Chrysler v. Commissioner

*55 Respondent determined a deficiency in estate tax of $ 1,023,714.51.

Respondent included in decedent's gross estate certain transfers made during decedent's life in the total amount of $ 1,601,875.19 made up of the following items:

The *104 parties have stipulated that the value of item 7 at the date of decedent's death was $ 156,251.16 instead of $ 155,615.25, and that included therein were "proceeds of transfers made by persons other than decedent in the amount of $ 11,268.75, which respondent concedes is not a part of the taxable estate."

*56 The parties have stipulated that the value of item 8 at the date of decedent's death was $ 155,252.95 instead of $ 156,613.54, and that included therein were "proceeds of transfers made by persons other than decedent in the amount of $ 12,527.50, which respondent concedes is not a part of the taxable estate."

The parties have also stipulated that items 4 and 5 "do not form a part of decedent's taxable estate."

This leaves for our consideration three issues to be decided as follows:

(1) Whether items 2 and 3 are includable in decedent's gross estate under section 2036(a), I.R.C. 1954;

(2) Whether $ 77,435.15 of item 7 and $ 79,317.57 of item 8 are includable in decedent's gross estate under section 2040, I.R.C. 1954; and

(3) Whether $ 78,816.01 of item 7 and $ 75,935.38 of item 8 are includable in decedent's gross estate under sections 2036(a) and 2038 (a)(1), I.R.C. 1954.

(Note: Regarding *105 items 7 and 8, the record does not show how the conceded amounts of $ 11,268.75 and $ 12,527.50 are to be apportioned between issues 2 and 3. This apportionment, if necessary, will be made by the parties in their recomputations to be made under Rule 50, together with such credit for Federal gift taxes, credit for State death taxes, and credit for foreign death taxes to which petitioner shall be entitled.)

FINDINGS OF FACT

All the facts were stipulated. The stipulation is incorporated herein by reference.

Petitioner is the estate of Jack F. Chrysler, deceased, who died on November 7, 1958, a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, leaving a will of which Edith B. Carr, John W. Drye, Jr., and Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. are the executors. The estate tax return, Form 706, was timely filed with the district director of internal revenue, Manhattan, New York.

Decedent was survived by his wife, Edith (now Edith B. Carr), and two children, Helen and Jack, Jr.

At all times material herein, decedent was engaged in the investment business. At the time of his death, decedent was a member of the New York Stock Exchange and of the American Stock Exchange.

By trust indenture dated June 16, 1945, under which Nicholas Kelley, John W. Drye, Jr., and Harry C. Davis were trustees, decedent created an irrevocable trust for the benefit for life of his daughter, Helen F. Chrysler, who was born on February 2, 1944.

*57 By trust indenture dated December 6, 1946, under which Nicholas Kelley, John W. Drye, Jr., and Harry C. Davis were trustees, decedent created an irrevocable trust for the benefit for life of his son Jack F. Chrysler, Jr., who was born on May 31, 1946.

The provisions of each trust were identical in all material respects except for the language necessary to make one trust pertain to the decedent's infant daughter and the other trust to his infant son. The corpus of each trust was $ 115,000 in cash. The trust for the daughter provided in part:

1. A. The Trustees shall hold, manage, invest and from time to time reinvest the trust estate and shall collect the income therefrom and shall pay over the net annual income therefrom to Helen Forker Chrysler, daughter of the Grantor, during her life; provided, however, that as long as Helen Forker Chrysler shall be a minor, the Trustees shall use and apply so much of the net annual income *107 and any accumulated income of the trust estate as the Trustees shall deem advisable for the maintenance, education and support of said Helen Forker Chrysler; or instead of making personal application of such income, the Trustees may transfer, assign and pay over so much of such income as they deem advisable to either parent or the guardian of the person or property of said Helen Forker Chrysler, or the person with whom she resides, to be by such parent, guardian or person so used and applied (and the receipt of such parent, guardian or person shall be full acquittance and discharge to the Trustees in respect of any such sum or sums so paid over, and the Trustees shall have no duty or responsibility in supervising the application of any such income) and the Trustees shall accumulate the balance of such income during the minority of said Helen Forker Chrysler, and upon her attaining the age of twenty-one years, the Trustees shall transfer, assign and pay over to her all accumulations of income on the trust estate; or if said Helen Forker Chrysler shall die before attaining the age of twenty-one years, all accumulations of income on the trust estate shall be transferred, assigned and *108 paid over to the executor or administrator of the estate of said Helen Forker Chrysler.

