two different issues.

Stepped up basis occurs regardless of when the property was purchased by decedent.  Deceased could have purchased land less than 6 months before death, and received a stepped up basis.

The capital gains issue on the side of the beneficiaries is a different matter.

The step up in basis obviously gives the beneficiaries a larger "cost" of anything received from the estate...….and then the way the tax on a sale is considered.

If the item inherited and sold was purchased by the deceased a year and a day before death, then any gain would be taxed at LONG term capital gains rates.

If the item inherited and sold was purchased by the deceased less than a year and a day before death, then any gain would be taxed at SHORT term capital gains rates.

Lastly, in either case, an Inherited item could be taxed at ordinary income rates, if such is of the nature of an IRA, etc etc...…"income in respect of a decedent".

So...…….the step up in basis is not necessarily linked to long term capital gains.