Tax Implications of a Trust Becoming Irrevocable

Revocable and irrevocable trusts are treated quite differently under U.S. tax law. The main reason for this disparity is that the assets of a revocable trust are considered the property of the grantor, while an irrevocable trust is treated as an independent legal entity that owns its assets. Creating a trust may carry unexpected tax consequences, some of which may be unfavorable.

Trust Tax Implications

An irrevocable trust is treated as a separate taxpayer and must file a federal income tax return on Form 1041 each year. The trustee is responsible for reporting all income the trust earns, even if the terms of the trust require beneficiaries to receive all of that income. However, if the trustee has no obligation to distribute earnings to beneficiaries and accumulates income within the trust, she must pay tax on those earnings using money from the trust. Then, when the trust distributes income to you and other beneficiaries, the trustee reports those earnings on the 1041 but takes a deduction, known as an income distribution deduction, for all payments to beneficiaries. This is done so that income tax is paid only once by beneficiaries.

An irrevocable trust is a type of trust that cannot be altered once it has been set up. The grantor the person who establishes the trust places assets into the trust, and control of those assets is then turned over to a trustee. The trustee manages the account to serve the best interests of the beneficiaries of the trust. The trustee is also responsible for distributing funds and assets from the trust to the beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust.

Income Tax Treatment of Revocable Trusts

A trust may earn income in the form of interest on funds held in a bank account, for example, or rent paid by a tenant living in a house owned by the trust. If you create a revocable trust, known as a grantor trust by the IRS, all trust income is taxed as your personal income, and you must report it on your Form 1040 tax return even if it remains in the trust. You must also complete a small identification section of Form 1041 and file it, although you don’t have to report trust income.

Income Tax Treatment of Irrevocable Trusts

The trustee of an irrevocable trust must complete and file Form 1041 to report trust income, as long as the trust earned more than $600 during the tax year. Irrevocable trusts are taxed on income in much the same way as individuals. The trustee must also file Schedule K-1 and deliver copies of it to each beneficiary who received a distribution from the trust during the tax year.

Implications for Trust and Beneficiary

The trust is taxed on any income earned from investments or other assets, but payments to beneficiaries are deducted. Distributions to you and other beneficiaries in any year are taxed on individual returns. The amounts are reported along with other income.

Gift Tax

The transfer of assets to an irrevocable trust, or to the beneficiary of a revocable trust, is a taxable event resulting in gift tax liability. As of 2012, the gift tax exclusion is $13,000 per year per beneficiary, except that gifts to your spouse are never subject to gift tax. The amount of any gift that exceeds $13,000 is taxable at a maximum rate of 35 percent. You must file the gift tax return, Form 709, only if you actually owe gift tax. The recipient of a gift is never liable for gift tax.

Estate Tax

Estate tax is imposed on that portion of the value of a deceased taxpayer’s estate that exceeds the gift tax exclusion applicable during the year of the taxpayer’s death. The deceased taxpayer’s executor must file Form 1041 if the estate owes estate taxes. The value is $5,120,000 for taxpayers dying in 2012. The assets of a revocable trust are counted as the grantor’s assets for gift tax purposes; however, the assets of an irrevocable trust are not counted as part of the grantor’s estate. Even though the assets of an irrevocable trust are considered assets of the trust itself, estate tax is never imposed because trusts do not die.

Beneficiary Taxation

A beneficiary of a revocable trust does not have to pay income taxes on his distributions from the trust since the trust grantor has already paid these taxes. Distributions to beneficiaries of an irrevocable trust, however, are taxable to beneficiaries at ordinary income tax rates.

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Michael Anderson

People who want a lot of Bull go to a Butcher. People who want results navigating a complex legal field go to a Lawyer that they can trust. That’s where I come in. I am Michael Anderson, an Attorney in the Salt Lake area focusing on the needs of the Average Joe wanting a better life for him and his family. I’m the Lawyer you can trust. I grew up in Utah and love it here. I am a Father to three, a Husband to one, and an Entrepreneur. I understand the feelings of joy each of those roles bring, and I understand the feeling of disappointment, fear, and regret when things go wrong. I attended the University of Utah where I received a B.A. degree in 2010 and a J.D. in 2014. I have focused my practice in Wills, Trusts, Real Estate, and Business Law. I love the thrill of helping clients secure their future, leaving a real legacy to their children. Unfortunately when problems arise with families. I also practice Family Law, with a focus on keeping relationships between the soon to be Ex’s civil for the benefit of their children and allowing both to walk away quickly with their heads held high. Before you worry too much about losing everything that you have worked for, before you permit yourself to be bullied by your soon to be ex, before you shed one more tear in silence, call me. I’m the Lawyer you can trust.

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