In the management, administration and investment of any accumulated income, the Trustees shall have all the powers, authority and discretion given to them with respect to the trust estate by any provisions of this trust indenture.

Each trust provided for the complete disposition of the remainder after the termination of the respective life estate.

The fair market value on November 7, 1958, of the principal of each of the two trusts was $ 534,920.37 and $ 698,120.83, respectively, which amounts were included in the decedent's gross estate as items 2 and 3, respectively.

Decedent was never a trustee under either trust. None of the income of either trust collected by the trustees was used for the maintenance, education, or support of the respective beneficiary during decedent's lifetime and all such income of both trusts was taxed to the trustees and the net income of both trusts was accumulated by them.

During his lifetime decedent made deposits of funds belonging to him in a checking account at the Hanover Bank designated as "Account *58 No. 1 -- Jack F. Chrysler or Edith B. Chrysler*109 as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common." Decedent also during his lifetime transferred certain securities to the names of himself and his wife as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common, or to the names of himself or his daughter, Helen F. Chrysler. All of the transactions with respect to such deposits and securities were recorded in a ledger which decedent maintained in his office, on which was inscribed "Helen F. Chrysler -- Personal."

All of such deposits and transfers of securities were made between March 6, 1944, and January 7, 1958, both dates inclusive. There were 21 such separate transactions. The value of such deposits and transfers, as of the time when made, totaled $ 80,397.25. Decedent never used any of said funds or securities or the income therefrom for his own benefit.

From time to time decedent drew checks on said account among other things for the purchase of securities. Such securities, until the time of the enactment of the New York law covering gifts of securities to minors in 1956, were registered in the names of decedent and his wife as joint tenants with right of survivorship. After the enactment *110 of the New York law with respect to gifts of securities to minors, certain of the securities were registered in the name of Jack F. Chrysler as custodian for Helen F. Chrysler, a minor, under article 8-A of the Personal Property Law of New York. The securities referred to were kept in a separate safe-deposit box, in the names of decedent and his wife as joint tenants, and no other securities were kept in that box. From time to time some of said securities were sold, the proceeds were deposited in said bank account and other securities were bought.

As a result of all of the above-mentioned transactions totaling $ 80,397.25, the accumulation of the income collected on the securities and the profits realized on the securities were of the value and were held on the date of decedent's death in the names of the following persons:

*59 Income tax returns with respect *111 to the taxable income from such property were filed for decedent's daughter, Helen F. Chrysler, in each year and the taxes, if any, shown to be due thereon were paid out of such property.

Subsequent to decedent's death, all property so held in the names of decedent and his wife as joint tenants or in the name of decedent as custodian for his daughter was transferred to Edith B. Chrysler as successor custodian for Helen F. Chrysler under article 8-A of the Personal Property Law of New York.

During his lifetime decedent made deposits of funds belonging to him in a checking account at the Hanover Bank designated as "Account No. 2 -- Jack F. Chrysler or Edith B. Chrysler as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common." Decedent also during his lifetime transferred certain securities to the names of himself and his wife as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common, or to the names of himself or his son, Jack F. Chrysler, Jr. All of the transactions with respect to such deposits and securities were recorded in a ledger which decedent maintained in his office, on which was inscribed "Jack F. Chrysler, Jr. -- Personal."

