Estate taxes

Discussion in 'Taxes and Accounting' started by Vinny1, Mar 16, 2007.

  1. I see that for this year and next year, the gross estate tax exclusion amount is $2,000,000, where amounts over this are taxed at a rate of 45%. Just out of curiosity, if one inherits stock when the decedent dies of say for example a value of $50,000,000. Before you sell it, the stock goes to zero, still leaving you with $21.6 million in estate taxes to pay, since your cost basis in inherited stock is the market value on the day the decedent died. Assuming you inherited nothing else, what happens in this case where you are now unable to pay the 21.6 million since the stock went to zero? What does the IRS do? I assume there is no maximum amount that one can pay in estate taxes?
     
  2. ElCubano

    ElCubano

    your cost basis is zero ..since u didnt pay a dime for it. The price you sell it at is where they compute ur estate tax. I have no idea if this is the case, but it sure sounds better than being hit with a phantom bill...:D
     
  3. ElCubano

    ElCubano

    without reading ur link ( no time). if your cost is fair market value of the stock ...then when it goes to zero from ur above example u'd have a loss and not a gain...COST is what someone paid for it...
     
  4. With estate taxes, you pay based on the amount you inherited at the time of the decedent's death. If it does go higher, you have a capital gain. If it goes lower, you have a capital loss. In my above example, you lost the whole $50 million, can only deduct up to 3,000/year in capital losses, but still have to pay $21.6 million in estate taxes.
     
  5. Actually, the estate pays the tax. Assets are valued at the date of death. As the beneficiary, that value becomes your basis in the asset.
     
  6. Say you inherit 1,000,000 shares and the value is $50/share at the date of death for a total inheritance of 50 million. You would owe estate taxes of 21.6 million (48 million x .45). If the stock goes to zero before you sell it, how would you come up with the money to pay the 21.6 million, since now your whole inheritance has been wiped out?
     
  7. ElCubano

    ElCubano

    Joe Robbie the previous owner of the dolphins and Joe Robbie stadium , never paid into an estate fund for his kids and when he passed away and left the team and the stadium to his kids; they were met with a huge tax bill which they didnt have the funds to pay it.. They had to sell the team and stadium to Huzienga in a fire sale ...
     
  8. Again, it is the estate that would pay the tax, not you as the beneficiary. That being said, I think you will find that wills generally provide that taxes get paid first before the distribution of remaining assets. Thus, unless the estate has 20MM in cash to pay the tax, they would sell off enough assets to raise the 20MM. Therefore, they may sell all or part of the stock before conveying to you, thus avoid the going to zero problem.
     
  9. What if the stock goes to zero BEFORE the estate sells any shares; how would the estate pay the 21.6 million in estate taxes then,assuming there are no other assets in the estate?
     
    #10     Mar 16, 2007