Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Grantor-Retained Unitrust (GRUT) is a type of trust that helps people reduce taxes on their estate. The person creating the trust (called the grantor) puts assets into the trust for a certain amount of time and pays taxes at the beginning. The grantor then receives payments from the trust based on a percentage of the assets' value, set by the IRS. When the trust ends, the assets go to the beneficiaries without estate or gift taxes. The trust must earn a certain amount of interest and be irrevocable to get the tax benefits. The grantor can exchange investments to make sure the trust earns enough interest.
A Grantor-Retained Unitrust (GRUT) is a type of trust that individuals can set up to reduce taxes on their estate. It is an irrevocable trust that pays taxes at the outset and lasts for a limited period of time. The grantor receives annuity payments based on a percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. At the end of the trust's lifetime, the assets are passed to the beneficiaries without estate or gift taxes.
For example, let's say John sets up a GRUT with $1 million in assets and a 5% annuity rate. He will receive $50,000 per year in annuity payments for the duration of the trust. If the trust earns more than 5% interest, the excess will be added to the trust's principal. If it earns less than 5%, the principal will be reduced. When the trust ends, the remaining assets will be passed to John's beneficiaries without any estate or gift taxes.
It's important to note that a GRUT has a few unique elements. First, the trust must earn interest equal to or higher than the rate set by the IRS. If the interest rate is lower or the grantor dies before the trust ends, the trust will be closed with the assets going to the estate, not the beneficiaries. Second, the trust must be irrevocable in order to receive the tax benefits of a GRUT. Lastly, the grantor may exchange similar investments with the trust to make sure that the trust makes the required amount of interest every year.