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Is Your Estate Plan Up To Date?

Take the time to review your estate plan to make sure it still accomplishes your wishes

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The "Taxpayer Relief Act" signed on January 2, 2013, permanently sets the estate and gift tax exemption at $5,000,000 and the top tax rate at 40%. The exemption amount is adjusted annually for inflation, which puts the 2012 exemption at $5,120,000 and the 2013 exemption at $5,250,000. The annual gift tax exclusion for 2013 is set at $14,000 per recipient.

Now that the rules have been made "permanent," take the time to review your estate plan to make sure it still accomplishes your wishes.

With the higher exemption amount, fewer estates will be subject to tax, and perhaps yours falls short of the tax threshold. But regardless of the size of one's estate, everyone needs the following basic documents – updated for the current rules and your particular circumstances:

  • A will that specifies who is to inherit your assets and who is to be the guardian of any minor children you have.
  • A power of attorney naming someone to handle your financial affairs if you become disabled or seriously ill.
  • A health care directive (living will) stating your wishes should you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious.
  • A financial inventory listing such things as bank accounts, income sources, insurance policies, and other assets.

Your estate plan review should include checking your exposure to state inheritance taxes and an update, if needed, to beneficiary designations on such things as IRAs and insurance policies.

For help in getting your estate plan in order, please contact us and your attorney.
October 25, 2024
Burzenski & Company once again supported an event at the Children's Center in Hamden. On October 24, three employees volunteered to be onsite for the Children's Center Trunk or Treat Halloween event. Callie Kutys, Shelly Panico and Carmen Rosado donned costumes and handed out candy to about 100 children. Booooooooo!
October 11, 2024
IR-2024-263, Oct. 10, 2024 WASHINGTON —The Internal Revenue Service announced today continued progress on Employee Retention Credit claims, with processing underway on about 400,000 claims, representing about $10 billion of eligible claims.
October 5, 2024
Monica Dixon Perry, CVPM, will speak at Veterinary Management Council of CT meeting
October 5, 2024
IRS Direct File set to expand availability in a dozen new states and cover wider range of tax situations for the 2025 tax filing season
September 5, 2024
On Thursday, August 29th, we held our annual state-of-the-firm and company picnic at Owenego Inn located in Branford, CT. The firm recognized the 40th employee anniversary of Partner Melody Mann Fox, CPA. Managing Partner Bill Kalinowski congratulated Melody on her tenure and accomplishments with the firm. Said Ralph L. Ricciardelli, CPA, Emeritus, a founding partner of Burzenski & Company, PC, “Mel, 40 years where does the time go? It’s not easy to build a firm and you’ve done it with a lot of grit, expertise, and professionalism. You have been integral in building the firm. You’ve been integral in helping with the staff, whether it was the administrative staff or the accounting staff. I don’t know what we would do without you. There aren’t enough words of appreciation that we can give to you.” It was a great day for employeea to play games such as bocce, corn hole, Jenga, and a trivia contest with staff split up into teams.
September 1, 2024
At the firm's annual state-of-the-firm and company picnic on August 29th, we recognized the 40th employee anniversary of Partner Melody Mann Fox, CPA. Managing Partner Bill Kalinowski congratulated Melody on her tenure and accomplishments with the firm. Said Ralph L. Ricciardelli, CPA, Emeritus, a founding partner of Burzenski & Company, PC, “Mel, 40 years where does the time go? It’s not easy to build a firm and you’ve done it with a lot of grit, expertise, and professionalism. You have been integral in building the firm. You’ve been integral in helping with the staff, whether it was the administrative staff or the accounting staff. I don’t know what we would do without you. There aren’t enough words of appreciation that we can give to you.”Mel, 40 years where does the time go? I remember when you first came to us in 1984 as a staff person. Our first tax season together was 1985. There was a lot of fun things that happened during those early years that laid the ground work for the future.
August 18, 2024
2024 Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week Highlights The 2024 Sales Tax Free Week is Sunday, August 18, through Saturday, August 24, 2024. Sales or purchases of certain items of clothing or footwear costing less than $100 per item are exempt from sales tax. This special exemption applies to purchases made from retailers located in Connecticut as well as from on-line retailers. This year will be Connecticut's 25th Sales Tax Free Week.https://portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/sales-tax-free-week
July 22, 2024
Sarah Williams, formerly of Abilene, TX, has joined the staff at Burzenski & Company, as a Staff Accountant. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree as well as a Master of Accountancy degree from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX. Prior to joining our firm, she was as a Tax Associate. She has two cats named Fig and Peach.
July 19, 2024
Burzenski & Company, PC will close the office on Fridays at 12:00 (noon) in the months of July and August. Please contact us during our normal business hours of 8:30AM to 5:00PM. 203-468-8133
May 7, 2024
Click here to listen to the podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/536560/15017840
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