Your estate tax exemption remains portable

Description

Abstract: Portability allows one’s estate to elect to permit the surviving spouse to use any of the decedent’s available estate tax exemption that is unused at death. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 has made the portability provision permanent. It’s a simple solution and provides flexibility if the couple hasn’t done sufficient estate planning before the first spouse dies. But this article explains why portability isn’t the best option for all couples.