Estate of Catherine E. Dowell, Deceased, Patricia Low, Executrix - Page 26

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          to his or her spouse; (3) that the property interest is a                   
          deductible interest; and (4) the value of that property interest.           
          Sec. 20.2056(a)-1(b), Estate Tax Regs.  Item (1) is not in                  
          dispute, and only petitioner has addressed item (4), which we               
          need not address for the reason stated below.  Deductions are a             
          matter of legislative grace; petitioner has the burden of showing           
          that it is entitled to any deduction claimed.  New Colonial Ice             
          Co. v. Helvering, 292 U.S. 435, 440 (1934).                                 
               2.   Whether the Agency Stock Qualifies for the Marital                
                    Deduction                                                         
               We have held that the agency stock was inherited by Patricia           
          Low subject to a condition subsequent.  Patricia Low did not make           
          the payments called for in decedent's will.  Therefore, Patricia            
          Low was divested of her rights to the agency stock and they were            
          passed to her father, the surviving spouse.  However, at the time           
          of decedent's death, the agency stock did not pass to the                   
          surviving spouse.  "It is well settled that the nature of the               
          interest in property passing to the surviving spouse and the                
          valuation of that interest are to be determined as of the time of           
          decedent's death."  Provident Natl. Bank v. United States, 581              
          F.2d 1081, 1086 (3d Cir. 1978) (citing Jackson v. United States,            
          376 U.S. 503, 508 (1964)); sec. 20.2056(b)-4(a), Estate Tax Regs.           
          Therefore, we hold that the agency stock is not eligible for the            
          marital deduction.                                                          







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