For more than four hundred years, the concepts of death and taxes have been consciously coupled. According to The Yale Book of Quotations, Christopher Bullock wrote the following in The Cobbler of Preston, in 1716:
“Tis impossible to be sure of anything but Death and Taxes.”
This refrain reappeared in 1724, when Edward Ward wrote the following in The Dancing Devils:
“Death and Taxes, they are certain.”
Furthermore, in 1789, Benjamin Franklin included the following text in a letter to French scientist Jean-Baptiste Leroy:
“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
Fast forward to the present day, and the maxims are equally resonant, highlighting the need to obtain sage counsel regarding, and keen insight into, planning for the certainties of death and taxes.
With the launch of this blog, we look forward to addressing significant developments and other issues of interest and/or concern in the following substantive areas of legal practice:
- estate, gift and income tax planning;
- trust, estate and conservatorship administration;
- private wealth disputes;
- tax-exempt organizations and charitable gift planning;
- tax controversies;
- business and transactional tax; and
- employee benefits and executive compensation.
MSK Blog 