EGTRRA or the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 made broad changes to many aspects of the IRS and how it taxes various areas, including making broad changes to the estate and gift tax rules. Under EGTRAA, the estate tax unified credit exclusion grew annually to the 2009 rate of 3.5 million dollars and will be repealed in 2010. The estate tax was reduced annually to the present rate of 45% on estates over 3.5 million. The maximum gift tax rate was reduced to 25% beginning in 2010. After January 2011 the provision of the act will go back to prior EGTRRA unless Congress makes changes which is not likely to happen.