Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm Insights

New Jersey Considers Estate Tax Reform

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Date: September 5, 2014

Key Contacts

Back

As numerous other states make similar moves, New Jersey is considering estate tax reform.

A bill has been introduced to the New Jersey state legislature that would repeal the inheritance tax and raise the size of the estate tax exemption to the federal level, according to The Real Deal. Currently, New Jersey is one of just two states left in the U.S. to tax both estates and inheritance.

This means that estates that are larger than the state exemption – $675,000 in New Jersey – are first taxed under the estate tax, according to NorthJersey.com. Then, the remaining money can be taxed a second time when it is inherited, up to a maximum rate of 16 percent. Spouses, children and parents are exempt from the inheritance tax, but siblings, cousins, other relatives and friends are not.

The threshold for estate taxes at the federal level is $5.34 million – considerably larger than the New Jersey exemption. The federal exemption is also indexed for inflation, meaning that it increases to stay in line with the value of the dollar.

Proponents for a higher exemption argue that many middle class families accumulate an estate of $1 to $2 million in the form of real estate equity, and that we should not necessarily penalize them for accruing this modest level of wealth over a lifetime.

On the other hand, Department of Treasury data cited by NorthJersey.com found that almost $760 million of the total state budget of $32.5 billion will come from estate and inheritance taxes this year. Those who oppose raising the exemption to the federal level argue that doing so would result in a loss of tax revenues that would have to be paid for another way.

To find out more about how these estate tax reforms will affect you, feel free to speak with a tax attorney at ScarinciHollenbeck.com. If you would like to read more about estate tax reform than take a look at some of our older posts on this topic:

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Related Posts

See all
Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly post image

Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly

What Developers Need to Know About New Jersey’s Rent Control Exemption Law to Ensure Entitlement to Exemption for Newly Constructed Multi-family Housing.  A property owner in Jersey City is facing a $400 million federal class action lawsuit alleging that the landlord did not follow the procedural steps required to be eligible for exemption from local […]

Author: Patrick T. Conlon

Link to post with title - "Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly"
Crypto Securities Law: When Tokens Become Investment Contracts post image

Crypto Securities Law: When Tokens Become Investment Contracts

The application of traditional federal securities laws to crypto assets continues to evolve. In some cases, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) considers tokens and other digital assets to be securities. This makes them subject to federal securities law, including the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This classification has […]

Author: Bryce S. Robins

Link to post with title - "Crypto Securities Law: When Tokens Become Investment Contracts"
The Due Diligence Process for NY Condominiums and Cooperatives post image

The Due Diligence Process for NY Condominiums and Cooperatives

While the New York City real estate market can be extremely competitive, moving too quickly often backfires. Before purchasing a condominium or cooperative in New York City, it is important to do you homework. Purchasing property in NYC can involve a dizzying number of legal issues. These include condo and co-op rules, rent restrictions, and […]

Author: Jesse M. Dimitro

Link to post with title - "The Due Diligence Process for NY Condominiums and Cooperatives"
Smart Contract Legal Issues: Drafting Agreements for Blockchain post image

Smart Contract Legal Issues: Drafting Agreements for Blockchain

Smart contracts feature a unique blend of legal agreement and technical code. This innovation has the potential to reshape how business is conducted. At the same time, smart contract legal issues around enforceability, jurisdiction, identity, and compliance are common. The legal framework for these self-executing agreements is still evolving. What Are Smart Contracts? Smart contracts, […]

Author: Bryce S. Robins

Link to post with title - "Smart Contract Legal Issues: Drafting Agreements for Blockchain"
Are Stay Interviews the Key to Retaining Top Talent? post image

Are Stay Interviews the Key to Retaining Top Talent?

Retaining top talent continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing employers today. Even in an employer’s market, the loss of a key employee can disrupt operations and result in significant costs. While compensation plays a role, long-term retention often depends on workplace culture, communication, and employee engagement. One increasingly popular strategy for improving […]

Author: Angela A. Turiano

Link to post with title - "Are Stay Interviews the Key to Retaining Top Talent?"
Why Secured Transactions Are Important post image

Why Secured Transactions Are Important

Secured transactions form the backbone of a wide range of business dealings, including business loans, mortgages, and inventory financing. Because the stakes are often high and relatively minor oversights can have drastic consequences, lenders and borrowers should thoroughly understand how to form an enforceable security agreement that protects their legal rights. What Is a Secured […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "Why Secured Transactions Are Important"

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!

Explore What Matters Most to You.

Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.

Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.

Let`s get in touch!

* The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.

Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!