You can help ensure the future success of the UW-Madison through gift planning today. Depending on the arrangements you choose, you also can:
- Reduce your income taxes
- Avoid capital-gain tax
- Increase your spendable income
- Retain payments for life
- Achieve no-cost, worry-free asset management
Federal Estate Tax Indexed for Inflation for 2012
Please note: The federal estate tax is currently back in effect through the end of 2012. The top tax rate is now 35%, and the exclusion amount is $5,120,000 per person and $10,240,000 per married couple. Any exclusion amount not used by a spouse who dies after December 31, 2010, is portable and generally may be used by the surviving spouse. It is very important that you seek the advice of your estate-planning attorney to determine what changes, if any, need to be made to your existing estate plans.
Types of Estate Gifts
| Gifts of Assets | The simplest way to support the University is through cash gifts. But creative gifts of assets can include stocks, bonds, and property (real estate and personal property such as artwork). These can not only provide you with charitable deductions, but often offer additional tax savings as well. |
| Gifts by Will | Through various types of bequests to the University, you may secure an estate-tax charitable deduction for the value of the gift. Best of all, you will know that your generosity will support the mission of the University for years to come. |
| Life-Income Gifts | Do you want to support the University, but worry about having enough income for yourself and your loved ones? Life-income gifts, such as gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts and pooled income funds, can provide donors with an income stream, significant tax savings and the satisfaction of supplying the University with vital, long-term resources. |
| Charitable Lead Trust | Transferring property to the University and individuals you wish to benefit is not always an either/or proposition. With careful planning, you may be able to arrange your transfers to accomplish more than one objective. For example, if you have assets that are appreciating, children who may want to start a business in the future, and a desire to assist the University, you may wish to consider creating a charitable lead trust. |
| Gifts of Retirement Benefits | You may consider using retirement-plan benefits to make a significant gift that will support the University. Because of the estate- and income-tax treatment of retirement-plan benefits, the cost of your gift to your estate and heirs is often relatively small. |
