Cause and effect – The estate tax repeal also modifies carryover basis rules

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Abstract: How a person transfers assets can affect the recipient’s income tax liability because of the basis he or she receives. Basis is the cost associated with an asset — and, from an estate planning perspective, it’s important because it affects the amount of taxable gain or loss a beneficiary will realize should he or she sell the asset. But the 2010 estate tax repeal has temporarily modified the carryover basis rules. So is this the best time to transfer appreciated assets? The answer is that every person’s situation is unique.