Mailing Address Changes for Estate and Gift Tax Returns
See Filing Estate and Gift Tax Returns for information on new mailing addresses for Form 709, and the Form 706 series (706, 706-NA, 706-GS(D), 706-GS(T), 706 Schedule R-1, 706-A, and 706-QDT), as well as Forms 8892 and 8855.
Making Large Gifts Now Won’t Harm Estates After 2025
On November 20, 2018, the IRS clarified that individuals taking advantage of the increased gift tax exclusion amount in effect from 2018 to 2025 will not be adversely impacted after 2025 when the exclusion amount is scheduled to drop to pre-2018 levels. The IRS formally made this clarification in proposed regulations released that day. The regulations implement changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), tax reform legislation enacted in December 2017. For more information, see the related Tax Reform page.
Transcript Delivery Service (TDS) Now Available for Estate Tax Accounts
The Transcript Delivery Service (TDS) which provides authorized practitioners the ability to view and print instant account transcripts for estate tax returns is now available on IRS.gov.
To register for TDS, access e-Services - Online Tools for Tax Professionals
1. Select "GO" under Transcript Delivery System (TDS)
2. Sign Up or Log In
If you have difficulty registering online via Secure Access, or you are an existing e-Services user and need exception processing, call the e-Help desk at 1-888-841-4648 (select your language, then prompt 1 and remain on the line until an assistor picks up) 7:30 a.m. Eastern to 7 p.m. Eastern. Additional tips can be found in the e-Services Hot Topics.
For step-by-step instructions on securing an estate tax transcript, access Transcripts in Lieu of Estate Tax Closing Letters on IRS.gov.
The Tax Cut and Jobs Act, Pub. L. No. 115-97
Under this law, the basic exclusion amount for an estate tax return for a 2018 date of death increases to $10,000,000, before taking into account the necessary inflation adjustment. See the sections Form 706 Changes and Exclusions, below, for the 2018 basic exclusion amount.
For more information on tax reform affecting estate and gift taxes, access Estate and Gift Tax FAQs.
Notice 2017-15, Guidance on Windsor-related Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Issues
Notice 2017-15 provides guidance on the application of the decision in United States v. Windsor, 570 U.S. ___, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), and the holdings of Revenue Ruling 2013-17, 2013-38 I.R.B. 201, to the rules regarding the applicable exclusion amount under §§ 2010(c) and 2505 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the generation-skipping transfer (GST) exemption under § 2631, as they relate to certain gifts, bequests, and generation-skipping transfers by (or to) same-sex spouses. In particular, this notice provides special administrative procedures allowing certain taxpayers’ estates to recalculate a taxpayer’s remaining applicable exclusion amount and remaining GST exemption to the extent an allocation of that exclusion or exemption was made to certain transfers made while the taxpayer was married to a person of the same sex.
Worksheets and instructions to aid recalculations will be posted soon.
Consistent Basis Reporting Between Estate and Person Acquiring Property from Decedent
On March 23, 2016, the IRS issued Notice 2016-27, which provides that statements required under section 6035, regarding the basis of property distributed from the estate of a decedent, need not be filed or furnished until June 30, 2016. Other notices had previously delayed the filing of such statements. See Notice 2016-19 (PDF), Notice 2015-57 (PDF), and temporary regulations, T.D. 9757.
In addition, proposed regulations, REG-127923-15, provide guidance regarding the requirement that a recipient's basis in certain property acquired from a decedent be consistent with the value of the property as finally determined for Federal estate tax purposes.
The statements noted above are required by H.R. 3236, the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015, which was signed into law on July 31, 2015.
The law created Section 6035, which requires the executor of an estate required to file an estate tax return to also provide certain statements to the IRS and to beneficiaries receiving inherited property. This also applies to 6018(b) filers.
The law also adds Section 1014(f), which requires consistent basis reporting between an estate and the beneficiary receiving certain property from a decedent.
These changes apply to any estate tax return filed, and to property with respect to which an estate tax return is filed, after July 31, 2015.
Form 706 Changes
The basic exclusion amount (or applicable exclusion amount in years prior to 2011) is $1,500,000 (2004-2005), $2,000,000 (2006-2008), $3,500,000 (2009), $5,000,000 (2010-2011), $5,120,000 (2012), $5,250,000 (2013), $5,340,000 (2014), $5,430,000 (2015), $5,450,000 (2016), $5,490,000 (2017), $11,180,000 (2018), $11,400,000 (2019), and $11,580,000 (2020).
For Estate Tax returns after 12/31/1976, Line 4 of Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return (PDF), lists the cumulative amount of adjusted taxable gifts within the meaning of IRC section 2503. The computation of gift tax payable (Line 7 of Form 706) uses the IRC section 2001(c) rate schedule in effect as of the date of the decedent's death, rather than the actual amount of gift taxes paid with respect to the gifts.
With the top bracket tax rates decreasing from 55 percent (in 2001) to 35 percent (in 2010), and then increasing to 40 percent (in 2013), the IRS has encountered situations where gift taxes paid were greater than the tax calculated using the rate in effect at the date of death.
It appears that some Form 706 software used by practitioners require a manual input of the gift tax payable line. Some preparers are reporting gift taxes actually paid rather than calculating the gift tax payable under date of death rates. These errors result in underpayment of estate tax due. Cases with this issue will involve estates where large gifts were made during life and at a time when tax rates were higher than at date of death. (Posted 6-5-06)
Beginning January 1, 2011, estates of decedents survived by a spouse may elect to pass any of the decedent’s unused exclusion to the surviving spouse. This election is made on a timely filed estate tax return for the decedent with a surviving spouse. Note that simplified valuation provisions apply for those estates without a filing requirement absent the portability election. See the Instructions to Form 706 for additional information.
Exclusions
- The annual exclusion for gifts is $11,000 (2004-2005), $12,000 (2006-2008), $13,000 (2009-2012) and $14,000 (2013-2017). In 2018, 2019, and 2020, the annual exclusion is $15,000.
- The basic exclusion amount (or applicable exclusion amount in years prior to 2011) for gifts is $1,000,000 (2010), $5,000,000 (2011), $5,120,000 (2012), $5,250,000 (2013), $5,340,000 (2014), $5,430,000 (2015), $5,450,000 (2016), $5,490,000 (2017), $11,180,000 (2018), $11,400,000 (2019), and $11,580,000 (2020).
Federal Transfer Certificates (International)
For more information about securing a transfer certificate, please see:
- Transfer Certificate Filing Requirements for the Estates of Nonresident Citizens of the United States
- Transfer Certificate Filing Requirements for the Estates of Nonresidents not Citizens of the United States
Form 706 Filing Instructions
The instructions (which include rate schedules) may be found on the Forms and Publications - Estate and Gift Tax.
There are few significant changes to Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. The one change that will impact all filers is the elimination of the allowable State Death Tax Credit; for decedents dying in 2005 and later years, it is a deduction.
If you are filing a request for an extension of time to file an estate or gift tax return, remember that the request must go to the Cincinnati Service Center, even if you file your income or other tax returns elsewhere.
The instructions to Form 706 contain detailed guidance on completing the form and the required documentation to include with estate tax returns being filed solely to elect portability.