|
|
________________________________________________ Charitable Trusts
/ Funding Trusts
Before these regulations, using unmarketable assets to fund a CRT was difficult because of annual payout requirements. CRTs have to pay annually either a set amount to the beneficiaries (referred to as charitable remainder annuity trusts or CRATs) or an amount based on a percentage of the value of the trust's assets that year (referred to as charitable remainder unitrusts or CRUTs). CRUTs may also use an "income exception" method of payment. Under this method, the unitrust amount is the lesser of the fixed percentage of the trust's value or the trust's annual income. A variation of this method allows the trust to provide that any shortfall from years in which the income of the trust was less than the fixed percentage of assets can be made up in later years in which income exceeds the fixed percentage (referred to as net income makeup charitable remainder unitrusts or NIMCRUTs). Flip
CRUTs As noted, in the past funding CRUTs with unmarketable assets was often not practical. If the donor chose an income exception method, payments might never be made to the donor if the assets did not produce income. If the donor chose the fixed percentage of assets payment method, the trust would have difficulty making annual distributions of a portion of assets that were unmarketable, both from a valuation and mechanical perspective. Under the final regulations, it is now easier for the donor to have the best of both worlds. The final regulations provide rules for a trust to convert from an income exception method to the fixed percentage method. These trusts are known as "Flip CRUTs" and they allow the donor to contribute unmarketable assets to the trust and, in effect, defer the annual payments until a later time at which regular payments will be made. The conversion under a Flip CRUT may be caused by specified triggering events that must not be within the control of the trustee or others. Allowable triggering events include the sale of unmarketable assets or an event such as marriage, divorce, death or the birth of a child. Impermissible triggering events include the sale of marketable assets and a request from the recipient that the trust convert to the fixed percentage method. Other
Concerns When Using Unmarketable Assets Although the final regulations make it easier to create a CRT with unmarketable assets, some difficulties remain. For example, the value of unmarketable assets held by a CRT must be determined either by an independent trustee or through a qualified appraisal. Also, in connection with a NIMCRUT, any makeup amount from shortfalls in prior years is forfeited at the time of the conversion. The final regulations also clarify some other issues relating to CRTs. For example, the annuity or the unitrust amount must be paid within a reasonable time after the end of the tax year in which the payment is due. Further, for CRUTs using the income exception method, special valuation rules as to transfers of interests in trusts apply to unitrust interests that are retained by the donor (or a member of his or her family). They are given a value of zero when a noncharitable beneficiary of the trust is someone other than the donor or the U.S. citizen spouse of the donor. Easier
Estate Planning Charitably inclined donors who hold unmarketable assets should
consider creating a Flip CRUT now that the final regulations have
made using this method easier. We would be pleased to discuss with
you whether a Flip CRUT is right for your estate plan.
|
|
©
Copyright 2001 Fahlman & Olson. All rights reserved.
LEGAL NOTICE
|