Rev. Proc. 2003-54

Factors concerning qualification of trust. A deduction must be allowable under § 170, § 2055, or § 2522 for property contributed to the trust. Section 1.664-1(a)(1)(iii)(a) of the Income Tax Regulations. The trust must meet the definition of and function exclusively as a charitable remainder trust from the creation of the trust. Section 1.664-1(a)(4). Solely for purposes of § 664, a trust is deemed created at the earliest time that neither the grantor nor any other person is treated as the owner of the entire trust under subpart E, part 1, subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the Code (subpart E), but in no event prior to the time property is first transferred to the trust. Neither the donor nor the donor’s spouse shall be treated as the owner of the trust under subpart E merely because he or she is named as a recipient of the annuity amount. Section 1.664-1(a)(4). In addition, funding the trust with certain types of assets may disqualify it as a charitable remainder trust. See § 1.664-1(a)(7) and Rev. Rul. 73-610, 1973-2 C.B. 213.

Valuation of unmarketable assets. If the trust is funded with unmarketable assets, the initial net fair market value of the assets must be determined exclusively by an independent trustee, as defined in § 1.664-1(a)(7)(iii), or must be determined by a current “qualified appraisal” from a “qualified appraiser,” as defined in § 1.170A-13(c)(3) and (c)(5), respectively. Section 1.664-1(a)(7).

Income tax deductibility limitations. The amount of the charitable deduction for income tax purposes is affected by a number of factors, including the type of property contributed to the trust, the type of charity receiving the property, whether the remainder interest is paid outright to charity or held in further trust, and the donor’s adjusted gross income (with certain adjustments). See  § 170 (b) and (e); § 1.170A-8; Rev. Rul. 80-38, 1980-1 C.B. 56; and Rev. Rul. 79-368, 1979-2 C.B. 109. See section 6.05 of this revenue procedure for an alternate provision that restricts the charitable remainderman to a public charity (as defined therein).

Trustee provisions. Alternate or successor trustees may be designated in the trust instrument. In addition, the trust instrument may contain other administrative provisions relating to the trustee’s duties and powers, as long as the provisions do not conflict with the rules governing charitable remainder trusts under § 664 and the regulations thereunder. Note that certain powers given to certain persons serving as the trustee may cause the trustee to be treated as the owner of the trust under subpart E and thus disqualify the trust as a charitable remainder trust. See § 1.664-1(a)(4). See section 6.03 of this revenue procedure for an alternate provision providing for the apportionment of the annuity amount among members of a named class in the discretion of the trustee.

Identity of donor. For purposes of qualification under this revenue procedure, the donor may be an individual or a husband and wife. Appropriate adjustments should be made to the introductory paragraph if a husband and wife are the donors. Terms such as “grantor” or “settlor” may be substituted for “donor.”

Permissible term. The period for which the annuity amount is payable must not exceed 20 years. Section 1.664-2(a)(5)(i). Thus, for example, the annuity period of a CRAT for a term of 20 years will end on the day preceding the twentieth anniversary of the date the trust was created.

Permissible recipients. For a CRAT having a term of years annuity period, the annuity amount must generally be paid to a named person or persons (within the meaning of § 7701(a)(1)). If the annuity amount is to be paid to an individual or individuals, all the individuals must be living at the time of the creation of the trust. The annuity amount may be payable to the estate or heirs of a named recipient who dies prior to the expiration of the term of years. See Rev. Rul. 74-39, 1974-1 C.B. 156. The annuity amount may be payable to members of a named class and, because the annuity period is for a term of years, all of the members of the class need not be living or ascertainable at the creation of the trust. An organization described in § 170(c) may receive part, but not all, of the annuity amount. Section 664(d)(1)(A) and § 1.664-2(a)(3)(i). See section 6.02 of this revenue procedure for an alternate provision that provides for payment of part of the annuity to an organization described in § 170(c).

Multiple noncharitable recipients. Generally, if the annuity amount is payable to more than one person, the trust instrument should describe the interest of each person. See section 6.03 of this revenue procedure for an alternate provision providing for the apportionment of the annuity amount among members of a named class in the discretion of the trustee.

Percentage requirements. The sum certain annuity amount must be at least 5 percent and not more than 50 percent of the initial net fair market value of the assets placed in trust. Section 664(d)(1)(A). In addition, the value (determined under § 7520) of the charitable remainder interest must be at least 10 percent of the initial net fair market value of all property placed in the trust. Section 664(d)(1)(D). See §§ 1.7520-3(b) and 25.7520-3(b) for special rules that may be applicable in valuing interests transferred to CRATs.

Payment of annuity amount in installments. Paragraph 2, Payment of Annuity Amount, of the sample trust specifies that the annuity amount is to be paid in equal quarterly installments at the end of each quarter. However, the trust instrument may specify that the annuity amount is to be paid to the recipient annually or in equal or unequal installments throughout the year. See § 1.664-2(a)(1)(i). The amount of the charitable deduction will be affected by the frequency of payment, by whether the installments are equal or unequal, and by whether each installment is payable at the beginning or end of the period. See § 1.664-2(c) and § 20.2031-7(d)(2)(iv).

