Case Name: LIT et al. v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE; COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. LIT et al.
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1934-07-20
Citations: 72 F.2d 551
Docket Number: Nos. 5397, 5420
Parties: LIT et al. v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. LIT et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 72
Pages: 551–551

Head Matter:
LIT et al. v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. LIT et al.
Nos. 5397, 5420.
Circuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
July 20, 1934.
Wm. Clarke Mason and Henry Gross, both of Philadelphia, Pa., for Lit estate.
Prank J. Widomnn, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Sewall Key and Helen R. Carloss, Sp. Assts. to Atty. Gen., for the United States.
Carroll G. Walter, of New York City, amicus curias.
Before WOOLLEY, DAYIS, and THOMPSON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
THOMPSON, Circuit Judge.
These are cross-appeals from a decision of the Board of Tax Appeals. In 1923 Samuel D. Lit transferred shares of stock to a trustee in accordance with the terms of a trust agreement. The trustee was to pay the income to Rosa L. Lit, the settlor's wife, for life and, upon her death, to the settlor for life witli remainder to the settlor's son, David J. Lit. The settlor reserved the right to revoke the trust. In 1924 the trustee, the settlor, and tlie two beneficiaries executed an agreement providing, inter alia, that tlie trust might be revoked or amended by agreement of tlie settlor and both beneficiaries. In 3927 the trust was revoked by agreement of all the parties in interest, and a new agreement was executed providing that the trust might be revoked, altered, or amended by tlie settlor with the consent of Rosa L. Lit, the beneficiary of the life estate. The settlor died in 1929 and was survived by his wife and son.
The executors of the settlor's estate in their tax return omitted from his gross estate the value of the eorpus of the trust. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue included the entire value of the trust in the gross estate and assessed a deficiency. Upon petition by tlie executors for redetermiuation of the assessment, the Board of Tax Appeals rendered a decision in which it exempted from ilio estate tax the value of the life estate of Rosa L. Lit and held, as subject to tax, the value of the remainder. Botli the Commissioner a.nd the executors have petitioned for review of the decision of tlie Board of Tax Appeals.
Tlio issues raised involve the construction of section 302 (e) (d) (h) of the Revenue Act of 1926 (26 USCA § 1094 (c, d, h).
We have given careful consideration to the arguments of the attorneys for the respective parties. Nevertheless, upon review of tlio findings of fact and opinion of the Board of Tax Appeals, wo find omselves in entire accord with the reasoning and conclusions set out in its decision. 28 B. T. A. 853.
The decision of the Board of Ta,x Appeals in both appeals is affirmed.