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Given the rhetoric and possible need for additional tax revenue in the U.S., families of wealth and their advisors should be aware of the future possibility of the wealth tax particularly when doing their estate planning. They should also consider how trusts might be affected by a wealth tax, including the use of a discretionary trust that can be grandfathered to avoid the wealth tax if established prior to its enactment.

The Millennials are projected to number 73 million, overtaking Baby Boomers as the largest adult segment of the U.S. population. They have different concerns and opinions than their parents, and many existing trusts may not be drafted to best accommodate Millennial beneficiaries and their desires. In most instances, traditional trust structures may not be sufficient. Generally, modern directed trusts are best suited for all generations, and it allows a Millennial beneficiary to play a key role regarding both trust distributions and investments.

The big question in the estate planning world today is whether, when, and to what extent the U.S. Congress will enact changes to gift, estate, and income tax laws. With many challenges facing the new Biden Administration, and the narrowly Democratic Senate, major tax legislation may not even be considered in 2021. Nevertheless, the tax proposals endorsed by the Biden Administration provide clear signals for actions clients should consider this year.

When guiding how your organization drives value through tax efficiencies and financial reporting, don't be surprised if the C-suite is looking for tax leaders to be technology experts. The key is to be proactive in discussions with business leadership.

Needing to meet the challenges of tax compliance for investment partnerships, chief financial officers are demanding more timely tax and financial reporting, along with the need to report and respond to investors with speed and accuracy. Partnership tax technology allows funds to meet those demands, especially in the case of private equity and hedge funds. The automation of tax compliance using a technology platform will offer advantages such as providing transparency for investors, simplifying complex allocations, and allowing a deep enough simplification to fund entity tiering.

With the Democrats controlling both houses of Congress and the White House, it is timely to focus on the potential tax law changes they might propose. Although it may seem unlikely the changes will be enacted quickly, Congress has previously made even mid-year changes that applied retroactively. A summary of potential changes impacting wealthier individuals are provided to help with the tax planning and implementing certain strategies.

While the tax environment has become more complex for businesses, there are opportunities to minimize their tax burden on the state and local level. In this 10-minute interview, attorney Lynn Gandhi of Foley & Lardner’s Tax group joins Brian Lucareli to discuss the impact of state and local taxes such as state income taxes, sales and use taxes, payroll taxes, excise taxes, and withholding taxes. Lynn also shares practical solutions and structures to avoid paying more taxes.

Being asked to oversee a family trust is a big deal. It’s a huge responsibility, and one you may not feel prepared to accept. Even if you’ve participated in or been exposed to the world of trusts, you may not have the knowledge or skills to be an effective trustee right now.

While it might seem like a great position to hold a concentrated position in a low-basis stock that has appreciated over time, it poses several challenges related to investment risk and taxes. Here are some charitable options for lowering your risk while doing the most good with your gains, whether that means giving to a worthy cause, gifting to a family member in a lower tax bracket, or both.

With the rise of the Tax Strategist, a trend is taking shape past the normal tax planning: Tax leaders who use a strategic approach are becoming key contributors to driving positive business performance. To uncover what’s behind this trend, tax executives were surveyed about their involvement in overall decision-making, as well as their top priorities and challenges in the next 12 months.