òòò½Íø Review
ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)
The Estate Tax and Inter Vivos Transfers over Time
òòò½Íø Review
(pp. 478–83)
Abstract
The strong dislike evidenced by the American public towards the estate tax suggests that the wealthy wish to transfer resources to their heirs tax-free and would thus exploit mechanisms allowing them to reduce the tax burden whenever possible. However, I find strong evidence that the wealthy fail to utilize what is perhaps the simplest method of tax avoidance--that of making transfers to eventual heirs up to the annual exclusion. Instead they transfer far less than the amount permitted by the tax code, whether measured in cross-section or over time. In failing to give more, they forgo significant tax savings.Citation
McGarry, Kathleen. 2013. "The Estate Tax and Inter Vivos Transfers over Time." òòò½Íø Review 103 (3): 478–83. DOI: 10.1257/aer.103.3.478Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H24 Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies; includes inheritance and gift taxes
- H71 State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
- K34 Tax Law