1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to trusts and other agency relationships; |
3 | amending s. 711.501, F.S.; including additional investment |
4 | instruments within the definition of the term "security |
5 | account"; creating s. 737.309, F.S.; providing procedures |
6 | for the resignation of a trustee; providing that such |
7 | resignation does not discharge or affect any liability of |
8 | the resigning trustee; providing for notice of |
9 | resignation; amending s. 737.402, F.S.; revising the |
10 | powers conferred upon a trustee; amending s. 737.403, |
11 | F.S.; specifying circumstances in which court |
12 | authorization is not required for a trustee to exercise |
13 | his or her power when a conflict of interest exists; |
14 | amending s. 738.104, F.S.; removing a prohibition on a |
15 | trustee's power to make certain adjustments; specifying a |
16 | circumstance under which an adjustment shall not be deemed |
17 | to benefit the trustee; providing application of section |
18 | to administration of certain trusts; conforming cross |
19 | references; amending s. 738.1041, F.S.; providing and |
20 | revising definitions; providing methods by which a trustee |
21 | may make certain changes to trusts; removing requirements |
22 | regarding certain minimum unitrust amounts; removing a |
23 | spouse's right to compel reconversion of certain trusts; |
24 | providing remedies for trustees or disinterested persons |
25 | not acting in good faith; expanding scope of section to |
26 | trusts administered either in this state or under Florida |
27 | law; authorizing a grantor to create an express total |
28 | return unitrust; requiring certain provisions to be |
29 | included in an express total return unitrust; amending s. |
30 | 738.303, F.S.; redefining the term "undistributed income"; |
31 | amending s. 738.401, F.S., relating to character of |
32 | receipts; providing certain statements that a trustee may |
33 | rely upon; providing special rules to apply to receipts by |
34 | private trustees from certain entities; providing |
35 | definitions; providing an effective date. |
36 |
|
37 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
38 |
|
39 | Section 1. Subsection (10) of section 711.501, Florida |
40 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
41 | 711.501 Definitions.--In ss. 711.50-711.512, unless the |
42 | context otherwise requires, the term: |
43 | (10) "Security account" means: |
44 | (a) A reinvestment account associated with a security, a |
45 | securities account with a broker, a cash balance in a brokerage |
46 | account, cash, interest, earnings, or dividends earned or |
47 | declared on a security in an account, a reinvestment account, or |
48 | a brokerage account, whether or not credited to the account |
49 | before the owner's death; or |
50 | (b) An investment management account, investment advisory |
51 | account, investment agency account, custody account, or any |
52 | other type of account with a bank or trust company, including |
53 | the securities in the account, the cash balance in the account, |
54 | and cash equivalents, and any interest, earnings, or dividends |
55 | earned or declared on a security in the account, whether or not |
56 | credited to the account before the owner's death; or |
57 | (c)(b) A cash balance or other property held for or due to |
58 | the owner of a security as a replacement for or product of an |
59 | account security, whether or not credited to the account before |
60 | the owner's death. |
61 | Section 2. Section 737.309, Florida Statutes, is created |
62 | to read: |
63 | 737.309 Resignation of trustee.-- |
64 | (1) A trustee may resign: |
65 | (a) Upon at least 30 days' written notice to the settlor, |
66 | if living, all cotrustees, and all persons entitled to a trust |
67 | accounting pursuant to s. 737.303, as qualified by s. 731.303; |
68 | or |
69 | (b) With approval of the court. In approving a |
70 | resignation, the court may issue orders and impose conditions |
71 | reasonably necessary for the protection of the trust property. |
72 | (2) Any liability of a resigning trustee or of any |
73 | sureties on the trustee's bond for acts or omissions of the |
74 | trustee is not discharged or affected by the trustee's |
75 | resignation. |
76 | (3) If the resignation of a trustee would require the |
77 | vacancy to be filled by a successor trustee, a trustee that |
78 | resigns shall continue to serve until the successor assumes the |
79 | trusteeship. The resigning trustee shall deliver copies of all |
80 | notices and other records pertaining to the resignation to the |
81 | successor trustee or, if none, to a cotrustee. |
82 | (4) Notice of resignation shall be served in the manner |
