[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-301698-105":53,"doc-detail-301698-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","understanding-the-2026-changes-to-the-estate-gift-and-generation-skipping-tax-exemptions","Understanding the 2026 Changes to the Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Tax Exemptions","","Explains how the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemptions work and what changes are scheduled for January 1, 2026. Describes current exemption mechanics, including thresholds and rates, the role of state taxes, and how lifetime gift exemption and annual exclusion interact with IRS reporting (Form 709). Also outlines planning strategies before the 2026 sunset, including lifetime gifting and using an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) to keep life insurance proceeds from estate and GST exposure.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":51,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/understanding-the-2026-changes-to-the-estate-gift-and-generation-skipping-tax-exemptions/301698/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/understanding-the-2026-changes-to-the-estate-gift-and-generation-skipping-tax-exemptions/301698.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Aditya","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-20","2026-09-19",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":76},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What happens to the federal estate, gift, and GST exemption on January 1, 2026?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"It is scheduled to automatically reset (sunset) to $5,000,000 indexed to inflation (approximately $7,000,000) unless Congress acts before then.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How does the federal gift tax exemption work compared with the annual gift tax exclusion?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"The gift tax exemption is unified with the estate tax exemption and supports lifetime taxable gifts with IRS reporting via Form 709 when used. The annual gift tax exclusion allows certain gifts each year without reducing the federal gift tax exemption and without requiring IRS reporting.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Why can an ILIT help with estate and GST tax planning?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"An ILIT holds life insurance so that, at the grantor’s death, the proceeds are generally not treated as part of the grantor’s taxable estate, which can reduce exposure to estate tax and GST tax.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},301698,1789784763,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":50,"category_name":51,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":76,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":79,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":125,"read_time":73},962085564549,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","THOUGHT LEADERSHIP  \nServices  \nPrivate Wealth Trust, Estate, & Fiduciary Litigation  \nProfessional  \nJOSIE M. METZLER ST. LOUIS:  \n314.480.1617  \nJOSIE.METZLER@  \nHUSCHBLACKWELL.COM  \nLEGAL UPDATES PUBLISHED: JUNE 13, 2024  \nUnderstanding the 2026 Changes to the Estate, Gift, and GenerationSkipping Tax Exemptions  \nThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 provided major changes to the Internal Revenue Code, specifically doubling the federal estate, gift, and generationskipping transfer (GST) tax exemption (collectively, the Exemption) from $5,490,000 in 2017 to $11,180,000 in 2018. Since then, we have seen the exemption rise to $13,610,000 in 2024 due to inflation. However, on January 1, 2026, the exemption is scheduled to automatically reset (or sunset) to $5,000,000, indexed to inflation (approximately $7,000,000), unless Congress acts prior to then.  \nWhat are the federal estate, gift, and GST tax exemptions? Federal estate tax exemption  \nThe federal estate tax exemption is the maximum value of assets an individual can leave to their heirs upon death without incurring federal estate tax. The exemption effectively sets a threshold below which estates are not subject to federal estate tax. For example, since the current federal estate tax exemption is $13,610,000, an estate valued at $13,000,000 would not owe any federal estate tax because it falls below the exemption threshold. However, estates valued above the exemption would be subject to federal estate tax (at a 40% rate) on the amount that exceeds the exemption.  \nSeveral states also have a state level estate tax or inheritance tax (with rates as high as 16%) which can further add to your tax bill. Some state estate tax exemptions are indexed to the federal exemption, and some are assessed independently.  \nFederal gift tax exemption and annual gift tax exclusion  \n© 2026 HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED HUSCHBLACKWELL.COM  \nThe federal gift tax exemption applies to the total amount of gifts an individual can give to others during their lifetime without incurring gift tax. The federal gift tax exemption is unified with the federal estate tax exemption, meaning that an individual can use part of their lifetime gift tax exemption to make taxable gifts during their lifetime and the remaining portion to shelter their estate from federal estate tax after they pass away. Whenever a portion of the federal gift tax exemption is used, the amount must be reported to the IRS on a Form 709 (Gift Tax Return) the following year.  \nThere is also the annual gift tax exclusion which is a set dollar amount that an individual may gift to another individual each year without needing to report it to the IRS and without reducing their federal gift tax exemption. Like the federal gift tax exemption, the annual gift tax exclusion is typically adjusted to account for inflation each year and is $18,000 (or $36,000 for married couples that choose to gift split) in 2024, up from $17,000 (or $34,000 for married couples that choose to gift split) in 2023. Fortunately, the annual gift tax exclusion is not scheduled to decrease in the near future.  \nFederal GST exemption  \nThe federal GST exemption applies to the maximum value of assets that can be passed down to beneficiaries who are at least two generations younger than the donor without incurring GST tax. The purpose of the GST tax is to prevent individuals from avoiding estate taxes by transferring assets to younger generations. The exemption then allows individuals to transfer a certain amount free of GST tax.  \nHow can you implement advanced estate planning techniques prior to the 2026 sunset?  \nBelow are a few recommended ways for you to take advantage of the current Exemption amounts and implement more advanced estate planning techniques before the 2026 sunset.  \nLifetime gifting  \nFirst, individuals should not forget about the annual gift tax exclusions that they are allowed each year. The number of annual exclusion gifts a donor can make is","cbCaif2QPmFThVyf","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaif2QPmFThVyf","pdf",285473,"English","# Understanding the 2026 Changes\n## Federal estate tax exemption\n## Federal gift tax exemption and annual gift tax exclusion\n## Federal GST exemption\n## Implementing advanced estate planning before the 2026 sunset\n### Lifetime gifting\n### Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)","[{\"question\":\"What happens to the federal estate, gift, and GST exemption on January 1, 2026?\",\"answer\":\"It is scheduled to automatically reset (sunset) to $5,000,000 indexed to inflation (approximately $7,000,000) unless Congress acts before then.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the federal gift tax exemption work compared with the annual gift tax exclusion?\",\"answer\":\"The gift tax exemption is unified with the estate tax exemption and supports lifetime taxable gifts with IRS reporting via Form 709 when used. The annual gift tax exclusion allows certain gifts each year without reducing the federal gift tax exemption and without requiring IRS reporting.\"},{\"question\":\"Why can an ILIT help with estate and GST tax planning?\",\"answer\":\"An ILIT holds life insurance so that, at the grantor’s death, the proceeds are generally not treated as part of the grantor’s taxable estate, which can reduce exposure to estate tax and GST tax.\"}]","Understanding the 2026 Changes to the Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Tax Exemptions | PDF"]