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Instructions for Form 5227

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Charitable Remainder Unitrust

On this date, I, , of , (hereinafter the Donor), desiring to establish a charitable remainder unitrust within the meaning of Rev. Proc. 2005-52 and §664(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (hereinafter the Code), hereby enter into this Trust Agreement with of , as the initial Trustee (hereinafter the Trustee). This Trust shall be known as the . If said Initial Trustee is unwilling or unable to serve as Trustee at any time during the term of this Trust, then the Trustee shall be of . The initial Trustee may resign by giving written notice specifying the effective date of the resignation to the designated successor Trustee.

1. Funding of Trust. The Donor hereby transfers and irrevocably assigns, on the above date, to the Trustee the property described in Schedule A, and the Trustee accepts the property and agrees to hold, manage and distribute the property, and any property subsequently transferred, under the terms set forth in this Trust Instrument.

2. Payment of Unitrust Amount. shall be the initial Recipient pursuant to the terms of this trust. Each taxable year of the Trust during the unitrust period which is twenty (20) years, the Trustee shall pay to a Trust amount equal to a number no less than five percent of the net fair market value of the assets of the Trust valued as of the first day of each taxable year of the Trust (hereinafter the valuation date). If should die before the end of said twenty (20) year period, my wife shall become the Recipient. If both my wife and I should die before said twenty (20) year period, my son shall become the Recipient. The first day of the unitrust period shall be the date the property described in Scheduled A is first transferred to the Trust, and the last day of the unitrust period shall be twenty (20) years from the first day of the unifirst. These unitrust payments paid pursuant to this instrument shall end on twenty (20) years of the beginning of this Trust or the death of the final surviving Recipient, whichever comes first. The unitrust amount shall be paid to the Recipients in equal quarterly installments of $ at the end of each calendar quarter from income and, to the extent income is not sufficient, from principal. Any income of the Trust for a taxable year in excess of the unitrust amount shall be added to principal. If, for any year, the net fair market value of the trust assets is incorrectly determined then, within a reasonable period after the correct value is finally determined, the Trustee shall pay to the Recipient (in the case of an undervaluation) or receive from the Recipient (in the case of an overvaluation) an amount equal to the difference between the unitrust amount(s) properly payable and the unitrust amount(s) actually paid.

3. Proration of Unitrust Amount. For a short taxable year and for the taxable year during which the unitrust period ends, the Trustee shall prorate on a daily basis the unitrust amount described pursuant to Paragraph 2 above or, if an additional contribution is made to the Trust, the unitrust amount described in Paragraph 5.

4. Distribution to Charity.

A. At the termination of the unitrust period, the Trustee shall distribute all of the then principal and income of the Trust (other than any amount due the Recipient under the terms of this Trust) to the , which shall be a nonprofit organization formed under the laws of . The Scholarship Fund shall be a permanently endowed fund, the income of which will provide annual scholarship awards based on financial needs to one or more deserving undergraduate students at University. If the remaining assets of this Trust are less than the minimum required to establish an endowed fund at the time the gift is received, the University shall use these assets as a current use fund with the same preferences as stated above. The Scholarship Fund, which shall hereinafter be referred to as the Charitable Organization.

B. If the Charitable Organization is not, or shall not be, an organization described in §§170(b)(1)(A), 170(c), 2055(a) and 2522(a) of the Code at the time when any principal or income of the Trust is to be distributed to it, then the Trustee shall distribute the then principal and income to one or more organizations described in §§170(b)(1)(A), 170(c), 2055(a) and 2522(a) of the Code as the Trustee shall select, and in the proportions as the Trustee shall decide, in the Trustee’s sole discretion.

5. Additional Contributions. If any additional contributions are made to the Trust after the initial contribution, the unitrust amount for the year in which any additional contribution is made shall be percent of the sum of (a) the net fair market value of the trust assets as of the valuation date (excluding the assets so added and any post-contribution income from, and appreciation on, such assets during that year) and (b) for each additional contribution during the year, the fair market value of the assets so added as of the valuation date (including any post-contribution income from, and appreciation on, such assets through the valuation date) multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period that begins with the date of contribution and ends with the earlier of the last day of the taxable year or the last day of the unitrust period and the denominator of which is the number of days in the period that begins with the first day of such taxable year and ends with the earlier of the last day in such taxable year or the last day of the unitrust period. In a taxable year in which an additional contribution is made on or after the valuation date, the assets so added shall be valued as of the date of contribution, without regard to any post-contribution income or appreciation, rather than as of the valuation date.

