Recipient types and associated estate tax treatment
Last updated: April 25, 2025
Recipient types and associated estate tax treatment
Luminary calculates estimated estate taxes based on the recipient type selected
Surviving spouse (credit shelter)
Common uses include funding a federal & state exempt Bypass Trust, Family Trust, or Credit Share Trust
Should only be transferred to entities outside of the surviving spouse's estate
Uses the decedent spouse's federal, state, and GST exemptions
Will not be taxable at the decedent spouse's death, unless an amount greater than the decedent's remaining lifetime exemptions (federal and state) is transferred
Surviving spouse (credit shelter, marital exclusion - state)
Common uses include funding a federal exempt, but state taxable trust
Should only be transferred to entities outside of the surviving spouse's federal estate, but in their state-level estate
Uses the decedent spouse's federal & GST exemption, but does not use the state level exemption
Will not be taxable at the decedent spouse's death, unless an amount greater than the decedent's remaining lifetime exemption is transferred
Surviving spouse (marital exclusion - federal and state)
Common uses include funding a Marital Trust, an inherited IRA, or transferring property outright to the surviving spouse
Should only be transferred to entities in the surviving spouse's estate
Does not use the decedent spouse's federal and state estate tax exemption
Non-taxable at the death of the first spouse
Generation 2 or other individual
Common uses include transferring assets directly to children, to siblings, or to non-related individuals that are at least 37.5 years older than the decedent
Any amount over the remaining estate tax exemption will be subject to estate tax at death of the grantor
Uses the decedent's estate tax exemption
Generation 2, then Generation 3
Common uses include funding a trust that lists both children and grandchildren as beneficiaries
Any amount over the remaining estate tax exemption will be subject to estate tax at death of the grantor
Uses the decedent's estate tax and GST exemptions
Any amount over the remaining GST exemption will be GST taxable at the death of the second generation
Generation 3
Common uses include transferring assets directly to grandchildren, a trust that only benefits G3, or to non-related individuals that are at least 37.5 years younger than the decedent
Any amount over the remaining GST exemption will be subject to estate & GST tax at death of the grantor
Uses the decedent's lifetime and GST exemption
Charitable
Common uses include charitable donations, or funding charitable trusts
Non-taxable