Private annuities can offer big tax savings

Description

Abstract: A private annuity can be a powerful strategy for passing assets to heirs in a tax-efficient manner. It involves transferring property to children or others in exchange for their unsecured promise to make annual payments to the transferor for the rest of his or her life. This article examines both the benefits and risks of private annuities, while a sidebar looks at a case in which the U.S. Tax Court approved a deferred private annuity, which, under the right circumstances, can minimize the risk.