1The IRS alleged a tax deficiency of $1,649,736, and a delinquency addition of $412,434. 

 

2The petitioner filed, and the court granted, a motion to sever the issue of whether a gift

occurred from the issue of valuation. 

United States Court of Appeals,

Fifth Circuit.

No. 96-60265.

Claude J. AUTIN, Petitioner-Appellant,

v.

COMMISSIONER of INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent-Appellee.

April 4, 1997.

Appeal of a Decision of the United States Tax Court.

Before WISDOM, DAVIS and DUHÉ, Circuit Judges.

WISDOM, Circuit Judge:

Claude J. Autin appealsthe tax court'sfinding of a 1988 gift despite his asserted 1974 transfer

of the subject property to his son by counterletter. For the reasons that follow, we REVERSE.

BACKGROUND

A. Proceedings and Disposition Below

On December 20, 1991, the Internal Revenue Service issued a notice of deficiency to the

petitioner, Claude J. Autin, finding a deficiency in Mr. Autin's 1988 gift tax and a delinquency

addition to the tax under Internal Revenue Code § 6651(a)(1).1

OnMarch 4, 1992, the petitionerfiled for redetermination in the United StatesTaxCourt, and

on May 21, 1993, a trial was conducted before that court.2 The court found that Mr. Autin made a

gift to his son in 1988. The court also found, however, that Mr. Autin was not liable for the

delinquency addition.

After denial of a motion for interlocutory appeal, the partiessettled on valuation prior to trial

on that issue. On January 17, 1996, the tax court entered a decision in accordance with the parties'

agreement.
B. Facts

Claude Autin is a successfulmarine industry executive. Between 1951 and 1974, he acquired

world-wide contacts, extensive experience, and a fine reputation in hisfield. Bobby Autin ("Bobby")

is Mr. Autin's only child; he was 24 years old in 1974. The petitioner wanted to help his son "be

something in this life", and thus desired to establish Bobby in business. Although Bobby possessed

very little experience in the marine industry, Mr. Autin formed Louisiana International Marine, Inc.

("LIM") in August 1974 in an effort to launch his son's career. The primary business of LIM is the

brokerage of vessels to move offshore drilling rigs.

At the time of LIM's incorporation, stock certificate number one was issued in the name of

the Claude Autin for 51 shares. Certificate number two was issued to Bobby Autin for 49 shares.

At the same time, the petitioner executed a "COUNTER LETTER and AGREEMENT TO

CONVEY". The counterletter stated "[t]hat in truth and fact [the petitioner] has no ownership

interest in [LIM]". The counterletter further explained that the shares were acquired by the petitioner

"for the account of his son", and stated that the reason for the arrangement was to promote the

business ofthe company. According to Mr. Autin, because he had extensive experience in the marine

industry and a fine reputation, the company would fare better if the public believed that he was the

principal owner of the company. The counterletter also contained a provision wherein the petitioner

promised that he would "execute in favor of said Bobby Autin, or his nominee, at such time as [the

petitioner] is called upon to do so, any and all instruments and documents necessary to transfer to

[Bobby] all title and interest that [the petitioner] has or may have in and to [LIM] or Certificate No.

1".

Claude Autin was the president of LIM and was listed as a shareholder in LIM's minutes.

Although he was also listed as a shareholder on LIM's tax returns, Mr. Autin did not claim to own

the shares on personal financial statements.

In June 1988, the record ownership of the shares was changed to Bobby's name. This change
 

3

In May 1992, as part of a 1986 divorce and property settlement between the petitioner and his

wife, the Twenty-Fourth Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson found that the

counterletter was valid and held that the petitioner had no ownership interest in LIM. This

determination does not affect our review in this case. Where tax liability turns upon the character

of a property interest held and transferred under state law, federal courts are not bound by a

determination of such interest made by a state trial court. C.I.R. v. Estate of Bosch, 387 U.S.

456, 457, 87 S.Ct. 1776, 1778-1779, 18 L.Ed.2d 886 (1967). 

 

4Valero Energy Corp. v. C.I.R., 78 F.3d 909, 912 (5th Cir.1996). 

 

5Burnet v. Harmel, 287 U.S. 103, 53 S.Ct. 74, 77 L.Ed. 199 (1932); Morgan v. C.I.R., 309

U.S. 78, 60 S.Ct. 424, 84 L.Ed. 585 (1940); United States v. Mitchell, 403 U.S. 190, 91 S.Ct.

