Recently I discussed my net worth and how I went from a poor farm boy to an eight figure net worth. To keep the discussion moving I glossed over a few issues, most notably some of the vehicles I use to invest and protect my net worth from taxation. My sole mention of using trust instruments to protect net worth and save taxes caused several requests to hit my email inbox. People wanted to know more about trusts and how they can be used to super-charge net worth, provide guaranteed income, reduce taxes and protect against lawsuits stealing your hard earned money.
To which I mentally replied, “Is that all?”
A tax discussion on trusts turns into hard core tax planning quickly. Discussing all trusts is beyond the scope of a simple blog post and even beyond the scope of an entire blog. Too many variables are involved. What we can do in a single blog post is cover one trust topic enough to help you decide if it is right for you and get you to the right people to facilitate the process.
Today we will discuss an animal called the net income makeup charitable remainder unitrust, or NIMCRUT. It sounds like a derogatory name you would call someone in the heat of battle. Instead, the NIMCRUT, or even her sister the CRUT, is the perfect tool to get a massive tax break now, avoid paying capital gains on highly appreciated assets, help the charity of your choice and get a nice income stream—some of which might be tax free—for your entire life or a set number of years. Sound like fun? Then read on.
The Problem
Highly appreciated assets face a large capital gains tax rate, currently topping out at 20% for federal, plus more in many states. To make matters worse, the alternative minimum tax is calculated using a 22 ½% capital gains rate.
Moving money from a long-term, highly appreciated asset to a higher income producing asset requires a serious tax haircut. The reason for the transfer of investments frequently revolves around income. The old asset has appreciated several fold, but has a low or no current income distribution. To access your net worth requires sale of a portion of or the entire asset, triggering a taxable event.
Basics of a NIMCRUT
A NIMCRUT is really a charitable remainder trust with a unique income makeup feature.
Once a NIMCRUT is established, assets are transferred into the trust. The trust sells the asset/s and since it is a charitable trust pays no tax on the gain. You personally did not sell the asset so you also pay no tax on the gain, nor is there anything to report on your personal tax return.
Because you donated to a charitable trust (a qualified nonprofit organization (the beneficiary) gets the remainder at some point in the future) you also get a tax deduction on your personal tax return. The tax deduction has to be discounted for the present value of the future gift. In the old days we used tables provided by the IRS to calculate our deduction; today we have handy online calculators linked at the end of this post.
Example: A 53 year old donating $1 million of stock to a NIMCRUT with a basis of $100,000 would avoid paying capital gains tax on $900,000, plus get a current tax deduction on Schedule A (subject to limitations) of $239,894. Any unused charitable deduction is carried forward up to five years.
The tax avoided and the additional deduction is a great start. BUT, you also get an income stream from the trust. Remember, this is not a straight forward donation to a charity. The charity gets the remainder at some point in the future. You choose how much income per year you want before the charity takes possession of the gift. The Tax Code requires at least a 5% rate with higher amounts allowed (up to 50%). A common rate is 7% and is used for our example above.
You also choose the term, either life or up to 20 years. The longer the term the lower the tax deduction on Schedule A.
CRUT or NIMCRUT
There is a difference between the two. Generally, a NIMCRUT only pays you from income, excluding capital gains. A CRUT can dip into the corpus to fund payments. The NIM part of a NIMCRUT means you can catch up, if you will, the missed portion of past payments.
Since many investments do not throw off a 7% income available for distribution, two investments rise to the surface: real estate and annuities. The rent is available to distribute to the annuitant (you).
An annuity inside the NIMCRUT can control the flow of funds. Income must be distributed up to the rate listed in the trust document. Previously missed payments are “made up” in years when the income supports the payment.
Since tax is due on all or most distributions, your personal tax situation might require more control over when you get paid and hence pay tax. The annuity inside the NIMCRUT can delay paying out; therefore, no income is available for distribution. When you need the money you can take your distribution by having the annuity pay out income to the NIMCRUT. (Special thanks to Putnam Investments for presenting the annuity strategy at a H.D. Vest Financial Services conference during the mid 1990s.)
Assessing the Benefits
Let’s add up all the benefits of a NIMCRUT before disclosing a few negatives.
First, you avoid capital gains on a highly appreciated asset. Most taxpayers will avoid 15% to 20% long-term capital gains tax with a NIMCRUT, plus state capital gains taxes. In our example, $900,000 of avoided LTCG adds to a $180,000 tax reduction at the 20% LTCG rate.
Next, you get a present value charitable deduction on Schedule A subject to normal limitations for the future charitable contribution. Our example shows a $239,894 deduction.
Assuming a 7% rate and no increases in value of the NIMCRUT investments, you will receive 140% of the original investment over 20 years. If the investments inside the NIMCRUT increase, your payment will too. Our example should generate $1.4 million over 20 years.
Normally you are the trustee so you determine the investments inside the NIMCRUT.
You control in a limited fashion when and how much you get paid. Most income from a CRUT or NIMCRUT is taxable. A portion of a CRUT might be exempt.
