NJ Tax Court Finds Gift in Contemplation of Death Subject to Inheritance Tax

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After meeting with a lawyer who advised him about divesting himself of assets so that he one day would be able to qualify for Medicaid, Peter Muscle, age 88, made a gift to his girlfriend of PSE&G stock having a value just over $1 million.  He died six months later.

As most readers know, New Jersey has both an estate tax and an inheritance tax.  The estate tax is triggered on a decedent’s assets that exceed $675,000.  The inheritance tax is imposed on assets that do not pass to a spouse or lineal descendants.  Since New Jersey does not have a gift tax, gifting assets away during lifetime under some circumstances can have the effect of saving New Jersey transfer taxes.

However, the inheritance tax law (but not the estate tax law) also contains a rule that gifts made in contemplation of death are pulled back into the decedent’s estate and subject to inheritance tax.  See NJSA 54:34-1(c).  Furthermore, if the decedent makes a transfer without adequate consideration of a material portion of the decedent’s estate within three years of death, then the burden of proof switches to the estate to prove that the gift was not in contemplation of death.

In this relatively straightforward case, the court did not believe the estate’s explanation that the gift was made in celebration of marriage, and held that the estate failed to carry its burden of proof.  The gift was therefore made in contemplation of death and was subject to New Jersey inheritance tax.

Gifts are an effective planning technique to reduce state level estate tax exposure, but advisors need to be aware of this risk in New Jersey inheritance tax cases.

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Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

As the law continues to evolve on these matters, please note that this article is current as of date and time of publication and may not reflect subsequent developments. The content and interpretation of the issues addressed herein is subject to change. Cole Schotz P.C. disclaims any and all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this publication to the fullest extent permitted by law. This is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Do not act or refrain from acting upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining legal, financial and tax advice. For further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to your firm contact or to any of the attorneys listed in this publication.

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