83 | provided in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure relating to |
84 | service of pleadings subsequent to the initial pleading. The |
85 | notice may be served on a legal representative or natural |
86 | guardian of a beneficiary without the filing of any proceeding |
87 | or approval of any court. |
88 | Section 3. Paragraphs (y) and (z) of subsection (2) of |
89 | section 737.402, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
90 | 737.402 Powers of trustees conferred by this part.-- |
91 | (2) Unless otherwise provided in the trust instrument, a |
92 | trustee has the power: |
93 | (y) To employ persons, including attorneys, auditors, |
94 | investment advisers, or agents, even if they are the trustee or |
95 | associated with the trustee, to advise or assist the trustee in |
96 | the performance of his or her administrative duties and to pay |
97 | compensation and costs incurred in connection with such |
98 | employment from the assets of the trust; to act without |
99 | independent investigation upon their recommendations; and, |
100 | instead of acting personally, to employ one or more agents to |
101 | perform any act of administration, whether or not discretionary. |
102 | (z)1. To prosecute or defend actions, claims, or |
103 | proceedings, including appeals, for the protection of trust |
104 | assets and of the trustee in the performance of his or her |
105 | duties. |
106 | 2. To employ attorneys and other agents to advise and |
107 | assist the trustee in the exercise of any of the trustee's |
108 | powers and to pay compensation and costs incurred in connection |
109 | with such employment from the assets of the trust. |
110 | Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 737.403, Florida |
111 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
112 | 737.403 Power of court to permit deviation or to approve |
113 | transactions involving conflict of interest.-- |
114 | (2) If the duty of the trustee and the trustee's |
115 | individual interest or his or her interest as trustee of another |
116 | trust conflict in the exercise of a trust power, the power may |
117 | be exercised only by court authorization, except as provided in |
118 | s. 737.402(2)(a), (e), (g), (s) and (y). Under this section, |
119 | personal profit or advantage to an affiliated or subsidiary |
120 | company or association is personal profit to any corporate |
121 | trustee. Court authorization is not required for any of the |
122 | following: |
123 | (a) The exercise of any power described in s. |
124 | 737.402(2)(a), (e), (g), (s), or (y); |
125 | (b) The exercise of any power for which the trust |
126 | instrument acknowledges the trustee's conflict of interest and |
127 | expressly authorizes the exercise of that power notwithstanding |
128 | the conflict; |
129 | (c) The exercise of any power consented to in writing by a |
130 | settlor of the trust while the settlor holds the right of |
131 | revocation of the trust; |
132 | (d) The exercise of any power consented to in writing by |
133 | each of the beneficiaries to whom the trustee is required to |
134 | provide any annual or periodic accounting. Consent under this |
135 | paragraph may be given by a person who represents the interest |
136 | of the beneficiary under s. 731.303 or by the legal guardian of |
137 | the beneficiary or, if there is no legal guardian, by the |
138 | natural guardian of the beneficiary; or |
139 | (e) Payment of costs or attorney's fees incurred in any |
140 | trust proceeding from the assets of the trust unless an action |
141 | has been filed or defense asserted against the trustee based |
142 | upon a breach of trust. Court authorization is not required if |
143 | the action or defense is later withdrawn or dismissed by the |
144 | party that is alleging a breach of trust or resolved without a |
145 | determination by the court that the trustee has committed a |
146 | breach of trust. |
147 | Section 5. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section |
148 | 738.104, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (11) is |
149 | added to said section, to read: |
150 | 738.104 Trustee's power to adjust.-- |
151 | (3) A trustee may not make an adjustment: |
152 | (a) That diminishes the income interest in a trust that |
153 | requires all of the income to be paid at least annually to a |
154 | spouse and for which an estate tax or gift tax marital deduction |
155 | would be allowed, in whole or in part, if the trustee did not |
156 | have the power to adjust; |
157 | (a)(b) That reduces the actuarial value of the income |
158 | interest in a trust to which a person transfers property with |
