Jump to content
ATX Community

Small estates -- any need to file 706?


samingeorgia

Recommended Posts

I was discussing this with a colleague today. Assume that Zelda Gotrocks dies with the following: CD's $ 500,000; Residence $ 195,000; land $ 425,000. No spouse, no debts, minimal final expenses. Zelda's niece, her executor, get appraisals on the land.

Assuming that the exclusion amount is $ 2,000,000, is there any point or requirement to file a 706 to establish basis?

Note: All figures are hypothetical.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see no need to file an estate tax return as basis for everything appears to have documentation for later tax purposes. I assume there have been no life time gifts in excess of annual exclusions, beneficiary of life insurance, retirement plan accounts, or other items that must be included in the estate assets.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was discussing this with a colleague today. Assume that Zelda Gotrocks dies with the following: CD's $ 500,000; Residence $ 195,000; land $ 425,000. No spouse, no debts, minimal final expenses. Zelda's niece, her executor, get appraisals on the land.

Assuming that the exclusion amount is $ 2,000,000, is there any point or requirement to file a 706 to establish basis?

Note: All figures are hypothetical.

I agree no need to file 706 but if you live in a state like I do, the threshold for filing the state inheritance return is much lower and that would document the basis.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

besides the Unified Credit for a person dying in 2009 is $1,455,800 which exempts $3.5 million not $2 mil

And for someone dying in 2010 the estate tax, but not gift tax, is repealed. And also for 2010 the stepped-up basis for inherited property is repealed! They are scheduled to be reinstated after 2010 unless Congress acts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought the step-up stayed repealed (unless they change it). I would hope that's only repealed for one year. It's hard enough to get the basis from the owner. It will be next to impossible to get the basis from the heirs. They will have no idea what the decedent paid!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought the step-up stayed repealed (unless they change it). I would hope that's only repealed for one year. It's hard enough to get the basis from the owner. It will be next to impossible to get the basis from the heirs. They will have no idea what the decedent paid!

Well it's our government at work trying to keep us employed!

Got to love them for that...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In fact this kind of reminds me of a kids song. Goes something like this...

Sung to the tune of Knees up Mother Brown:

Fees up Mother Brown

Fees up Mother Brown

To your Accountant, you must go

Ee-aye, Ee-aye, Ee-aye-oh

If I catch you not paying

I'll levy what you have left

Fees up, Fees up

Got to keep the fees up

Fees up Mother Brown!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...