What are the Benefits of a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT)?

A Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) is an excellent option for individuals looking to transfer wealth to heirs while minimizing gift and estate tax liabilities. By establishing a GRAT, the grantor transfers assets into the trust and retains the right to receive fixed annuity payments over a set term, typically two to ten years. If the assets appreciate at a rate greater than the IRS’s assumed rate, the excess value passes to beneficiaries tax-free, providing significant savings. This strategy is particularly effective in low-interest environments or when high-growth assets are expected to appreciate substantially. One thing to be aware of however, is that if the grantor passes away during the trust term, any assets remaining in the trust might be included in their estate, which might erase some of the benefits of the GRAT. Careful planning is required to ensure that the full tax advantages apply to your estate. A

The Corporate Transparency Act – Is It Dead Yet?

A few months ago, word was slowly spreading about the federal government’s new requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) that business must disclose information about the beneficial ownership structure of corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and other entities in order to combat money laundering, fight criminal activity by individuals and organizations and promote efficient tax administration. Under the law, tens of millions of individuals are required to disclose their personal information to the government or face civil, criminal fines and potentially jail. Within months of this new law going into effect on January 1, 2024, lawsuits were filed challenging the constitutionality of this new law. The first lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. That action was brought by a small business owner and an organization of business owners who argued that the mandatory disclosure of the information required by the

Which Incorporation Is Best For You: Comparing LLPs and LLCs

By: Eric P. Rothenberg, Esq. If you are a small business owner, or considering starting your own business, it has always been important to know your options for creating a new entity with limited liability. The uncertainty and financial stresses of COVID-19 and the subsequent recession make decisions about incorporation even more important. In this article, I will review two common types of new entities for small businesses: limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and limited liability corporations (LLCs) Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) In a limited liability partnership there must be more than one partner. Each of these partners (called “partners”) receive personal liability protection as a result of creating the entity under the Secretary of State. Governance of an LLP is shared equally among all partners, as are profits and losses, like a general partnership unless the operating agreement provides otherwise under the Uniform Partnership Act. An LLP is also taxed

Why Does Estate Planning Matter to Your Clients?

Posted by Robert L. Arone In 2008, Congress recognized the need for the public to understand the importance and benefits of estate planning by passing House Resolution 1499, which designated the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Nevertheless, according to a 2019 survey carried out by Caring.com, 57% of adults in the United States have not prepared any estate planning documents such as a will or trust despite the fact that 76% viewed them as important. Many of the respondents said this was due to procrastination, but many others mistakenly believed that it was not necessary because they did not have many assets. Estate Planning Awareness Week is a great reminder of the need to explain what estate planning is to your clients and why it is crucial for them not to delay putting an estate plan in place, regardless of the size of their estate. What

What is the tax implication for a joint venture vs. a partnership?

By Eric P. Rothenberg, Esq. Partnerships and joint ventures share many similarities. However, there are significant differences business owners should be aware of when allying with another enterprise. Both are forms of legal structures used by business owners to combine resources, talents, or skills with another person or business. Business owners often mistakenly use the terms partnerships and joint ventures interchangeably. A partnership can be described as a voluntary association of two or more people who jointly own and carry on a business for profit, such as law firm partners who work together to provide legal services for gain. A joint venture, on the other hand, is typically a business undertaking by two or more people engaged in a single defined project. An expressed or implied agreement, a common purpose that the group intends to carry out, shared profits and losses, and each member’s equal voice in controlling the project

Question & Answer

What are the Benefits of a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT)?

The Corporate Transparency Act – Is It Dead Yet?

Which Incorporation Is Best For You: Comparing LLPs and LLCs

Why Does Estate Planning Matter to Your Clients?

What is the tax implication for a joint venture vs. a partnership?

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© 2024 by Orsi Arone Rothenberg Turner, LLP. All rights reserved.

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Question & Answer

What are the Benefits of a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT)?

The Corporate Transparency Act – Is It Dead Yet?

Which Incorporation Is Best For You: Comparing LLPs and LLCs

Why Does Estate Planning Matter to Your Clients?

What is the tax implication for a joint venture vs. a partnership?

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How Can We Help?

© 2024 by Orsi Arone Rothenberg Turner, LLP. All rights reserved.

Attorney Marketing by Bardorf Legal Marketing

Have A Question?