1763, 29 L.Ed.2d 406 (1971); United States v. Bess, 357 U.S. 51, 78 S.Ct. 1054, 2 L.Ed.2d

1135 (1958). This court has similarly held fast to this principle. See C.M. Thibodaux Co., Ltd. v.

United States, 915 F.2d 992 (5th Cir.1990); Estate of Johnson v. United States, 836 F.2d 940

(5th Cir.1988); Prewitt v. United States, 792 F.2d 1353 (5th Cir.1986). 

of record ownership is the transaction that the tax court found to be a taxable gift.3

DISCUSSION

The petitioner asserts that, under state law, he never held any interest in LIM because the

counterletterstated that the shares were purchased for Bobby's account. Thus, the petitioner argues,

the counterletter validly vested full ownership of allsharesin Bobby. No gift can be made, he asserts,

of a thing never possessed by the alleged grantor. In the alternative, the petitioner maintains that any

interest he may have held in LIM was transferred to Bobby upon execution of the counterletter in

1974. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue (the "Commissioner") maintains that Claude Autin was

the legal owner of 51 percent of LIM because he was t he record owner of the shares, exercised

managerial controlover the company, and understate law his creditors could have reached the shares.

The parties do not dispute the facts of this case as found by the trial court. As such, the

application of those factsto legal concepts to determine if and when a gift occurred presents us with

a question of law. We review tax court conclusions of law de novo.4

A. Interests in LIM under Louisiana law

No court considering federal taxation problems has challenged the premise that state law

determines the nature of a property right; federal law's task is to determine the appropriate tax

treatment when such property rights are transferred.5 Determination of the property rights at issue

here requires a brief discussion of the act executed by the parties.
 

6For a full discussion of simulation and counterletters, see Thomas B. Lemann, Some Aspects

of Simulation in France and Louisiana, 29 TUL. L. REV. 22 (1954). 

 

7Reagan v. Murphy, 235 La. 529, 105 So.2d 210, 214 (1958). See also A. Yiannopolous,

Property § 134, in 2 Louisiana Civil Law Treatise (2d ed.1980). 

 

8Aubry and Rau, Property § 172 at 62, in Civil Law Translations (7th Ed.1961). 

 

9Reagan, 105 So.2d at 214. 

 

10191 La. 932, 186 So. 737 (1939). 

The transaction in this case was undertaken to further a simulation—an act that, by

agreement between the parties to it, does not reflect their true intent. In the civil law, a simulation

is a collusive effort consisting of a visible act that is artificial, and a genuine expression of the parties'

intent that is kept secret. This deception is not always fraudulent, however, as is demonstrated by

the instant case. Here, the Autins wished the public to believe that Claude Autin, a respected

businessman, owned LIM. Thus the registration of the shares in Claude Autin's name—the artificial

aspect of the simulation. The true intent of the parties, however, was for Bobby Autin to own all

shares in the company. This intent was expressed, and subsequently kept secret, in a counterletter.6

Courts have defined the nature of the right created by a counterletter. Louisiana law

distinguishes between rights that are "real" and rights that are merely "personal". Personal rights

consist ofrelations between persons. These rights exist between an obligee—one who holds the right

to demand performance, and an obligor—he who isthen required to do the thing demanded. Personal

rights are not susceptible to possession and thus may not be pursued into the hands of a third party;

they are enforceable only against the obligor.7

Realrights, according to French doctrine, are comprised ofthe relation between a person and

a thing.8 As the Louisiana Supreme Court stated in 1958, "it is clear that the term "real right' under

the civil law is synonymous with proprietary interest, both of which refer to a species of ownership.

Ownership defines the relation of man to things and may, therefore, be declared against the world."9

 The execution of a counterletter conveys a real right. This principle was enunciated by the

Louisiana Supreme Court in Peterson v. Moresi,10 and by the Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeals
 

11557 So.2d 703 (La.App. 4th Cir.1990) writ den. 563 So.2d 878 (1990). 

 

12One case, however, weighs against the conclusion that a counterletter conveys a real right. 

In Favaloro v. Favaloro, 561 So.2d 783 (La.App. 4th Cir.), writ denied, 567 So.2d 1125 (1990),

the court held that a person who receives a counterletter purporting to convey an ownership

interest in immovable property receives only a personal right which may be asserted against the

transferor, not an actual ownership right in the property. The Fourth Circuit cited no authority,

however, for this determination, one that is in apparent conflict with Louisiana jurisprudence. 

