1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*2
In 1957 one of petitioners caused an endowment insurance policy which he had purchased in October 1938 and which was to mature in October 1958 to be divided into five policies. In December 1957 he sold one of the five policies to a charitable organization for his basis therein and donated the value above his basis to the charity. The charity had the insurance company transfer the policy to it on December 31, 1957, and petitioner deducted the value of the policy over his basis as a charitable contribution in 1957. On October 13, 1958, 16 days prior to the maturity date of the policies, petitioner sold to charities for their bases to him three of the other policies and donated the remaining values of the policies to the charities. The charities had the policies transferred into their names and collected the maturity values thereof on or about the maturity date of the policies. Petitioner deducted the difference in the maturity values and his bases in the policies as charitable contributions in 1958.
41 T.C. 428">*429 OPINION
Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' income1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*4 tax for the calendar years 1957 and 1958 in the respective amounts of $ 4,912.44 and $ 16,366.23.
The issue for decision is whether petitioners realized taxable income in the amounts by which the values of endowment insurance policies transferred by S. M. Friedman to charitable organizations exceeded his bases in such policies.
All of the facts have been stipulated and are found accordingly.
Petitioners, husband and wife residing in Shaker Heights, Ohio, filed joint Federal income tax returns for the calendar years 1957 and 1958 on the cash basis of accounting with the district director of internal revenue, Cleveland, Ohio.
S. M. Friedman (hereinafter referred to as petitioner) in 1957 was the owner of an endowment insurance policy issued to him on October 29, 1938, by the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co. (hereinafter referred to as the insurance company). The policy provided that on October 29, 1958, the insurance company would pay $ 100,000, exclusive of accrued dividends, to petitioner, or if he should die before that date, that sum would be paid to his designated beneficiaries on proof of his death.
Petitioner's adjusted basis for this endowment policy at all times here involved1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*5 was $ 60,000.
On November 13, 1957, petitioner caused the insurance company to divide this policy into four separate policies in the respective face amounts of $ 30,000, $ 20,000, $ 25,000, and $ 25,000. On September 41 T.C. 428">*430 8, 1958, petitioner caused the $ 30,000 policy to be divided into two separate policies in the face amounts of $ 20,000 and $ 10,000. Through these two divisions the $ 100,000 policy was divided as follows:
Policy No. | Maturity | Adjusted |
value | basis | |
1,821,832 | $ 20,000 | $ 12,000 |
1,821,832 1/4 | 20,000 | 12,000 |
1,821,832 2/4 | 25,000 | 15,000 |
1,821,832 3/4 | 25,000 | 15,000 |
1,821,832 4/5 | 10,000 | 6,000 |
All of these policies had maturity dates of October 29, 1958. The policies carried a table of loan or cash surrender value and provided, "All calculations of Reserves and Net Single Premiums will be on the basis of the American Experience Mortality with Interest at Three Per Centum yearly, and according to the attained age of the Insured." The policies contained provisions with respect to dividends, granting options for withdrawal of such dividends, use of such dividends to reduce premium payments, and accumulation of dividends.
On December 26, 1957, 1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*6 petitioner delivered policy No. 1,821,832 1/4 in the face amount of $ 20,000 to the Temple (Tifereth Israel Society) of Cleveland, Ohio, together with duly executed copies of an absolute assignment and transfer of policy and request for change of beneficiary. This policy was delivered to the Temple with a letter addressed to the Temple which stated in part as follows:
The said enclosed policy will mature on October 29, 1958. Pursuant to our agreement I am selling this policy to The Temple for the sum of $ 11,975 and I am hereby making a gift of $ 1,000 of the excess value to Mt. Sinai Hospital and the balance of the excess value to The Temple.
On December 26, 1957, the Temple accepted the policy with the assignments and change of beneficiary and paid petitioner $ 11,975. On or about December 31, 1957, the Temple delivered the policy to the insurance company for transfer into the Temple's name and designation of it as sole beneficiary on the policy, which transfer and designation was effected by the insurance company on or before December 31, 1957. On or about November 6, 1958, the Temple paid $ 1,000 to Mt. Sinai Hospital. The cash surrender value of policy No. 1,821,832 1/41963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*7 as of December 26, 1957, was $ 970.87 per $ 1,000 of insurance, or $ 19,417.
