Previously, the IRS granted the step-up in basis for assets in an irrevocable trust but the new ruling – Rev. Rul. 2023-2 – changes that. Unless the assets are included in the taxable estate of the original owner (or “grantor”), the basis doesn't reset.
Irrevocable Trusts
The trust assets will carry over the grantor's adjusted basis, rather than get a step-up at death. Assets held in an irrevocable trust that has its own tax identification number (i.e., nongrantor trust status) do not receive a new basis when the grantor dies.
When the grantor of an irrevocable trust dies, the trustee or the person named successor trustee assumes control of the trust. The new trustee distributes the assets placed in the trust according to the bylaws of the trust.
Do Assets Owned By a Trust Get a Step-Up in Basis at Death? Assets held in revocable or living trusts are eligible to be valued on a stepped-up basis when the trust grantor dies. Assets held in irrevocable trusts, however, are passed to heirs at their original basis.
Examples of Assets That Do NOT Step-Up in Basis
Individual retirement accounts, including IRAs and Roth IRAs. 401(k), 403(b), 457 employer-sponsored retirement plans and pensions. Real estate that was gifted prior to inheritance. Tax-deferred annuities.
Under the new rule, an asset must be included in the grantor's taxable estate at the time of their death to qualify for a step-up basis. Since assets in irrevocable trusts are generally not part of the grantor's estate, they may no longer benefit from this tax-saving provision.
The downside of irrevocable trust is that you can't change it. And you can't act as your own trustee either. Once the trust is set up and the assets are transferred, you no longer have control over them, which can be a huge danger if you aren't confident about the reason you're setting up the trust to begin with.
One of the biggest mistakes parents make when setting up a trust fund is choosing the wrong trustee to oversee and manage the trust. This crucial decision can open the door to potential theft, mismanagement of assets, and family conflict that derails your child's financial future.
With an irrevocable trust, the transfer of assets is permanent. So once the trust is created and assets are transferred, they generally can't be taken out again. You can still act as the trustee but you'd be limited to withdrawing money only on an as-needed basis to cover necessary expenses.
They can be sold, but these transactions are typically more complicated than traditional home sales. Selling a home in California will take time. Even if you have a motivated buyer, the transaction still might not be completed for several weeks or months after an offer has been accepted.
And so the trustee of a trust, whether it's revocable or irrevocable, can use trust funds to pay for nursing home care for a senior. Now, that doesn't mean that the nursing home itself can access the funds that are held in an irrevocable trust. It's always the responsibility of the trustee to manage those assets.
The assets in an irrevocable trust are typically distributed according to a predetermined schedule, such as monthly or yearly, or upon specific events, such as when the beneficiary reaches a certain age, gets married, or achieves another milestone.
A stepped-up basis is a tax law that applies to estate transfers. When someone inherits investment assets, the IRS resets the asset's original cost basis to its value at the date of the inheritance. The heir then pays capital gains taxes on that basis.
When you put your assets into an irrevocable trust, they no longer belong to you, the taxpayer (this is different from a revocable trust, where they do still belong to you). This means that generally, the IRS cannot touch your assets in an irrevocable trust.
Drawbacks of Putting a House Into a Trust
Loss of Control: Transferring a house into a trust means you lose direct control of it, with the trustees making decisions on your behalf. However, many types of trusts still allow the settlor to retain some control, especially with Living Trusts.
The total payment to set up a trust is £465 where the trust is being set up by one person or £475 where it is being set up by two people. These costs are inclusive of VAT.
A dynasty trust is an irrevocable trust created to pass wealth from generation to generation without incurring estate taxes. It avoids the generation-skipping transfer tax, enabling long-term wealth growth for multiple generations.
Revenue Ruling 2023-2: Clarity on Irrevocable Grantor Trusts and Step-Up in Basis. Last spring, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2023-2 to clarify that assets held in an irrevocable grantor trust do not receive a step-up in basis at the grantor's death.
Irrevocable trusts are generally set up to minimize estate taxes, access government benefits, and protect assets.
There is no limit to how much you can transfer into the trust. Of course, the trust is irrevocable, so once you have transferred the assets, you can't use them or benefit from those assets, and if you do, they will likely be included in your estate for tax purposes.
When the grantor of an irrevocable trusts dies, the person named successor trustee in the Declaration of Trust assumes control of the trust. The new trustee distributes the assets placed in the trust to the proper beneficiaries.
The step-up in basis provision adjusts the value, or “cost basis,” of an inherited asset (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.) when it is passed on, after death. This often reduces the capital gains tax owed by the recipient.
The only three times you might want to consider creating an irrevocable trust is when you want to (1) minimize estate taxes, (2) become eligible for government programs, or (3) protect your assets from your creditors.