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Taxation--Income Tax--Family Partnerships--Application Of The Tower-Lusthaus Doctrine, Earl R. Boonstra S.Ed. Dec 1949

Taxation--Income Tax--Family Partnerships--Application Of The Tower-Lusthaus Doctrine, Earl R. Boonstra S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Respondent and his four sons formed a partnership in 1939. The sons contributed cattle and property purchased from respondent who accepted their notes in return. Subsequently, part of the notes were forgiven and part paid from shares of the firm proceeds. A firm bank account was opened on which all members could draw. It was planned that all the sons would render substantial services to the partnership. However, the plan was disrupted when the two eldest were called to military duty, and the two minor sons continued their education. A partnership return was filed for 1940. The Commissioner determined a …


Taxation-Federal Estate Tax-Transfers Of Life Insurance In Contemplation Of Death, Ralph E. Hunt S. Ed. Apr 1949

Taxation-Federal Estate Tax-Transfers Of Life Insurance In Contemplation Of Death, Ralph E. Hunt S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Insurance policies on the life of a decedent are ordinarily included in his gross estate according to the provisions of section 811 (g) of the Internal Revenue Code. Where the policy is payable to a beneficiary other than the executor, it is taxable under section 811(g)(2): (1) if the decedent paid premiums on the policy, in proportion to the amount of premiums paid by him in relation to the total premiums paid, or (2) if the decedent possessed at his death any of the incidents of ownership. However, these provisions are not exclusive; even though section 811 (g) is inapplicable, …


Quasi-Contracts -- Taxation -- Rescission Of Gift For Failure To Achieve Donor's Purpose Of Minimizing Federal Income Taxes, N. S. Peterman S. Ed. Apr 1949

Quasi-Contracts -- Taxation -- Rescission Of Gift For Failure To Achieve Donor's Purpose Of Minimizing Federal Income Taxes, N. S. Peterman S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In 1937, plaintiff made a gift of stock in a closed corporation to his wife, the defendant. For two years defendant received cash dividends on the stock transferred to her and paid income taxes thereon. Late in 1938 the corporation was dissolved; the assets were distributed to the shareholders, and a partnership was formed. Defendant continued to report the income received by her from the partnership. In 1946, the Tax Court sustained the contention of the commissioner of internal revenue that the entire income from this partnership was taxable to plaintiff under the doctrine of Commissioner v. Tower. Plaintiff …


The Church And Spiegel Cases: A Reinterpretation Of The "Possession Or Enjoyment" Clause Of I.R.C. 811 ©, William J. Schrenk Jr., Richard V. Wellman Mar 1949

The Church And Spiegel Cases: A Reinterpretation Of The "Possession Or Enjoyment" Clause Of I.R.C. 811 ©, William J. Schrenk Jr., Richard V. Wellman

Michigan Law Review

Although federal tax statutes have provided for over thirty years that "transfers intended to take effect in possession or enjoyment at or after death" shall be included in the grantor's gross estate for estate tax purposes attempts to define precisely the scope of this language have not been outstanding for their success. In two recent decisions by the Supreme Court, Commissioner v. Church and Spiegel v. Commissioner, a further attempt at clarification has been made.


Taxation-Income Tax-Validity Of Family Partnership Where Partner's Services Are To Be Performed In Future, Daniel W. Reddin, Iii S.Ed. Feb 1949

Taxation-Income Tax-Validity Of Family Partnership Where Partner's Services Are To Be Performed In Future, Daniel W. Reddin, Iii S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In 1939, petitioner sold certain ranch properties and half of his herd of blooded cattle to his four sons, accepting their notes in return. A firm consisting of petitioner and his sons was then formed, and a bank account was opened upon which any of the members of the firm could draw. Two of the sons were minors, but all were ranch-reared and experienced in cattle raising. The sons paid part of the notes with their shares in the proceeds from firm sales, and petitioner forgave the rest. Military duty disrupted the plan by which all the sons were to …


Taxation-Federal Estate Tax-Inclusion In Gross Estate Of Transfer By Which Settlor Retained Power To Terminate, C. C. Grunewald S.Ed. Jan 1949

Taxation-Federal Estate Tax-Inclusion In Gross Estate Of Transfer By Which Settlor Retained Power To Terminate, C. C. Grunewald S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In 1928, decedent established a trust giving his wife the income for her life, with a remainder to his three children. Decedent, as co-trustee, retained power to pay portions of the corpus to his wife and to change the trust on his approval of a written request by his wife. When the estate challenged the commissioner's assessment of a tax deficiency, the Tax Court, relying on the power to invade the principal, included the trust corpus in the gross estate under section 811(d)(2) of the I.R.C., no reduction being allowed for the wife's life estate since no method of evaluating …


Taxation-Income Tax-Taxable Persons--Assignment Of License Royalties, J. R. Mackenzie S.Ed. Jan 1949

Taxation-Income Tax-Taxable Persons--Assignment Of License Royalties, J. R. Mackenzie S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

X contracted with a corporation controlled by him for the manufacture of machines on which he held patents. No minimum was established with respect to production or the payment of royalties. The contracts were terminable by either party upon notice, and X was free to make similar contracts with other manufacturers. X assigned all his interest in the contracts and exclusive title and power over the royalties to his wife, who thereafter received all payments and reported them as her income. The Tax Court ruled that since X could cancel the contracts directly, and could indirectly control the contracts through …