Payment of annuity amount by close of taxable year. Generally, the annuity amount for any taxable year must be paid before the close of the taxable year for which it is due. For circumstances under which the annuity amount may be paid within a reasonable time after the close of the taxable year, see § 1.664-2(a)(1)(i)(a).

Early distributions to charity. The trust instrument may provide that an amount other than the annuity shall be paid (or may be paid in the discretion of the trustee) to an organization described in § 170(c). If such a distribution is made in kind, the adjusted basis of the property distributed must be fairly representative of the adjusted basis of the property available for distribution on the date of distribution. Section 1.664-2(a)(4).

Prorating annuity amount. To compute the annuity amount in a short taxable year and in the taxable year in which the annuity period terminates, see § 1.664-2(a)(1)(iv)(a) and (b), respectively.

Minimum value of remainder. As noted in section 5.02(4) of this revenue procedure, the value (determined under § 7520) of the charitable remainder interest is required to be at least 10 percent of the initial net fair market value of all property placed in the trust. Section 664(d)(1)(D).

Designated remainderman. Any named charitable remainderman must be an organization described in § 170(c) at the time of the transfer to the charitable remainder annuity trust. See § 664(d)(1)(C). Any named charitable remainderman also must be an organization described in § 2522(a) to qualify for the gift tax charitable deduction and an organization described in § 2055(a) to qualify for the estate tax charitable deduction. See Rev. Rul. 77-385, 1977-2 C.B. 331. If it is determined a deduction under § 2055(a) will not be necessary in any event, all references to § 2055(a) in the trust instrument may be deleted. The trust instrument may restrict the charitable remainderman to an organization described in §§ 170(c), 2055(a), and 2522(a), but grant to a trustee or other person the power to designate the actual charitable remainderman. The gift of the remainder interest will be incomplete for gift tax purposes if, for example: (i) the donor retains the power to substitute the charitable remainderman; or (ii) the trust instrument provides the trustee with the power to designate the charitable remainderman and the donor is not prohibited from serving as trustee. See § 25.2511-2(c). Note, however, that an income tax charitable deduction is available even if the donor has the authority to substitute the charitable remainderman or the trustee has the authority to designate the charitable remainderman. Rev. Rul. 68-417, 1968-2 C.B. 103; Rev. Rul. 79-368, 1979-2 C.B. 109. See section 6.06 of this revenue procedure for an alternate provision in which the donor retains the right to substitute the charitable remainderman. See section 6.07 of this revenue procedure for an alternate provision in which the recipient is granted a power of appointment to designate the charitable remainderman.

Multiple remaindermen. The remainder interest may pass to more than one charitable organization as long as each organization is described in §§ 170(c), 2522(a), and, if needed, 2055(a). Section 1.664-2(a)(6)(i).

Alternative remaindermen. The trust instrument of a CRAT must provide a means for selecting alternative charitable remaindermen in the event the designated organization is not qualified at the time any payments are to be made to it from the trust. Section 1.664-2(a)(6)(iv).

Payment of the annuity amount. Payment of the annuity amount to the recipient is not considered an act of self-dealing within the meaning of § 4941(d), as modified by § 4947(a)(2)(A), or a taxable expenditure within the meaning of § 4945(d), as modified by § 4947(a)(2)(A). Section 53.4947-1(c)(2) of the Foundation and Similar Excise Taxes Regulations.

Prohibitions against certain investments and excess business holdings. Prohibitions against investments that jeopardize the exempt purpose of the trust for purposes of § 4944, as modified by § 4947(a)(2)(A), and against retaining any excess business holdings for purposes of § 4943, as modified by § 4947(a)(2)(A), are required if the trust provides for payment of part of an annuity amount to an organization described in § 170(c) and gift and estate tax charitable deductions are sought for this interest. See § 4947(b)(3). See section 6.02 of this revenue procedure for an alternate provision that provides for payment of part of the annuity to an organization described in § 170(c).

Trust to continue in existence for benefit of charity. The governing instrument requirements of § 508(e) must be included in the trust instrument if, after the termination of the annuity period: (i) the trust instrument provides that the trust shall continue in existence for the benefit of the charitable remainderman and, as a result, the trust will become subject to the provisions of § 4947(a)(1); and (ii) the trust will be treated as a private foundation within the meaning of § 509(a), as modified by § 4947(a)(1). Except as provided in paragraph 6 of the sample trust, the trust instrument may limit the application of the provisions of § 508(e) to the period after the termination of the annuity period when the trust continues in existence for the benefit of the charitable remainderman. Note that when the trust provides for the trust corpus to be retained, in whole or in part, in trust for the charitable remainderman, the higher deductibility limitations in § 170(b)(1)(A) for the income tax charitable deduction will not be available (even if the charitable remainderman is restricted to a public charity) because the contribution of the trust corpus is made “for the use of” rather than “to” the charitable remainderman. See § 1.170A-8(b).