All of such deposits *112 and transfers of securities were made between May 29, 1947, and January 7, 1958, both dates inclusive. There were 17 such separate transactions. The value of such deposits and transfers, as of the time when made, totaled $ 80,181.59. Decedent never used any of said funds or securities or the income therefrom for his own benefit.

From time to time decedent drew checks on said account among other things for the purchase of securities. Such securities, until the time of the enactment of the New York law covering gifts of securities to minors in 1956, were registered in the names of decedent and his wife as joint tenants with right of survivorship. After the enactment of the New York law with respect to gifts of securities to minors, certain of the securities were registered in the name of Jack F. Chrysler as custodian for Jack F. Chrysler, Jr., a minor, under article 8-A of the Personal Property Law of New York. The securities referred to were kept in a separate safe-deposit box, in the names of decedent and his wife as joint tenants, and no other securities were kept in that box. From time to time some of said securities were sold, the proceeds were deposited in said bank account, *113 and other securities were bought.

As a result of all of the above-mentioned transactions totaling $ 80,181.59, the accumulation of the income collected on the securities and the profits realized on the securities were of the value and were *60 held on the date of decedent's death in the names of the following persons:

Income tax returns with respect to the taxable income from such property were filed for decedent's son, Jack F. Chrysler, Jr., in each year and the taxes, if any, shown to be due thereon were paid out of such property.

Subsequent to decedent's death, all property so held in the names of decedent and his wife as joint tenants or in the name of decedent as custodian for his son was transferred to Edith B. Chrysler as successor custodian for Jack F. Chrysler, Jr., under article 8-A of the Personal Property Law of New York.

Decedent filed *114 gift tax returns, Form 709, for each of the calendar years 1945 to 1958, inclusive. All of the items included in the previously mentioned totals of $ 80,397.25 and $ 80,181.59, with the exception of the U.S. savings bonds Series E and F, were included in the total gifts shown in those returns.

OPINION

Respondent contends that the values of the corpora of the two trusts (items 2 and 3) created by decedent on June 16, 1945, and December 6, 1946, are includable in the decedent's gross estate under the provisions of section 2036(a), I.R.C. 1954. ¹ In so contending, the respondent in effect assumes that the two trusts were created for the maintenance, education, and support of his two minor children. In his brief he argues thus:

*61 Decedent established each of the trusts shortly after the respective births of his two children. The purpose for which the trusts were created was for the maintenance, education and support of his children. These trusts were an effective instrumentality through which the decedent could discharge his legal obligation to support his children. Since both of decedent's children were minors at the date of decedent's death, decedent was under a duty imposed *115 by law to support them (Sec. 32, Domestic Relations Law of New York). Decedent could have availed himself at any time until his death to have the income applied for the support of his children.

The above argument, except for the part that decedent was under a duty imposed by law to support his minor children, is not supported by the facts. Decedent could not have availed *116 himself at any time until his death of having the income applied for the support of his children. This could only be done in the discretion of the three trustees. Decedent was not one of the trustees. The trusts were irrevocable. They created life estates with remainders over. When decedent created the trusts he parted forever with all right to the income or principal of the trusts, or the right, either alone or in conjunction with any person, to designate the persons who shall possess or enjoy the property or the income therefrom.

The facts in the cases ² principally relied upon by the respondent involve facts entirely different from the facts in the instant case. In the first case cited in the footnote the decedent there created a trust, the income of which was payable to his wife with the provision that she should use it for their family and joint living expenses and for her own maintenance and support. In Commissioner v. Dwight's Estate, 205 F. 2d 298 (C.A. 2, 1953), reversing and remanding 17 T.C. 1317, the husband decedent had created two trusts to pay the income to his wife and children for their "support and maintenance." And in Estate of William H. Lee, 33 T.C. 1064, *117 our syllabus is as follows:

Held: Decedent, in making transfers of property in trust with income to be paid to his wife "for her maintenance and support," retained the right to have the income used to fulfill his legal obligation of support, and the trust corpus is to be included in the valuation of his gross estate. Commissioner v. Dwight's Estate, 205 F. 2d 298 (C.A. 2), followed.

