> The fundamental problem with the estate tax is that it's a huge tax that happens with semi-unpredictable timing, which induces rich families to do estate tax planning to avoid having liquidity problems when it happens.
Well, yeah, it would be much simpler and more effective if inheritances were just taxed as income to the recipient with provisions allowing them to be split and recognized over several subsequent tax years (e.g., if the total inheritance received in any year is greater than 1/10 the pre-inheritance AGI, the excess can be recognized for tax purposes in subsequent years, with a minimum per year amount equal to the lesser of 1/10 the pre-inheritance AGI in the year received or 1/20 the total amount of the inheritance.)
Well, yeah, it would be much simpler and more effective if inheritances were just taxed as income to the recipient with provisions allowing them to be split and recognized over several subsequent tax years (e.g., if the total inheritance received in any year is greater than 1/10 the pre-inheritance AGI, the excess can be recognized for tax purposes in subsequent years, with a minimum per year amount equal to the lesser of 1/10 the pre-inheritance AGI in the year received or 1/20 the total amount of the inheritance.)