Hospital Corporation of America and Subsidiaries - Page 34

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          $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,              








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