159 | the intent to qualify for a gift tax exclusion; |
160 | (b)(c) That changes the amount payable to a beneficiary as |
161 | a fixed annuity or a fixed fraction of the value of the trust |
162 | assets; |
163 | (c)(d) From any amount that is permanently set aside for |
164 | charitable purposes under a will or the terms of a trust unless |
165 | both income and principal are so set aside; |
166 | (d)(e) If possessing or exercising the power to adjust |
167 | causes an individual to be treated as the owner of all or part |
168 | of the trust for income tax purposes and the individual would |
169 | not be treated as the owner if the trustee did not possess the |
170 | power to adjust; |
171 | (e)(f) If possessing or exercising the power to adjust |
172 | causes all or part of the trust assets to be included for estate |
173 | tax purposes in the estate of an individual who has the power to |
174 | remove a trustee or appoint a trustee, or both, and the assets |
175 | would not be included in the estate of the individual if the |
176 | trustee did not possess the power to adjust; |
177 | (f)(g) If the trustee is a beneficiary of the trust; or |
178 | (g)(h) If the trustee is not a beneficiary of the trust |
179 | but the adjustment would benefit the trustee directly or |
180 | indirectly, except that in the case of a trustee whose |
181 | compensation for acting as trustee is based upon the value of |
182 | trust assets, an adjustment that affects the value of trust |
183 | assets shall not be deemed to benefit the trustee. |
184 | (4) If paragraph (3)(d)(e), paragraph (3)(e)(f), paragraph |
185 | (3)(f)(g), or paragraph (3)(g)(h) applies to a trustee and there |
186 | is more than one trustee, a cotrustee to whom the provision does |
187 | not apply may make the adjustment unless the exercise of the |
188 | power by the remaining trustee is not permitted by the terms of |
189 | the trust. |
190 | (5)(a) A trustee may release the entire power to adjust |
191 | conferred by subsection (1) if the trustee desires to convert an |
192 | income trust to a total return unitrust pursuant to s. 738.1041. |
193 | (b) A trustee may release the entire power to adjust |
194 | conferred by subsection (1) or may release only the power to |
195 | adjust from income to principal or the power to adjust from |
196 | principal to income if the trustee is uncertain about whether |
197 | possessing or exercising the power will cause a result described |
198 | in paragraphs (3)(a)-(e)(f) or paragraph (3)(g)(h) or if the |
199 | trustee determines that possessing or exercising the power will |
200 | or may deprive the trust of a tax benefit or impose a tax burden |
201 | not described in subsection (3). |
202 | (c) A release under this subsection may be permanent or |
203 | for a specified period, including a period measured by the life |
204 | of an individual. Notwithstanding anything contrary to this |
205 | subsection, a release of the power to adjust pursuant to |
206 | paragraph (a) shall remain effective only for as long as the |
207 | trust is administered as a unitrust pursuant to s. 738.1041. |
208 | (11) This section shall be construed as pertaining to the |
209 | administration of a trust and is applicable to any trust that is |
210 | administered either in this state or under Florida law. |
211 | Section 6. Section 738.1041, Florida Statutes, is amended |
212 | to read: |
213 | 738.1041 Total return unitrust.-- |
214 | (1) For purposes of this section, the term: |
215 | (a) "Disinterested person" means a person who is not a |
216 | "related or subordinate party" as defined in s. 672(c) of the |
217 | United States Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. ss. 1 et seq., or |
218 | any successor provision thereof, with respect to the person then |
219 | acting as trustee of the trust and excludes the grantor and any |
220 | interested trustee. |
221 | (b) "Fair market value" means the fair market value of |
222 | assets held by the trust as otherwise determined under this |
223 | chapter, reduced by all known noncontingent liabilities. |
224 | (c)(b) "Income trust" means a trust, created by either an |
225 | inter vivos or a testamentary instrument, which directs or |
226 | permits the trustee to distribute the net income of the trust to |
227 | one or more persons, either in fixed proportions or in amounts |
228 | or proportions determined by the trustee and regardless of |
229 | whether the trust directs or permits the trustee to distribute |
230 | the principal of the trust to one or more such persons. |
231 | Notwithstanding the foregoing, no trust that otherwise is an |
232 | "income trust" shall qualify hereunder, if it may be subject to |