6. Deferral of the Unitrust Payment Allocable to Testamentary Transfer. All property passing to the Trust by reason of the death of the last Recipient (hereinafter called the testamentary transfer) shall be considered to be a single contribution that is made on the date of the Recipient’s death. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraphs 2 and 5 above, the obligation to pay the unitrust amount with respect to the testamentary transfer shall commence with the date of death of the last Recipient. Nevertheless, payment of the unitrust amount with respect to the testamentary transfer may be deferred from the date of the Recipient’s death until the end of the taxable year in which the funding of the testamentary transfer is completed. Within a reasonable time after the end of the taxable year in which the testamentary transfer is completed, the Trustee must pay to the Recipient (in the case of an underpayment) or receive from the Recipient (in the case of an overpayment) the difference between any unitrust amounts allocable to the testamentary transfer that were actually paid, plus interest, and the unitrust amounts allocable to the testamentary transfer that were payable, plus interest. The interest shall be computed for any period at the rate of interest, compounded annually, that the federal income tax regulations under §664 of the Code prescribe for this computation.

7. Unmarketable Assets. Whenever the value of a Trust asset must be determined, the Trustee shall determine the value of any assets that are not cash, cash equivalents or other assets that can be readily sold or exchanged for cash or cash equivalents (hereinafter unmarketable assets), by either (a) obtaining a current qualified appraisal, as defined in §1.170A-13(c)(3) and §1.170A-13(c)(5) of the Income Tax Regulations, respectively, or (b) ensuring the valuation of these unmarketable assets is performed exclusively by an independent trustee, within the meaning of §1.664-1(a)(7)(iii) of the Income Tax Regulations.

8. Prohibited Transactions. The Trustee shall not engage in any act of self-dealing within the meaning of §4941(d) of the Code, as modified by §4947(a)(2)(A) of the Code, and shall not make any taxable expenditures within the meaning of §4945(d) of the Code, as modified by §4947(a)(2)(A) of the Code.

9. Taxable Year. The taxable year of the Trust shall be the calendar year.

10. Governing Law. The operation of the trust shall be governed by the laws of the State of . However, the Trustee is prohibited from exercising any power or discretion granted under said laws that would be inconsistent with the qualification of the Trust as a charitable remainder unitrust under §664(d)(2) of the Code and the corresponding regulations.

11. Compensation. Each person who serves as a Trustee shall be entitled to receive reasonable compensation for services rendered. In the case of a corporate trustee, reasonable compensation is based upon its published fee schedule in effect at the time its services are rendered, or as otherwise agreed, and its compensation may vary from time to time based on that schedule.

12. Management powers. I grant the Trustee the powers described below, to be exercised in a fiduciary capacity:

A. The Trustee may hold and retain as part of the Trust any assets received from any source, and invest and reinvest them (or leave them temporarily uninvested) in any type of property and every kind of investment in the same manner as a prudent investor would invest its own assets.

B. The Trustee may sell or exchange any real or personal property contained in the Trust, for cash or credit, at public or private sale, and with such warranties or indemnifications as the Trustee may deem advisable.

C. The Trustee may grant security interests and execute all instruments creating such interests on such terms as the Trustee may deem advisable.

D. The Trustee may compromise and adjust claims against or on behalf of the Trust on such terms as the Trustee may deem advisable.

E. The Trustee may determine whether receipts are to be allocated to income or principal and whether disbursements are to be charged against income or principal to the extent not clearly established by state law. All determinations made by the Trustee in good faith shall not require equitable adjustments.

F. The Trustee may make all tax elections and allocations the Trustee may consider appropriate; however, this authority is exercisable only in a fiduciary capacity and may not be used to enlarge or shift any beneficial interest except as an incidental consequence of the discharge of fiduciary duties. All tax elections and allocations made by the Trustee in good faith shall not require equitable adjustments.

