信托能帮我免除所得税吗？Can a Trust Help Me Avoid Income Taxes?

前几天有位客户打电话问我：“我有很多炒股账户，每年要交不少所得税。如果我把这些账户都放进信托，是不是就不用交税了？”

听起来是不是很美好？但事实上，事情并不是这样。

The other day, a client called and asked: “I have multiple investment accounts and pay significant income taxes each year. If I put these accounts into a trust, does that mean I don’t need to pay taxes anymore?”

It sounds ideal, but in reality, that’s not how it works.

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问题解析 Problem Analysis

很多人对“信托”和“税务”之间的关系存在误解。把资产放进信托，并不会自动让你免除所得税。如果真有这种“好事”，人人都会设立一个信托来避税了。

信托确实在税务规划中有很大作用，但它主要涉及的是遗产税、赠与税，以及未来代际传承的安排，而不是直接免除日常的投资所得税。

Many people misunderstand the relationship between “trusts” and “taxes.” Transferring assets into a trust does not automatically eliminate income tax. If trusts could truly eliminate income tax, everyone would already have one.

Trusts do play a key role in tax planning, but primarily in relation to estate taxes, gift taxes, and intergenerational wealth transfers—not eliminating regular investment income tax.

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解决方案 Solutions

虽然信托不能直接免掉投资的所得税，但税务规划依然有很多方法。

• 退休金账户：例如IRA、401(k)，这些账户自带递延所得税（income tax deferral）的优势。

• 合理架构信托：某些特殊类型的信托在税务属性上可以带来延迟或分散税负的效果。

• 跨代传承规划：如何把退休金账户或投资资产以最划算的方式传承给下一代。

这些都需要律师、会计师和理财顾问的专业配合，才能为你量身定制方案。

While trusts can’t erase investment income taxes, there are still strategies for tax planning.

• Retirement accounts: Accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s have built-in income tax deferral benefits.

• Proper trust structures: Certain trusts, if properly structured, may help defer or spread out tax burdens.

• Generational planning: Strategically passing retirement accounts or investments to heirs in the most tax-efficient manner.

These require collaboration among attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors to design tailored solutions.

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风险提醒 Risk Reminder

盲目地把资产转入信托，可能带来负面效果。

• 如果设立不当，可能导致不必要的双重征税。

• 不合规的信托安排，未来可能在遗产继承中产生额外争议。

• 忽略信托的税务属性，可能失去重要的税务优惠。

Blindly transferring assets into a trust may have negative consequences.

• If set up incorrectly, it may trigger unnecessary double taxation.

• Non-compliant trust arrangements could create additional disputes during estate administration.

• Overlooking a trust’s tax attributes could mean losing valuable tax benefits.

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律所小贴士 Law Firm Tips

信托是强有力的财富管理工具，但它不是“免税神器”。在涉及税务时，最重要的是根据你的资产情况、家庭需求和未来传承目标，制定合适的信托和税务规划。

Trusts are powerful tools for wealth management, but they are not “tax-free magic.” When it comes to taxes, the most important step is to design the right trust and tax strategies based on your assets, family needs, and long-term goals.

建议大家在设立信托时，一定要请既懂信托又懂税务的律师，配合财务顾问和会计师，才能真正实现财富的传承与税务优化。

We recommend engaging attorneys who understand both trusts and taxes, working alongside financial advisors and accountants, to truly achieve wealth transfer and tax efficiency.

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联系我们 Contact Us

如果您对信托和税务规划有任何疑问，欢迎联系熙承律师事务所。我们在纽约和新泽西为客户提供专业的遗产规划、信托架构和跨境资产传承服务。

If you have questions about trusts or tax planning, feel free to contact The Shi Law Group. We serve clients in New York and New Jersey, offering estate planning, trust structuring, and cross-border wealth transfer solutions.