Petitioners, on their income tax return for the calendar year 1957, claimed deductions for charitable contributions in the amount of $ 8,000 based upon the transfer of policy No. 1,821,832 1/4 to the Temple.
On September 11, 1958, petitioner addressed a letter to Mt. Sinai Hospital setting forth an agreement reached between his representatives 41 T.C. 428">*431 and representatives of the hospital that on or before October 1, 1958, he would cause to be assigned to Mt. Sinai Hospital a life insurance endowment policy on his life of a face value of $ 25,000 which would mature on October 29, 1958. The letter further stated:
Under the terms of our agreement, I am selling this policy to Mt. Sinai Hospital for the sum of $ 15,000.00 and I am hereby making a gift of the excess value to Mt. Sinai Hospital and Case Institute of Technology. It is agreed that upon receipt of the said policy properly assigned to Mt. Sinai Hospital (1) Mt. Sinai Hospital will issue to me its check in the amount of $ 15,000.00 as payment of the above agreed price, (2) Mt. Sinai Hospital will issue its check in the amount of $ 1,000.00 payable1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*8 to the order of Case Institute of Technology representing the gift I am making to the Institute and (3) the balance represents my gift to Mt. Sinai Hospital and is to be applied to my pledge.
This agreement was approved by the director of Mt. Sinai Hospital on September 11, 1958. Pursuant to this letter agreement petitioner, on October 13, 1958, caused policy No. 1,821,832 3/4, having a maturity value of $ 25,000 plus dividends accrued thereon in the amount of $ 659.63, together with a duly executed copy of an absolute assignment and transfer and request for change of beneficiary, designating the hospital as owner of all rights in and as sole beneficiary of the policy, to be delivered to the hospital. Mt. Sinai Hospital accepted this policy and related documents on that date. On October 16, 1958, Mt. Sinai Hospital delivered the policy and related documents to the insurance company for transfer into its name and designation of it as sole beneficiary of the policy, and paid petitioner $ 15,000 and Case Institute of Technology $ 1,000. The policy transfer was effected by the insurance company immediately upon receipt of the policy and related documents.
Petitioners, on their income1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*9 tax return for the calendar year 1958, claimed deductions for charitable contributions in the amount of $ 10,659.63 based upon the transfer of policy No. 1,821,832 3/4 to Mt. Sinai Hospital, such amount representing the difference between the amount petitioner received in cash from Mt. Sinai Hospital upon the delivery to it of policy No. 1,821,832 3/4 and the maturity value plus dividends on the policy.
On August 8, 1958, petitioner addressed a letter to the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland which stated that in accordance with the agreement reached between his representatives and the Jewish Community Federation, he would on or about October 1, 1958, cause two life insurance endowment policies issued upon his life having an aggregate face value of $ 35,000 and both maturing on October 29, 1958, to be assigned to the Jewish Community Federation. This letter further stated:
Pursuant to our agreement I am selling these policies to The Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland for the sum of $ 21,000.00, and I am hereby making a gift of the excess value to The Jewish Community Federation of 41 T.C. 428">*432 Cleveland. Please apply said gift to my pledge to the Federation. Upon receipt1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*10 of the policies, The Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland is to issue to me its check in the amount of $ 21,000.00 as payment of the above agreed price.
Pursuant to the agreements set forth in this letter, petitioner on October 14, 1958, delivered policies Nos. 1,821,832 2/4 and 1,821,832 4/5 having maturity values of $ 25,000 and $ 10,000, respectively, or a total maturity value of $ 35,000 plus accrued dividends of $ 923.43 to the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, together with executed copies of an absolute assignment and transfer and request for change of beneficiary for each of the policies, designating the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland as the owner of all rights in and sole beneficiary of the policies. The Jewish Community Federation accepted the policies and related documents, and on or about October 15, 1958, delivered the policies and related documents to the insurance company for transfer into its name and designation of it as sole beneficiary of the policies, and paid petitioner $ 21,000. On or about October 15, 1958, the insurance company effected the transfer of the policies to the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland.
