April 1, 2021

One of Biden’s most important campaign promises was that he would not raise taxes on the middle
class, or more specifically those earning less than $400,000. However, there is a new Democratic
proposal circulating that would affect a wide range of Americans. The aim of the tax proposal
appears to be funding the new infrastructure bill by targeting “stepped up basis” in inheritance taxes as
a way to raise tax revenue. Right now, when inherited assets get transferred, their basis resets to
whatever the market value is at the time of inheritance. In this way, heirs only pay capital gains on the
increase in value that occurs while they hold the asset. Biden and his administration want to change
the rules in order to keep the basis in place from when the original buyer purchased the asset. This
change would not only affect the wealthy in a big way, but also the middle class, as the basis for many
assets would suddenly be very low, meaning large taxes would be due no matter the size of the estate
being transferred. A good example might be an inherited condo from a parent that was bought 30 years
ago and has appreciated from $100,000 at purchase to $600,000 now. Under the current system, a
middle class earner who inherited and decided to immediately sell the condo would pay almost no
taxes. However, under the new proposal, almost $100,000 in taxes would be due because basis would
be applied to the original purchase price.

(Washington) Forbes

FINSUM + Magnifi: This would hit the wealthy the hardest, but many Americans receive modest inheritances that would now be subject to much higher taxes. This is an area advisors need to keep an eye on.

{{cta(‘031ca73e-408c-41ef-9886-bfe7cd5553d7’)}}

Magnifi is changing the way we shop for investments, with the world’s first semantic search engine for finance that helps users discover, compare and buy investment products such as ETFs, mutual funds and stocks. As of March 2021, 250,000+ users with $475+ Billion in Assets Under Influence, have used Magnifi over 1,200,000 times. Try it for yourself today.

 

This blog is sponsored by Magnifi. The information and data are as of the publish date unless otherwise noted and subject to change. This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as individualized investment advice or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities tailored to your needs. This information covers investment and market activity, industry or sector trends, or other broad-based economic or market conditions and should not be construed as investment research or advice. Investors are urged to consult with their financial advisors before buying or selling any securities. Although certain information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy, completeness or fairness. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This content may not be reproduced or distributed to any person in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Magnifi. [As a technology company, Magnifi provides access to tools and will be compensated for providing such access. Magnifi does not provide brokerage or custody services.]