What makes a CRT so beneficial?

Charitable Remainder Trusts offer you the ability to benefit from the sale of property that you might otherwise be hesitant to sell because of the capital gains taxes that would be due. CRTs are the result of special legislation that is intended to promote charitable giving by making it possible for you to gift highly appreciated assets (i.e., publicly traded stock, real estate, etc.) to a CRT capital gains tax-free. In turn, the trust provides an agreed upon annual income back to you, the Trustmaker. Additional benefits to you include an income tax charitable deduction as well as potential estate tax savings, because the assets are removed from your taxable estate once they are transferred to the CRT.