If you’re like many people, you may assume that filing a federal estate tax return is pretty cut-and-dried. The executor or professional representative completes the return, pays the requisite amount ...

If your loved one recently died with a taxable estate, you might consider using an alternate valuation date to reduce estate tax. A Federal Estate Tax Return Form 706 is due 9 months after date of ...

If you or an advisor must file a Form 706 with the IRS to report estate or generation-skipping tax, understanding the IRS’ allowance for use of an Alternative Valuation date may be critical during a ...

The Alternate Valuation Date (AVD) election was originally enacted in the Great Depression. The purpose of the AVD is to lessen the economic hardship due to dramatic losses in market values following ...

One of the biggest misconceptions about valuation is that it’s fluid—like a rolling average or a forecast of future value. In reality, valuation is a snapshot in time, much like a balance sheet. It ...

Estate tax regulations permit executors to elect to use an alternate valuation method when it would result in a decrease in the value of the estate. This election, contained in Internal Revenue Code ...