Richard D. Hohenstein - Page 7

                                        - 7 -                                         
          taxes.  Estate of Mapes v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 511, 516-517               
          (1992); H. Rept. 94-1380, supra, 1976-3 C.B. (Vol. 3) at 755-756;           
          S. Rept. 94-938 (Part 2), supra, 1976-3 C.B. (Vol. 3) at 657.               
               Although section 2032A is a relief statute designed to                 
          encourage the continuation of family farms, it provides for                 
          "exceptionally favorable tax treatment", and taxpayers must "come           
          within its demanding terms".  Martin v. Commissioner, 783 F.2d              
          81, 82, 84 (7th Cir. 1986), affg. 84 T.C. 620 (1985).  The succor           
          provided by section 2032A is limited in several ways:  (1) The              
          decedent must have been a citizen or resident of the United                 
          States, and the subject property must be located in the United              
          States; (2) the real property must have been used as a farm or in           
          a trade or business by the decedent or a member of the decedent's           
          family; (3) the decedent or a member of his family must                     
          materially participate in the operation of the farm or the                  
          business; and (4) real property qualifies for special use                   
          valuation only if it passes to a member of the decedent's family.           
          Sec. 2032A(c).  These requirements all evidence Congress' intent            
          to limit the tax relief to what is generally regarded as a family           
          farm or business.  See Estate of Heffley v. Commissioner, 89 T.C.           
          265, 271 (1987), affd. 884 F.2d 279 (7th Cir. 1989); Estate of              
          Geiger v. Commissioner, 80 T.C. 484, 488 (1983).                            
               In enacting the special use valuation provisions, Congress             
          also recognized that an estate's beneficiaries would enjoy an               
          unwarranted windfall if they should sell the property within a              




Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011