233 | taxation under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 2001 or |
234 | s. 2501, until the expiration of the period for filing the |
235 | return therefor, including extensions. |
236 | (d)(c) "Interested distributee" means a person to whom |
237 | distributions of income or principal can currently be made who |
238 | has the power to remove the existing trustee and designate as |
239 | successor a person who may be a "related or subordinate party," |
240 | as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 672(c), |
241 | with respect to such distributee. |
242 | (e)(d) "Interested trustee" means an individual trustee to |
243 | whom the net income or principal of the trust can currently be |
244 | distributed or would be distributed if the trust were then to |
245 | terminate and be distributed, any trustee whom an interested |
246 | distributee has the power to remove and replace with a related |
247 | or subordinate party as defined in paragraph (d) (c), or an |
248 | individual trustee whose legal obligation to support a |
249 | beneficiary may be satisfied by distributions of income and |
250 | principal of the trust. |
251 | (f) "Unitrust amount" means the amount determined by |
252 | multiplying the fair market value of the assets as defined in |
253 | paragraph (b) by the percentage calculated under paragraph |
254 | (2)(b). |
255 | (2) A trustee may, without court approval, convert an |
256 | income trust to a total return unitrust, reconvert a total |
257 | return unitrust to an income trust, or change the percentage |
258 | used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to |
259 | determine the fair market value of the trust if: |
260 | (a) The trustee adopts a written statement regarding trust |
261 | distributions that provides: |
262 | 1. In the case of a trust being administered as an income |
263 | trust, that future distributions from the trust will be unitrust |
264 | amounts rather than net income, and indicates the manner in |
265 | which the unitrust amount will be calculated and the method in |
266 | which the fair market value of the trust will be determined. |
267 | 2. In the case of a trust being administered as a total |
268 | return unitrust, that: |
269 | a. Future distributions from the trust will be net income |
270 | rather than unitrust amounts; or |
271 | b. The percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or |
272 | the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust |
273 | will be changed, and indicates the manner in which the new |
274 | unitrust amount will be calculated and the method in which the |
275 | new fair market value of the trust will be determined; |
276 | (b) The trustee determines the terms of the unitrust under |
277 | one of the following methods: |
278 | 1. A disinterested The trustee determines, or if there is |
279 | no trustee other than an interested trustee, the interested |
280 | trustee appoints a disinterested person who, in its sole |
281 | discretion but acting in a fiduciary capacity, determines for |
282 | the interested trustee: |
283 | a. The percentage to be used to calculate the unitrust |
284 | amount, provided the percentage used is not greater than 5 |
285 | percent nor less than 3 percent; |
286 | b. The method to be used in determining the fair market |
287 | value of the trust; and |
288 | c. Which assets, if any, are to be excluded in determining |
289 | the unitrust amount; or |
290 | 2. The interested trustee or disinterested trustee |
291 | administers the trust such that: |
292 | a. The percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount is |
293 | 50 percent of the applicable federal rate as defined in the |
294 | Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 7520, in effect for the |
295 | month the conversion under this section becomes effective and |
296 | for each January thereafter; however, if the percentage |
297 | calculated exceeds 5 percent, the unitrust percentage shall be 5 |
298 | percent and if the percentage calculated is less than 3 percent, |
299 | the unitrust percentage shall be 3 percent; and |
300 | b. The fair market value of the trust shall be determined |
301 | at least annually on an asset-by-asset basis, reasonably and in |
302 | good faith, in accordance with the provisions of s. 738.202(5), |
303 | except the following property shall not be included in |
304 | determining the value of the trust: |
305 | (I) Any residential property or any tangible personal |
306 | property that, as of the first business day of the current |
307 | valuation year, one or more current beneficiaries of the trust |
308 | have or have had the right to occupy, or have or have had the |
309 | right to possess or control (other than in his or her capacity |
