unified estate and gift tax

n. in Federal estate taxes, the value of the estate plus gifts upon which no gift tax has been paid are combined to determine the assets upon which the tax is calculated. The estate tax "kicks in" at $600,000 for each deceased person. In larger estates an experienced accountant is virtually mandatory to determine the estate tax (if any) and prepare the tax return. (See: estate tax, gift tax)

References in periodicals archive ?

The 1932 Act set gift tax rates at three-quarters of estate tax rates, a level maintained until 1976, when Congress passed the Tax Reform Act (TRA) of 1976 and created the unified estate and gift tax framework that consisted of a "single, graduated rate of tax imposed on both lifetime gift and testamentary dispositions" [4].

Inter vivos wealth transfers, 1997 gifts

In 2004, the EGTRRA effectively bifurcates the previously unified estate and gift tax system (a likely result of criticism that the income tax system would suffer from widespread erosion without a gift tax).

Post-EGTRRA analysis and planning (Estates, Trusts & Gifts)

One basic concept in planning for spouses is to ensure that each one has at least $600,000 of assets in his or her own name to preserve full use of the unified estate and gift tax credit.

Protecting client assets

as QTIP will be used for this purpose and how much will be used to take advantage of the (unused) unified estate and gift tax credit.

A half-dozen uses for a QTIP

Shaines, DC NH, 4/25/01, accountants failed to inquire about prior stock transfers and their effect on a client's unified estate and gift tax credit.