Take-Away: Clients with foreign bank accounts need to be made aware of the civil penalties for not filing the annual FBAR form required under the Bank Secrecy Act. Some federal courts interpret the civil penalty for not filing the FBAR form very liberally, which results in the imposition of excessive civil penalties. Background:  The 1990 […]

Take-Away: Like last March, President Biden’s 2023 proposed Budget includes many tax increases. Given the state of gridlock in Washington these days, it is highly unlikely much (if anything) will come of these proposed tax changes, at least until after a new Congress is seated in 2023.   [Disclosure: I feel almost guilty clogging your […]

Take-Away: While the settlor’s spouse can hold several powers over a trust created for his/her benefit, holding too much power over the trust for his/her benefit, such as the power to remove and replace the trustee, can bring unexpected estate tax problems for the spouse. Background: Many trusts are created these days for the settlor’s […]

Take-Away: There is a pretty good chance that many of the provisions in HR 2954, aka the SECURE Act 2.0, will become law. The bill passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 414 in favor and 5 against. Background: Unlike most of the proposed legislation that Congress squabbles over these days, there […]

Take-Away: Earlier today a summary was provided of some of the key provisions that are part of the SECURE Act 2.0 that was passed by the House of Representatives this week. [HR 2954.] A few more changes in have surfaced as I leaf through the legislation, summaries of which follow: IRA Prohibited Transactions Less Onerous: […]

Take-Away: On March 25, 2022, the House passed HR 2954, the so-called SECURE Act 2.0. This bill proposes many additional changes to existing rules that are intended to encourage retirement savings. The bill also purports to simplify and clarify retirement plan requirements (ha!) A summary of some of the changes in HR 2954 follow. Required […]

Take-Away: If a trust instrument is drafted that gives a trust protector extraordinary powers, such as the power to consent to the trustee’s exercise of discretion, it is critical that the same trust instrument include an alternate dispute mechanism in order to avoid an impasse between the two fiduciaries. Otherwise, there will probably be a […]

Take-Away: The Tax Code is a bewildering set of contribution rules and limits that pertain to employer sponsored 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans. The danger exists when assuming that the ‘rules’ that apply to one type of retirement plan apply to the other retirement plans. Background: We are all familiar with an employee’s contribution […]

Take-Away: With the emphasis on lifetime gifts to exploit the federal gift tax annual exclusion (now $16,000 per donee) and the temporary large applicable exclusion amount (through 2025), the question can arise if those lifetime gifts by a donor are an advancement of the donee’s inheritance on the donor’s death. The common law concept of […]

Take-Away: The Michigan Court of Appeals had a recent opportunity to reverse a probate judge’s decision to terminate a trust, since the termination would frustrate the settlor’s intent and the court order failed to follow the statutory notice procedure. Background: The Michigan Trust Code contains a couple of provisions where a probate judge can terminate […]