310 | as trustee of the trust), and instead the right of occupancy or |
311 | the right to possession and control shall be deemed to be the |
312 | unitrust amount with respect to such property; however, the |
313 | unitrust amount shall be adjusted to take into account partial |
314 | distributions from or receipt into the trust of such property |
315 | during the valuation year. |
316 | (II) Any asset specifically given to a beneficiary and the |
317 | return on investment on such property, which return on |
318 | investment shall be distributable to such beneficiary. |
319 | (III) Any asset while held in a testator's estate; |
320 | (c) The trustee sends written notice of its intention to |
321 | take such action, along with copies of such written statement |
322 | and this section, and, if applicable, the determinations of |
323 | either the trustee or the disinterested person to: |
324 | 1. The grantor of the trust, if living. |
325 | 2. All living persons who are currently receiving or |
326 | eligible to receive distributions of income of the trust. |
327 | 3. All living persons who would receive distributions of |
328 | principal of the trust if the trust were to terminate at the |
329 | time of the giving of such notice (without regard to the |
330 | exercise of any power of appointment) or, if the trust does not |
331 | provide for its termination, all living persons who would |
332 | receive or be eligible to receive distributions of income or |
333 | principal of the trust if the persons identified in subparagraph |
334 | 2. were deceased. |
335 | 4. All persons acting as advisers or protectors of the |
336 | trust. |
337 |
|
338 | Notice under this paragraph shall be served informally, in the |
339 | manner provided in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure relating |
340 | to service of pleadings subsequent to the initial pleading. |
341 | Notice may be served on a legal representative or natural |
342 | guardian of a person without the filing of any proceeding or |
343 | approval of any court; |
344 |
|
345 | (d) At least one person receiving notice under each of |
346 | subparagraphs (c)2. and 3. is legally competent; and |
347 | (e) No person receiving such notice objects, by written |
348 | instrument delivered to the trustee, to the proposed action of |
349 | the trustee or the determinations of the disinterested person |
350 | within 60 days after service receipt of such notice. An |
351 | objection under this section may be executed by a legal |
352 | representative or natural guardian of a person without the |
353 | filing of any proceeding or approval of any court. |
354 | (3) If a trustee desires to convert an income trust to a |
355 | total return unitrust, reconvert a total return unitrust to an |
356 | income trust, or change the percentage used to calculate the |
357 | unitrust amount or the method used to determine a fair market |
358 | value of the trust but does not have the ability to or elects |
359 | not to do it under subsection (2), the trustee may petition the |
360 | circuit court for such order as the trustee deems appropriate. |
361 | In that event, the court, in its own discretion or on the |
362 | petition of such trustee or any person having an income or |
363 | remainder interest in the trust, may appoint a disinterested |
364 | person who, acting in a fiduciary capacity, shall present such |
365 | information to the court as shall be necessary for the court to |
366 | make a determination hereunder. |
367 | (4) All determinations made pursuant to sub-subparagraph |
368 | (2)(b)2.b. shall be conclusive if reasonable and made in good |
369 | faith. Such determination shall be conclusively presumed to have |
370 | been made reasonably and in good faith unless proven otherwise |
371 | in a proceeding commenced by or on behalf of a person interested |
372 | in the trust within the time provided in s. 737.307. The burden |
373 | will be on the objecting interested party to prove that the |
374 | determinations were not made reasonably and in good faith. |
375 | (5) The unitrust amount shall not be less than the net |
376 | income of the trust, determined without regard to the provisions |
377 | of subsection (6), for: |
378 | (a) A trust for which a marital deduction has been taken |
379 | for federal tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 |
380 | U.S.C. s. 2056 or s. 2523, during the lifetime of the spouse for |
381 | whom the trust was created; or |
382 | (b) A trust to which the generation-skipping transfer tax |
383 | due under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 2601 does not |
384 | apply by reason of any effective date or transition rule. |
385 |
