Court Opinion

ID: 4480862
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-16 21:14:34.129753+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:59.846294
License: Public Domain

OPINION. ÁRündell, Judge: The first problem before us concerns the includi-bility in the decedent’s gross estate, under the provisions of section 811 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code, of the value of a one-third interest in the trust created by the decedent and others in 1923. By the terms of the trust instrument at least four-fifteenths of the income was to be paid ever to decedent during her lifetime. If either of the other primary beneficiaries had predeceased the decedent and had left no living issue or descendants, the decedent would have been entitled to a greater percentage of the trust income during the remainder of her life. The respondent makes no contention that the value is to be included in the estate by reason of the retention of the income during the decedent’s life. We think it is clear that nothing is includible on that ground. The trust was created prior to the Joint Resolution of March 3, 1931, and is not, by reason of such retention, a transfer intended to take effect in possession or enjoyment at or after death. May v. Heiner, 281 U. S. 238; Hassett v. Welch, 303 U. S. 303; Estate of Edward E. Bradley, 1 T. C. 518; affd, 140 Fed. (2d) 87. The respondent’s inclusion of the one-third interest in the corpus of the trust is predicated on the argument that the transfer was intended to take effect in possession and enjoyment at or after death because of the existence of a possibility of reverter. Although the respondent admits that the possibility of reverter was remote, he argues that the question of remoteness is no longer a consideration since the decisions of the Supreme Court in Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Co. (Stinson) v. Rothensies, 324 U. S. 108, and Commissioner v. Estate of Lester Field, 324 U. S. 113. Under the terms of the trust indenture the corpus was t.o be distributed at the death of the survivor of the decedent and her brother, Pompeo. The gift of the remainder was absolute and unconditional. The decedent reserved no power of appointment, either contingently or otherwise, nor did she hold any strings by which the corpus could be drawn back to her or her estate. At all times during the existence of the trust remaindermen were in being, were known, and were able to take should the trust terminate. At the death of decedent Estella was able to take her proportionate part of the trust corpus and the three living children of Pompeo, one of whom had two living children, were able to take the balance. The instant case is clearly distinguishable from the Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Co. case, supra, because in that case the grantor reserved a power of appointment. See Commissioner v. Irving Trust Co., 147 Fed. (2d) 946, and Estate of Harris Fahnestock, 4 T. C. 1096. Here the gift was not intended to take effect in possession at death, since the grantor intended to dispose completely of her interest in the corpus in her lifetime, and the fact that the death of decedent may have put an end to a remote possibility of reverter does not warrant the inclusion of one-tliird of the value of the trust property in the decedent’s gross estate. Frances Biddle Trust, 3 T. C. 832; Estate of Harris Fahnestock, supra. We have found that the fair market values of the parcels of real estate were $20,000, $3,000, $75,000, $275,000, and $175,000. Petitioner’s witness, a New York real estate dealer of many years’ experience, testified that in his opinion the above sums represented the fair market values of those properties. The respondent offered no evidence. We are satisfied that the witness’s testimony warrants our conclusion that the respondent erred in increasing the values of the parcels in question. See Bryant v. Commissioner, 76 Fed. (2d) 103; Bonwit Teller & Co. v. Commissioner, 53 Fed. (2d) 381. The main valuation problem has to do with the fair market value of the decedent’s undivided one-third interest. The respondent has determined that the value of such interest is one-third of the value of each parcel. Petitioner, on the other hand, contends that the decedent’s interest is less than the proportionate value of the whole and asks for a reduction of 12% percent. Petitioner’s witness testified that it was a common practice in the New York real estate market, in appraising real estate, to deduct a percentage on an individual fractional interest. The reason for such discount was that a purchaser of such minority interest subjected himself to the wishes of the other owners and he had no control in the management, operation, or leasing of the properties. He testified that in his experience it was hard to find a buyer for an undivided fractional interest in New York and that purchasers were interested in buying minority interests only when they could obtain all of the fractional interests making up the whole parcel. The witness stated that he had tried on five or six occasions to sell fractional interests in real estate, but had not been able to obtain offers to buy except at high discounts which the owners had refused to accept. He testified that in his opinion the fair market value of decedent’s interest was 12% percent less than the proportionate value of the entire parcel. The New York authorities recognize that it is proper to make a deduction in valuing an undivided fractional interest in real estate for inheritance tax purposes. In re Gibert's Estate, 163 N. Y. S. 974; In re Loeb's Estate, 164 N. Y. S. 592; and In re Turner’s Estate, 222 N. Y. S. 645. We think the material evidence supports a conclusion that the fair market value of decedent’s interest was less than the proportionate value of the whole parcel and that a reduction of 12% percent is reasonable. The instant case is not unlike William Rhinelander Stewart, 31 B. T. A. 201, where we approved a 15 percent discount, and we think a similar ruling should be applied here. Reviewed by the Court. Decision will be entered wnder Rule 50. Mellott, J., concurs only in the result.