Trust Tax Fundamentals 2:
Reading Trust Documents 

  • Instructor: Clint Bentz
  • Level: Basic
  • CPE Credits: 4.2
  • Field of Study: Taxes
Who should attend? Public and private accountants and tax preparers serving clients in the US.
Watch the course overview video to learn more!
Trust Tax Fundamentals 2: Reading Trust Documents is the second course in our comprehensive 10-course Trust Tax Fundamentals program. Building directly on the foundation laid in the introductory course, this session takes you deeper into the critical practice of analyzing and interpreting the language and structure of complex trust instruments. Understanding these documents is indispensable whether you’re advising trustees, managing trust assets, or ensuring fiduciary compliance and accurate tax reporting.

In this essential course, you’ll explore the identification of key trust parties—including grantors, trustees, and beneficiaries—and gain proficiency interpreting vital trust provisions that determine distribution standards, trustee powers, and tax apportionment clauses. You will learn how the marital deduction works and what trust language or provisions enable a trust to qualify for the marital deduction.

You will develop expertise in deciphering, funding, and administering sophisticated trust structures, including General Power of Appointment (GPOA) Trusts, Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) Trusts, Clayton QTIP, and Qualified Domestic Trusts (QDTs), empowering you to navigate and advise effectively on complex estate planning scenarios.

Your instructor, Clint Bentz, is a CPA with over 35 years of experience specializing in estate and trust taxation, and a recognized authority on fiduciary tax matters. His hands-on approach, practical guidance, and extensive real-world insights will help you translate complex legal concepts into actionable strategies you can apply immediately in your professional practice.

Upon completing this second course, you’ll possess clear methodologies for diagramming trust terms, accurately interpreting both mandatory and discretionary distribution language, understanding the marital deduction, and effectively managing intricate tax provisions. This critical expertise enables you not only to meet fiduciary obligations but also to safeguard beneficiaries’ interests and fulfill the intentions of grantors.

Take the next step in the Trust Tax Fundamentals series to solidify your skills, confidently manage trust documents, and elevate your role as a trusted advisor in fiduciary taxation and estate planning.

See the Course Overview & Introduction below for more details and the detailed Learning Objectives. 

Clint Bentz Consulting LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org
Lesson series
This is an on-demand, QAS Self Study course.

This is the 2nd course in the Trust Tax Fundamentals Program.
Trust Tax Fundamentals 1 is a pre-requisite for this course.

Students must complete all learning activities and achieve a minimum score of 70% on the final assessment to earn CPE credit for this course.

A CPE certificate will be issued at the completion of the course.

Access to this course will expire 12 months after date of purchase per NASBA requirements.

This course is current for tax law in effect following the passage of the OBBB.

Publication Date: November 2025
Revision: 2025 Tax Year
Review Date: November 2025
  • Video time:  2.75 hours
  • 1 Comprehensive Assessment (must pass with 70% or higher to earn CPE credits)

Course contents

Meet the instructor

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Clint Bentz

Managing Member, Clint Bentz Consulting LLC
Clint Bentz is a managing member and lead instructor at Clint Bentz Consulting.
For over 35 years, Clint has been helping families with their estate and succession planning, as well as providing continuing professional education to tax professionals, attorneys, bankers, trust officers, and lay audiences on a broad range of income and estate tax issues, as well as training advisors on how to keep family-owned businesses with succession.
Clint is the primary author of the Ties to the Land curriculum published by Oregon State Extension Service and the OSU Austin Family Business Program.