Split-Dollar Agreements and Estate Inclusions: Application of Sections 2036 and 2038 to Certain Property Interests

Description

In Estate of Cahill, the Tax Court found that the cash surrender value of a split-dollar life insurance arrangement was includible in the decedent's estate. This ruling has a substantial impact on the use of split-dollar agreements as an estate planning vehicle between family members and their trusts. Estates and trusts attorneys and advisers must identify and remedy challenges relating to these types of arrangements and specific property interests.

Split-dollar agreements were more common in the corporate setting until IRS Revenue Rulings 64-328 and 66-110 provided guidance on the use of these agreements in nonemployer situations. In a split-dollar arrangement, one party usually owns the insurance portion, and the other party owns the cash-value portion, with each party paying a portion when premiums are due. In an estate planning setting, an ILIT is often the policy owner, and the spouse of the insured is entitled to the cash value upon the insured's death.

Section 2036(a) can cause an estate inclusion of property interests held by a decedent at death for any right to possess or enjoy property or income it generates and also includes any right to designate another person to possess or enjoy the property or income from such property. In essence, any rights to property interests or income steeming from such interests do not have to be solely in the decedent's control and subject to estate inclusion.

Trusts and estates counsel and advisers must recognize the nuances of the application of crucial IRC provisions and regulations about the use of split-dollar agreements and potential estate inclusion.

Listen as our panel discusses critical takeaways from recent tax court decisions on estate inclusion and the application of Sections 2036, 2038, and 2703, the bona fide sales exception, and tax treatment under Regs. Sec. 1.61-22, as well as offers planning techniques for structuring split-dollar agreements.