inheritance
Would you ever turn down an inheritance? Your first reaction might be “Of course not!” But don’t speak too soon. Most estate plans are created at least in part to protect heirs (generally spouses and children) from the sometimes devastating blow of estate taxes; but with the estate tax in a confusing state of flux… Read More »
News and Updates About the Estate Tax
A month and a half into 2010 and Congress’ failure to stop the lapse in estate tax is still making waves. These two trusted news sources explain why having “no estate tax” this year should worry you. One of the first reasons you should be worried, as revealed by this article in the Wall Street… Read More »
Another Kind of “Bucket List”: the New “Carry-Over Basis” Rule
Among the many changes in tax law to go into effect in 2010 was the change in cost basis for inherited assets. Previously, all inherited assets were “stepped-up” from their original value at date of purchase to their fair market value at date of death. In this way, if inherited assets were sold shortly after… Read More »
Keep Your Estate Safe in 2010
Now that it’s 2010 and congress has failed to take action regarding the repeal of the estate tax, we see a lot of articles discussing whether the lack of taxation for a year is a good or bad thing; sometimes these articles go even further, arguing whether estate tax in general is a good or… Read More »
Portrait of A Caregiver: It May Be You!
If you are a Caucasian woman, aged 35 or older, possibly married, definitely working at least part-time—then there is a good chance that you are now or will soon be serving as a caregiver for an aging parent or relative; at least, this is according to the new report released by the National Alliance for… Read More »
Will Nursing Home Costs Bankrupt the Nation and the Elderly?
Along with the rest of the nation, you are probably watching the progress of various versions of the health care legislation making their way (or not making their way) through Congress. An article in the Deember 13, 2009, issue of the New York Times points out that the current bill contains a “major new federal insurance… Read More »
New Developments in the Estate Tax Arena
The question on every estate planning attorney’s mind (and on the minds of our clients) is what will happen to the estate tax next year? There is less than a month left before the estate tax expires, and although nobody expects our representatives in Washington to actually let that happen, as of yet there are… Read More »