If you are one of those people, you likely donate to a number of charities on a regular basis. Learn more about charitable gifting in Missouri in your estate plan in this presentation.

1. Charitable Gifting in Your Estate Plan www.yourestatematters.com
Charitable Gifting in Your Estate PlanCHARITABLE
GIFTING IN YOUR
ESTATE PLAN

2. Charitable Gifting in Your Estate Plan www.yourestatematters.com
For many people, philanthropy is a way
of life. If you are one of those people,
you likely donate to a number of
charities on a regular basis. You may
even be personally involved in some of
the charities or non-profit organizations
that matter to you. If philanthropy is
important to you while you are alive,
why not include charitable gifting in your estate plan as well? Not only does the
inclusion of charitable gifting in your estate plan serve to extend your philanthropic
endeavors but it can also provide a significant tax advantage to your overall estate plan
as well. Because of the numerous ways in which charitable gifting can be included in
your estate plan it is always best to consult with your Missouri estate planning attorney
before settling on a method; however, a basic understanding of some of the more
popular ways in which philanthropy can be included in your estate plan is a good place
to start.
A Word about Taxes
One important consideration in any comprehensive estate plan is the impact taxes will
have on the plan. Specifically, gift and estate taxes and/or capital gains taxes.Most
charitable gifting has the added benefit of reducing the impact of these taxes on your
estate plan. To understand why this is important, you need to understand how taxes can
wreak havoc with your estate without proper tax avoidance planning.

3. Charitable Gifting in Your Estate Plan www.yourestatematters.com
Federal gift and estate taxes -- are potentially levied on your estate when you
die. Each taxpayer is entitled to a lifetime exclusion before the tax applies. Thanks
to the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2013, the lifetime exclusion amount was
set at $5 million, adjusted annually for inflation. For 2014, the amount is $5.34
million, meaning you can gift up to that amount during your lifetime and/or at
death before gift and estate taxes
apply. When you die, the value of
your estate assets plus all gifts
made during your lifetime will be
calculated. If the total exceeds the
lifetime exclusion limit the
amount in excess of the limit will
be taxed at the rate of 40 percent.
Capital gains taxes -- may also impact your estate plan. Though it will not directly
impact your estate, your estate beneficiaries can be affected if they are required
to pay capital gains tax on a gift upon the sale of the assets down the road. If your
basis in the asset is used, the gain realized may be substantial and will be taxed at
up to a 15 percent tax rate.
Annual gift tax exemption -- offers taxpayers the ability to gift up to $14,000 per
year to as many beneficiaries as they wish, including charitable beneficiaries, tax-
free. Therefore, you may be able to contribute up to $14,000 to whichever
charitable gifting option you choose without incurring a tax obligation and
without the gift counting toward your lifetime exemption limit for gift and estate
taxes.

4. Charitable Gifting in Your Estate Plan www.yourestatematters.com
The good news is that charitable gifting in your estate plan can offer an immediate tax
benefit as well as reduce the overall tax burden on your estate when you die.
Charitable Trusts
Using a trust to make gifts to charity is a popular option in part because of the flexibility
trusts offer. Two popular options are the charitable lead trust, or CLT, and the charitable
remainder trust, or CRT. Both options combine charitable and non-charitable gifting. A
CLT trust provides income to a charitable beneficiary for a set period of time after which
the remaining assets in the trust are distributed to a non-charitable beneficiary. A CRT
works the opposite way. The trust pays out first to a non-charitable beneficiary for a
specific period of time with the remainder of the trust assets earmarked for the
charitable beneficiary. A CRT is useful for buying and selling assets without immediate

5. Charitable Gifting in Your Estate Plan www.yourestatematters.com
capital gains tax because the CRT is exempt from income tax. In addition, if you create
an inter vivos, or living, trust you may also be entitled to an income tax deduction,
adding to the tax benefits available when using a CRT.
Charitable Gift Annuities
A charitable gift annuity is similar in concept to a charitable remainder trust but no trust
agreement is involved. With a charitable gift annuity, or CGA, you contribute cash or
other property acceptable to the charity in exchange for fixed annuity payments to one
or two designated individual beneficiaries, guaranteed by the charitable organization. As
with a CRT or CLT, there are a number of tax benefits that may apply to a CGA, including
an income tax deduction in the year the gift to the CGA is made.
Charitable Donor Advised Funds
With this option you make an irrevocable tax-
deductible contribution to a professionally
managed fund. You then have the ability to
make recommendations for grants to qualified
non-profit organizations. Similar in nature to
creating your own private foundation, the difference is that once you make a
contribution to a donor advised fund the fund then owns the assets. Therefore, you are
only able to make recommendations. The fund ultimately controls the distribution of
assets. Like other charitable gifting options, contributions to a charitable donor advised
fund are typically tax deductible up to limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Service.

6. Charitable Gifting in Your Estate Plan www.yourestatematters.com
There are, of course, numerous other ways in which you can include charitable gifting in
your estate plan. Consult with your Missouri estate planning attorney to decide which
option is best for your estate plan.
Fidelity, Charity
Planned Giving Design Center, Charitable Remainder Trust
T. Rowe Price, Giving to Charity

7. Charitable Gifting in Your Estate Plan www.yourestatematters.com
Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorneys in St. Louis, MO
St. Louis Estate Planning Attorneys: Planning for Your Future Today
Missouri Estate Planning attorneys Amen, Gantner&Capriano, Your Estate
Matters, L.L.C. are here to help you with legal issues regarding St. Louis Elder
Law, Veterans Aid and Assistance, Probate, Wills, Trusts, Trust Administration,
Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives, LGBT, and all things required to
establish a proper estate plan for the future of both you and your loved ones.
Our law firm understands the varying dynamics of modern families and seeks to
address these issues in the estate plan so your estate is distributed only to those
who you request, instead of those who may be otherwise legally obliged to it.
Estate planning can be a big project that requires consistent maintenance;
however, our professional Estate Planning attorneys can organize all of the legal
paperwork and logistics for you, while offering helpful legal advice along the
way.
Amen, Gantner&Capriano, Your Estate Matters, L.L.C.
10805 Sunset Office Dr., Suite #100
St. Louis, MO 63127
Phone: (314) 966-8077
www.YourEstateMatters.com
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Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorneys in St. Louis, MO
St. Louis Estate Planning Attorneys: Planning for Your Future Today
Missouri Estate Planning attorneys Amen, Gantner&Capriano, Your Estate Matters, L.L.C. are
here to help you with legal issues regarding St. Louis Elder Law, Veterans Aid and Assistance,
Probate, Wills, Trusts, Trust Administration, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives, LGBT,
and all things required to establish a proper estate plan for the future of both you and your loved
ones. Our law firm understands the varying dynamics of modern families and seeks to address
these issues in the estate plan so your estate is distributed only to those who you request, instead
of those who may be otherwise legally obliged to it. Estate planning can be a big project that
requires consistent maintenance; however, our professional Estate Planning attorneys can
organize all of the legal paperwork and logistics for you, while offering helpful legal advice along
the way.
Amen, Gantner&Capriano, Your Estate Matters, L.L.C.
10805 Sunset Office Dr., Suite #100
St. Louis, MO 63127
Phone: (314) 966-8077
www.YourEstateMatters.com