The Treasury Department has decided that the much dreaded Section 2704 estate tax rules are unworkable.
When the Obama administration announced changes to the valuation discounts for family businesses for estate tax purposes, known as the Section 2704 rules, there was a lot of consternation.
Many estate and legacy plans would have to be completely reworked in order to comply with the complicated new rules. It was not absolutely clear how all of those plans could be reworked and how the rules would actually be enforced. This created headaches for many people.
The Trump administration has decided to change course, as Forbes reports in “Treasury To Withdraw Hated Estate Tax Valuation Rules.”
The Treasury Department announced that it will soon publish an official withdrawal of the rules, since they have decided the rules are unworkable. That means planners can continue to rely on previous valuation methods, which brings a lot more certainty about how to make legacy plans for now.
This does not mean the estate tax itself has been repealed. President Trump has indicated he wants to do so, but, in the meantime, it should help those people who are affected by the estate tax.
Of course, even without the Section 2704 rules, it is still a good idea to review any previously made plans to make sure they will still be effective as intended.
Reference: Forbes (Oct. 4, 2017) “Treasury To Withdraw Hated Estate Tax Valuation Rules.”
