Minnesota Charitable Remainder Inter Vivos Annuity Trust (CAT) is a legal arrangement that allows individuals to donate assets to a charitable organization while retaining an income stream for themselves or their designated beneficiaries. This type of trust provides philanthropic opportunities and potential tax benefits for residents of Minnesota. A Charitable Remainder Inter Vivos Annuity Trust is established during the donor's lifetime, making it inter vivos in nature. It operates under the provisions of the Minnesota Uniform Trust Code (UTC) and must comply with both state and federal tax laws. In a CAT, the donor contributes assets, such as cash, securities, or real estate, to the trust. These assets are managed and administered by a trustee, which could be an individual or a charitable organization. The trustee is responsible for investing the trust assets to generate income. The donor or their chosen beneficiaries receive fixed annuity payments from the trust for a predetermined term, which can be specified in the trust agreement. The annuity payments must be made at least once a year and can be fixed or variable, depending on the trust's terms. The key benefit of a Minnesota Charitable Remainder Inter Vivos Annuity Trust is that it allows donors to support charitable causes while receiving a reliable income stream. Additionally, the donor may be eligible for an immediate income tax deduction based on the charitable portion of the assets donated to the trust. There are several variations of Cats available in Minnesota, including: 1. Standard Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust: This is the most common type of CAT wherein the annuity payments remain fixed throughout the trust term. 2. Net Income Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust: In this type of CAT, the annuity payments to the donor or beneficiaries are based on the trust's net income instead of being fixed. Any remaining or undistributed income can be carried forward to subsequent years. 3. Flip Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust: A Flip CAT starts as a Net Income CAT, but upon the occurrence of a predetermined triggering event, such as the sale of a particular asset, it converts into a Standard CAT. This conversion allows for a more stable income stream. 4. Net Income with Makeup Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust: This variation of CAT enables the trustee to make up for any shortfall in annuity payments from the prior years if the trust's net income was insufficient to meet the fixed annuity amount. However, the makeup payments are subject to certain limitations. Minnesota Charitable Remainder Inter Vivos Annuity Trusts provide individuals with a flexible means of supporting charitable causes while still maintaining a reliable income stream. As with any financial or estate planning decision, it is essential to consult with legal and financial professionals to determine the most suitable type of CAT based on individual circumstances.