G. The Trustee may employ such lawyers, accountants, and other advisers as the Trustee may deem useful and appropriate for the administration of the trust. The Trustee may employ a professional investment adviser and delegate to this adviser any discretionary investment authorities to manage the investments of the Trust (including any investment in mutual funds, investment trusts, or managed accounts), and may rely on the adviser's investment recommendations without liability to any Recipient.

H. The Trustee may divide and distribute the assets of the Trust in kind or in cash, or partly in each, without regard to the income tax basis of any asset and without the consent of any Recipient. The decision of the Trustee in dividing any portion of the Trust between or among two or more Recipient shall be binding on all persons.

13. Limited Power of Amendment. This Trust is irrevocable. However, the Trustee shall have the power, acting alone, to amend the Trust from time to time in any manner required for the sole purpose of ensuring that the Trust qualifies and continues to qualify as a charitable remainder unitrust within the meaning of §664(d)(2) of the Code.

14. Investment of Trust Assets. Nothing in this trust instrument shall be construed to restrict the Trustee from investing the Trust assets in a manner that could result in the annual realization of a reasonable amount of income or gain from the sale or disposition of trust assets.

15. Definition of Recipient. References to the Recipient in this trust instrument shall be deemed to include the Executor of the Estate of the Recipient with regard to all provisions in this trust instrument that describe amounts payable to and/or due from the Recipient. The prior sentence shall not apply to the determination of the last day of the unitrust period.

WITNESS our signature as of the day and date first above stated.

Acknowledgments (form of acknowledgment may vary by state)

Attach Schedule A

Enter text✕

What the Instructions for Form 5227 Cover

The Instructions for Form 5227 explain how trustees and administrators must complete IRS Form 5227, the Split-Interest Trust Information Return. The guidance defines required schedules, reporting of trust assets and distributions, identification information (trust name, employer identification number), and filing and recordkeeping obligations for trusts that hold split interests between charitable and noncharitable beneficiaries. These instructions help preparers assemble supporting statements and reconcile financial totals so the Form 5227 submission to the IRS contains accurate, auditable data for the trust tax year.

Why Accurate Instructions Matter

Clear instructions reduce filing errors, support consistent reporting across tax years, and document the calculations the IRS expects. Properly followed instructions minimize audit exposure and help trustees meet federal retention and disclosure requirements.

Why Accurate Instructions Matter

Who Typically Uses These Instructions

Use these instructions as a checklist for data collection, signature authority, and retention obligations before finalizing the filing.

  • Trust administrators and trustees responsible for preparing trust financials and supervisory compliance.
  • Tax professionals and accountants who prepare or review the Form 5227 submission for clients.
  • Legal counsel and nonprofit compliance officers advising on split-interest arrangements and charitable reporting.

Core Components of the Instructions for Form 5227

The instructions break the return into identifiable parts and explain each required schedule, required totals, identification fields, and attachments. Understanding the structure before you prepare the return helps prevent incomplete or inconsistent submissions.

Identification

Trust name, EIN, tax year, trustee contact information required for IRS processing and correspondence.

Financial Schedules

Detailed asset, income, and distribution schedules reconcile to summary lines on Form 5227.

Beneficiary Details

List noncharitable and charitable beneficiaries and show allocation rules used during the tax year.

Supporting Statements

Attach calculations, appraisals, and trust instruments that substantiate reported values and allocations.

Signature Section

Trustee or authorized preparer must sign and date; include preparer identification and PTIN if applicable.

Filing Instructions

Where to send the return, required copies, and how to respond to IRS inquiries are described.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Instructions and Preparing the Return

Complete these steps in order to gather data, assemble schedules, and finalize the return for filing.

  • 01
    Collect Documents: Gather trust instrument, financial statements, appraisals and beneficiary records.
  • 02
    Populate Schedules: Enter income, asset, and distribution lines exactly as required in each schedule.
  • 03
    Reconcile Totals: Ensure schedule subtotals match summary amounts on Form 5227 main lines.
  • 04
    Sign and File: Obtain necessary signatures and submit per IRS instructions, retaining evidence of filing.