|
386 | Paragraph (a) will not apply to any trust to the extent that the |
387 | use of a total return unitrust is recognized for federal tax |
388 | purposes under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 2056 or |
389 | s. 2523. Paragraph (b) will not apply to any trust to the extent |
390 | that the use of a total return unitrust is recognized for |
391 | federal tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. |
392 | s. 2601. |
393 | (5)(6) Following the conversion of an income trust to a |
394 | total return unitrust, the trustee: |
395 | (a) Shall treat the unitrust amount as if it were net |
396 | income of the trust for purposes of determining the amount |
397 | available, from time to time, for distribution from the trust. |
398 | (b) May allocate to trust income for each taxable year of |
399 | the trust, or portion thereof: |
400 | 1. Net short-term capital gain described in the Internal |
401 | Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 1222(5), for such year, or portion |
402 | thereof, but only to the extent that the amount so allocated |
403 | together with all other amounts allocated to trust income, as |
404 | determined under the provisions of this chapter without regard |
405 | to this section and s. 738.104, for such year, or portion |
406 | thereof, does not exceed the unitrust amount for such year, or |
407 | portion thereof. |
408 | 2. Net long-term capital gain described in the Internal |
409 | Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 1222(7), for such year, or portion |
410 | thereof, but only to the extent that the amount so allocated |
411 | together with all other amounts, including amounts described in |
412 | subparagraph 1., allocated to trust income for such year, or |
413 | portion thereof, does not exceed the unitrust amount for such |
414 | year, or portion thereof. |
415 | (6)(7) In administering a total return unitrust, the |
416 | trustee may, in its sole discretion but subject to the |
417 | provisions of the governing instrument, determine: |
418 | (a) The effective date of the conversion. |
419 | (b) The timing of distributions, including provisions for |
420 | prorating a distribution for a short year in which a |
421 | beneficiary's right to payments commences or ceases. |
422 | (c) Whether distributions are to be made in cash or in |
423 | kind or partly in cash and partly in kind. |
424 | (d) If the trust is reconverted to an income trust, the |
425 | effective date of such reconversion. |
426 | (e) Such other administrative issues as may be necessary |
427 | or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section. |
428 | (7)(8) Conversion to a total return unitrust under the |
429 | provisions of this section shall not affect any other provision |
430 | of the governing instrument, if any, regarding distributions of |
431 | principal. |
432 | (9) In the case of a trust for which a marital deduction |
433 | has been taken for federal tax purposes under the Internal |
434 | Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 2056 or s. 2523, the spouse otherwise |
435 | entitled to receive the net income of the trust shall have the |
436 | right, by written instrument delivered to the trustee, to compel |
437 | the reconversion during his or her lifetime of the trust from a |
438 | total return unitrust to an income trust, notwithstanding |
439 | anything in this section to the contrary, unless the use of a |
440 | total return unitrust is recognized for federal tax purposes |
441 | under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 2056 or s. 2523. |
442 | (8)(10) Any trustee or disinterested person who in good |
443 | faith takes or fails to take any action under this section shall |
444 | not be liable to any person affected by such action or inaction, |
445 | regardless of whether such person received written notice as |
446 | provided in this section and regardless of whether such person |
447 | was under a legal disability at the time of the delivery of such |
448 | notice. Such person's exclusive remedy shall be to obtain, under |
449 | subsection (9) (11), an order of the court directing the trustee |
450 | to convert an income trust to a total return unitrust, to |
451 | reconvert from a total return unitrust to an income trust, or to |
452 | change the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount. If |
453 | a court determines that the trustee or disinterested person has |
454 | not acted in good faith in taking or failing to take any action |
455 | under this section, the provisions of s. 738.105(3) apply. |
456 | (9)(11) If a majority in interest of either the income or |
457 | remainder beneficiaries of an income trust has delivered to the |
