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Family business owners begin their adventures balancing two priorities: keeping the business as an integral part of an ever-expanding family and creating a profitable, sustainable organization. In the end, family is the guiding force behind the company’s success; maximizing value for the next generation is sometimes more important than maximizing economic value in the present. Creating the right legal foundation will allow owners to put family first when it matters most.

The Worldwide Family Business Tax Guide brings together detailed information on family businesses from 41 countries worldwide. The Guide is a detailed source of information for practitioners, family business owners, tax advisors, tax legislators and tax academics. In trying to distil leading practices and help promote sound tax policy for family businesses, the author has focused on income, corporate income tax, capital gains tax, wealth transfer tax and more.

The US Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion issued June 19, 2014, implemented a new standard for courts to employ in determining if a taxpayer may challenge whether the Internal Revenue Service has issued a summons in good faith. In light of the Service’s new procedures for administering Information Document Requests, including the potential for summons enforcement, this opinion provides important guidance to taxpayers who may find themselves in the midst of a summons enforcement action.

The process of developing long-term strategies to manage family wealth requires careful thought and well-coordinated tactics focused on achieving far-reaching wealth planning objectives.All too often, plans are established that are focused primarily on minimizing the tax burden. Individuals and families need to be careful that the tax “tail” isn’t wagging the wealth planning “dog.” Decisions that appear to generate favorable results from a tax perspective may not always be aligned with your broader legacy goals.

When approaching estate planning and, more specifically, setting up a long-term, irrevocable trust, many high net worth families both think and act locally. They provide -- often with minimal analysis or advice – for a trust that is governed by the laws of their home state and subject to taxation there, without considering alternatives that may be far more attractive.

The loss of a spouse to either death or divorce is one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can go through. Life will change irrevocably in many ways for the surviving spouse or separated partners. This article reviews often-neglected steps that may lessen the burden and financial issues that you and/or your spouse may face when this painful loss occurs. So-called “widow planning”—applying equally to widowers and to contingency plans for divorce—is an essential part of any couple’s financial preparedness.

Research on income equality and social mobility yields compelling conclusions in support of both sides of the debate. For now, regardless of how the research evolves, it is safe to expect the U.S. will enter an environment of higher personal tax rates with further redistribution in the cards, something investors need to consider when weighing the merits of whether to realize or defer income and capital gains.

For families contemplating substantial charitable contributions, private foundations provide a structure to create a legacy of family charitable giving and remain a popular vehicle for charitably inclined families.