- 34 - $2,099,970,000. The rule in Danielson v. Commissioner, supra at 775, vacating and remanding 44 T.C. 549 (1965), is that, although the Commissioner is not bound by allocations or characterizations stated in a contract, a taxpayer can disavow the terms of an agreement, in order to challenge the tax consequences flowing therefrom, only by adducing proof showing mistake, undue influence, fraud, duress, or other ground that in an action between the parties to the agreement would be admissible to set aside that agreement or alter its construction. We have not adopted the Danielson rule. Coleman v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 178, 202 and n.17 (1986), affd. without published opinion 833 F.2d 303 (3d Cir. 1987). We generally apply the less stringent "strong proof" rule. Id. at 202. That rule requires the taxpayer, in disavowing the terms of a written instrument in order to challenge the tax consequences flowing therefrom, to present "strong proof", i.e., more than a preponderance of the evidence, that the terms of the written instrument do not reflect the actual intentions of the contracting parties. Estate of Durkin v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 561, 572-573 (1992) (Court reviewed); Elrod v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 1046, 1066 (1986); G C Servs. Corp. v. Commissioner, 73 T.C. 406, 412 (1979); Stephens v. Commissioner, 60 T.C. 1004, 1012 (1973), affd. without published opinion 506 F.2d 1400 (6th Cir. 1974). Nonetheless,Page: Previous 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Next
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