In the instant case, the decedent could not direct the trustees to apply any of the income for the maintenance, education, and support of the minor beneficiaries. Sole discretion as to whether any income of the trusts was to be so applied rested and remained in the trustees. The trust instruments specifically provided that only "so much" of such *62 income "as the Trustees shall deem advisable" shall be so used, and the balance accumulated.

We think the facts in the instant case are more like those in Commissioner v. Douglass' Estate, 143 F. 2d 961*118 (C.A. 3, 1944), affirming 2 T.C. 487, cited and relied upon by petitioner. The decedent in that case created a trust for the benefit of his four children. Neither decedent nor any of the beneficiaries was among the three trustees named. Decedent died in 1938. In the trust instrument decedent gave the trustees permission to apply the income of the minor's share to the extent that the trustees "may deem necessary for the education, support and maintenance of said minor." In denying the Commissioner's claim that one-fourth of the value of the principal of the trust was to be included in the decedent's gross estate, the court said in part:

In addition to the theory thus advanced the Commissioner's argument cites Helvering v. Mercantile-Commerce Bank & Trust Co. et. al., 8 Cir., 111 F. 2d 224, certiorari denied, 1940, 310 U.S. 654, 60 S.Ct. 1104, 84 L. Ed. 1418. This involved a trust for a wife created by a husband in his lifetime. The income was to be paid to her for family expenses and her own maintenance and support. The Eighth Circuit held that the corpus of the trust was to be included as part of his estate for estate tax purposes. The decision is, obviously, not an authority *119 on the question before us in this litigation. There is certainly an important difference of fact between the trust set up for the very purpose of providing for the settlor's legal obligation to his wife and the one in which disinterested trustees have an option to apply a portion of the income for the support of the settlor's minor child.

Under the section of the estate tax law already quoted, the settlor's estate is subject to the tax if he retained the possession or enjoyment of the income from the property or the right to designate the persons who should enjoy it. But he did neither. He granted the property to trustees, retaining nothing. The Commissioner's argument that these trustees would be likely to do what he asked of them about assigning income for the support of a minor child departs from the "practical" and "realistic" approach we are asked, in the same argument, to take. We have no notion what the trustees would have done had such a request been made. It is apparent, from the terms of the instrument, that the settlor could not direct or control the matter, once the trust settlement had become effective. [Emphasis supplied.]

See also McCullough v. Granger, 128 F. Supp. 611 (W.D. Pa. 1955), *120 and Colonial-American National Bank v. United States, 243 F. 2d 312 (C.A. 4, 1957).

We hold that the respondent erred in including items 2 and 3 in the decedent's gross estate.

These issues involve items 7 and 8 referred to in our preliminary statement.

Under issue 2 the respondent contends that $ 77,435.15 of item 7 and $ 79,317.57 of item 8 (except for some part of the stipulated amounts of *63 $ 11,268.75 and $ 12,527.50) are includable in decedent's gross estate under section 2040, I.R.C. 1954. ³

The parties have stipulated that on the date of decedent's *121 death these amounts were held in the names of the following persons:

Under issue 3 the respondent contends that $ 78,816.01 of item 7 and $ 75,935.38 of item 8 (except for some part of the stipulated amounts of $ 11,268.75 and $ 12,527.50) are includable in decedent's gross estate under the provisions of sections 2036(a)⁴ and 2038(a)(1), ^5*122 I.R.C. 1954.

The parties have stipulated that on the date of decedent's death $ 78,816.01 of item 7 was held in the name of "Jack F. Chrysler as custodian for Helen Forker Chrysler, a minor, under article eight-a of the personal property law of New York" and that $ 75,935.38 of item 8 was held in the name of "Jack F. Chrysler as custodian for Jack Forker Chrysler, Jr., a minor, under article eight-a of the personal property law of New York."