458 | trustee a written objection to the amount of the income |
459 | distributions of the trust, and, if the trustee has failed to |
460 | resolve the objection to the satisfaction of the objecting |
461 | beneficiaries within 6 months from the receipt of such written |
462 | objection, then the objecting beneficiaries may petition the |
463 | court in accordance with subsection (3). |
464 | (10)(12) This section shall be construed as pertaining to |
465 | the administration of a trust and is applicable shall be |
466 | available to any trust that is administered either in this state |
467 | or under Florida law unless: |
468 | (a) The governing instrument reflects an intention that |
469 | the current beneficiary or beneficiaries are to receive an |
470 | amount other than a reasonable current return from the trust; |
471 | (b) The trust is a trust described in the Internal Revenue |
472 | Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 170(f)(2)(B), s. 642(c)(5), s. 664(d), s. |
473 | 1361(d), s. 2702(a)(3), or s. 2702(b); |
474 | (c) One or more persons to whom the trustee could |
475 | distribute income have a power of withdrawal over the trust: |
476 | 1. That is not subject to an ascertainable standard under |
477 | the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 2041 or s. 2514, and |
478 | exceeds in any calendar year the amount set forth in the |
479 | Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s. 2041(b)(2) or s. 2514(e); or |
480 | 2. A power of withdrawal over the trust that can be |
481 | exercised to discharge a duty of support he or she possesses; |
482 | (d) The governing instrument expressly prohibits use of |
483 | this section by specific reference to the section. A provision |
484 | in the governing instrument that, "The provisions of section |
485 | 738.1041, Florida Statutes, as amended, or any corresponding |
486 | provision of future law, shall not be used in the administration |
487 | of this trust," or similar words reflecting such intent shall be |
488 | sufficient to preclude the use of this section; or |
489 | (e) The trust is a trust with respect to which a trustee |
490 | currently possesses the power to adjust under s. 738.104. |
491 | (11) The grantor of a trust may create an express total |
492 | return unitrust which will become effective as provided in the |
493 | trust document without requiring a conversion under this |
494 | section. An express total return unitrust created by the grantor |
495 | of the trust shall be treated as a unitrust under this section |
496 | only if the terms of the trust document contain all of the |
497 | following provisions: |
498 | (a) That distributions from the trust will be unitrust |
499 | amounts and the manner in which the unitrust amount will be |
500 | calculated and the method in which the fair market value of the |
501 | trust will be determined. |
502 | (b) The percentage to be used to calculate the unitrust |
503 | amount, provided the percentage used is not greater than 5 |
504 | percent nor less than 3 percent. |
505 | (c) The method to be used in determining the fair market |
506 | value of the trust. |
507 | (d) Which assets, if any, are to be excluded in |
508 | determining the unitrust amount. |
509 | Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 738.303, Florida |
510 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
511 | 738.303 Apportionment when income interest ends.-- |
512 | (1) For purposes of this section, "undistributed income" |
513 | means net income received on or before the date on which an |
514 | income interest ends. The term does not include an item of |
515 | income or expense that is due or accrued or net income that has |
516 | been added or is required to be added to principal under the |
517 | terms of the trust. In the case of a trust being administered as |
518 | a unitrust under s. 738.1041, the term "undistributed income" |
519 | means the prorated unitrust amount computed on a daily basis |
520 | through the date on which the income interest ends. |
521 | Section 8. Subsection (3) of section 738.401, Florida |
522 | Statutes, is amended, subsection (7) is renumbered as subsection |
523 | (8) and amended, and a new subsection (7) is added to said |
524 | section, to read: |
525 | 738.401 Character of receipts.-- |
526 | (3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a |
527 | trustee shall allocate the following receipts from an entity to |
528 | principal: |
529 | (a) Property other than money. |
530 | (b) Money received in one distribution or a series of |
531 | related distributions in exchange for part or all of a trust's |
532 | interest in the entity. |
533 | (c) Money received in total or partial liquidation of the |
