If you are interested in supporting the University of Maryland with a significant gift while creating an income stream for you or a loved one, consider a charitable remainder trust. This type of trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period of years. At the end of the trust term, the balance in the trust goes to Maryland to support the area(s) you designate.
This gift option may offer you several tax benefits as well as repurposing your assets into a steady stream of income which may be more beneficial than keeping them or selling them outright. There are two ways to receive payments and each has its own benefits:
The annuity trust pays you, each year, the same dollar amount you choose at the start. Your payments stay the same, regardless of fluctuations in trust investments.
The unitrust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. The amount of your payments is redetermined annually. If the value of the trust increases, so do your payments. If the value decreases, however, so will your payments.
An Example of How It Works
Susan, 75, wants to make a gift to Maryland but would also like more income in the future. Susan creates a charitable remainder unitrust with annual lifetime payments to her equal to 5% of the fair market value of the trust assets as revalued annually. She funds the trust with assets valued at $500,000.
Susan receives $25,000 the first year from the trust. Subsequent payment amounts vary each year depending on the annual valuations of the trust assets. She is eligible for a federal income tax charitable deduction of $290,360* in the year she creates and funds the trust. This deduction saves Susan $92,915 in her 32% tax bracket.
*Based on a 5.2% charitable midterm federal rate. Deductions and calculations will vary depending on your personal circumstances.