S 3533 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 24, 2010CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. SANDERS (for himself, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, and Mr. FRANKEN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Responsible Estate Tax Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. REINSTATEMENT AND EXTENSION OF ESTATE AND GENERATION-SKIPPING TAXES; REPEAL OF CARRYOVER BASIS.

(a) In General- The following provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, and the amendments made by such provisions, are hereby repealed:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Subtitles A and E of title V.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Subsection (d), and so much of subsection (f)(3) as relates to subsection (d), of section 511.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Paragraph (2) of subsection (b), and paragraph (2) of subsection (e), of section 521.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Any provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 amended by such provisions are amended to read as such provisions would read if such sections had never been enacted.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Sunset Not To Apply-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Subsection (a) of section 901 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 is amended by striking ‘this Act’ and all that follows and inserting ‘this Act (other than title V) shall not apply to taxable, plan, or limitation years beginning after December 31, 2010.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Subsection (b) of such section 901 is amended by striking ‘, estates, gifts, and transfers’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF RATES AND MAINTENANCE OF UNIFIED CREDIT AGAINST THE ESTATE TAX.

(a) Modification of Rates-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The table in paragraph (1) of section 2001(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking the last 6 rows and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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   ‘Over $750,000 but not over $3,500,000         $248,300 plus 39 percent of the excess of such amount over $750,000 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

 Over $3,500,000 but not over $10,000,000     $1,320,800 plus 45 percent of the excess of such amount over $3,500,000 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Over $10,000,000 but not over $50,000,000    $4,245,800 plus 50 percent of the excess of such amount over $10,000,000 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                         Over $50,000,000 $24,245,800 plus 55 percent of the excess of such amount over $50,000,000’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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(2) SURTAX ON WEALTHY ESTATES- Paragraph (2) of section 2011(c) of such Code is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) SURTAX ON ESTATES OVER $500,000,000- Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the amount with respect to which the tentative tax to be computed is over $500,000,000, the rate of tax otherwise in effect under this subsection with respect to the amount in excess of $500,000,000 shall be increased by 10 percent.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Maintenance of Unified Credit- The table in subsection (c) of section 2010 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to applicable credit amount) is amended by inserting ‘and thereafter’ after ‘2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, 2009.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF RULES FOR VALUE OF CERTAIN FARM, ETC., REAL PROPERTY.

(a) In General- Paragraph (2) of section 2032A(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘$750,000’ and inserting ‘$3,000,000’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Inflation Adjustment- Paragraph (3) of section 2032A(a) of such Code is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘1998’ and inserting ‘2009’,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘$750,000’ and inserting ‘$3,000,000’ in subparagraph (A), andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking ‘calendar year 1997’ and inserting ‘calendar year 2008’ in subparagraph (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, 2009.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. MODIFICATION OF ESTATE TAX RULES WITH RESPECT TO LAND SUBJECT TO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.

(a) Modification of Exclusion Limitation- The table in paragraph (3) of section 2031(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘or thereafter’ in the last row and inserting ‘through 2009’, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following row:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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‘2010 and thereafter $2,000,000’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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(b) Modification of Applicable Percentage- Paragraph (2) of section 2031(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘40 percent’ and inserting ‘60 percent’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, 2009.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. CONSISTENT BASIS REPORTING BETWEEN ESTATE AND PERSON ACQUIRING PROPERTY FROM DECEDENT.

(a) Information Reporting-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Subpart A of part III of subchapter A of chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 6034A the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 6035. BASIS INFORMATION TO PERSONS ACQUIRING PROPERTY FROM DECEDENT OR BY GIFT.

