Tag: capital gains

MarketWatch Publishes Article on Cutting Capital Gains Authored by McManus

December 30, 2015 - Media Clips

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5 ways to protect your estate from capital gains taxes

Published: Dec 25, 2015 6:04 a.m. ET

Traditional estate planning is being turned on its head

By JOHN O. MCMANUS

The time-honored approach to estate planning is being turned on its head by significant tax law changes that have taken effect in recent years.

Long-term capital gains tax rates now range from 25% to 33% (when you add together the top federal, state and local rates and Obamacare’s Medicare surtax). So now that the federal estate tax exemption is $5.43 million ($10.86 million for a couple’s combined exemptions), many Americans may no longer be exposed to federal estate taxes, making taxes on income and capital gains more prominent.

In fact, some legal practitioners who spent the first half of their careers zealously transferring assets out of their clients’ estates to avoid estate taxes now expect to spend the second half pushing assets back into their clients’ estates because the estate planning paradigm has changed.

What are the best ways to strategize around capital gains taxes to keep them as low as possible?

Rundown of the tax rules for gifts

To answer that, it helps to first understand the rules about gifts and taxes.

InvestmentNews Features McManus Column for The Tax-Conscious Adviser

November 30, 2015 - Media Clips

Below is an advice column on capital gains tax strategies by John O. McManus that was published by InvestmentNews for its regular feature, “The Tax-Conscious Adviser.”

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Estate plans require a fresh look

Thinking around bequests shifts as capital gains tax and estate tax exemption rise

Nov 29, 2015 @ 12:01 am

By John O. McManus

Significant tax law changes mean it’s time to dust off your estate plan. Long-term capital gains tax rates now range from 25% to 33%, with the combination of the top federal, state and local rates and the Medicare surtax. This hike in capital gains tax rates, coupled with the greater federal estate tax exemption, calls for a fresh look at planning strategies.

With the current $5.43 million federal estate tax exemption ($5.45 million for 2016), many people may no longer be exposed to federal (and possibly state) estate taxes. Thus, maneuvering around capital gains tax becomes the primary concern.

John O. McManus Featured Expert for Next Avenue (PBS)

November 24, 2015 - Media Clips

The following article written by John O. McManus first appeared on Next Avenue (PBS).

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5 Ways to Keep Capital Gains Taxes Down

How traditional estate planning is being turned on its head

By John O. McManus

November 23, 2015

FEATURED EXPERT

The time-honored approach to estate planning is being turned on its head by significant tax law changes that have taken effect in recent years.

Long-term capital gains tax rates now range from 25 percent to 33 percent (when you add together the top federal, state and local rates and Obamacare’s Medicare surtax). So now that the federal estate tax exemption is $5.43 million ($10.86 million for a couple’s combined exemptions), many Americans may no longer be exposed to federal estate taxes, making taxes on income and capital gains more prominent.

CAPITAL GAINS TAX: The Top 10 Current Issues and Planning Opportunities

September 10, 2015 - Conference Call

The rise in capital gains tax rates and the higher federal estate tax exemption have shifted the estate planning paradigm. Across the nation, long-term capital gains tax rates now range from 25% to 33%, with the combination of the top federal, state and local rates, along with the Medicare surtax. This demands a fresh look at current planning strategies.

When assets are included in an estate, they are subject to estate tax, but the assets enjoy a step-up in basis for income-tax purposes. Gains tax can then be avoided. However, if there is no estate tax because the gross estate assets are below the estate tax exemption amount, then it may make sense to keep assets inside the estate.

Many estate planning attorneys have spent the first half of their careers getting assets out of their clients’ estates, but now they might spend the second half of their careers getting assets back into their clients’ estates (for those individual estates under $5.43MM or joint estates under about $11MM).

As part of McManus & Associates’ Educational Conference Call series, John O. McManus this month examined how to shift gears in light of new, unique opportunities. We invite you to listen to the recording to find detailed information on the Top 10 issues and planning opportunities related to capital gains tax.

LISTEN HERE: “Top 10 Current Issues and Planning Opportunities with Capital Gains Tax”

Trusts & Estates, WealthManagement.com Publishes Guest Article from McManus on Coordination of Income Tax and Estate Planning

April 2, 2015 - Media Clips

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Combine Income Tax Preparation and Estate Planning

Coordination is key

Apr 1, 2015 John McManus Trusts & Estates

When tackling a jigsaw puzzle, you’ve likely taken the “divide and conquer” approach, separating the larger puzzle into more manageable sections. Eventually, you bring the different areas of focus together to put the finishing touches on the full image.

Wealth management is the same. Estate planning emphasizes an array of complex matters spanning death taxes, asset protection, incapacity, guardianship and family missions. Compartmentalizing can be helpful, but advisors must remember to bring the pieces of the puzzle back together in the end. It’s critical that strategies to maximize the value of your clients’ estates are coordinated with their retirement, financial and income tax planning.