Charitable Lead Trust (A Charitable Way to Pass Assets to Heirs)
How it works
You contribute cash, securities or other property to a trust.
The trust makes fixed annual payments to the American Red Cross for a specified term of years.
When the trust ends, the remaining principal goes to your heirs.
Benefits
You qualify for a gift tax deduction for the present value of the annuity payments to the Red Cross.
The annuity payments and the term of the trust can be specified in such a way so as to reduce or even eliminate the transfer taxes due when the principal reverts to your heirs.
All appreciation that takes place in the trust goes tax-free to your heirs.
You can use your available estate tax credit ($1.5 million per person in 2004; $2.0 million per person beginning in 2006) to further reduce taxes on transfers to your heirs.
You can have the satisfaction of making a significant gift to the Red Cross now that reduces the taxes due on transfers to your heirs later.