Accordingly, we consider Favaloro to be an erroneous departure from established jurisprudence

and follow the rule that a counterletter conveys a real right. 

 

13Dawsey v. Gruber, 647 So.2d 1084 (La.1994); Whittington v. Bienvenu, 539 So.2d 832

(La.App. 3d Cir.1989); Safford v. Ellish, 276 So.2d 884 (La.App. 1st Cir.1973). 

 

14LA. CONST. OF 1921, Art. XIII, § 2. 

 

15Dupuy, 557 So.2d at 709; Peterson, 186 So. at 737-738. 

in Dupuy v. Riley.11 These cases hold that a counterletter is an acknowledgment of true ownership

and indicates that the record owner holds title to the property as agent for the person named in the

counterletter.12

We first addressthe petitioner's assertion that the counterletter vested ownership ofthe LIM

shares in Bobby as of the moment of corporate formation; that is, that Claude Autin never acquired

an ownership interest in LIM, and thus no gift occurred at any time. This argument is founded upon

the language in the counterletterstating that Claude Autin purchased the LIM shares "for the account

of his son", and the rule that parties to a counterletter are bound thereby. Louisiana courts have

embraced thisrule,13 and, asthe petitioner points out, in Dupuy and Peterson the courts held that the

counterletters in those cases indicated that the property in question was purchased for the account

of another as agent; the record owner held no interest. Nonetheless, we find that the petitioner held

an interest in the shares of LIM upon corporate formation.

At the time LIM was incorporated, the Louisiana Constitution of 1921 wasin effect. Article

13, § 2 of that constitution states that consideration is required for the issuance of stock.14 In both

Dupuy and Peterson, the counterletter stated (and the courts highlighted) that the individual for

whose account the propertywas purchased had paid the purchaser adequate consideration.15 In the

present case, the counterletter makes no mention of consideration paid, nor doesthe petitioner allege

that Bobby paid any consideration for the LIM shares. To the contrary, counsel for the petitioner
 

16Harris v. C.I.R., 178 F.2d 861 (2d Cir.1949), rev'd on other grounds, 340 U.S. 106, 71 S.Ct.

181, 95 L.Ed. 111 (1950); Estate of Copley v. C.I.R., 15 T.C. 17, 1950 WL 248 (1950),

affirmed 194 F.2d 364 (7th Cir.1952); Rosenthal v. C.I.R., 205 F.2d 505 (2d Cir.1953). The

Internal Revenue Service has continually reaffirmed this proposition. See Rev. Rul. 69-347,

1969-1 C.B. 227; Rev. Rul. 80-186, 1980-2 C.B. 280; Rev. Rul. 81-110, 1981-1 C.B. 479; 

Rev. Rul. 84-25, 1984-1 C.B. 191. 

conceded in oral argument that Claude Autin paid $5,100 for the 51 shares in question. Hence, we

find that at the moment of corporate formation, the LIM shares belonged to the individual who paid

consideration for themasrequired bythe LouisianaConstitution of 1921. That individual was Claude

Autin. Accordingly, we reject the assertion that no gift occurred at any time and turn to Autin's

alternative argument, that the counterletter effected a gift upon execution.

B. Completion of a Gift

Having determined that the LIM shares were owned byClaude Autin at corporate formation,

the question remains whether, for gift tax purposes, t he shares were transferred to Bobby in

1974—when the counterletter was executed, or in 1988—when Bobby became the owner of record.

The Commissioner asserts that retention by the donor of "dominion and control" over the

allegedly transferred property renders the gift incomplete until such control is relinquished. The

Commissioner pointsto Claude Autin's continued factual control over LIM. The petitioner continued

to manage the company, remained as the record owner of the 51 shares in consideration, and filed

tax returns listing the petitioner as a 51 percent owner of LIM.

On the other hand, the petitioner asserts that relinquishment of legal dominion and control

under local law completes a gift regardless of any retention of factual control over the property.

