Client Updates

U.S. CORPORATE REFORM: CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted in 2021 to help law enforcement detect, prevent, and punish money laundering, tax fraud, and other misconduct associated with U.S. corporations and companies. The CTA creates reporting obligations for certain corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and other entities created by the filing of a registration document with a secretary of state or similar office. The CTA requires that these entities report various information on their beneficial owners and company applicants to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The reporting obligations are set to begin January 1, 2024. Clients are encouraged to visit FinCEN’s website (fincen.gov) for additional information regarding the CTA.

U.S. Tax Reform: SECURE Act

A new law affecting retirement plans took effect on January 1, 2020. A major component of this legislation, known as the SECURE Act (short for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement), eliminates the ability of many beneficiaries of inherited IRAs to “stretch” required minimum distributions over the beneficiary’s lifetime. Clients are invited to contact us to discuss whether adjustments to their estate plans or beneficiary designations are advisable in response to this significant change in the law.

U.S. Tax Reform: ESTATE TAX

Congress approved and President Trump signed into law a massive tax reform package, which took effect on January 1, 2018. Part of this tax bill increases the estate and gift tax exemptions to $12,920,000 per person in 2023 (indexed for inflation). Barring future legislation, these higher exemptions will remain in place through 2025, then decrease by approximately half in 2026. In light of the 2018 tax bill, estate plans may need to be updated or revised. In addition, it is uncertain as to what impacts, if any, the Biden administration and Congress will have on these increased exemptions.  As always, our clients are invited to contact us to discuss how these latest tax developments might affect their individual planning.