One of the more difficult aspects of estate planning is how to handle real estate. This is because how the real estate is inherited can have important tax considerations for the heirs.
Quite often, when people inherit land, they wish to sell it afterwards. For example, if you leave your home to your children and they already have homes of their own or live in different parts of the country, they will normally want to sell that home.
Whether or not you mention that possibility in your will has important tax consequences for your children as mentioned by FOX Business in a recent article titled “How to Deal with Disputes Over Inherited Land.“
As the article notes, if the sale of the land is directed in the will with the proceeds to be split between any heirs, then the land is still treated as property of the estate and any taxes are paid by the estate. There is also a step up in basis benefit for capital gains tax purposes.
However, if the sale is not directed in a will, then the heirs have to pay the taxes out of their respective shares of the proceeds.
Finally, if one person is left the property and decides to sell it to give the proceeds to the others, there are gift tax issues that need to be considered.
When leaving any type of land to your heirs, you need the assistance of an experienced estate planning attorney to make sure it is done in a manner that will minimize potential taxes.
Please contact our office today at 239-225-7911 to schedule an appointment with Barbara M. Pizzolato if you are interested in protecting your legacy and need to create or update your estate plan. You may also wish to attend one of our free seminars.
Reference: FOX Business (November 4, 2014) “How to Deal With Disputes Over Inherited Land“
