Like any mischievous Leprechaun, we all want to hang onto our hard-earned pots of gold. Here at Donohue, O'Connell & Riley, we treat the tax season with just as much vigilance. As our names suggest, the Irish blood runs deep, and we're not about to let anyone whisk away your wealth — especially not some pesky little green man or the old guy with long white hair and whiskers!

So, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, here are three tax traps that a properly structured trust can help you avoid:

1. State Income Tax 

Forty-three states impose some form of income tax. In the Northeast, the top state income tax rates range from 3.07% in Pennsylvania to 12.7% in New York City. But certain jurisdictions exempt trusts from state-level income tax. New Hampshire trusts are exempt from all state-level income tax: capital gains, interest and dividends are not taxed while assets remain in the trust.

2. State-Level Estate, Inheritance and Gift Tax

The majority of Northeast states impose a state-level estate tax on assets that exceed a certain threshold. Also, Connecticut has a gift tax and in New Jersey and Pennsylvania estates may be subject to inheritance taxes. New Hampshire is the only state in the Northeast without a state-level estate, gift or inheritance tax, meaning that your wealth will not face state-level penalties as it transfers to the next generation.

3. Federal Estate Tax

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act doubled the federal estate and gift tax exemption, and further adjustments for inflation mean that in 2020 a married couple will not pay federal estate taxes on assets less than $23.16 million (the exemption threshold is $11.58 million for individuals). You can leverage this opportunity to fund a New Hampshire-based trust. In addition, assets held in New Hampshire "dynasty" trusts minimize taxes paid on amounts transferred to the next generation. This allows trusts to continue in perpetuity, saving families significant expenses as well as time in court. With this provision "sunsetting" in 2026, now is the time to leverage this law's ability to fund a New Hampshire-based trust.

So if you have a pot of gold that you want to preserve as your legacy, contact us today,  (Toll Free)1.844.50.TRUST or info@docrlaw.com.

“Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit!” ("Happy St. Patrick's Day!")