The annual gift tax exclusion for the federal gift tax has increased to $12,000 for 2006. The annual exclusion had been $11,000. The annual exclusion is the amount any individual can give another individual per year without triggering a taxable gift for federal gift tax purposes.
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Kevin Curry
Estate Planning – It’s For Everyone
By Kevin Curry on
The need for “estate planning” is often dismissed by individuals as being a luxury which can only be utilized by the wealthy. However, anyone who owns any property has need for at least some knowledge of estate planning in order to determine who will receive his or her property at the time of death.
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New Louisiana Homestead Exemption May be a Trap for the Unwary
By Kevin Curry on
In November 2004, the Louisiana voters approved a new Constitutional Amendment to revise Louisiana’s Homestead exemption law for ad valorem tax purposes. While this new law is helpful in clarifying a number of issues, it does create a trap for the unwary. Specifically, the new law has been interpreted to deny the homestead exemption for individuals who transfer their homes into revocable trusts (also known as living trusts).
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