Loopholes > Federal > Power of Substitution for Asset Basis Management
DEDUCTION HIGH SAVINGS INVESTOR

Power of Substitution for Asset Basis Management

IRC §675(4)(C)

By including a power to reacquire trust corpus by substituting other property of equivalent value in a nonfiduciary capacity, the grantor is treated as the owner for income tax purposes. This allows the grantor to swap low-basis assets in the trust for high-basis assets (like cash) before death to achieve a step-up in basis under Section 1014.

Eligibility

Requires specific language in the trust instrument granting the power to substitute assets in a nonfiduciary capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Power of Substitution for Asset Basis Management?

Requires specific language in the trust instrument granting the power to substitute assets in a nonfiduciary capacity.

How does the Power of Substitution for Asset Basis Management work?

By including a power to reacquire trust corpus by substituting other property of equivalent value in a nonfiduciary capacity, the grantor is treated as the owner for income tax purposes. This allows the grantor to swap low-basis assets in the trust for high-basis assets (like cash) before death to achieve a step-up in basis under Section 1014.

What law authorizes the Power of Substitution for Asset Basis Management?

The Power of Substitution for Asset Basis Management is authorized under IRC §675(4)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26, United States Code).

Statutory Text — IRC §675

Source: Internal Revenue Code, Title 26, United States Code

§ 675. Administrative powers The grantor shall be treated as the owner of any portion of a trust in respect of which—(1) Power to deal for less than adequate and full considerationA power exercisable by the grantor or a nonadverse party, or both, without the approval or consent of any adverse party enables the grantor or any person to purchase, exchange, or otherwise deal with or dispose of the corpus or the income therefrom for less than an adequate consideration in money or money’s worth. (2) Power to borrow without adequate interest or securityA power exercisable by the grantor or a nonadverse party, or both, enables the grantor to borrow the corpus or income, directly or indirectly, without adequate interest or without adequate security except where a trustee (other than the grantor) is authorized under a general lending power to make loans to any person without regard to interest or security. (3) Borrowing of the trust fundsThe grantor has directly or indirectly borrowed the corpus or income and has not completely repaid the loan, including any interest, before the beginning of the taxable year. The preceding sentence shall not apply to a loan which provides for adequate interest and adequate security, if such loan is made by a trustee other than the grantor and other than a related or subordinate trustee subservient to the grantor. For periods during which an individual is the spouse of the grantor (within the meaning of section 672(e)(2)), any reference in this paragraph to the grantor shall be treated as including a reference to such individual. (4) General powers of administrationA power of administration is exercisable in a nonfiduciary capacity by any person without the approval or consent of any person in a fiduciary capacity. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “power of administration” means any one or more of the following powers: (A) a power to vote or direct the voting of stock or other securities of a corporation in which the holdings of the grantor and the trust are significant from the viewpoint of voting control; (B) a power to control the investment of the trust funds either by directing investments or reinvestments, or by vetoing proposed investments or reinvestments, to the extent that the trust funds consist of stocks or securities of corporations in which the holdings of the grantor and the trust are significant from the viewpoint of voting control; or (C) a power to reacquire the trust corpus by substituting other property of an equivalent value. (Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 229; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1014(a)(2), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3559.) Editorial Notes Amendments1988—Par. (3). Pub. L. 100–647 inserted at end “For periods during which an individual is the spouse of the grantor (within the meaning of section 672(e)(2)), any reference in this paragraph to the grantor shall be treated as including a reference to such individual.”

Showing first 3,000 characters of full section text.