Can a trust take percentage depletion?
Andrew Ramirez
Published Mar 23, 2026
If a mineral property or timber property is held in trust, the allowable deduction for depletion is to be apportioned between the income beneficiaries and the trustee on the basis of the trust income from such property allocable to each, unless the governing instrument (or local law) requires or permits the trustee to …
Can a trust pay taxes at beneficiaries rates?
Beneficiaries of a trust typically pay taxes on the distributions they receive from the trust’s income, rather than the trust itself paying the tax. However, such beneficiaries are not subject to taxes on distributions from the trust’s principal.
Can you take percentage depletion in excess of basis?
Cost depletion cannot exceed the property’s basis, while the use of percentage depletion is limited to the revenue from production of 1,000 barrels a day. In every case, depletion can’t reduce the property’s basis to less than zero.
If a trust is invested in an oil & gas partnership and is entitled to deduct depletion, it may elect to pass through such deductions to the beneficiaries. You should see the reportable deductions on your K-1. It does not relate to cost or percentage depletion.
How is depreciation and depletion allocated in a trust?
According to sections 167 (d), 611 (b) (3) and 642 (e), depreciation and depletion deductions must be allocated between the trust and its beneficiaries based on the proportion of net accounting income minus distributions to net accounting income.
How does the beneficiary of a trust pay taxes?
In some cases, the trustee may have the authority to make distributions of principal to beneficiaries. Taxes — The trustee reports all income generated by trust assets and pays tax on any undistributed income as well as capital gains realized by the trust.
What are the tax deductions for trusts and estates?
Deductible trust expenses include all expenses allocable to taxable trust income. The personal exemption amount has never been updated for inflation and is therefore very low—$600 for estates, $300 for trusts that distribute all income, and $100 for trusts that distribute part or none of the income (IRC § 642 (b)).
Who are the beneficiaries of an irrevocable trust?
The grantor–by establishing an irrevocable trust–essentially has transferred all ownership or title of the assets in the trust. There are various tax rules for beneficiaries of income from trusts, depending on whether the trust is revocable or irrevocable–as well as the type of income received from the trust.