Commuted Payment Gift Annuity: The Details

The commuted payment charitable gift annuity is especially designed for donors who need payments for a set period of years rather than for a lifetime. It makes fixed payments to you and/or another beneficiary for a set period of years starting in the future. Because of the deferral of income and short payment period:

• Suffield Academy can offer a higher income rate for these annuities than for annuities whose income starts immediately, and
• You can receive more income in a shorter period of time to meet particular cash flow needs.

These two features make the commuted payment gift annuity quite attractive to donors in high-earnings years who are concerned about securing both current tax deductions and either paying for college for children or grandchildren, or bridging the income gap between early retirement and the availability of funds from qualified retirement plans or Social Security.

Use a commuted payment gift annuity to provide income if you retire early

Many individuals elect to retire early. Unfortunately, they are not eligible to start collecting Social Security right away, or end up having to take a smaller Social Security payment if they start withdrawals prior to full retirement age. Many Suffield Academy donors consider using a commuted payment gift annuity to help bridge this gap. Funded with as little as $10,000, you could fund a commuted payment gift annuity with Suffield Academy. In exchange for your gift Suffield Academy would provide you with the total sum of payments you would have received from a lifetime annuity during a short period of years, say from age 60-67 when you can claim full Social Security benefits. When the annuity ends, you direct the remaining funds to the area at Suffield Academy that is most important to you, allowing you to see your philanthropy at work.

Use a commuted payment gift annuity to pay for college for children or grandchildren

While most families will find that Section 529 College Savings Plans are the most effective way to pay for college for children or grandchildren, those who are charitably-minded to Suffield Academy may want to consider a commuted payment gift annuity. Your gift will allow you to provide payments to benefit a child or grandchild for a period of four or five years to pay for college. When the payment period ends, the remaining principal can be directed to an Suffield Academy program of your choice.

Planning points

The commuted payment gift annuity offers the same benefits of simplicity, security, and attractive income taxation that the deferred gift annuity provides our donors:

• Your commuted payment gift annuity is a contract between Suffield Academy and you, and your annuity payments are an obligation backed by our corporate assets;
• You secure a charitable income tax deduction based on the market value of the assets you contributed, minus the present value of the life-income interest you retained;
• No up-front capital gains tax is payable if you fund your commuted payment gift annuity with appreciated securities; only a portion of your gain is recognized, with the tax spread over your annuity payments;
• Part of each annuity payment to you comes tax-free as the return of principal;
  

  Please Note: The IRS provides that the capital gain and tax-free income benefits are in effect during your life expectancy. If you live longer, the entire annuity payment will be taxed to you.

• The balance remaining in your commuted payment gift annuity after the death of the beneficiaries will be used by Suffield Academy for the purpose you designated when you created the gift annuity.
• A commuted payment gift annuity at Suffield Academy can be made with a gift of 10,000 or more.

How do you create a commuted payment gift annuity?

We will provide a draft of the commuted payment gift annuity agreement for review by you. As always, we encourage you to seek the advice of your attorney or financial advisor. We'd be happy to share additional material with them.

Please Note: This information is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax or financial advice. Consult your legal, tax and financial advisors prior to making any material decisions based on this data.