Special Needs Trust as IRA Beneficiary

If a Special Needs Trust is named as an IRA beneficiary, are the proceeds of the IRA taxed when passed to the Trust?



Yes, when distributed from the IRA to the trust. But if the trust is qualified for look through treatment, the beneficiary’s single life expectancy can be used for the RMDs. This provides considerable tax deferral, but that advantage is partially offset by the higher trust tax rates.
For more information see PLR 2006 20025



Unless the SNT is a Grantor trust, in which case the income would be taxed to the child. The USUAL clue is the chold’s SSN used instead of a TIN.



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