Who is responsible for settling the tax on a trust?

The trustee holds the primary responsibility for settling the tax on a trust. This role involves managing the trust's assets and ensuring that any tax liabilities are paid from the trust's income or principal as required by tax law. The trustee is typically tasked with filing tax returns for the trust and making any necessary payments to satisfy the trust's tax obligations. This responsibility is essential, as it ensures compliance with tax regulations and that the trust's assets are properly managed for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

While the settlor is the person who creates the trust and the beneficiaries are the individuals who stand to benefit from it, they do not manage the trust's financial affairs. Similarly, the executor is associated with the administration of a deceased person's estate and is not involved in the ongoing financial responsibilities of a trust. Thus, the trustee's role is critical in both managing the trust and fulfilling its tax responsibilities, making it the correct answer in this scenario.