for the 99.5% act

Proposed Estate and Gift Tax Reform

A proposed estate and gift tax reform was brought before the Senate on Thursday, March 25th, by Democratic Senators Sanders, Gillibrand, Reed, and Van Hollen under the title, “For the 99.5% Act.” A similar bill is being brought to the House by Representative Gomez. While this legislation has a long way to go, the current proposal would have HUGE – I don’t think I can emphasize this enough – HUGE impact on high-net-worth families. Especially, if you just let this year go by and do not take action.

The bill is called the “For the 99.5% Act” to suggest that only 0.5% of the population is affected. However, that is just not true as its effects trickle down to your heirs (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.). They will get less and your new heir – the Federal government – will get more.

Key Provisions of the Legislation

  • Reducing the estate exemption from $11.7 million to $3.5 million per person. It is a use it or lose it situation.

  • Reducing lifetime gift exemption from $11.7 million to $1 million.

  • Raising estate tax rates from 40% to 45% on the first $10 million, 50% on the next $40 million to as high as 65%.

  • Losing valuation discounts for non-business assets and entities.

  • Losing a common estate planning tool called “Defective Grantor Trusts” which allow the Grantor to pay taxes, but the Trust is moved outside the estate. This will be gone.

  • Losing most of the benefits of Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) and “Zeroed-out GRATs.” GRATs would now have a 10-year minimum term and a minimum gift consideration.

  • Taxing long-term trusts after 50 years (eliminating very long-term tax-free transfers).

  • Limiting annual gifting (the $15,000 per year per recipient) to $30,000 per year per donor! (Now you really are going to have to pick your favorite grandchild!)

You Have Time, But Act Fast!

Not only will the taxation be more intense, but many of the common estate strategies will no longer be an option.

The good news is that the proposed implementation date is January 1, 2022, so there is some time to respond. And, it appears that structures put in place before then will be grandfathered in.

We anticipate that the availability of attorneys and advisors will be very limited, as others try to get their planning in before 2021. So, now is the time to start planning. It is unclear at this point whether this bill will pass in Congress, but it should be noted that others like it have been introduced and there will likely be a significant change in estate planning. Be prepared! What are your options? Each depends on your situation as well as your vision and values.

If you are going to leave all to charity when you pass, then you don’t need to worry, as no new legislation was proposed regarding charitable gifts from estates.

If you plan on leaving part or all of your estate to your surviving spouse or descendants, and you have an estate of over $3.5 million per person now, or expect to in the future, you need to start exploring your options. If not, the US Government may become your biggest beneficiary! 


Whatever your goals are for the succession of your estate, you should act now. If you need help, give us a call at 832-500-3101 or schedule a free consultation with us.

Mike Mulcahy, CFA® CPWA® CTFA

With the founding of Kings Path Partners, Mike brings a diverse set of professional and personal experiences into the wealth services business. His professional roles and community experiences give him a unique and real perspective into the needs of families, entrepreneurs, and business executives. Previous roles include president of a $6B investment management firm; management consultant with McKinsey & Company; VP of corporate finance & strategy with Compaq/HP; and managing director of an entrepreneurial web-based business. He is also an active venture investor with a focus on impact investing and social enterprises.

Mike earned an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business and completed an Executive Program in Portfolio Management at the University of Chicago. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Chemistry from Texas A&M University. He holds designations as a Certified Private Wealth Adviser®, Chartered Financial Analyst®, and Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA). He is a member of the Investments & Wealth Institute® and the CFA Society of Houston.

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Kings Path Partners, LLC (KPP) is an SEC-registered investment advisory business based in Sugar Land, Texas. KPP has published this article for informational purposes only. To the best of our knowledge, the material included in this article was gathered from sources KPP believes to be accurate and reliable. That noted, KPP cannot guarantee that this information is accurate and complete and cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions. Readers have the responsibility to independently confirm the information herein. KPP does not accept any liability for any loss or damage whatsoever caused in reliance upon such information. KPP provides this information with the understanding that it is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or tax services. In particular, none of this published material should be considered advice tailored to the needs of any specific investor. KPP recommends that all investors seek out the services of competent professionals in any of the aforementioned areas. With respect to the description of any investment strategies, simulations, or investment recommendations, KPP cannot provide any assurances that they will perform as expected and as described in this article. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Every investment program has the potential for loss as well as gain.

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