Why Refuse the RMD Relief

While the IRS has provided relief in two Notices to some beneficiaries who have inherited retirement accounts in the past three years, thus relieving them of the obligation to take annual required minimum distributions (RMDs), deferring an RMD may not be a wise move from an overall income tax-savings perspective.

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Managing Charitable Funds

Changing the restrictions of a charitable gift is possible, but not everyone can participate in the legal proceedings brought to modify, or eliminate, that restriction or condition.

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Directed Trusts – What a Trustee Needs to Look For in the Trust

As more modern trusts incorporate the use of a trust director, or trust protector, it is important for the proposed trustee to closely read the trust instrument to clarify when, how, and in what circumstances that the trustee must follow the directions of the trust director.

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457(b) Plans

There are different rules (or traps) depending upon what type of 457(b) plan an individual participates in through his/her employment

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The ‘Two’ Roth 5-Year Rules

Take-Away: There are two, separate, ‘5-year rules’ that need to be satisfied before taking a distribution from a Roth IRA.

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Successor IRA Beneficiaries

It is important to distinguish between a successor IRA beneficiary and a contingent IRA beneficiary. The rules are different for each.

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Income Tax Basis – Remember the Gallenstein Rule!

It may be possible, albeit in highly limited circumstances, for a surviving spouse to claim a 100% basis adjustment when their spouse dies.

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Uncapping Rears its Ugly Head, Yet Again

Understanding Michigan’s uncapping rules for real property tax purposes is, to put it mildly, a frustrating exercise, where applying common sense and logic are a property owner’s worst enemy.

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Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions-Suspended

We sometimes forget that miscellaneous itemized tax deductions are suspended until 2026.

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Delayed Required Minimum Distribution for some Beneficiaries this Year

For those beneficiaries who inherited a retirement account from an owner who was beyond his/her required beginning date at the time of their death, the IRS just provided another year of waiving their annual required minimum distribution.

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