Portability refers to the ability of a surviving spouse, to make use of a deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exclusion amount (DSUE amount).  Portability was intended to simplify estate planning for married couples by eliminating the need for a bypass trust.  However, in order to preserve the DSUE amount the surviving spouse must comply with a complex set of rules, including filing a federal estate tax return for the decedent even though one would not otherwise be required.  Portability is not a substitute for traditional estate planning, particularly for high net worth individuals. However, it may prevent an otherwise unused DSUE amount from being completely lost.
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Continue Reading Portability of the Estate and Gift Tax Exclusion – How Does it Work?