What are the different trust types?

As a legal structure, the trust has proved to be remarkably adaptable over several centuries. Today, trusts are a commonplace of everyday life, from the pensions and investment world to the ownership of land. In family wealth planning the trust operates as a managed gift, protecting beneficiaries from themselves and others and ensuring that assets are used for the purposes intended during a given period, or even inter-generationally.

As professional advisers we often find that clients have only a limited appreciation of what trusts can do to address a variety of issues in their estate and tax planning. The following parts of this information sheet provide an overview of the principal types of trust which may be created by will or lifetime settlement, and the circumstances in which they are likely to be appropriate.

What are bare trusts?

Key features of bare trusts

• The trust fund belongs to the beneficiary;
• A beneficiary with capacity can take personal control at 18;
• The tax treatment is transparent – inheritance tax (IHT), capital gains tax and (in the absence of a parent-settlor) income tax are all assessed on the beneficiary.

When to use bare trusts

• For small trust funds;
• For trust funds which will mostly be spent by the time the beneficiary reaches 18 (e.g. on school fees);
• To manage funds for incapacitated beneficiaries or those who are otherwise dependent and in need of support;
• To hold personal injury awards and preserve access to benefits.
• Points to watch
• Income over £100 is taxed on a parent-settlor;
• There is no flexibility – if a beneficiary dies the trust fund devolves in accordance with his or her will (if any) or intestacy.

What are life interest trusts?

Key features of life interest trusts

• Trust income must be paid to the life tenant (if over 18);
• The life tenant’s occupation of a house or flat can take the place of income;
• Income is taxed at the basic rate and may be assessed directly on the life tenant;
• Capital is held by the trustees for one or more remainder beneficiaries who are intended to benefit after the life tenant’s interest has come to an end.

When to use life interest trusts

• To provide someone with an income (or a place to live) while protecting the underlying capital assets for the ultimate benefit of others;
• To balance the competing financial interests of particular family members, for example the widow(er) of a second marriage and children of the first;
• To shelter capital from third party claims against a particular individual, whether arising from creditors, a divorce or some form of means assessment.
• Points to watch
• The discretionary release of capital to a life tenant, and flexible powers of appointment over the entire trust fund, are frequently built in;
• Lifetime trusts post-Finance Act 2006 (except for certain disabled person’s interests) are within the ‘relevant property’ IHT regime with 10 yearly and exit charges where the assessable value is above the nil rate allowance;
• With pre-Finance Act 2006 trusts and those arising from wills with ‘immediate post-death interests’, the life tenant is treated for IHT as if owning the trust fund.

What are discretionary trusts?

Key features of discretionary trusts

• The trustees have wide powers to distribute income and/or capital, at their discretion, to any of the members of a defined class of beneficiaries;
• Membership of the beneficial class can be tailored;
• None of the beneficial class has an entitlement to income or capital unless and until conferred by the trustees;
• Income does not have to be paid out, but may be accumulated and reinvested within the trust fund.

When to use discretionary trusts

• For a number of beneficiaries, when flexibility is required in deciding how, and to what extent, they should benefit;
• To shelter both income and capital from third party claims against beneficiaries;
• Where the investment priority is long-term capital growth rather than immediate income generation;
• In the context of wills, to preserve the benefit of certain IHT reliefs and allowances when providing for a spouse and not adding to his or her taxable estate;
• For pension and life policy trusts, where it is undesirable to fix the ultimate beneficiaries many years before funds become available.

Points to watch with discretionary trusts

• Within the ‘relevant property’ IHT regime with 10 yearly and exit charges where the assessable value is above the nil rate allowance;
• In will trusts, exit charges may not apply within two years of the date of death;
• The income tax rates for trusts apply unless an appointed life interest is created;
• Income may not be accumulated beyond five years without being treated as capital for IHT.

What are age contingent trusts?

Key features of age contingent trusts

• Entitlement to the trust fund, or a part of it, arises when the beneficiary reaches a specified age;
• Income may be accumulated and reinvested for some or all of the period that a beneficiary is under the specified age;
• Income and capital may be released to beneficiaries on a discretionary basis while under the specified age;
• Income is taxed at the rates applicable to trusts unless an income entitlement arises, or is appointed, before the specified age.

When to use age contingent trusts

• To look after funds on behalf of a young beneficiary until he or she is better able to manage them personally;
• Where equality of treatment among a number of beneficiaries is an important objective;
• Within wills, when in most cases the age of the intended beneficiaries at the testator’s death cannot be predicted.

Points to watch with age contingent trusts

• Within the ‘relevant property’ IHT regime with 10 yearly and exit charges where the assessable value is above the nil rate allowance;
• Flexible powers of appointment over the entire trust fund may apply;
• A nil or reduced rate of IHT may apply to such trusts in wills for the benefit of the testator’s children or step-children (provided that no overriding power of appointment applies);
• Income and capital gains may be assessed at the equivalent of the beneficiary’s own tax rates if the conditions for a ‘vulnerable person’ trust are met (in this context, a trust for a person under 18 who has lost at least one parent), and an election is made.

What are trusts for disabled people?

Key features of trusts for disabled people

• May take the form of a life interest trust or a discretionary trust;
• Outside of the ‘relevant property’ IHT regime even if created by lifetime settlement and/or the trustees have discretion over income.

When to use trusts for disabled people

To make provision for ‘disabled persons’ as defined in the IHT legislation (mentally incapable or in receipt of certain benefits such as attendance allowance or personal independence payment) whenever there may be drawbacks in using the main types of trust referred to above.

Points to watch with trusts for disabled people

• In general, income and capital paid or applied by the trustees in the disabled person’s lifetime must be for his or her benefit;
• The trust fund will be subject to IHT at death rates when the beneficiary dies;
• Income and capital gains may be assessed at the equivalent of the disabled person’s own tax rates if an election is made.