Who knew there would be taxes at the time of death also? These taxes, known by various names such as inheritances taxes, estate taxes, etc. and are collectively known as death taxes’. Morbid, eh? While at first glance, inheritance and estate tax might appear to be the same thing after all they are both collected as the result of someone’s death. However, the basic difference is that while estate taxes are assessed by the overall value of the deceased’s estate (including gifts given to beneficiaries), inheritance taxes apply to an individual’s bequest of any gift or property which literally means each and every kind of inheritance. So, while the decedent’s estate pays the estate tax, it’s the beneficiary who pays the inheritance tax.
As of 2017, the six states of Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania only collect inheritance taxes, and there is no Federal Inheritance Tax at work.
How does an inheritance tax work?
Spouses and domestic partners While spouses of the deceased (who are surviving) are exempt in all six states levying inheritance tax, NJ also exempts any surviving domestic or registered civil union partners.
Children or parents When it comes to family and children, things get a little more complex. In certain states, such as Kentucky children (both daughter and sons) as well as parents are exempt from inheritance tax. Usually, they are required to pay the least inheritance tax percentage in the states in which they aren’t exempt, and are given more liberal dollar exemptions, which essentially are certain money they could inherit, after which the tax is levied on the rest of the amount.
On the other hand, in New Jersey, siblings can inherit $25,000 tax-free, while no exemption is granted to an unrelated person.
Here are a few factors related to inheritance tax that you should know of.
There are companies that work on collecting and maintaining credit information of consumers. These are known as credit reporting agencies (CRAs). There are three such major CRAs in the country, namely Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Apart from these, there are other smaller-scale agencies too that specialize at the job. If you’re worried about “where to get my credit score?,” the larger CRAs are the most reliable bets.
These major CRAs obtain information from companies that you hold business and transactions with. People or companies that lend you money regularly report to these CRAs on your repaying status. There is also detailed information on the amount you are indebted and whether you have ever defaulted on your payments. Aside from the reports obtained from lenders, these companies also tally your general records based on certain other aspects. Some of these aspects are your public records from the local and state judiciary. These include your tax records and bankruptcy information. This information makes up an important chunk of your credit score and its report.
Equifax
Present in 24 countries, Equifax is an agency that offers consumers protection against identity theft and credit fraudulence. They also sell credit reports and credit monitoring assistance to businesses.
Experian
Experian started off in London and is now a trusted agency in 39 different countries. It provides you with a credit score, credit report, and even credit tracker on subscription. The agency uses FICO 8 system of credit score calculation. Experian was a part of Forbes’ “World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2018.
TransUnion
Based across 30 countries with a database of over 1 billion consumers, TransUnion is another CRA giant. The agency, like the other ones, will provide you with your credit score and your credit reports. In case you decide to freeze your TransUnion credit report, it will also go the extra mile to notify Equifax and Experian, which frankly is a big help especially in case of identity theft and credit fraud.
So, the next time you are sat wondering “where to get my credit score?,” think of these three giants that provide you with an annual credit score and credit report for free once each year. However, if you are looking for more frequent updates, you can subscribe to their services and receive your monthly updates.
Did you know that you have more than a single credit score? Agencies calculate your credit score based on the data in your credit reports. If you are wondering, “where to get my credit score?,” there are three main credit reporting agencies. These can have different credit scores for you if your information on each of their credit reports is different. Also, these agencies charge a fee to reveal your credit score.
Recently, it has become easier to track and get hold of your credit score without paying any fees. You can get it from your credit card company, your loan provider, and even from a non-profit counselor. Here are a few tips you can use to check your score.