Autin asserts that the counterletter constituted a legally binding agreement with his son, that it

conveyed a real right, and that as such, the gift was complete upon execution of the counterletter in

1974. We agree.

 A legally enforceable promise to give is subject to gift tax at the time the promise is made,

not when the property is actually transferred.16 This principle is premised upon the notion that once

the donor has relinquished legal control of the property, any factual control he might exert is in

derogation of the donee's rights as legally vested under state law. A compelling example of this is
 

17Smith v. Shaughnessy, 318 U.S. 176, 63 S.Ct. 545, 87 L.Ed. 690 (1943); Estate of Sanford

v. C.I.R., 308 U.S. 39, 60 S.Ct. 51, 84 L.Ed. 20 (1939); Burnet v. Guggenheim, 288 U.S. 280,

53 S.Ct. 369, 77 L.Ed. 748 (1933); Robinson v. C.I.R., 675 F.2d 774 (5th Cir.1982), cert. den.

459 U.S. 970, 103 S.Ct. 300, 74 L.Ed.2d 282 (1982). 

 

18Smith involved retention of a reversionary interest; Sanford, a right to designate new

beneficiaries to a trust; Burnet, a right to revoke the gift; Robinson, a right to appoint the corpus

of a trust (although the gift was held complete when the power of appointment was released). 

provided by the Commissioner's own Revenue Ruling. In Situation One of Revenue Ruling 78-215,

A purchased United St ates Treasury Notes and registered them in the names of "A or B or the

survivor". Under local law, this language created a joint tenancy and at the time of creation, the

rights of the joint tenant vested immediately. The notes were in the absolute possession and control

of A at all times. A received and cashed all interest payment checks. "A" redeemed the notes at

maturity and retained the proceeds. B never knew of the notes themselves, A's receipt of the income

from the notes, or the redemption of the notes. Nonetheless, the Revenue Ruling concludes that a

gift from A to B was complete upon registering the notes because the factual control was not

sufficient to adversely affect B's interest that was vested under local law. This situation is

indistinguishable from the instant case. Bobby's right to the shares was vested under local law

through the counterletter. The petitioner, consequently, had no power to adversely affect the rights

of his son after the counterletter was executed. Hence, the gift was complete upon execution.

The Commissioner argues that, although local law may clothe Bobby with equitable title, the

petitioner's failure to relinquish factual dominion and control makes him the legal owner until the

change of record ownership in 1988. The Commissioner cites several cases in support of this

proposition.17 Each of these cases is distinguishable, however, in that the grantor in each case

reserved not only factual control, but some power to legally divest the grantee of his beneficial

interest.18 This difference is critical, as it illustrates the theory behind the promise to give cases—that

control by the grantor is in derogation of the grantee's rights. In Smith, Sanford, Burnet, and

Robinson, the grantor was completely within his legal rights to affect the grantees beneficial interest

in the property because such rights were expressly reserved. The instant case is completely different.

Under local law, the counterletter vested a real right in Bobby. That right could not be legally
 

19La. Civ. C. Art.2028. Although Article 2028 was enacted in 1985, it did not change the law. 

Rather, it was intended to embody the law previously contained in Article 2239, which stated in

relevant part that "[c]ounterletters can have no effect against creditors or bona fide purchasers; 

they are valid as to all others ...". 

eliminated, lessened, or transferred by Claude Autin. As such, the execution of the counterletter in

1974 comprised a complete gift.

C. Creditors Rights

Article 2028 ofthe Louisiana CivilCode statesthat "counterletters can have no effect against

third personsin good faith".19 Based on this article, the Commissioner makes an additional argument

that a transfer of property cannot be a complete gift if, understate law, the grantor's creditors can still

reach the gift. If we understand the argument, it is that the ability of Claude Autin's creditors to treat

the shares as his personal assets precludes our finding that the shares belonged to Bobby; that is, that

a gift occurred in 1974.

Article 2028 clearly dictates that if the petitioner sold the shares to a purchaser in good faith

or pledged them to a creditor, the counterletter would have no effect against that person. Bobby, as

a result, could not pursue the sharesinto the hands of that third party. Hence, to that extent, it is true

that the petitioner could divest Bobby of his beneficial interest in the sharesthemselves. Nonetheless,

because the counterletter is binding under local law, the petitioner would be subject to suit and, as

such, could not legally divest Bobby of the value of the shares. Indeed, the Commissioner conceded

this point at oral argument. We find the hypothetical ability of a non-existent third party to pursue

the shares to be irrelevant in this case and, thus, find Article 2028 to be inapplicable.

CONCLUSION

We find that upon corporate formation, the 51 shares of Louisiana International Marine

recorded in the name ofClaude Autin were owned byClaude Autin. Those shares were subsequently

transferred to Bobby Autin by execution of a valid counterletter. This 1974 transaction constituted

a complete gift for federal gift tax purposes. Accordingly we REVERSE the tax court's finding of

a 1988 gift. We REMAND the case to the tax court for redetermination of taxes due consistent with

this opinion and, if appropriate, taxing of costs under 26 U.S.C. § 7430.