How Would Proposed Changes in Federal Estate Taxes Affect Farmers?

The number of farms and other estates that must pay Federal estate taxes has increased in recent years. Concerns about this increase and its effect on farms and other small businesses have generated a number of proposals to change Federal estate tax laws. Some proposals would affect only farms and small businesses. Other proposals would lower taxes for all estates and reduce the number of estates required to file an estate tax return. Of the current proposals examined here, farm estate taxes would be reduced most by a new exclusion for familyowned businesses, including farms