The Truth About Deferred Sales Trusts Sell the asset. Defer the capital gains. Live off the interest. Avoid the tax. You’ve probably seen a version of this on social media. It’s called a Deferred Sales Trust — and on paper, it sounds clean. But here’s what you really need to know. First: Capital gains taxes in the U.S. fall into three main brackets: 0%, 15%, and 20% — depending on your income. And for high-income earners? There’s a 3.8% surtax layered on top. That’s the cap. Second: These Deferr