How to Set Up an Online Workflow for These Instructions

Configure a repeatable digital workflow to collect data, route approvals, and maintain an audit trail for Form 5227 preparation.

Field | Configuration Required fields | Validate formats and enforce required entry
Authentication Email + SMS code or higher for trustee identity verification
Attachments Allow PDFs and DOCX; require mandated schedules as attachments
Reminders Automated reminders for preparers and signers until signed
Audit Trail Capture timestamps, IP addresses, and signer actions

Where to File and How Submissions Are Routed

Follow the IRS instructions to determine mailing addresses or approved e-file channels for Form 5227 submission.

  • Paper Filing: Mail the completed Form 5227 to the IRS address specified in the instructions for the trust's location.
  • Electronic Submission: If e-file is permitted, use authorized software or IRS e-file channels per instructions.
  • Retention of Proof: Retain filing receipts and certified mail or electronic submission logs for the retention period.
  • Responding to IRS: Provide requested documentation promptly and keep copies of all correspondence.

Digital Delivery and Platform Requirements

Ensure the selected solution documents signer intent, stores copies in tamper-evident form, and meets any industry-specific compliance needs.

  • File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Connectors for NetSuite, Google Workspace, Salesforce
  • Security: TLS in transit, AES-256 at rest

Essential Data Elements to Include

Trust Name: Legal name
EIN: Nine-digit identifier
Tax Year: MM/DD/YYYY format
Totals: Assets and distributions
Beneficiaries: Names and shares
Signatures: Trustee or authorized preparer

Common Preparation Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Submitting inconsistent totals between schedules and the main form, which prompts IRS notices and can delay processing.
  • Using an incorrect EIN or trust name that does not match IRS records; mismatches often require amended filings.
  • Omitting required supporting statements or appraisals that explain valuation methods for noncash assets.
  • Failing to capture and retain an auditable signature record or consent documentation when using electronic signing tools.

Penalties and Compliance Risks

Information Return Penalties: IRC §6721
Late Filing Penalty: Per-form penalties under IRC §6721
Intentional Disregard: Higher penalties, no statutory cap
I-9/Employment Violations: Document retention enforcement ranges
Data Privacy Risk: HIPAA or state law exposure possible
Record Retention Failure: May obstruct audits and assessments

Paper Filing vs Electronic Procedures

Compare key attributes for submitting trust information: paper copies versus electronic delivery or e-signature-enabled workflows.

Criteria Paper Filing Electronic Filing
Acceptable to IRS yes often depends on e-file availability
Authentication manual signature audit trail or stronger methods
Retention physical copy tamper-evident electronic storage
Speed slower faster processing potential

eSignature Vendor Pricing Snapshot for Form 5227 Workflows

Compare common eSignature vendors and feature availability relevant to preparing and signing Form 5227 documents and supporting schedules.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Trial available Trial available Trial available Trial available
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Real-World Preparation Examples

These short examples illustrate how organizations use the instructions to prepare supporting schedules and submit Form 5227.

Optica Ventures

A mid-size trustee consolidated schedules into one workbook to reconcile totals efficiently.

  • Streamlined data collection reduced reconciliation time.
  • The firm retained the audit trail and supporting appraisals, enabling a smooth IRS review and fewer follow-up requests.

Fertility Centers of Illinois

A nonprofit trustee digitized documents and used audit-ready signatures for trustees.

  • Implemented validated e-signing with clear signer authentication.
  • The process preserved evidentiary records, simplified annual reporting, and improved internal compliance oversight.

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Adopt consistent processes and validation checks to reduce errors and support audits.

Standardize Templates
Create reusable schedule templates and pre-validated fields to reduce data entry errors and ensure consistent line-item mapping to Form 5227.
Reconcile Before Signing
Perform a full reconciliation of schedules to summary lines and have a second reviewer confirm totals before signing and filing.
Preserve the Audit Trail
Capture signer identity, timestamps, and submission receipts. Maintain electronic copies in tamper-evident storage for retention compliance.
Document Valuation Methods
Attach clear explanations or appraisals for noncash asset values to reduce IRS follow-up and support defensible positions.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Instructions for Form 5227

Answers to common questions about completeness, signatures, e-filing, and record retention when preparing Form 5227.


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