In his deficiency notice the respondent originally included all of items 7 and 8 in the decedent's gross estate under the provisions of section 2033, I.R.C. 1954. ⁶

*64 By an amendment to his answer the respondent now claims in the alternative that certain portions of items 7 and 8 (issue 2) are includable *123 under section 2040, supra, and certain portions of items 7 and 8 (issue 3) are includable under sections 2036(a), supra, and 2038 (a)(1), supra. In his briefs the respondent did not argue that any of the properties was includable under section 2033 but argued only the alternatives.

It is the contention of petitioner that on the date of decedent's death all of the property involved in both issues 2 and 3 was owned by decedent's minor children, Helen and Jack, Jr., despite the manner of registration and that, therefore, no part of the property so involved is includable in decedent's gross estate.

It may simplify this opinion if from now on we consider both issues 2 and 3 from the daughter's standpoint alone, for whatever we say about Helen will apply equally to Jack, Jr., except for slightly different amounts which are not in dispute. What decedent did for one child he intended to do and did do for the other.

As to Helen, the detailed deposits and transfers mentioned in our findings were made by decedent as follows:

*124 All of the above deposits and transfers were recorded in a ledger which decedent maintained in his office, on which was inscribed "Helen F. Chrysler -- Personal." Decedent never used any of said funds or securities or the income therefrom for his own benefit.

On the date of decedent's death there had been no change made in the five alleged gifts of savings bonds except that their value had increased from the total of $ 467.25 to a total of $ 681.90. They were still held in the names of "Jack F. Chrysler or Helen F. Chrysler." The 500 shares of stock (Cooperative Pesquera Panama, S.S., common) *65 allegedly given to Helen on April 21, 1955, were still held, on the date of decedent's death, in the names of "Jack F. Chrysler and Edith B. Chrysler, as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common," but the shares no longer had any value. All of the remainder of the alleged gifts to Helen of $ 80,397.25 were, between the date of the alleged gifts and the date of decedent's death, invested and reinvested by decedent in the purchase of securities. Those purchased prior to the enactment of the New York law covering gifts of securities to minors in 1956 were registered *125 in the names of "Jack F. Chrysler and Edith B. Chrysler, as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common" and, on the date of decedent's death, consisted of:

The securities purchased after the enactment of the above-mentioned New York law were registered in the name of "Jack F. Chrysler, as custodian for Helen Forker Chrysler, a minor, under article eight-a of the personal property law of New York" and, on the date of decedent's death, consisted of:

All of the above-mentioned securities purchased prior to and after the enactment of the said New York law were kept in a separate safe-deposit box, in the names of decedent and his wife as joint tenants, which box did not contain any other securities.

During his lifetime the decedent filed income tax returns for his daughter Helen and included therein all the income from the alleged gifts, and the taxes shown to be due thereon, if any, were paid out of *126 what decedent believed to be Helen's property.

During his lifetime the decedent also filed gift tax returns for each of the calendar years 1945 to 1958, inclusive. All of the items included in the previously mentioned total of $ 80,397.25, with the exception of the $ 467.25 of the U.S. savings bonds, were included in the total gifts shown in those returns.

Subsequent to decedent's death all of the above-mentioned property held in the names of decedent and his wife as joint tenants or in the name of decedent as custodian for Helen was transferred to decedent's *66 wife as successor custodian for Helen F. Chrysler under article 8-A of the Personal Property Law of New York.

Petitioner contends that on the basis of the facts stipulated by the parties and as restated above, the decedent, on various dates from March 6, 1944, to January 7, 1958, made 21 outright gifts to his daughter Helen in the total amount of $ 80,397.25; that on and after such dates such properties and the properties resulting from the investment and reinvestment thereof all belonged to Helen as her properties; that at the time the decedent made these investments and reinvestments he was acting in a fiduciary capacity for