Category Archives: Federal Estate Taxes

Is Congress Driving You Crazy?

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Roger Billings

  When I was in law school, I interviewed for a job with a Washington DC tax attorney. Congress had just overhauled the tax code, and I asked how the changes had affected his practice. What started as a job … Continue reading →






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What is Your Portability IQ?

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Roger Billings

  Portability, a new concept introduced by the December 2010 amendment to the Estate Tax, is a topic that we all need to learn more about. Jamie Held provided this summary of portability: In general, portability allows a surviving spouse … Continue reading →






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Steve Jobs Died Without Owing Estate Tax: A New Urban Legend?

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Roger Billings

  After the death of Steve Jobs last week, opinions started circulating that he was so smart that he even knew how to avoid paying estate taxes better than anyone else. Jobs was smart and he seems to have done … Continue reading →






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Business Succession Lesson from the Oakland Raiders

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Roger Billings

  The death of renegade owner Al Davis leaves the Raider Nation looking for future direction. A big question is how to pay estate taxes. Family owned businesses can learn from the Raiders’ challenges, even though most are not large … Continue reading →






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Resolution: Keeping the Estate Plan Updated

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Roger Billings

“You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one. I don’t believe in little plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can’t possibly foresee now.” Harry S. Truman … Continue reading →






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The 2012 Tax Debate

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Roger Billings

photo credit: ` TheDreamSky 꿈꾸는 하늘 “Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art.”  John Keats Another two year patch.  By a lame duck Congress.  That is what  Obama’s tax deal is.  The proposal which has now passed the … Continue reading →






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Do the Wealthy Have a Patriotic Duty to Pay More Taxes?

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Roger Billings

Democrats are feeling betrayed by President Obama, while Republicans are gloating over the tax deal they struck with the President to extend the Bush era tax cuts for two years.  The deal also includes setting the estate tax exemption at … Continue reading →






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