At the end of the term your named charity receives the remainder.
To keep the kiddos happy you can purchase a single premium term life insurance policy for the amount of the charitable gift with the tax savings from avoiding the LTCG tax. This is done with an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT).
If you die while the NIMCRUT is in effect the remainder goes to the charity, is added to your estate, but your estate takes an equal amount as a charitable deduction.
In sum, you avoid LTCG taxes on unrealized asset appreciation, get a deduction up front, receive income over your lifetime (single or joint) or a set number of years up to twenty, support your preferred charitable causes and give the kiddos a healthy legacy to boot.
Drawbacks
Every strategy has pros and cons. A NIMCRUT is irrevocable. This means you can’t later change your mind. Well, you can change your mind, but there is nothing you can do about it. You must plan in advance for a NIMCRUT. The issues and process is complex and set in stone once in effect.
There are annual reporting requirements. At minimum a Form 5227 is required. Sometimes a Form 1041 or other tax forms are required. Few tax professionals are versed or experienced in preparing complex trust tax returns. You will need to find one who is.
You must have an attorney to draft the trust documents. No shortcuts here. An experienced estate attorney will smooth the process and inform you of issues pertinent to you while avoiding IRS scrutiny.
Large investments are required and large unrealized LTCG increase the tax benefits of the NIMCRUT. Realistically, anything less than $100,000 of asset value or $50,000 of unrealized gain to transfer to the NIMCRUT is inadvisable. $1 million of highly appreciated assets and greater put into a NIMCRUT yield excellent advantages to many high net worth taxpayers.
A CRUT usually allows corpus to be used to pay the annuitant, but yields fewer tax benefits. A NIMCRUT must have income from which to pay the annuitant (you). Many NIMCRUTs exclude capital gains from income in the trust documents.
The Next Step
It’s not all roses when planning a trust. Trusts are nor for everyone. They are powerful estate planning tools to carry out your wishes and serve your needs. It takes time and there are legal fees.
I intentionally left out a massive amount of information to keep to this post’s story line brief. Additional research is required even before you contact your estate attorney.
Here is an interesting article on NIMCRUTs you might find valuable.
Here is a NIMCRUT calculator. You can play with the numbers to get an idea of the tax benefits available. The same site has excellent calculators for a variety of CRUTs and CRATs as well.
You can read a bit more from the IRS on the issues discussed.
Finding a qualified attorney is an issue for many readers. Here is an article by a company that helps people set up charitable trusts. (Not an affiliate.)
Finally, if you want to read extensively before committing to a discussion with an attorney, here is a good book on the subject from Amazon.
Baskaran
Sunday 6th of August 2023
Hi Keith -Thank you for a great write up. I am trying to understand what happens to the LTCG of $900K when the stocks used to fund the NIMCRUT is sold. I understand that it is not considered your personal taxable income. But, do you have to report it when you receive distributions from the NIMCRUT. For example, is the first 8% distribution of $80K you take considered LTGC? If not, what kind of income is it?
Baskaran
Monday 7th of August 2023
Hi Keith - Thank you very much for your explanations. I understand how this works much better now.
Baskaran
Monday 7th of August 2023
Keith -- thanks for the reply. I am trying to understand what is considered principle. In your example, the NIMCRUT was funded with $1M worth of stocks with a cost basis of $100K and the asset is sold yielding $900 of LTCG. Let us say that the entire proceeds is invested in a collection securities (stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, etc.).
At the time of the first payment of $80K, we have accumulated, $30K in dividends and interests. So, we sell $50K worth of securities that results in another $10 in LTCG. What I am trying to understand is: does the payment of $80K contains: (1) $30k ordinary income (dividends and interests), (2) $10K LTCG and (3) $40 return of principle?
In other words, does the NIMCRUT contain $1M of principle after the stock used to fund it is sold?
Thanks -- Baskaran
Keith Taxguy, EA
Sunday 6th of August 2023
Baskaran, distributions from a NIMCRUT use a four tiered system where distributions are in the following order: ordinary income, capital gains, tax-free income, and return of principle. Each level must be exhausted before the next level is tapped.
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M Bowden
Friday 14th of July 2017
Good article. Thank you Keith.
Is this something you personally use or are intending to use? And if so for what asset? Your business?
Keith Schroeder
Friday 14th of July 2017
I used a NIMCRUT back in the mid 90s with a twenty year term. The trust now expired and performed as expected. I funded it with appreciated individual stocks (Aflac was one if I recall). I never researched transferring a business into a charitable remainder trust so their might be issues I am unaware of. I used 8% back then as my payout rate with the annuity strategy taught me by Putnam Investments at the conference I mentioned.
At some point I may use a NIMCRUT again funded by individual stocks or index funds (probably individual stocks). BTW, the required tax returns are a pain in the tail. Don't miss that at all. My software doesn't have Form 5227 so I did it by hand and later with fill-in pdf files from the IRS.