1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*38 In computing for Federal estate tax purposes the present value of a charitable bequest, which consists of a remainder interest in the estate's residue,
1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*40 33 T.C. 277">*277 OPINION.
This proceeding involves a deficiency in Federal estate tax in the amount of $ 203,020.17 determined against the Estate of Edward H. Luehrmann.
All of the facts were stipulated. They are hereby found.
The stipulation reflects certain concessions on the part of each of the parties. The only question for our consideration is whether executors' commissions and costs of administration which were claimed as deductions on the estate's Federal income tax returns, during the course of administration, and were not claimed as deductions on the estate's Federal estate tax return, as amended or supplemented, are required to be deducted from the gross estate in computing, for estate tax purposes, the value of a charitable bequest which consists of the income from the residue of the corpus of the estate following a life interest in said income. The parties have stipulated that the deficiency in Federal estate tax is $ 63,959.70 if we hold for respondent, and $ 39,535.57 if we hold for petitioners.
Edward H. Luehrmann (hereinafter referred to as the decedent) died on March 10, 1952, leaving a last will and testament which was duly admitted to probate in the Probate Court of1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*41 the City of St. Louis, Missouri, on March 13, 1952. Decedent's Federal estate tax 33 T.C. 277">*278 return and "supplemental" Federal estate tax return were filed on May 26, 1953, and December 15, 1953, respectively, with the director of internal revenue, St. Louis, Missouri.
Under the terms of decedent's last will and testament, Jane Louise Luehrmann, Leo S. Rassieur, and August C. Johanningmeier were named as executors and were duly qualified. On May 29, 1954, Jane Louise Luehrmann remarried and is named in the Probate Court as Jane Louise Hord. On May 29, 1955, Leo S. Rassieur died and Chas. D. Long was appointed as successor executor and was duly qualified.
Under the terms of his last will and testament, decedent gave, devised, and bequeathed the residue of his estate in trust. The income for her life (with the exception of two relatively minor income bequests) was to be paid to his sister-in-law, now Jane Louise Hord, and at her death in perpetuity to Washington University, a corporate charitable institution organized and existing under the laws of the State of Missouri. The applicable provisions of the will are as follows:
ITEM VII: I direct that all the rest, residue and remainder1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*42 of my estate, of whatever kind or character, and wheresoever the same may be situated, whether the same be real, personal or mixed, of which I may die seized or possessed, or to which I may be entitled at the time of my death, including any and all legacies or devises herein contained which shall have lapsed, shall pass to my sister-in-law, Jane Louise Luehrmann, Leo S. Rassieur and the St. LouisUnion Trust Company, a corporation of the City of St. Louis, Missouri, as Trustees upon the trusts, for the use and benefit of those hereinafter named, and with the powers and duties hereinafter set out, to-wit:
* * * *
(5) I direct the Trustees after paying all expenses of administering said trust, including compensation of the Trustees, to pay to Herbert Sharp, who is now in my employ, the sum of One Hundred Thirty Dollars ($ 130.00) per month, and Mary Krause, who is now also in my employ, the sum of Eighty Dollars ($ 80.00) per month for and during the period of their respective natural lives, but only so long as each of them respectively shall remain in the service of my said sister-in-law, Jane Louise Luehrmann, or shall have left her service in a manner which she is willing to certify1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*43 in writing to the Trustees was satisfactory to her and with her approval.
After making the foregoing payments I direct my said Trustees to pay over to my said sister-in-law, Jane Louise Luehrmann, for and during the period of her natural life all the balance of the net income from said trust estate in monthly or other convenient installments. I further direct that from and after the death of my said sister-in-law the entire net income from said trust fund, after making the monthly payments required to be made to Herbert Sharp and Mary Krause, shall be paid to Washington University, a corporation under the laws of Missouri, for the use and benefit of its medical school to be used and applied by said medical school for scientific study, research, and experimentation to discover the causes, treatment, relief and cure of degenerative diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and circulatory diseases, such study, research and experimentation to be conducted by and under the supervision 33 T.C. 277">*279 and direction of full time professors in said medical school, so long as the said Washington University shall maintain a department in its medical school for such study, research and experimentation.
1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*44 During the course of administration of the estate the following costs of administration and executors' commissions (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as administration expenses) 1 were claimed as deductions on the estate's Federal income tax returns: $ 1,260.97 for the year 1952; $ 78,204.12 for the year 1953; $ 29,265.31 for the year 1954; and $ 12,381.28 for the year 1955. These administration expenses were not claimed as deductions on the estate's Federal estate tax return.
Petitioners filed a statement and waiver referring to
In determining the estate tax deficiency, respondent deducted the administration expenses totaling $ 121,111.68 mentioned above from the corpus of the gross estate in computing, for estate tax purposes, the value of the charitable bequest. Petitioners1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*45 contend that such administration expenses should not be so deducted.
