Step 1
Asset review
Licensed Enrolled Agents - Nationwide Virtual Service
Estate tax planning services and trust accounting
A $3 million estate without a plan can cost heirs $80,000 in probate fees and a year of court delays. Federated Tax specializes in estates and trusts planning for business owners and high-net-worth individuals, from bypass trusts and gift tax filings to executor support. We work directly with your legal counsel so the tax strategy and the documents match. Call or book a consultation now.
Why It Matters
What does an estate planning EA do vs. an estate attorney?
Your legal counsel drafts the will, sets up the structure, and handles transfers. An EA handles the tax side, and that number is usually the biggest one in the room. Federated Tax's accounting and tax preparation services cover Form 706 (the federal return on large estates), Form 1041 (trust income), Form 709 (gifts), and step-up in basis calculations to reduce what your heirs owe. Federated Tax Enrolled Agents work alongside legal counsel from day one. We model bypass trusts versus outright bequests and flag IRA distribution rules before they create a costly mess. That coordination is where most solo practitioners fall short. If your legal team hasn't looped in an Enrolled Agent yet, that's worth fixing before 2025, call Federated Tax to schedule a review.
Estate attorney
Estate CPA
Documents
Drafts
Models tax
Transfers
Handles
Calculates impact
Trust income
Coordinates
Files
IRA rules
Legal review
Tax review
What You Get
Who needs estate and trust planning services?
The federal exemption sits at $13.61 million per individual in 2024 but drops roughly in half when Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions expire after 2025. High-net-worth individuals and families above that lower threshold need to act now. Irrevocable gifting structures lock in the current higher threshold before the window closes, permanently. Business owners face a separate problem. Without succession planning, a family company often gets liquidated to satisfy tax liabilities rather than passing intact to the next generation. Federated Tax's Enrolled Agents and advisors structure buy-sell agreements, family limited partnerships, and grantor retained annuity trusts that keep the business whole. Anyone holding a substantial IRA also needs attention. Inherited IRA rules changed in 2020, most non-spouse beneficiaries now have a 10-year distribution window, not a lifetime. Planning for that income tax hit is part of every estate plan Federated Tax designs for individuals and families. Book a consultation to assess your unique situation.
How It Works
How does the planning process work?
Federated Tax starts every engagement with a full asset review: property, liabilities, existing instruments, and beneficiary designations. Most clients assume they're covered because they signed a will years ago. But beneficiary designations on IRAs and life insurance override that document entirely, and they're often 15 years out of date. From there, Federated Tax's Enrolled Agents and planning team model the federal levy at current and post-2025 threshold levels, map trust strategies to the client's financial goals, and identify gifting opportunities within the annual exclusion ($18,000 per recipient in 2024). We prepare all required tax returns, coordinate with legal counsel, and update the plan as tax laws shift. Call or book online today.
Step 2
Beneficiary check
Step 3
Tax modeling
Step 4
Gifting strategy
Step 5
Legal coordination
Pricing Clarity
What do these services include?
Federated Tax provides planning services across the full estate lifecycle. Form 706 requires careful valuation: the IRS audits large estate returns at a high rate, and errors trigger costly disputes. Form 709 is filed when transfers exceed the annual exclusion, and Federated Tax tracks cumulative lifetime gifts against the individual's lifetime cap so there are no surprises at death. Form 1041 is a separate filing obligation every year a trust carries income above $600. Federated Tax handles trusts and estates accounting for simple, complex, grantor, and charitable remainder instruments, each with different distribution rules and trustee reporting requirements. A trustee carries fiduciary responsibility for accurate accounting, and Federated Tax supports that duty with clean books and timely submissions. The firm's accountants also handle asset protection structuring and buy-sell agreement review for business owners. Book a session to see what's covered in your situation.
Why It Matters
Why choose Federated Tax?
A well-drafted legal instrument that ignores income tax on IRA distributions or step-up in basis rules can cost a family more than it saved. Federated Tax Enrolled Agents focus on the tax side of wealth planning because we run the actual numbers, not just review the structure. That's the difference between a plan that looks good on paper and one that actually protects your financial future. Federated Tax is an EA firm. No legal drafting, no court appearances. What the firm's accounting professionals do is prepare all required tax documents, model tax consequences of different distribution choices, and collaborate with investment advisors and legal counsel so the whole plan holds together. Clients working with Federated Tax typically carry estates between $2 million and $15 million. The approach is personalized to your goals, so your wishes are honored and your family gains real peace of mind, while easing the overall tax burden. Call or book online today.
Legal instrument
Tax model
IRA income
Can be missed
Modeled
Step-up basis
Structure only
Tax trade-off
Required returns
Separate
Prepared
Family outcome
Documented
Stress-tested
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FAQ
Common questions
Cost
Scope
Tax
General
Cost How much do these services cost?
Federated Tax engagements typically run $2,000 to $8,000 depending on complexity. A single annual trust return with a basic review is at the lower end. Multi-entity arrangements with succession planning, family limited partnerships, multiple estate tax returns, and added complexity are at the higher end. Book a consultation for a fixed-fee quote specific to your situation.
Scope Do I need an Enrolled Agent if I already have an attorney for this?
Yes. Your attorney handles the legal documents. Federated Tax handles tax compliance, income tax planning on distributions, and gift tax reporting. These are separate obligations with separate fees, and both roles need to coordinate from the start to avoid costly gaps in your plan.
Tax What is trust formation and when does Federated Tax get involved?
Trust formation is the legal act of creating the vehicle, handled by your attorney. Federated Tax gets involved at the design stage to make sure the tax structure matches the legal structure. We set up the trust accounting, handle the first-year returns, and advise on which assets belong inside versus outside the instrument to preserve the step-up in basis benefit at death. Both roles carry fiduciary obligations, and Federated Tax makes sure the numbers hold up to that standard.
Tax When are gift tax returns required?
Form 709 is required when you give more than $18,000 to any one person in a calendar year, or when you make certain transfers to irrevocable instruments. Federated Tax files these as part of a gifting strategy to reduce a taxable estate over time. Gifts within the annual exclusion don't require a return, but Federated Tax recommends tracking them regardless.
General How does step-up in basis affect planning decisions?
Assets held at death get a step-up in basis to fair market value on the date of death, erasing built-in capital gains for the beneficiary. That benefit disappears for assets transferred into an irrevocable instrument before death. Federated Tax models this trade-off for every client, because the income tax savings from a step-up often outweigh the tax savings from an earlier transfer.
Tax Can Federated Tax help with business succession planning?
Yes. Succession is a core part of what Federated Tax handles for business owners. That includes reviewing buy-sell agreements for tax exposure, structuring the ownership transfer to minimize inheritance taxes, and coordinating with legal counsel on the instruments that will hold the business interest. Most engagements take three to six months to implement properly.
Scope What happens without a plan?
Without a plan, assets pass through probate: a public court process that typically takes 9 to 18 months and costs 3% to 8% of the value in fees. Creditor claims and federal tax exposure go unmanaged. Federated Tax can show you what going unplanned would cost versus a structured approach in your first consultation.