Legal Blog
Historic Increase to Your Lifetime Exclusion from Federal Estate Taxes for 2023
Ironically, there is good news for some families due to rising inflation for gift and estate planning purposes. As a result of inflation adjustments built into federal estate tax laws, your lifetime exclusion from federal estate taxes is set to rise from $12.06 million per person in 2022 to almost $13 million in 2023. This is a total exclusion amount of almost $26 million per married couple [The inheritance tax rules, if any, for the state where you reside vary from state to state and are not discussed in this article].
Specifically, according to recent reports, in 2023 the estimated inflation adjustment will be $860,000, resulting in an aggregate exclusion amount of almost $13 million per person ($12,060,000 plus $860,000 = $12,920,000). This is a remarkable increase when compared to the 2022 inflation adjustment increase of $360,000, at that time the largest on record. By comparison, the inflation adjustment for 2016 was a mere $20,000.
Additionally, the annual gift tax exclusion is set to rise from $16,000 per donee in 2022 to $17,000 per donee in 2023. This means you can gift up to $17,000 to an unlimited number of individual recipients without incurring gift tax consequences or reducing your estate tax lifetime exclusion.
High-net-worth individuals will benefit from the inflation adjustments because they can move significant assets out of their taxable estates before the scheduled reduction of the exclusion amount on January 1, 2026, when the exclusion amount will drop by a staggering 50%. For example, in 2026, a married couple will go from being able to gift nearly $26 million free of federal estate tax to only being able to gift $12 million (adjusted for inflation) free of federal estate tax. Acting now to take advantage of the historically high exemption could save your family millions in federal estate taxes. Note: If you die before 2026, under the portability rules, your surviving spouse can carry over your unused exclusion to the surviving spouse’s federal estate tax return; otherwise, your exclusion is permanently lost.
An individual who wants to take advantage of the current tax laws before they expire may loan their stock portfolio to an intentionally defective grantor trust for the benefit of the individual’s spouse or children in exchange for a promissory note that can be forgiven in 2025 — the eve of the tax law changes — using the exclusion amount before it disappears. Couples will typically consider a trust for a spouse to preserve access to the trust portfolio during the spouse’s lifetime as the trust beneficiary.
In conclusion, if you expect that your taxable federal estate will be more than $6 million (adjusted for inflation) for a single individual or $12 million (adjusted for inflation) for a married couple, you should consider the federal estate tax benefits to your heirs by engaging in estate and gift tax planning.
Please get in touch with Danielle Friedman or Herb Fineburg with any questions or additional estate planning techniques to reduce your taxable estate and preserve your lifetime exclusion.
ABOUT HERB FINEBURG
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Herb Fineburg is a Shareholder and Managing Partner of the Philadelphia Office. Mr. Fineburg is recognized as one of Philadelphia’s most respected business lawyers whose substantial knowledge of tax law provides clients with strategic and cost-saving benefits in connection with commercial transactions, taxation and wills, trusts and estates matters. Known for his ability to resolve complicated matters effectively, Mr. Fineburg has assisted businesses and individuals with the organization of their finances, business and real estate affairs, and the structure of their assets (i.e., in LLCs, partnerships, corporations, trusts or joint ownership). He has substantial expertise in the preparation of buy-sell agreements for co-owners who are family members or unrelated business partners and has handled the resolution of shareholder and partner disputes and buy-outs. In addition, to working on bank financings, business contracts and employment matters for his business clients, Mr. Fineburg also provides advice on business acquisitions and sales. Mr. Fineburg, who began his law career as a commercial litigator and bankruptcy lawyer, frequently provides litigation counsel and assistance to a wide range of firm clients. His articles have appeared in the Pennsylvania CPA Journal, the Journal of S Corporation Taxation and other publications. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Mr. Fineburg received his law degree from the University of Missouri and a Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M) from the New York University School of Law, Graduate Division.
ABOUT DANIELLE FRIEDMAN
Danielle Friedman is an attorney in the firm’s Estates & Trusts group. She provides comprehensive and sophisticated estate and tax planning services for a range of clients. She regularly assists clients with wealth preservation and asset protection planning in addition to charitable giving and more typical estate planning needs. Ms. Friedman also guides fiduciaries through estate and trust administrations, including probate matters, preparing state and federal inheritance and estate tax returns, handling creditors’ claims and beneficiary distributions.
ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN
Offit Kurman, one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the United States, serves dynamic businesses, individuals and families. With 18 offices and more than 250 lawyers who counsel clients across more than 30 areas of practice, Offit Kurman helps maximize and protect business value and personal wealth by providing innovative and entrepreneurial counsel that focuses on clients’ business objectives, interests and goals. The firm is distinguished by the quality, breadth and global reach of its legal services and a unique operational structure that encourages a culture of collaboration. For more information, visit www.offitkurman.com.
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