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Repeal of death tax inevitable?

andybob

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Fordingbridge England.
Permanent Death Tax Repeal Critical for U.S. Ranchers
US - NCBA applauds bipartisan introduction of repeal legislation in the House



Washington, D.C. (May 18, 2007) – The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), representing generations of ranching families across the nation, strongly supports legislation introduced late last night that will fight for full, permanent repeal of the Death Tax. Congressmen Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) and Robert Cramer (D-Ala.) introduced the bill, H.R. 2380, with 67 original cosponsors.

"By once again introducing legislation to repeal this onerous tax, these members of Congress have demonstrated an understanding and appreciation for the immense burden this tax places on American cattle producers who are hoping to pass their operation on to the next generation," says North Carolina cattle producer and NCBA President John Queen.

"The Death Tax is detrimental to the farming and ranching families who live off the land and run asset-rich, cash poor family operations," says Queen. "These families want to pass their successful operations on to future generations. Yet more often than not, the Death Tax prevents them from doing just that."

Reducing the tax burden on ranchers has always been a top priority for NCBA and the cattle industry. For decades, NCBA has urged full and permanent repeal of this tax.

"Our priority is to keep families in agriculture, and this tax works against that goal," says Queen. "The appraised value of rural land is extremely inflated when compared to its agricultural value. Many cattle producers are forced to sell off land, parts of the operation, or the entire ranch to pay off tax liabilities. This takes more open space out of agriculture, usually into the hands of urban developers."

Currently, a 10-year phase-out to full repeal by 2010 is scheduled. But the tax will be re-instated in 2011 (back to 2001 levels), unless Congress approves legislation making the repeal permanent.

"We have farm and ranch families that are paying for their ranches two and three times, all while paying taxes on the income used in their operations," explains Jay Truitt, NCBA's vice president of government affairs. "Temporary repeal was a step forward. But unless you're planning on dying in 2010 — the time is now to pass permanent repeal of this tax."

"Cattle producers are working hard to maintain the ranches built by our forefathers," says Queen. "Without permanent repeal, the Death Tax could hit us with a devastating blow of up to 55 percent in taxes on the entire operation when a family member dies. We just can't afford that and sustain our operations. It is an unfair tax on the American dream."


TheCattleSite News Desk
 
If the "death tax" is going to be put on private money, it should also be put on corporations based on the life expectancy of the average person.

Why allow corporations this loophole---especially ones that USE IT AS A TAX LOOPHOLE?

The real answer to reducing taxes is to decrease government spending---not borrowing to be able to spend more and not shifting those taxes on those who don't yell the loudest.

For any administration to support a reduction in taxes, they must do this FIRST!
 
Kato said:
What's the death tax? How does this work?

It is the estate tax. When you die, your estate is taxed. The exemption of assets includes the following amounts. Amounts over those are taxed.

Year


Exclusion
Amount


Max/Top
tax rate

2001
$675,000
55%
2002
$1 million
50%

2003
$1 million
49%

2004
$1.5 million
48%

2005
$1.5 million
47%

2006
$2 million
46%

2007
$2 million
45%

2008
$2 million
45%

2009
$3.5 million
45%


These are net asset values. There are ways of getting around the estate tax and a good estate tax planner can help you do this if your assets are over the above amounts. These taxes were the country's way of getting around family wealth that is passed on to the next generation, keeping wealthy people wealthy and having them pay their fair share of taxes. Increasing inflation of assets has moved more people into these taxable categories. There are a lot of ways of passing wealth on to your next generation that circumvent these taxes.


Wikipedia has a great explanation of it with pro and con arguments along with the ACTUAL percentage of taxes paid on estates. You will see that there are a lot of loopholes.
 
There are legal and effective ways to minimize a death tax.

Setting up the ranch as a corporation has some advantages.

Transfering lands to your heirs with a lifetime lease to yourself accomplishes the same thing.

Untimely or accidental deaths would be the exception there.

In that case life insurance policies are available to cover the amount of tax.

All businesses need to be doing estate planning of some sort.
 
Jason said:
There are legal and effective ways to minimize a death tax.

Setting up the ranch as a corporation has some advantages.

Transfering lands to your heirs with a lifetime lease to yourself accomplishes the same thing.

Untimely or accidental deaths would be the exception there.

In that case life insurance policies are available to cover the amount of tax.

All businesses need to be doing estate planning of some sort.

We have lawyers writing laws that require us to pay lawyers to get around the laws! :mad: Why isn't it a conflict of interest to have lawyers writing laws?
 
That's just plain nasty.

We are a very heavily taxed country, but thank goodness we don't have estate taxes. If our heirs sell our assets there may be capital gains and such, but only if they sell them.

We pay tax on everything we touch our whole lives, so I guess the government figures we've paid enough.
 
RobertMac said:
rider said:
Again, when we are gone, why do we care?

Do you have children? Do you think they care?

To add to RobertMac s comment, I have two disabled children (Adult), which I intend to ensure are going to be cared for when I am gone, my intention is to extend this to at least two more similarly disabled adults, a trust will manage the estate far more effectivly than the state ever can.
 
andybob said:
RobertMac said:
rider said:
Again, when we are gone, why do we care?

Do you have children? Do you think they care?

To add to RobertMac s comment, I have two disabled children (Adult), which I intend to ensure are going to be cared for when I am gone, my intention is to extend this to at least two more similarly disabled adults, a trust will manage the estate far more effectivly than the state ever can.

My sentiments exactly! :D
 
Kato, our capital gains tax is essentially the same thing.

If a farm is left to children that are not farming, the land is deemed to be sold at time of death and capital gains are assessed (up to 50%).

It doesn't matter if the children intend to farm, they have to be actively involved in the operation before the death of the owner.

If the exemptions aren't clear every industry claims they should be exempt as well.
 

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