Among many other things, the 2010 Tax Act signed into law on December 17, 2010 dramatically changes the federal transfer tax landscape.  (For a review of the other relevant changes, here's a link to my Tax Act Client Update from December.)

The biggest news: the estate and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes have been reinstated for 2010. And, to the delight of some and great disappointment of others, for 2010 through 2012, the estate tax exemption equivalent amount is increased to $5 million (indexed for inflation in 2012), and the top estate tax rate is set at 35%. Here is a look at the changes.

For 2010

For 2010, the federal gift tax is unchanged by the 2010 Tax Act. The gift tax remains in force with an exemption equivalent amount (called the "applicable exclusion amount") of $1 million and a top tax rate of 35% (also, remember that if you file as single, you can exclude gifts of up to $13,000 per recipient, or if you're married and file jointly, you can exclude gifts of up to $26,000 per recipient).

The estate tax has been reinstated for 2010, with a "basic" exclusion amount (the name has been changed from the "applicable" exclusion amount) of $5 million. That translates into a tax credit of $1,730,800. The top estate tax rate is 35%.

The 2010 Tax Act gives estates of decedents dying after December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2011, the option to elect to apply (1) the reinstated estate tax with a step-up (or step-down) in basis, or (2) no estate tax with a modified carryover basis. The modified carryover basis allows an increase in basis of $1.3 million, plus an additional $3 million for property that passes to a surviving spouse.

The GST tax (a separate tax on assets transferred to grandchildren and lower generations) has also been reinstated, but at a rate of zero percent.

Note: The 2010 Tax Act provides an extension of sorts to pay estate taxes for decedents dying after December 31, 2009, and before the date of enactment of the 2010 Tax Act. The due date for filing an estate tax return, paying estate taxes, or disclaiming an interest in property passing to a beneficiary from a decedent's estate is nine months after the date of enactment of the 2010 Tax Act.

Note: IRS Form 8939 is necessary to allocate the $1.3 million basis adjustment allowed for any heirs and the additional $3 million basis adjustment allowed for surviving spouses of decedents who die in 2010. Originally, the form was due on the same date as the decedent's final income tax return (April 18, 2011). The 2010 Tax Act also extends this deadline to nine months after the Act becomes effective.

For 2011 and 2012

For 2011 and 2012, the gift tax is reunited with the estate tax. There is a lifetime basic exclusion amount of $5 million (which will be indexed for inflation in 2012). The top tax rate is 35% (for taxable gifts/estates in excess of $500,000).

The basic exclusion amount is portable (new in 2011). That means a surviving spouse can use that portion of the exclusion that was left unused by a deceased spouse. This "deceased spousal unused exclusion amount" (DSUEA) is available only from the estate of a spouse who dies in 2011 or 2012. For gift tax purposes, the DSUEA is available for an unlimited number of deceased spouses. But there can be only one DSUEA at a time. For gift tax purposes, the DSUEA is determined on the last day of the year using the DSUEA of the last deceased spouse as of such date. For estate tax purposes, however, the DSUEA is available only from the last deceased spouse as of the date of death of the surviving spouse. Thus, the DSUEA can change if the surviving spouse remarries, and is then widowed for a second time.

Note: An election is required on the estate of the first spouse to die in order to preserve the ability of the surviving spouse's estate to use the DSUEA.

The GST tax rate for transfers made after 2010 is equal to the highest estate tax rate in effect for the year. The GST exemption for 2011 is $5 million, which will be indexed for inflation for 2012.

Note: The GST tax exemption is not portable.

For 2013 and beyond

If there is no further legislation, the changes described above will sunset after 2012. The transfer tax rules that were in effect in 2000 will apply for 2013 and beyond. That means a gift and estate tax exemption equivalent amount of $1 million and a top tax rate of 55%.