I
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5764
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 15, 2010
Ms. Linda T. Sánchez of California (for herself, Ms. Watson, Ms. Norton, Ms. Lee of California, and Mr. McGovern) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Responsible Estate Tax
Act
.
Reinstatement and extension of estate and generation-skipping taxes; repeal of carryover basis
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the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, and the amendments made by such provisions, are hereby repealed:
Subtitles A and E of title V.
Subsection (d), and so much of subsection (f)(3) as relates to subsection (d), of section 511.
Paragraph (2) of subsection (b), and paragraph (2) of subsection (e), of section 521.
Sunset not to apply
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.
.
Subsection (b) of
such section 901 is amended by striking , estates, gifts, and
transfers
.
Modification of rates and maintenance of unified credit against the estate tax
Modification of rates
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:
| Over $750,000 but not over $3,500,000 | $248,300 plus 39 percent of the excess of such amount over $750,000 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Over $50,000,000 | $24,245,800 plus 55 percent of the excess of such amount over $50,000,000 |
.
Surtax on wealthy estates
Paragraph (2) of section 2011(c) of such Code is amended to read as follows:
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.
.
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
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, 2009.
Modification of rules for value of certain farm, etc., real property
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
.
Inflation adjustment
Paragraph (3) of section 2032A(a) of such Code is amended—
by striking
1998
and inserting 2009
,
by striking
$750,000
and inserting $3,000,000
in subparagraph
(A), and
by striking
calendar year 1997
and inserting calendar year
2008
in subparagraph (B).
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, 2009.
Modification of estate tax rules with respect to land subject to conservation easements
Modification of exclusion limitation
The table in paragraph (3) of section 2031(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
by striking
or thereafter
in the last row and inserting through
2009
, and
by adding at the end the following row:
| 2010 and thereafter | $2,000,000 |
.
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
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, 2009.
Consistent basis reporting between estate and person acquiring property from decedent
Information reporting
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:
Basis information to persons acquiring property from decedent or by gift
Information with respect to property acquired from decedents
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—
the value of such property,
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,
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)), and
such other information with respect to such property as the Secretary may prescribe.
Value
For purposes of this subsection, the value of any property shall be determined under the rules of section 1014(a).
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—
the adjusted basis of such property,
the fair market value of such property at the time of the transfer,
in the case of a transfer in trust, the amount of the gain or loss recognized by the grantor on such transfer,
the amount, if any, of gift tax paid by the transferor, and
such other information with respect to such property as the Secretary may prescribe.
Regulations
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as necessary to carry out this section, including regulations relating to—
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,
situations in which the surviving joint tenant or other recipient may have better information than the executor, and
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.
.
Penalty for failure to file
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:
section 6035 (relating to returns relating to basis information to persons acquiring property from decedent), and
.
Statement
Subparagraph
(A) of section 6724(d)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by inserting
6035,
after 6034A,
.
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:
.
Consistent use of basis
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:
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).
.
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:
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).
.
Penalty for inconsistent reporting
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:
Any inconsistent estate or gift basis reporting.
.
Inconsistent basis reporting
Section 6662 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
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.
.
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.
Valuation rules for certain transfers of nonbusiness assets; limitation on minority discounts
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:
Valuation rules for certain transfers of nonbusiness assets
For purposes of this chapter and chapter 12—
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)—
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), and
such nonbusiness assets shall not be taken into account in determining the value of the interest in the entity.
Nonbusiness assets
For purposes of this subsection—
In general
The term nonbusiness asset means any asset which is not used in the active conduct of 1 or more trades or businesses.
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—
the asset is property described in paragraph (1) or (4) of section 1221(a) or is a hedge with respect to such property, or
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).
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.
Passive asset
For purposes of this subsection, the term passive asset means any—
cash or cash equivalents,
except to the extent provided by the Secretary, stock in a corporation or any other equity, profits, or capital interest in any entity,
evidence of indebtedness, option, forward or futures contract, notional principal contract, or derivative,
asset described in clause (iii), (iv), or (v) of section 351(e)(1)(B),
annuity,
real property used in 1 or more real property trades or businesses (as defined in section 469(c)(7)(C)),
asset (other than a patent, trademark, or copyright) which produces royalty income,
commodity,
collectible (within the meaning of section 401(m)), or
any other asset specified in regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
Look-thru rules
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.
10-percent interest
The term 10-percent interest means—
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,
in the case of an interest in a partnership, ownership of at least 10 percent of the capital or profits interest in the partnership, and
in any other case, ownership of at least 10 percent of the beneficial interests in the entity.
Coordination with subsection (b)
Subsection (b) shall apply after the application of this subsection.
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.
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to transfers after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Required minimum 10-year term, etc., for grantor retained annuity trusts
In general
Subsection (b) of section 2702 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
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;
by striking
For purposes of
and inserting the following:
In general
For purposes of
;
by striking
paragraph (1) or (2)
in paragraph (1)(C) (as so redesignated)
and inserting subparagraph (A) or (B)
; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
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—
the right to receive the fixed amounts referred to in such paragraph is for a term of not less than 10 years,
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), and
the remainder interest has a value greater than zero determined as of the time of the transfer.
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to transfers made after the date of the enactment of this Act.