Verifying an Employee's Social Security Number

I just learned that the Social Security Administration has an online system to check that your your employee's name matches their social security number.

As many of you know, employers can get hit with huge penalties for hiring illegal workers. Some illegal workers try to obtain work by using another person's social security number. This system is a way to verify the person you are hiring is in fact legally allowed to work. It is known as the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS).

Any employer can following the directions on the website to sign up.

Understanding What "Per Stirpes" Means

Sometimes it's easier not to reinvent the wheel. Back in 2006, Debra M. Simon, CPA wrote an excellent article about Understanding the Pitfalls of Beneficiary Designation Forms. Included in that article is a clear explanation what it means to name your issue, "per stirpes" compared to naming your issue, "per stirpes by representation" as beneficiaries under a retirement account, Will or life insurance policy.
I strongly recommend anyone who has more than one child read this article because if one of your children passes before you, you may inadvertently be cutting your grandchildren out of your estate plan.
Thank you to Robert Kenny, Esq. for bringing this article to my attention.

Japanese Inheritance Tax vs. US Estate Tax (2011 Update)

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF
JAPANESE INHERITANCE AND GIFT TAXES
vs.
AMERICAN ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES

(2011 Update)

NOTE: This information has been updated. The new post can be found at: http://willstrustsestates.blogspot.com/2014/08/japanese-inheritance-tax-vs-us-estate.html

I. Estate Taxes

A. America

1. Citizens and Permanent Residents

a. Tax on Worldwide property (credit for taxes paid to foreign countries)
b. Exemption of $5,000,000 in 2011 and 2012 (theoretically back to $1,000,000 in 2013 if no change to Federal Estate Tax). For married couples, the exemption amount is $10,000,000 as a result of portability.
c. Tax of 35% on amount over $5,000,000
d. Unlimited Marital Deduction for Surviving Spouse if Surviving Spouse is a citizen

2. Non-Citizens/Non-Permanent Residents

a. Tax only on Real Property and business interests in the United States (Cash in foreign banks and foreign stocks are not taxed)
b. Exemption of $13,000
c. Tax of between 18%-35% on amount over $13,000
d. Unlimited Marital deduction if Surviving Spouse a citizen

B. Japan (Actually an Inheritance tax, not an estate tax)

1. Japanese Citizens and Permanent Residents

a. Exemption of ¥50,000,000 + (¥10,000,000 for each statutory heir); Possible additional exemption for insurance money, retirement savings, and money left to handicapped individuals
b. Additional exemption for life insurance received of ¥5,000,000 multiplied by the number of statutory heirs
c. Tax between 10%-50% for statutory heirs; Tax between 30% to 70% for everyone other else (except charities);
d. For property outside of Japan, a beneficiary that acquires property will be subject to Japanese inheritance tax if the beneficiary is a Japanese national and the beneficiary was domiciled in Japan at any time during the five years preceding the receipt of the inheritance.
e. A surviving spouse is entitled to a tax deduction. This is a complex formula based upon who is living at the time of the Decedent's death and where the money goes. Generally, a surviving spouse can deduct about 1/2 to 2/3 of the tax.

2. Non-Citizens/Non-Permanent Residents

a. If beneficiary is not Japanese and not living in Japan and property is not in Japan, appears Country where property located will tax such property.
b. If there is a tax, it appears a surviving spouse is entitled to the same marital tax deduction as for Japanese citizens.

II. Gift Taxes

A. America

1. Citizens and Permanent Residents

a. Tax on all gift transfers of Worldwide property
b. Annual exemption of $13,000 per person/per donee (unlimited gifts for donees if different donors)
c. An annual gift to a non-citizen, permanent resident spouse, of $136,000 is available.
d. Lifetime exemption of $5,000,000 (for years 2011 and 2012)
e. Gifts may be split with spouse
f. Tax rate of 35% if lifetime gifts exceed $5,000,000

2. Non-Citizens/Non-Permanent Residents

a. Tax on all gift transfers of US Property (including Cash and Stocks in US companies)
b. Annual exemption of $13,000 per person/per donee (unlimited gifts for donees if different donors)
c. No Lifetime exemption
d. Gifts may be split with spouse
e. Tax rate of 18%-35% if lifetime gifts exceed $13,000

B. Japan (Rates between 10%-50%)

1. Citizens and Permanent Residents of Japan

a. Annual exemption of ¥1,100,000 for each beneficiary (beneficiary taxed after this)
b. One time spouse exemption of ¥20,000,000
c. For property outside of Japan, a donee that acquires property will be subject to Japanese gift tax if the donee is a Japanese national and the donee was domiciled in Japan at any time during the five years preceding the receipt of the gift.

2. Non-Citizens/Non-Permanent Residents

a. Annual exemption of ¥1,100,000 for each beneficiary(unclear – enforcement is almost impossible)

III. Generation Skipping Taxes (Taxes on gifts or bequests to grandchildren)

A. America

1. Exemption of $5,000,000 in 2011 and 2012 (theoretically a return to a $1,000,000 exemption in 2013, but indexed for inflation)
2. Tax of 35% on rest

B. Japan

1. None

For more information on Japanese taxes, the Japanese government has a nice website in English with some helpful facts. This is a link directly to the inheritance tax information:
http://www.mof.go.jp/english/tax_policy/publication/taxes2010e/taxes2010e_d.pdf
It is worthwhile reading the Japanese publication if you have business interests in Japan or if one of other special circumstances (like a handicapped heir) as there are many credits available.