Like retirement plan assets, commercial annuities provide for tax-deferred growth while the owner is living. Because distributions from commercial annuities are subject to income taxes, they are often considered among the best assets to leave to charity. Due to our tax-exempt status, the University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust can receive your commercial annuity completely tax-free. The best way to give a commercial annuity in support of our work after your lifetime is to name us as beneficiary.
Making this gift is as simple as updating your beneficiary form with your bank or insurance company. You can designate us as the primary beneficiary for a percentage or specific amount. You can also make us the contingent beneficiary so that we will receive the balance of your policy only if your primary beneficiary does not survive you.
Next Steps
- Contact Morag Murison at +44 (0) 131 650 2240 or legacy-giving@ed.ac.uk for additional information on commercial annuities.
- Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.
- If you include the University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust in your plans, please use our legal name and federal tax ID.
Legal name: The University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, Ste 2000, New York, NY, 10111, USA
Federal tax ID number: 52-1802057
The University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust, Inc, is a registered charity, which supports students, teaching and research at the University of Edinburgh. The Trust is incorporated in the State of Virginia and is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Under its charter and in accordance with U.S. tax law, the University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust, Inc may not receive restricted gifts. However, the Board gives every consideration to donors’ requests when allocating gifts to the University of Edinburgh.
Please also note that the University of Edinburgh has its own charitable status. If you are a USA taxpayer, you can designate it as a beneficiary in your will because bequests to overseas charities are normally exempt from US estate tax. Life income gifts and other planned giving vehicles may need to be given to the University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust, Inc, in order to be eligible for favourable tax treatment under IRS rules.
Due to complexity of some gifts, we would encourage you to contact us to discuss your wishes in the first instance. Please note that the acceptance of each gift is decided on an individual basis.
We welcome enquiries from all donors throughout the US and Canada.