‘(a) Information With Respect to Property Acquired From Decedents-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The executor of any estate required to file a return under section 6018(a) shall, on or before the date on which such return was required to be filed, furnish to the Secretary and to each person acquiring property from the decedent a statement identifying--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the value of such property,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) in the case of any property to which the exclusion under section 2031(c) applies or to which section 1014(e) applies, the adjusted basis of such property in the hands of the decedent,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) in the case of any property which consists of stock in a DISC or former DISC (as defined in section 992(a)), the basis of the decedent in such stock reduced by the amount (if any) which would have been included in gross income under section 995(c) as a dividend if the decedent had lived and sold the stock at its fair market value on the estate tax valuation date (determined under the rules of section 1014(d)), andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) such other information with respect to such property as the Secretary may prescribe.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) VALUE- For purposes of this subsection, the value of any property shall be determined under the rules of section 1014(a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Information With Respect to Property Acquired by Gift- The person who makes a transfer by gift and who is required to file a return under section 6019(a) shall, on or before the date on which such return is required to be filed, furnish to the Secretary and to each person acquiring property though such transfer a statement identifying--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the adjusted basis of such property,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) the fair market value of such property at the time of the transfer,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) in the case of a transfer in trust, the amount of the gain or loss recognized by the grantor on such transfer,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) the amount, if any, of gift tax paid by the transferor, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) such other information with respect to such property as the Secretary may prescribe.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Regulations- The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as necessary to carry out this section, including regulations relating to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the application of this section to situations in which no estate tax return is required to be filed or in which gifts are excluded from gift tax under section 2503,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) situations in which the surviving joint tenant or other recipient may have better information than the executor, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) the timing of the required reporting in the event of adjustments to the reported value subsequent to the filing of an estate or gift tax return.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO FILE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) RETURN- Subparagraph (B) of section 6724(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘or’ at the end of clause (xxiv), by striking ‘and’ at the end of clause (xxv) and inserting ‘or’, and by adding at the end the following new clause:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(xxvi) section 6035 (relating to returns relating to basis information to persons acquiring property from decedent), and’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) STATEMENT- Subparagraph (A) of section 6724(d)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by inserting ‘6035,’ after ‘6034A,’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections for subpart A of part III of subchapter A of chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 6034A the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘Sec. 6035. Basis information to persons acquiring property from decedent or by gift.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Consistent Use of Basis-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) PROPERTY ACQUIRED FROM A DESCENDANT- Section 1014 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Basis Must Be Consistent With Information Reports- Except as provided by the Secretary in regulations, in any case in which the executor of the estate was required to make a return under section 6035, the basis of the property in the hands of the person acquiring such property shall be calculated using the information reported to such person under section 6035(a).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY GIFTS AND TRANSFERS IN TRUST- Section 1015 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Basis Must Be Consistent With Information Reports- Except as provided by the Secretary in regulations, in any case in which the transferor was required to make a return under section 6035, the basis of the property in the hands of the person acquiring such property shall be calculated using the information reported to such person under section 6035(b).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Penalty for Inconsistent Reporting-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Subsection (b) of section 6662 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after paragraph (7) the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) Any inconsistent estate or gift basis reporting.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) INCONSISTENT BASIS REPORTING- Section 6662 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(k) Inconsistent Estate or Gift Basis Reporting- For purposes of this section, the term ‘inconsistent estate or gift basis reporting’ means the portion of the understatement which is attributable to the failure by the taxpayer to use the information reported to such taxpayer under section 6035 in calculating the basis of any property acquired from a decedent or by gift or transfer in trust.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to transfers for which returns are filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. VALUATION RULES FOR CERTAIN TRANSFERS OF NONBUSINESS ASSETS; LIMITATION ON MINORITY DISCOUNTS.