Explanation. As an alternative to stating the annuity amount as a fraction or percentage of the initial net fair market value of the assets transferred to the trust, the annuity amount may be stated as a specific dollar amount. Section 1.664-2(a)(1)(ii) and (iii). In either case, the annuity amount must be not less than 5 percent nor more than 50 percent of the initial net fair market value of all property placed in trust. Section 664(d)(1)(A).

Instructions for use.

Explanation. An organization described in § 170(c) may receive part, but not all, of any annuity amount. Section 664(d)(1)(A). If a gift tax charitable deduction and, if needed, an estate tax charitable deduction are sought for the present value of the annuity interest passing to a charitable organization, the trust instrument must contain additional provisions. First, the trust instrument must specify the portion of each annuity payment that is payable to the noncharitable recipient and to the charitable organization described in §§ 170(c), 2522(a), and, if needed, § 2055(a). Second, the trust instrument must contain a means for selecting an alternative qualified charitable organization if the designated organization is not a qualified organization at the time when any annuity amount is to be paid to it. Third, the trust instrument must contain prohibitions against investments that jeopardize the exempt purpose of the trust for purposes of § 4944, as modified by § 4947(a)(2)(A), and against retaining any excess business holdings for purposes of § 4943, as modified by § 4947(a)(2)(A).

Instructions for use.

Explanation. A trust is not a CRAT if any person has the power to alter the amount to be paid to any named person other than an organization described in § 170(c) if the power would cause any person to be treated as the owner of the trust, or any portion thereof, if subpart E were applicable to the trust. Section 1.664-2(a)(3)(ii). See Rev. Rul. 77-73, 1977-1 C.B. 175. For example, the donor would not be treated as the owner of any portion of a trust if the power is exercisable solely by an independent trustee or trustees, provided no person has the power to add beneficiaries to the class except to provide for after-born or after-adopted children. Section 674(c). Trustees are independent for purposes of § 674(c) if none of them is the donor or the donor’s spouse and if no more than half of them are related or subordinate parties who are subservient to the wishes of the donor. However, an independent trustee’s discretionary power, exercisable solely by that trustee, to allocate the annuity amount among the members of a class would cause the trustee to be treated as the owner of all or a portion of the trust under § 678(a) if the trustee is a member of the class, if the trustee may apply trust income or corpus to satisfy the trustee’s own legal obligation, or if the trustee actually exercises the power to satisfy a support obligation owed by the trustee. Therefore, if any trustee is given the discretionary power exercisable solely by that trustee to allocate the annuity amount among members of a class, the trust instrument must provide that such trustee must be: (i) independent;  (ii) not a member of the recipient class; and (iii) prohibited from applying any part of the annuity payment in satisfaction of the trustee’s own legal obligation.

Instructions for use.

Explanation. Under § 664(f), payment of the annuity amount may terminate upon the earlier of the occurrence of a qualified contingency (as defined in § 664(f)(3)) or the expiration of the term of years. The amount of the charitable deduction, however, will be determined without regard to a qualified contingency. See § 664(f)(2).

Instruction for use. Replace the second and third sentences of paragraph 2, Payment of Annuity Amount, of the sample trust with the following two sentences, respectively:

Explanation. The amount of the donor’s income tax charitable deduction is more limited for gifts to certain private foundations than for other charitable organizations. Specifically, charitable organizations described in § 170(c) include private foundations that are not described in § 170(b)(1)(E). See § 170(b) and Rev. Rul. 79-368, 1979-2 C.B. 109. To avoid these more restrictive limitations, a donor of an inter vivos CRAT may wish to restrict the charitable remainderman to an organization that is described in § 170(b)(1)(A) as well as §§ 170(c), 2055(a), and 2522(a) (referred to herein as a “public charity”).

Instruction for use. To restrict the charitable remainderman to a public charity, each and every time the phrase “an organization described in §§ 170(c), 2055(a), and 2522(a) of the Code” appears in the sample trust, replace it with the phrase “an organization described in §§ 170(b)(1)(A), 170(c), 2055(a), and 2522(a) of the Code.”

Explanation. The donor may retain the right to substitute another charitable remainderman for the charitable remainderman named in the trust instrument. See Rev. Rul. 76-8, 1976-1 C.B. 179. Note, however, that the retention of this right will cause the gift of the remainder interest to be incomplete for gift tax purposes. See § 25.2511-2(c) and Rev. Rul. 77-275, 1977-2 C.B. 346.

Instruction for use. Insert the following sentence between the first and last sentences of paragraph 4, Distribution to Charity, of the sample trust:

Explanation. The trust instrument may grant a recipient a power of appointment to designate the charitable remainderman. See Rev. Rul. 76-7, 1976-1 C.B. 179.

Instruction for use. Replace paragraph 4, Distribution to Charity, of the sample trust with the following paragraph: