Case ID: us-ct-cl_56/html/0470-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Pitney", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

THE UNITED STATES v. STANLEY FIELD, EXECUTOR.
    [55 C. Cls., 480 ; 255 U. S., 257.]
    Judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff in the court below. On appeal the judgment was affirmed, and the Supreme Court decided:
    The provisions of laws imposing taxes are not to be extended by implication.
    The revenue act of 1916, section 202, c. 463, 39 Stat. 777, did not impose an estate tax upon property passing under a testamentary execution of a general power of appointment.
    To be taxable under clause (a) of section 202 of the act, the estate must be (1) an interest of the decedent at the time of his death, (2) which, after his death, is subject to the payment of the charges against his estate and the expenses of administration, and (3) is subject to. distribuí ion as part of his estate; and these conditions are expressed conjunctively and can not be construed as disjunctive.
    A general power of appointment by will does not of itself vest any estate in the donee of the power.
    
      iii equity, property passing under such a power may be treated as assets of the donee of the power, distributable to his creditors, but only when the power has been executed and executed In favor of a volunteer, and then only to the extent to which the donee’s own estate is insufficient to pay his debts; and his executor, if he take the appointed property at all, takes not as executor but as representative of the creditors.
    In any event, the property subject to such a power is not subject to distribution as part of the estate of the donee.
    Glause (b)' of section 202 of the act, describing a transfer .n interest in the decedent’s own property in his lifetime, intended to take effect at or after Ms death, does not cow a transfer by testamentary execution of a power of appointment over property not his own.
    The fact that in the later act of February 24, 1919, property passing under a general power of appointment executed by the deceased was expressly included in the valuation of his estate for taxation, shows at least a legislative doubt whether the act of 1916 included such property.
   Mr. Justice Pitney

delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court February 28, 1921.