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Trusts-Apportionment Of Dividends Between Life Beneficiaries And Remaindermen - Depletion Of Oil Reserve

Michigan Law Review

Stock in an oil company was left in trust to pay the income to life beneficiaries with remainder over. For income-tax purposes the company deducted from income a figure for depletion of oil reserve, but at the close of each year it added directly to surplus account the same amount which had been deducted for depletion. Since the books of the company thus indicated that its management did not regard the drawing of oil from its wells as reducing the value of its property the court held that dividends, so far as they are made out of this amount, should …