Last year I posted an Estate Tax Straw Poll so that you could vote on what you thought Congress would do with the federal estate tax for 2010 and beyond. The results of that poll indicated that 59% of those who voted believed Congress would do absolutely nothing and allow the estate tax to be reinstated under the laws that were in effect in 2001 - 2002.
Well, we now know what really happened - Congress did act at the eleventh hour to reinstate the estate tax retroactively and set the exemption and rate for 2010, 2011 and 2012 only. So this means that once again we are left in the dark about what will happen with estate taxes for 2013 and beyond. While I think that Congress has a 50/50 chance of extending the existing laws for one year or doing nothing - read What is the Future of the Estate Tax? to learn more about my thoughts - obviously my guess is as good as anyone's. So here's your chance, cast your vote:
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Estate taxes are a revenue generator for the federal Government.
The political climate today is leaning to appease the business owner and the people who generate long term wealth. The pendulum has swung to the right of center at present but the debt does not go away.
IMO there will be much posturing in Congress to get the votes then come 2013 the correction will take place to ensure that the Federal Government will tap into billions of dollars in Estate taxes.
I would look at exemption in the 2.5 million range tiered to 5 million with a tiered tax rate beginning at 25% to a max of 40%.