Law Commons^™

Sales Of Remainder Interests: Reconciling Gradow V. United States And Section 2702, Martha W. Jordan

Martha W. Jordan

This article seeks to answer the question of whether the sale of a remainder interest for its actuarial value is exempt from transfer tax. Generally, when a taxpayer sells property for its fair market value, the taxpayer has been adequately compensated and, therefore, should not be subject to transfer tax. The sale of a remainder interest, however, raises various questions that are not present when property is sold outright. The sale of a remainder interest divides the underlying property into two split-interests: the remainder interest and the retained or present interest. The fair market value of split-interests is commonly determined …