Tag: tax planning

McManus Quoted in Investment News on Estate Tax Changes with Trump Presidency

November 15, 2016 - Media Clips

Investment NewsIf Republicans were to win a repeal of the so-called death tax, contentious Treasury regulations on business valuation discounts would also disappear, according to Investment News Reporter Greg Iacurci. In a new story, “Estate tax repeal no ‘slam dunk’ under Trump and Republican-held Congress,” Iacurci examines how president-elect Donald Trump will govern and what policies he may or may not be able to push through upon taking office. He writes:

Mr. Trump articulated several tax proposals as a candidate on the Republican ticket, focusing on a repeal of the estate tax, consolidation of income tax rates and lowering the top tax brackets, and standardization of tax rates across businesses.

But even if the death tax is repealed, McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus brings the estate tax victory into perspective. From the article:

Financial planners and tax payers should keep in mind that the laws around estate taxes come and go, said John O. McManus, founding principal of McManus & Associates.

“Even if the federal estate tax evaporates under Trump, that is never permanent,” he said, pointing out that in 2010 the estate tax exemption was reduced to zero, only to have it set at $1 million for the following year.

Head over to Investment News to read the full story. For trusted advice on tax and estate planning strategies in light of Trump’s intended policies, call McManus & Associates at 908-898-0100.

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.”

Investment News

 

 

tax concious adviser

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).

Next Avenue logo

 

 

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.

McManus Speaks to Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for Investment News

November 5, 2015 - Media Clips

Investment News

 

Reporter Greg Iacurci tackled year-end tax planning strategies in a recent piece for Investment News. To help identify where the focus of advisers should be, Iacurci spoke with John O. McManus, estate planning attorney and founder of McManus & Associates.

The Investment News story, “Year-end tax planning strategies advisers should be considering,” encourages exploration of end-of-year tax considerations now, with just two months left in 2015. As Iacurci points out, “tax rules are largely unchanged,” so “tactics employed last year will more than likely still be relevant.”

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”

Firm’s Tax Experts Hold Conference Call on Income Tax Preparation

February 3, 2015 - Conference Call

McManus & Associates can prepare your Income Tax Returns. For many years, the firm has been completing tax returns for clients and has learned that keeping income tax planning under the same roof enables a more refined level of specificity in estate planning for your family. Want to hear more about how you can benefit from McManus & Associates’ Income Tax Planning Practice? Listen to the firm’s recent conference call with clients (link below) and contact us at 908-898-0100/212-753-9000.

LISTEN HERE: “Preparing Your Tax Returns”

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Top 9 Estate Planning Tasks to Complete before Year-End

December 17, 2014 - Conference Call

The holiday season represents a window of opportunity for growing and preserving wealth. McManus & Associates today outlined the “Top 9 Estate Planning Tasks to Complete before Year-End”. As part of the firm’s educational focus series, Founding Principal and top AV-rated Attorney John O. McManus recently discussed time-sensitive recommendations for building your nest egg and reducing your check to Uncle Sam for Tax Year 2014.

McManus and Client Contribute Expertise and Color to Wall Street Journal Feature Story

October 28, 2014 - Media Clips

WSJ

As part of our continuing effort towards thought leadership, McManus & Associates recently presented The Wall Street Journal with our impressions on the newest estate planning paradigm. The firm’s ideas helped shape a comprehensive, informative cover story in the Weekend Investor by well-versed Reporter Laura Saunders. The article, titled “The New Rules of Estate Planning,” also highlighted the Grevatt Family, one of our clients, for whom we employed a smart strategy in today’s environment.

Forbes Discusses Death Taxes with John O. McManus

September 18, 2014 - Media Clips

forbes-logo-pngEarly this year, bills A1281 and S1311 were introduced in New Jersey to “eliminate transfer inheritance tax and increase the filing threshold and applicable exclusion amounts under New Jersey estate tax in accordance with provisions of federal tax law.” NJ A397 was also introduced and, if passed, would repeal the New Jersey estate tax.