San Jose California Granter Retained Annuity Trust (GREAT) is a legal estate planning tool utilized by residents of San Jose, California, to transfer assets and minimize estate taxes. A GREAT is particularly beneficial for individuals who have a high net worth and wish to efficiently transfer wealth to their beneficiaries while retaining an income stream during their lifetime. A San Jose California GREAT is established by a "granter" who contributes assets such as real estate, stocks, or business interests into the trust. The granter then retains the right to receive annual annuity payments from the trust for a specified period, typically between two and ten years. These annuity payments are predetermined and represent a fixed percentage of the initial value of the assets contributed to the GREAT. One type of GREAT in San Jose California is the Zeroed-Out GREAT. In this strategy, the annuity payments are set in a way that the present value of the retained annuity interest is nearly equal to the value of the assets initially contributed to the trust. By "zeroing out" the GREAT, the granter can minimize the potential gift tax liability, as the value of the remainder interest (the assets transferred to beneficiaries) becomes minimal or even negligible. Another type of GREAT is a Granter Retained Annuity Trust with a Step-Up in Basis. In this scenario, the assets contributed to the GREAT would qualify for a step-up in basis when calculating capital gains taxes upon the granter's death. By utilizing this type of GREAT, San Jose California residents can potentially minimize the capital gains tax burden passed on to their beneficiaries, allowing for a more efficient transfer of wealth. Overall, a San Jose California Granter Retained Annuity Trust serves as a valuable estate planning tool that allows individuals to transfer sizable assets with reduced tax consequences, while still providing an income stream for the granter during their lifetime. By strategically utilizing different types of Grants, San Jose California residents can customize their estate planning approach to best suit their individual financial goals and objectives.