What is the main advantage of an UGMA UTMA account?

The main advantage of using a UTMA account is that the money contributed into the account is exempted from paying a gift tax of up to a maximum of $15,000 per year for 2021 ($16,000 for 2022). 3 Any income earned on the contributed funds is taxed at the tax rate of the minor who is being gifted the funds.

What is the difference between a UTMA and UGMA account?

UGMA stands for Uniform Gift to Minors Act, while UTMA stands for Uniform Transfer to Minors Act. UTMA allows for more maturity time before handing to it over to the beneficiary (up to 25 years), depending on the state, while the UGMA matures at 18 years.

What happens to UTMA when child turns 18?

When the minor beneficiary of an UTMA custodial account reaches the age of majority, the custodianship is over, and they get legal control over everything that’s in the account. It’s important to note that the age of majority is slightly different in each state. In most cases, it’s either 18 or 21.

What is the disadvantage of using a UTMA or UGMA account?

Cons of an UGMA/UTMA Account A big drawback is that all assets transferred into an UGMA account law are irrevocable transfers. This means that your child owns the assets, and the child has the authority (not the parent) on how to use the funds once the child reaches the age of majority.

Can UTMA be used to buy a house?

An UTMA or UGMA is an investment account that officially belongs to your child. The rules surrounding how you spend money from an UTMA/UGMA are pretty flexible. You can invest in the market with an UGMA; you can also put real assets like a house into an UTMA.

Is a UTMA a good idea?

UGMA / UTMA accounts can be good for some things, bad for others. UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) has replaced UGMA (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act) in most states. The main “upgrade” is greater flexibility – UGMAs only hold securities, UTMAs can hold securities and others assets, such as real estate.

Is UGMA or UTMA better?

The biggest difference between UGMA and UTMA accounts is that UTMAs allow for more types of assets. While UGMA accounts are typically limited to things you find in most IRAs like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, UTMAs can also hold things like real estate, art, patents, and even cars.

Can you transfer a UGMA to a UTMA?

Beneficiary Changes There is no ability to transfer a UGMA or UTMA account to another child or to change beneficiaries. You are not supposed to use a UTMA-529 or UGMA-529 account conversion to change the beneficiary either because that would equate to giving your child’s money to someone else.

Is UTMA a trust?

The most common trust for a minor is known as a custodial account (an UGMA or UTMA account). The Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) established a simple way for a minor to own securities without requiring the services of an attorney to prepare trust documents or the court appointment of a trustee.

At what age do UTMA accounts transfer?

At what age do UTMA accounts transfer? Generally, the UTMA account transfers to the beneficiary when he or she becomes a legal adult, which is usually 18 or 21 (age 18 in both Kansas and Missouri).

Can a parent withdraw money from a UTMA account?

Under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UMTA), money deposited into a UTMA account cannot be withdrawn for any reason—except by the child at the appropriate age. In the United States, a child’s money does not belong to the child’s parents or guardians.

Can UTMA be used for private high school?

The Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) and Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) are considered the granddaddy of college savings accounts – but they can be used to pay for private K-12 tuition as well.