The new tax bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the President today has increased the amount individuals can transfer free of Gift, Estate and Generation Skipping Transfer (“GST”) taxes.  The law now provides:

• Beginning in 2018, the Estate/Gift/GST tax exemptions are increased from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000, indexed for inflation (approximately $11,200,000 in 2018).

• The increased exemptions will expire on December 31, 2025 (i.e., the increased exemptions revert to the current $5 million exemption beginning on January 1, 2026, still indexed for inflation) unless Congress acts to extend them.  The US Department of Treasury and the IRS will prepare regulations to confirm that gifts made during this period up to the increased exemption amounts will not later be subject to tax if the exemptions are reduced.

• The 40% tax rate for Estate/Gift/GST tax remains the same.

• The annual Gift tax exclusion will still increase to $15,000 in 2018.

• The basis adjustment rules, which provide that the basis of any asset passing from a decedent at death will be adjusted to the fair market value of that asset as of the decedent’s date of death (i.e., a step up in basis), remain the same.

The new law presents high net worth individuals with additional gifting and planning opportunities.  Consider taking advantage of the increased exemptions by making gifts up your maximum available exemption amount during this period.  However, you should never give away more than you need to live comfortably, and we note that assets you give away during your life will not receive a basis adjustment at your death (the basis of gifted assets in the hands of the donee is the basis of the transferor at the time the gift is made).