We agree with respondent that under the terms of the will the charitable bequest herein consists of a remainder interest in the residue of the estate following a life interest therein and is not to be computed as a "percentage of the taxable estate" as stated by petitioners. Cf.
The residue of the estate (sometimes referred to1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*46 as the residuary estate) has been defined as that which remains after all debts and expenses of administration, as well as all specific bequests and devises, have been paid or satisfied. Black's Law Dictionary (4th ed.);
It may well be that petitioners had the right to deduct some of the administration expenses from the gross income of the estate for 33 T.C. 277">*280 the purpose of computing the estate's Federal income tax liability. This right would be derived from
We may also agree with petitioners that, having elected to deduct administration expenses from the gross income of the estate for income tax purposes, the estate is not permitted, because of the provisions of
1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*48 But we agree with respondent's argument that the amount deductible from the gross estate for the valuation of a charitable bequest may not be greater than the value of what the charitable corporation is actually entitled to and does, in fact, receive.
At one time it was thought that Congress intended charitable residuary bequests to be deductible at their gross value without reduction for any costs or administration expenses.
1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*49 In general, where, as in the case of
But in addition, as to the "fact," there is no evidence whether the administration expenses in question were paid out of current income or out of the estate corpus. If they were in fact paid out of corpus, then the corpus was reduced by that amount, the bequest to charity would be similarly 1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*50 diminished, and the charitable deduction would have to be adjusted accordingly. Since there is no proof and since the burden is on petitioners, it would appear that this alone would be sufficient to defeat the claim.
We may go further, however, and consider the possible alternatives. Either these administration expenses were paid out of corpus or they were paid out of current income. If they were in fact paid out of corpus, the charitable deduction would, as we have said, necessarily be reduced accordingly. But even if they were paid out of income, the only possible assumption is that the payment was so made with the consent and approval of the income beneficiary who would, if she had insisted, have been entitled to the current income. This being so, any payment of the administration expenses out of money to which the life beneficiary was entitled would have constituted a contribution by her to the charity and not by the estate.
1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*51 Respondent's rulings respecting the amount of the permissible marital exemption when expenses have been deducted on an estate's income tax return, upon which petitioners rely, are in reality applications of the principles above described and in fact support and are consistent with respondent's position here.
33 T.C. 277">*282 Finally, petitioners' reliance on
Bruce,
The first ground relied upon in the majority opinion is that local law would require the estate's costs of administration and executors' commissions to be payable out of the corpus and not from the income of the estate, citing
In my opinion the
The second major problem in the
It might here be noted that such categorization of items of estate expenses is not peculiar to Missouri. Under the Federal estate and income tax statutes certain items of expenditures are deductible only for estate tax purposes, certain items are deductible only for income tax purposes, and certain items may be deductible for either estate or income tax purposes but not for both. For general discussion of such types of expenses, see 4 Mertens, Law of Federal Gift and Estate Taxation, sec. 26.56, and in particular footnote 30 thereunder.
The case of
Even though, upon suit of the life beneficiary herein, the courts of Missouri might have held that the administration expenses here involved were deductible from the corpus and not from the income of the estate I am nevertheless of the opinion such State court ruling would not be controlling upon this Court in the instant case. Under
As a second ground the majority opinion states:
there is no evidence whether the administration expenses in question were paid out of current income or out of the estate corpus. If they were in fact paid out of corpus, then the corpus was reduced by that amount, the bequest to charity would be similarly diminished, and the charitable deduction would have to1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*59 be adjusted accordingly. Since there is no proof and since the burden is on petitioners, it would appear that this alone would be sufficient to defeat the claim.
I think it inappropriate, under the facts and circumstances of this case, to rest the Court's decision on failure of the petitioners to adduce evidence that the expenses in question were not paid out of the corpus of the estate. Attention is called to the fact that this case was submitted on what was represented to the Court as a complete stipulation of facts. At the time the written stipulation was received and made a part of the record herein it was assumed by the Court, without then having read the same, that the stipulation contained a statement of all the facts essential to a proper determination of the liability of the petitioners under the statutes involved. When the stipulation was presented, and before it was received, the question was asked of counsel whether it was a complete stipulation of facts and counsel for both the parties assured the Court it was "a complete stipulation of facts." Although the stipulation is not as detailed as might be desirable, nevertheless, since neither party, on brief, has raised1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*60 any question of failure of proof, I deem it inappropriate for the Court to dispose of the case on that ground. Particularly is that so where, as here, after making certain concessions and setting forth the respective contentions of the parties as to the value of the remainder interest passing to Washington University under the will of the decedent, the parties have stipulated that the deficiency in Federal estate tax is a certain amount "if the Court decides the issues now before it in favor of respondent" and another, or lesser amount "if the Court decides the issues now before it in favor of the petitioners." It is also to be noted that in the statement attached to the deficiency notice respondent did not rely upon lack of substantiation or failure of proof to establish that the expenses involved were paid out of income.
