“Most tax advisers thought that Congress would extend the estate tax before it was due to expire at the end of last year. But while the House did act, the Senate did not. So what few predicted would happen did happen: the tax is gone for one year but set to be revived in 2011 at a higher rate and a lower exemption, unless Congress acts. It’s the first time since 1916 that rich Americans can contemplate dying without one last tax.”

This will be a different year for estate planning than in years past.

Read: A Bizarre Year for the Estate Tax Will Require Extra Planning

[Thanks to North Carolina Estate Planning Blog]

Lack of Estate Tax in 2010: Now Cheaper to Die?
With Taxes Gone, Will Death Be At A Premium?

[Source: ABC News]

Don’t Die Today – Tomorrow There Will be No Estate Tax

[Source: North Carolina Estate Planning Blog]

Beating the estate tax to death
With estate tax set to end this year, retroactive lawmaking in 2010 is likely

[Source: Market Watch]