Trustee Income

Client is retired.  No income other than Social Security.  Acting as Trustee on a CRT, receives $100k of income for service.  Will that be reported on 1099?  If so, can client fund a SEP IRA for $25k and a Roth IRA for $8k?  Client is 80 years old. If the income will not be reported on 1099, how is it likely to be reported? – m



If someone is a trustee as a business, the trustee fee would be reported on Form 1099-NEC and subject to self-employment tax. An individual who serves as an executor or trustee for a family member, receives no 1099 and does not pay social security tax. In general, you need income subject to social security tax to support a SEP IRA or Roth IRA.

Reporting such income on Form 1040 can be tricky if you’re not in the business of being a trustee. Most software programs treat 1099-NEC income as always subject to SE tax. If there are expenses in connection with being a trustee, they can offset the fee income but they are also difficult to properly report on Form 1040.

Thank you for the input.  How will the CRT report the payment to the TTEE for services?  I would think it would have to be reported somehow for the TTEE to then show it on their own tax return.  Thanks. – m

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