The Difference Between an Inherited Asset and a Gift Received

caughted

Whether you receive an asset from inheritance or from a gift can have significant tax impact when this asset is sold.

Inherited Asset

For an inherited asset you generally take this asset over at the Fair Market Value at the Date of Death. This value would be listed on the probate inventory.  Additionally for a Connecticut decedent it would be listed on Connecticut Estate and Gift Tax Form CT-706-709. If would also appear on the Form 709, United States Gift (And Generation Skipping Transfer) Tax Return if the estate filed one. Any of these documents could be requested from the executor of the estate.

The holding period of assets that are inherited are considered to be long-term assets.

For an asset that is sold within a reasonably short time period from when it was distributed by an estate should have a relatively small tax exposure to the beneficiary. Because the beneficiary took over the asset at the fair market value and sold it within a short time period this should limit the tax exposure to the beneficiary. If the asset was rapidly appreciating then yes, there would be a capital gains tax. The good news however is that this would be treated as long term capital gains.

Gift Received

When you receive a gift, you normally take this asset over at the donor’s cost basis. This is generally what they paid for the asset. For example if your father paid $10 a share for 1,000 shares of stock the cost basis would be $10,000.

The cost basis could be different than what the original purchase price was.  For example if your father invested $10,000 in a mutual fund many years ago. However he had all of the dividends and capital gains reinvested through the years.  Let’s assume that this was $3,000.  The total cost basis would be $13,000 and would be your cost basis.

If your basis is the donor’s basis then your holding period begins when the donors holding period began.

The exception to taking over property received via gift at the donor’s cost basis is if the property is sold by the recipient for a loss.  If this is the case the fair market value of the gift is less than the donors cost basis.  Under this situation the recipient takes over the property at the fair market value of the gift.

Another adjustment is for gifts made after 1976. If a gift was made after 1976 and a gift tax was paid on this gift, then the gift tax paid is added to the donor’s basis.

 

Photo by StockFreeImages.com

Tom Scanlon has over thirty years experience in public accounting with an extensive background in the areas of financial, tax, and estate planning. He prides himself on providing in-depth and customized solutions to privately held businesses and their owners. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner®. Tom is a frequent speaker for area organizations and has  recently been quoted on CNBC, Fox 61 News and AARP's blog. Tom also has been a guest columnist for numerous publications including The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Money Magazine, The Hartford Courant, The Hartford Business Journal, and The New Haven Register. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Financial Planning Association. Active in the community, Tom supports a variety of not-for-profit organizations.

Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,