Dying to Save Taxes: Evidence from Estate Tax Returns on the Death Elasticity

32 Pages Posted: 9 Mar 2001 Last revised: 17 Oct 2022

See all articles by Wojciech Kopczuk

Wojciech Kopczuk

Columbia University - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences - Department of Economics; Columbia University - School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Joel B. Slemrod

University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: March 2001

Abstract

This paper examines data from U.S. federal tax returns to shed light on whether the timing of death is responsive to its tax consequences. We investigate the temporal pattern of deaths around the time of changes in the estate tax system periods when living longer, or dying sooner, could significantly affect estate tax liability. We find some evidence that there is a small death elasticity, although we cannot rule out that what we have uncovered is ex post doctoring of the reported date of death. However, the fact that we find that postponement, rather than acceleration, of death is more likely to occur suggests that this phenomenon is at last partly a real (albeit timing) response to taxation.

Suggested Citation

Kopczuk, Wojciech and Slemrod, Joel B., Dying to Save Taxes: Evidence from Estate Tax Returns on the Death Elasticity (March 2001). NBER Working Paper No. w8158, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=262718

Wojciech Kopczuk

Columbia University - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences - Department of Economics ( email )

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