Tax Policy Resource Center
Research-based insights at the intersection of changing tax policy and managing complex wealth from The Northern Trust Institute

2022 Tax Season Spotlight: Strategies for This Year and Beyond
Explore strategies for optimizing your taxes for filing year 2022 and beyond.

Preparing for Potential State Wealth Taxes
Understand wealth planning strategies to prepare for potential new state taxes on wealth.

SECURE Act 2.0
Understand how the new legislation may affect your retirement planning.
Let Us Help You Plan for Change
Our advisors can recommend strategies that have proven most effective in times of uncertainty.


Our approach to tax policy
"It is far better to plan for, but not attempt to predict potential policy changes."

Chief Fiduciary Officer and President of the Northern Trust Institute
"While there are flexible planning strategies that will allow you to adjust to changing circumstances, your long-term goals should ultimately determine your plan."

Chief Tax Strategist
"Ultimately, the right mix of diversifies assets depends on your goals - the foundation upon which all investing and tax management decisions should rely."

Chief Investment Officer, Wealth Management
More Tax Insights
Prepare your plan for change with our latest advice on tax policy and complex wealth.
Did you know?
3 – Attempts to repeal step-up in basis
The step-up in basis of inherited assets has been part of the Internal Revenue Code for more than a century, with three attempts to repeal or eliminate it ultimately proving short-lived. 1
7th – Highest OECD country for top corporate tax rate
The proposed increase to top corporate tax rate would move the U.S. to tie with New Zealand for #7 out of 37 OECD countries with the highest statutory corporate tax rates.2
500% – Increase in taxable estate tax filings
If the estate tax exemption is lowered to $3.5M, the number of taxable estate tax filings would jump from an estimated 2,700 in 2021 to 16,600 in 2022.3
10th – Highest country for debt to GDP%
According to International Monetary Fund data, the U.S. is expected to rank #10 of nearly 200 countries in 2026 for government debt as a percent of GDP if taxes are not raised.4
1.4% – Reduction in after-tax returns
If the tax bills are enacted as proposed, expected after-tax returns for a moderate risk portfolio could be reduced by 1.4%.5
$11.7M – GST Exemption in 2021
Starting as a $250K exclusion in 1976, and increased to $1M in 1986, the GST Exemption has increased to $11.7M. It is scheduled to be reduced to $5M in 2026, or sooner, pending proposed legislation.
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO ENACT TAX CHANGES
In the News
Commentary from Northern Trust Institute experts in leading media outlets.
Barron’s PENTA
Future Returns: A Wealth Management Take on Biden's Tax Plan
Learn how changes to the tax code may affect wealthy individuals and families.
Family Wealth Report
Possible U.S. Tax Hikes Will Blunt Returns
Read about the impact of potential tax increases on asset returns.
The New York Times
With Higher Taxes Possible, Here’s What to Do Now
Find out if it is better to pay taxes now, when you know the rates.
BLOOMBERG TAX
Strategy Spotlight: Preparing for New Tax Laws
Learn wealth planning strategies to prepare for proposed tax policy changes.
LET US HELP YOU PLAN FOR CHANGE
Guided by the Northern Trust Institute’s evidence-based approach, our advisors can recommend strategies that have proven most effective in times of uncertainty. Request a meeting to prepare your plan for potential tax policy changes.
1. The step-up rule dates back to 1913 with three efforts to repeal or eliminate it: The first was with The Tax Reform Act of 1976, but the provision was repealed before it could take effect. The second was with the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, but the provision was only effective for one year. The third attempt was a proposal from the Obama administration, which was never realized. Sources: DeLaney Thomas, K., Schmalbeck, R. and Soled, J. Advocating a Carryover Tax Basis Regime, 2017, University of North Carolina School of Law, as retrieved from https://scholarship.law.unc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1298&context=faculty_publications on April 1, 2021 and The Tax Policy Center of the Urban Institute and Brooking Institution, as retrieved from https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/what-difference-between-carryover-basis-and-step-basis#:~:text=The%20Economic%20Growth%20and%20Tax,additional%20unrealized%20gains%20carried%20over on April 1, 2021.
2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved at https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=78166 on April 7, 2021. As measured by national statutory tax rates, which do not include sub-national tax rates or deductions for sub-national tax rates.
3. Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center Microsimulation Model (version 0921-1). Retrieved from https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/model-estimates/baseline-estate-tax-tables-dec-2020/t20-0258-estate-tax-returns-and-liability-under on April 10, 2021.
4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook (April 2021). Retrieved from https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDP_RPCH@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD as of April 7, 2021
5. The Northern Trust Institute Research of tax-optimized strategic asset allocation models