- SOGRAT
SOGRAT® is
registered trademark of theWealth Transfer Group [ [http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=gcuspg.2.1 SOGRAT trademark registration at the USPTO] ] . It is anacronym for Stock OptionGrantor RetainedAnnuity Trust. It is a potentiallytax efficient method for passing volatile assets ontoheir s.Patents
The
Wealth Transfer Group owns apatent covering different methods for managing SOGRATs. The patent is US patent|6567790, entitled "Establishing and managing grantor retained annuity trusts funded by nonqualified stock options". This patent has been described as atax patent due to the fact that the claimed method for managing the SOGRAT seeks to minimizegift tax under current US Tax law.In 2006, the
Wealth Transfer Group suedJohn W. Rowe for infringement of their patent. [ [http://www.bakosenterprises.com/IP/B-10152006/IPB-10152006.html Nowotarski, Mark, "Tax Strategies?", Insurance IP Bulletin, October 15, 2006] ] This case has been settled for undisclosed terms. [ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117383751682136325.html Herman, Tom, "Patents on Tax-Related Ideas Stir Worry", "Wall Street Journal ", March 14, 2007] ]This case is often cited both by those that favor tax patents [ [http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=5105 Gruner, Richard, "Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures of the House Committee on Ways and Means" July 13, 2006] ] and well as those that seek to have them banned [ [http://www.cpa2biz.com/Content/media/PRODUCER_CONTENT/Newsletters/Articles_2007/Tax/Tax_Strategy_Patents.jsp "Tax-Strategy Patents and the Tax Gap", The Tax Advisor, AICPA, May 2007] ] .
ee also
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Grantor Retained Annuity Trust References
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