UTMA Accounts - What You Need To Know
UTMA Accounts – What You Need To Know

UTMA accounts provide a way to gift money to minor children. Contributing funds to UTMA accounts constitutes an irrevocable gift. Once you gift the funds, they must be managed for the benefit of the minor and you cannot change the beneficiary. However, there is a lot of flexibility with this type of account. The custodian (usually Mom or Dad) can decide what is in the best interest of the minor (little Jack or Jill). According to Vanguard’s website, these accounts “allow you to save on behalf of a child for education or any other purpose that benefits the child (other than parental obligations such as food, clothing, and shelter).”

UTMA stands for Uniform Transfer to Minors Act. For simplicity sake, we’ll just refer to them as UTMAs. There are also Uniform Gift to Minors Act accounts or UGMAs. These accounts are very similar and the terms are often used interchangeably. Not all states have adopted the uniform laws that govern UTMAs and UGMAs. In addition, there are some differences in the types of assets that can be gifted according to the uniform laws. To keep things simple, both UTMA accounts and UGMAs allow for contributions of cash and securities.

How are UTMA accounts established?

Most financial institutions will allow the funding of these types of accounts. It’s as simple as filling out new account paperwork. This could be at a local bank or a large financial institution like Charles Schwab, Fidelity, TD Ameritrade etc. No trusts or special estate planning documents are required.

When you establish the account you must specify the age at which the minor will gain control of the funds. This is the “age of trust termination.” It’s important to note that this is not the same as “age of majority.” States laws can vary with both the “age of trust termination” and “age of majority.” Let’s assume you are in California for an example. In California, the “age of majority” is 18 while the “age of trust termination” is 21. As a result, custodians can establish UTMA accounts for a minor and specify that they wait until age 21 to gain control of the funds.

Once the account is funded, it is common to invest the funds in stocks, bonds, mutual funds etc. However, it is critical to identify the time horizon to appropriately invest the funds. For example, you wouldn’t want to invest 100% of the portfolio in stocks if you planned to withdraw funds for the minor’s benefit in two years. The flip side of that is making sure you’re aren’t too conservative with the funds if you will be investing for more than 10 years.

How are UTMA accounts taxed?

UTMA accounts are taxable accounts. This is in contrast to IRAs, Roth IRAs, 529s, and HSA plans. You can expect to receive a 1099 each year that details dividends, interest, and realized capital gains and losses. Income and capital gains in UTMA accounts are attributable to the minor up to a certain limit. This is where things become problematic.

Long ago, tax laws were established to prevent high income and high tax bracket parents from shifting assets to minors to take advantage of the child’s lower tax rate. These tax laws became known as the “Kiddie Tax.” For 2023, the limit for unearned income for minors is $2,500. Amounts above that are taxed at the rate applicable to trusts and estates. These tax rates vary depending on the amount. Regardless, there is very little tax advantage to establishing UTMA accounts.

UTMA Accounts - Planning For College
UTMA Accounts – Planning For College

Planning for college with UTMA accounts:

Planning for college is complicated enough. Throw a long term education savings plan into the mix and the proverbial can of worms is now open. From 529s to Coverdell ESAs to UTMA accounts and UGMAs, there is plenty of confusion to go around.

A good place to start is eliminating the types of accounts that are not specifically geared toward education. This leads us to the UTMA accounts.

Many parents lean toward UTMAs because they have an out if expenses come up prior to college that could benefit their child. The flexibility of UTMA accounts make them attractive. However, it reminds me of the old expression about having your cake and eating it too. While the desire for flexibility is understandable, the decision to go with a UTMA can have serious drawbacks.

As discussed earlier, funds in UTMAs are taxed at the minor’s rate up to a certain limit and then taxable at the rate applicable to trusts and estates. They are also subject to capital gains tax treatment when investments are sold to eventually pay for education expenses. Because UTMAs are taxable accounts, investment returns will be limited compared to a 529 College Savings Plan which allows tax free growth. This is the same concept of investing in a Roth IRA for retirement versus saving for retirement in a regular taxable investment account.

Another important drawback of UTMAs involves how the funds are treated when applying for financial aid. UTMA assets are considered to be owned by the minor (student) and can reduce financial aid eligibility. This is in contrast to funds held within a 529 College Savings Plan. 529s are considered to be a parental asset and are treated more favorably when determining eligibility.

Other considerations for UTMA accounts:

Many of these accounts are opened when children are very young. Sometimes they are established at birth. UTMA accounts are usually opened with the best intentions of a parent or a grandparent. The desire to invest funds that can help a child’s future is a noble one. These funds can be used to help pay for college, down payment on a home, or even starting a new business. However, once the child has reached the age of trust termination, the funds can be used for anything. I mean, anything.

There is the very real possibility that a substantial amount of money can accumulate over 15 to 20 years. Will the 18 or 21 year old handle the money responsibly when they gain control of the funds? Some will and other won’t. It is simply impossible to predict the future and there are few options in place to ensure the funds are spent prudently.

Lastly, it isn’t always clear what the parent can spend the money on while the child is a minor. In general, the funds must be spent “for the use and benefit of the minor.” Because that definition is a little murky, it can be difficult to determine if you operating under the rules. Do you really want to consult an attorney every time you make a withdrawal? Also, each financial institution may have a different process in place designed to protect the minor from misuse of funds.

This is not a comprehensive description of UTMAs or 529 College Savings Plans but it is an important place to start. I’m also not suggesting that UTMA accounts are bad. They’re just not the best fit for a college savings plan. Recognizing that there are special accounts designated for specific purposes can help you stay on track.

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