534 | entity. |
535 | (d) Money received from an entity that is a regulated |
536 | investment company or a real estate investment trust if the |
537 | money distributed represents short-term or long-term capital |
538 | gain realized within the entity. |
539 | (7) The following special rules shall apply to moneys or |
540 | property received by a private trustee from entities described |
541 | in this subsection: |
542 | (a) Moneys or property received from a targeted entity |
543 | that is not an investment entity which do not exceed the trust's |
544 | pro rata share of the undistributed cumulative net income of the |
545 | targeted entity during the time an ownership interest in the |
546 | targeted entity was held by the trust shall be allocated to |
547 | income. The balance of moneys or property received from a |
548 | targeted entity shall be allocated to principal. |
549 | (b) If trust assets include any interest in an investment |
550 | entity, the designated amount of moneys or property received |
551 | from the investment entity shall be treated by the trustee in |
552 | the same manner as if the trustee had directly held the trust's |
553 | pro rata share of the assets of the investment entity |
554 | attributable to the distribution of such designated amount. |
555 | Thereafter, distributions shall be treated as principal. |
556 | (c) For purposes of this subsection, the following |
557 | definitions shall apply: |
558 | 1. "Cumulative net income" means the targeted entity's net |
559 | income as determined using the method of accounting regularly |
560 | used by the targeted entity in preparing its financial |
561 | statements, or if no financial statements are prepared, the net |
562 | book income computed for federal income tax purposes, for every |
563 | year an ownership interest in the entity is held by the trust. |
564 | The trust's pro rata share shall be the cumulative net income |
565 | multiplied by the percentage ownership of the trust. |
566 | 2. "Designated amount" means moneys or property received |
567 | from an investment entity during any year that is equal to the |
568 | amount of the distribution that does not exceed the greater of: |
569 | a. The amount of income of the investment entity for the |
570 | current year, as reported to the trustee by the investment |
571 | entity for federal income tax purposes; or |
572 | b. The amount of income of the investment entity for the |
573 | current year and the prior 2 years, as reported to the trustee |
574 | by the investment entity for federal income tax purposes, less |
575 | any distributions of moneys or property made by the investment |
576 | entity to the trustee during the prior 2 years. |
577 | 3. "Investment entity" means a targeted entity that |
578 | normally derives 50 percent or more of its annual cumulative net |
579 | income from interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rental |
580 | activity, or other passive investments, including income from |
581 | the sale or exchange of such passive investments. |
582 | 4. "Private trustee" means a trustee who is an individual, |
583 | but only if the trustee is unable to utilize the power to adjust |
584 | between income and principal with respect to receipts from |
585 | entities described in this subsection pursuant to s. 738.104. A |
586 | bank, trust company, or other commercial trustee shall not be |
587 | considered to be a private trustee. |
588 | 5. "Targeted entity" means any entity that is treated as a |
589 | partnership, subchapter S corporation, or disregarded entity |
590 | pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, other |
591 | than an entity described in s. 738.403. |
592 | 6. "Undistributed cumulative net income" means the trust's |
593 | pro rata share of cumulative net income, less all prior |
594 | distributions from the targeted entity to the trust that have |
595 | been allocated to income. |
596 | (d) This subsection shall not be construed to modify or |
597 | change any of the provisions of ss. 738.705 and 738.706 relating |
598 | to income taxes. |
599 | (8)(7) A trustee may rely upon a statement made by an |
600 | entity about the source or character of a distribution, about |
601 | the amount of profits of a targeted entity, or about the nature |
602 | and value of assets of an investment entity if the statement is |
603 | made at or near the time of distribution by the entity's board |
604 | of directors or other person or group of persons authorized to |
605 | exercise powers to pay money or transfer property comparable to |
606 | those of a corporation's board of directors. |
607 | Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2005. |