Federal Estate Tax
Federal tax imposed on the estate of a decedent according to the value of that estate. The first step in the computation of the federal estate tax owed is to determine the value of the decedent's gross estate. This determination can be made by adding the following values of assets owned by the decedent at the time of death:
- property owned outright.
- gratuitous lifetime transfers, but with the stipulation that the decedent retained the income or control over the income.
- gratuitous lifetime transfers subject to the recipient's surviving the decedent.
- gratuitous lifetime transfers subject to the decedent's retaining the right to revoke, amend, or alter the gift.
- annuities purchased by the decedent that are payable for the life time of the named survivor as well as the annuitant.
- property jointly held in such a manner that another party receives the decedent's interest in that property at the decedent's death because of that party's survivor ship.
- life insurance in which the decedent retained incidents of ownership.
- life insurance that was payable to the decedent's estate.
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