Estate of Frank A. Branson - Page 17




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          1(b), Estate Tax Regs.; see also First Natl Bank of Kenosha v.              
          Unites States, 763 F.2d 891, 893-894 (7th Cir. 1985); Estate of             
          Newhouse v. Commissioner, supra; Estate of Gilford v.                       
          Commissioner, 88 T.C. 38, 52 (1987).                                        
               The question of "Valuation of stock for tax purposes is a              
          matter of 'pure fact.'"  Hamm v. Commissioner, 325 F.2d 934, 938            
          (8th Cir. 1963) (quoting Penn v. Commissioner, 219 F.2d 18, 20-21           
          (9th Cir. 1955)), affg. T.C. Memo. 1961-347; Estate of Newhouse             
          v. Commissioner, supra at 217; see also In re Nathan's Estate v.            
          Commissioner, 166 F.2d 422, 425 (9th Cir. 1948) (the question of            
          fair market value for tax purposes is ever one of fact and not of           
          formula), affg. a Memorandum Opinion of this Court dated July 17,           
          1946.                                                                       
               While listed market prices are the benchmarks in the case of           
          publicly traded stock, in determining the value of unlisted                 
          stocks, actual sales made in reasonable amounts at arm's length,            
          in the normal course of business within a reasonable time before            
          or after the valuation date are the best criteria of market                 
          value.  See Estate of Fitts v. Commissioner, 237 F.2d 729, 731              
          (8th Cir. 1956), affg. T.C. Memo. 1955-269; Estate of Andrews v.            
          Commissioner, 79 T.C. 938, 940 (1982); Duncan Indus., Inc. v.               
          Commissioner, 73 T.C. 266, 276 (1979); Estate of Campbell v.                
          Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1991-615; sec. 20.2031-2(b), Estate Tax            
          Regs.                                                                       





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