I recognize that the Court is not bound by a stipulation of facts which appears to be contrary to fact as disclosed by the record,
The only other case of which I am aware, submitted upon a complete stipulation of facts, in which this Court or its predecessor, the Board of Tax Appeals, has determined the case solely upon the failure of proof, is 1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*62 that of
In my opinion, it is inappropriate for the Court to base its opinion in this case upon failure of proof.
The majority opinion further states that even if the expenses involved were paid out of income, "the only possible assumption is that the payment was so made with the consent and approval of the income beneficiary who would, if she had insisted, have been entitled to the current income." Hence, it is stated, "any payment of the administration expenses out of money to which the life beneficiary was entitled would have been a contribution by her to the charity and not by the estate." I do not agree, however, that the life income beneficiary, even1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*63 if she had insisted, would have been entitled to the entire current income. As previously pointed out herein, there is nothing in the record in the instant case to indicate either a need of the life beneficiary for immediate financial aid or an intent on the part of the testator that she should receive the income from the estate undiminished by expenses. On the contrary, the will provides for the establishment of a trust and payment of the income from the trust by the trustees "after paying all expenses of administering said trust."
This brings us to what I consider the most important question in the case -- the effect on estate tax deductions of the waiver under the income tax provisions of
33 T.C. 277">*287 A brief review of the scope and plan of the Federal estate tax may be helpful.
1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*65 I agree with respondent, as have the majority, that, under the terms of the will, the charitable bequest herein consists of a remainder interest in the residuum of the estate following a life interest therein and is not to be computed as a "percentage of the taxable estate" as stated by petitioner. Cf.
It is petitioner's position that it had the right, under the statutes, to deduct administration expenses either from the gross estate (for estate tax purposes) or from the gross income of the estate (for estate income tax purposes), but under
Petitioner had the right to deduct the administration expenses here involved from the gross income of the estate for the purpose of computing the estate's Federal income tax liability. This right is derived from
I would further agree with petitioner that, having elected to deduct the administration expenses here involved from the gross 1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*67 income of the estate for income tax purposes, and not being permitted, because of the provisions of
So far as I am aware, the precise question involved herein has not heretofore been passed upon by this or any other Court. A similar question relating to the limitation on the amount allowable as a marital deduction has, however, been the subject of two Internal Revenue rulings:
The Commissioner's ruling in
In view of the foregoing,
The headnote accompanying the ruling includes the final clause "as distinguished from those which would merely be
The Commissioner's ruling in
In view of the foregoing,
I think a similar1959 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 38">*70 ruling with respect to the nondeduction of the administration expenses from gross estate for the purpose of determining the value of the residuum and consequently the present value of the charitable remainder interest therein, for estate tax purposes, is required in the instant case.
1. Under Regs. 105, sec. 81.32, "Administration expenses include (1) executor's commissions; (2) attorney's fees; and (3) miscellaneous expenses."↩
2.
The net income of the estate or trust shall be computed in the same manner and on the same basis as in the case of an individual, except that --
* * * *
(e) Amounts allowable under
3.
For the purpose of the tax the value of the net estate shall be determined, in the case of a citizen or resident of the United States by deducting from the value of the gross estate --
* * * *
(d) Transfers for Public, Charitable, and Religious Uses. -- The amount of all bequests, legacies, devises, or transfers * * * to or for the use of the United States, any State, Territory, any political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia, for exclusively public purposes, or to or for the use of any corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes * * *. If the tax imposed by
1.
The net income of the estate or trust shall be computed in the same manner and on the same basis as in the case of an individual, except that --
* * * *
(e) Amounts allowable under
2.
For the purpose of the tax the value of the net estate shall be determined, in the case of a citizen or resident of the United States by deducting from the value of the gross estate --
* * * *
(b) Expenses, Losses, Indebtedness, and Taxes. -- Such amounts -- (1) for funeral expenses, (2) for administration expenses, (3) for claims against the estate, and (4) for unpaid mortgages upon, or any indebtedness in respect to, property where the value of decedent's interest therein, undiminished by such mortgage or indebtedness, is included in the value of the gross estate.↩
3. For a general discussion of this subject see 4 Mertens, Law of Federal Gift and Estate Taxation sec. 26.56, pp. 241-250.↩
4.
For the purpose of the tax the value of the net estate shall be determined, in the case of a citizen or resident of the United States by deducting from the value of the gross estate --
* * * *
(d) Transfers For Public, Charitable, and Religious Uses. -- The amount of all bequests, legacies, devises, or transfers * * * to or for the use of any corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, * * * no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation * * *. If the tax imposed by