(a) In General- Section 2031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to definition of gross estate) is amended by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f) and by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsections:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Valuation Rules for Certain Transfers of Nonbusiness Assets- For purposes of this chapter and chapter 12--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of the transfer of any interest in an entity other than an interest which is actively traded (within the meaning of section 1092)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the value of any nonbusiness assets held by the entity with respect to such interest shall be determined as if the transferor had transferred such assets directly to the transferee (and no valuation discount shall be allowed with respect to such nonbusiness assets), andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) such nonbusiness assets shall not be taken into account in determining the value of the interest in the entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) NONBUSINESS ASSETS- For purposes of this subsection--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘nonbusiness asset’ means any asset which is not used in the active conduct of 1 or more trades or businesses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN PASSIVE ASSETS- Except as provided in subparagraph (C), a passive asset shall not be treated for purposes of subparagraph (A) as used in the active conduct of a trade or business unless--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the asset is property described in paragraph (1) or (4) of section 1221(a) or is a hedge with respect to such property, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) the asset is real property used in the active conduct of 1 or more real property trades or businesses (within the meaning of section 469(c)(7)(C)) in which the transferor materially participates and with respect to which the transferor meets the requirements of section 469(c)(7)(B)(ii).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





For purposes of clause (ii), material participation shall be determined under the rules of section 469(h), except that section 469(h)(3) shall be applied without regard to the limitation to farming activity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) EXCEPTION FOR WORKING CAPITAL- Any asset (including a passive asset) which is held as a part of the reasonably required working capital needs of a trade or business shall be treated as used in the active conduct of a trade or business.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) PASSIVE ASSET- For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘passive asset’ means any--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) cash or cash equivalents,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) except to the extent provided by the Secretary, stock in a corporation or any other equity, profits, or capital interest in any entity,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) evidence of indebtedness, option, forward or futures contract, notional principal contract, or derivative,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) asset described in clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of section 351(e)(1)(B),CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) annuity,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) real property used in 1 or more real property trades or businesses (as defined in section 469(c)(7)(C)),CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) asset (other than a patent, trademark, or copyright) which produces royalty income,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(H) commodity,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) collectible (within the meaning of section 401(m)), orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(J) any other asset specified in regulations prescribed by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) LOOK-THRU RULES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- If a nonbusiness asset of an entity consists of a 10-percent interest in any other entity, this subsection shall be applied by disregarding the 10-percent interest and by treating the entity as holding directly its ratable share of the assets of the other entity. This subparagraph shall be applied successively to any 10-percent interest of such other entity in any other entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) 10-percent INTEREST- The term ‘10-percent interest’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) in the case of an interest in a corporation, ownership of at least 10 percent (by vote or value) of the stock in such corporation,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) in the case of an interest in a partnership, ownership of at least 10 percent of the capital or profits interest in the partnership, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) in any other case, ownership of at least 10 percent of the beneficial interests in the entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) COORDINATION WITH SUBSECTION (b)- Subsection (b) shall apply after the application of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Limitation on Minority Discounts- For purposes of this chapter and chapter 12, in the case of the transfer of any interest in an entity other than an interest which is actively traded (within the meaning of section 1092), no discount shall be allowed by reason of the fact that the transferee does not have control of such entity if the transferee and members of the family (as defined in section 2032A(e)(2)) of the transferee have control of such entity.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to transfers after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. REQUIRED MINIMUM 10-YEAR TERM, ETC., FOR GRANTOR RETAINED ANNUITY TRUSTS.

(a) In General- Subsection (b) of section 2702 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively, and by moving such subparagraphs (as so redesignated) 2 ems to the right;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘For purposes of’ and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- For purposes of’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking ‘paragraph (1) or (2)’ in paragraph (1)(C) (as so redesignated) and inserting ‘subparagraph (A) or (B)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO GRANTOR RETAINED ANNUITIES- For purposes of subsection (a), in the case of an interest described in paragraph (1)(A) (determined without regard to this paragraph) which is retained by the transferor, such interest shall be treated as described in such paragraph only if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the right to receive the fixed amounts referred to in such paragraph is for a term of not less than 10 years,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) such fixed amounts, when determined on an annual basis, do not decrease relative to any prior year during the first 10 years of the term referred to in subparagraph (A), andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) the remainder interest has a value greater than zero determined as of the time of the transfer.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to transfers made after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink