Case ID: us-ct-cl_62/html/0763-05.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Butler", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES v. MITCHELL ET AL., EXECUTORS
    [60 C. Cls. 451; 271 U. S. 9]
    Judgment was rendered against the United States in the court below. On appeal the judgment was reversed, the Supreme Court deciding:
    1. In calculating the income tax on an estate during administration, under tlie revenue act of 1918, Federal estate taxes are deductible from gross income. Dtilted States v. Woodward, 256 TJ. S. 632.
    
      2. But where the estate tax, though it accrued during the income-tax year, was not paid until later, and the taxpayer’s books were kept upon the basis of actual receipts and disbursements — not the “ accrual ” basis — and the return showed such income only as was received during the tax year, the estate tax was not deductible in computing the taxable income of that year. United States v. Anderson, 269' U. S. 422. Woodward case, supra, distinguished.
    3. Where claimant’s right to recover money paid as income taxes depended on their books having been kept on the accrual basis, the burden was on them to prove that the books were so kept.
    4. A question not raised by counsel or discussed in the opinion is not to be regarded as decided merely because it might have been raised and decided on the record.
    5. The inheritance tax imposed by Texas, and paid by executors, held deductible in computing the Federal income tax of the estate under revenue law of 1918. Keith v. Johnson, 271 U. S. 1.
   Mr. Justice Butler

delivered the opinion of the Supreme

Court April 12, 1926.