Petitioners, on their1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*11 income tax return for the calendar year 1958, claimed deductions for charitable contributions in the amount of $ 14,923.43 based upon the transfer of policies Nos. 1,821,832 2/4 and 1,821,832 4/5, this amount representing the difference in the amounts received in cash from the Jewish Community Federation and the maturity values of the policies plus dividends.
The pledges which were referred to in the agreements by petitioner with Mt. Sinai Hospital and the Jewish Community Federation were oral and not written pledges.
The Temple (Tifereth Israel Society), Mt. Sinai Hospital of Cleveland, and the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland are, and during the years 1957 and 1958 were, charitable organizations within the meaning of
Petitioner did not receive any of the proceeds of these four policies. After the date of the transfer of each of the policies to the charitable organization to which it was transferred, 1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*12 petitioner neither exercised nor possessed any incidence of ownership with respect to these policies or any of them.
The cash payments received from the various charitable organizations upon the delivery by petitioner of the policy or policies to them did not in any instance exceed petitioner's pro rata adjusted 41 T.C. 428">*433 basis in such policy or policies. Petitioner reported no gain or loss on the sale of the policies in either 1957 or 1958.
Respondent in his notice of deficiency increased petitioners' reported taxable income for the calendar year 1957 by an amount of $ 7,975 which he explained represented income realized from the endowment policy which was to mature on October 29, 1958, which petitioner transferred to the Temple. The $ 7,975 represented the difference in the basis of $ 12,000 of the policy transferred in 1957 and the maturity value of $ 20,000 ($ 8,000), minus the $ 25 less than basis which petitioner received for the policy.
Respondent increased petitioners' reported income for the year 1958 by an amount of $ 25,583.06 which he explained as representing income realized from the three endowment policies which matured on October 29, 1958, which petitioner transferred1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*13 to Mt. Sinai Hospital and the Jewish Community Federation.
Petitioner takes the position that he made gifts to charitable organizations in 1957 and 1958 of appreciated property which did not result in his receiving income in the amount of the difference in the fair market value and basis of such property.
Respondent takes the position that petitioner has in effect made gifts of anticipated income. Respondent points to the fact that (1) petitioner's gifts consisted of endowment insurance policies with cash surrender values at the date of the gifts in excess of petitioner's basis therein; (2) at maturity of the policies the excess of their maturity value over petitioner's bases therein would have constituted ordinary income to petitioner; and (3) petitioner by making a charitable contribution of the endowment policies shortly before their maturity date has derived the same economic benefit that he would have enjoyed had he surrendered the policies, received payment thereon, and given the money to the various charitable organizations.
With respect to the year 1957 respondent recognizes that it has been held that a gift of anticipated income which is not received actually or constructively by either the donor or donee in the year of gift but is received in a subsequent year is not taxable to a cash basis donor in the year of the gift.
The law with respect to gifts of property is, as petitioner points out, that a gift of appreciated property does not result in income to the donor irrespective of whether1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 2">*16 the gain from a sale of the property would result in capital gain or ordinary income even when the property is partially the subject of sale and partially of gift.
it would be difficult to see why, if the gift by the owner of accrued interest represented by negotiable coupons not yet due, which he detached from bonds of which he remained the owner and which were collected by the donee in the same taxable year, represented a realization by the donor of the accrued interest, yet the gift of dividends which had already been credited on the stock did not represent realization of income by the owner merely because at the same time that she made the gift of the dividends she also gave away the stock. * * *
In
41 T.C. 428">*435 Seeking to avoid the impact of the
There is no question that upon maturity on October 29, 1958, of the insurance policies here involved, the excess of the maturity value over petitioner's bases in the policies would constitute income to petitioner.
Petitioner's argument here is similar to that of the taxpayer in
The year 1957 presents a different question. No amount was paid to petitioner's donees on the policy assigned to the Temple in that year and the policy did not mature in that year. This presents a situation squarely within our holdings in