Congress Fiddling on Estate Tax Reform

After 8 years of doing nothing, the House of Representatives has not reached a consensus on revising the Estate Tax. The current estate tax rate is 45 percent with an exemption level of $3.5 million for individuals and $7 million for couples. Unless something is done, in 2010 the rate and exemption level will fall to zero and then jump up to 55 percent and $1 million, respectively, in 2011.

Some Congressmen want to extend the current structure for one year. In the meantime, the taxpaying public is left to just guess.

Senate Working on Estate Tax Revision

After 8 years of delay, the Senate is finally considering a revision to the Estate Tax. When the Bush estate tax reduction were passed in 2001. the Pres. Bush told Congress that 8 years would be enough time for the revision of the Internal Revenue Code Estate Tax provisions. As a method of assuring Congress would get busy, the law provides for a repel of the Estate Tax for 2010. Now, after dilly-dallying for 8 years, the Democrats don't want to see the Estate Tax Revenue disappear. They are scrambling to come up with a revision.

A bipartisan group of Senators is proposing a gradual reduction of the Estate Tax rate from 45% to 35% in 2019. Also the exemption would increase to $5 mil by 2019. Full Article....