Gordon J. and Bonnie L. Schoof - Page 13

                                       - 13 -                                         

               These stringent requirements derive from the concern by                
          Congress with regard to the trustee's ability to manage and invest          
          retirement funds and the trustee's accountability for its actions.          
          H. Rept. 93-779, at 132 (1974), 1974-3 C.B. 244, 375.  One of               
          Congress' apparent concerns  with  respect  to  the  trustee's              
          accountability was the continuity of the trustee beyond the death           
          or change of the trustee's owner.  The applicable House report              
          stated: "It is anticipated that the Secretary probably will not             
          allow individuals to act as trustees for individual retirement              
          accounts."  Id.  Consequently, section 1.401-12(n)(3)(i), Income            
          Tax Regs., provides:                                                        
               The applicant must assure the uninterrupted performance                
               of its fiduciary duties notwithstanding the death or                   
               change of its owners.  Thus, for example, there must be                
               sufficient diversity in the ownership of the applicant to              
               ensure that the death or change of its owners will not                 
               interrupt the conduct of its business.  Therefore, the                 
               applicant cannot be an individual.                                     
               Mr. Thomson operated his business affairs as a sole proprietor         
          through FAC.  As an individual, he was not eligible to serve as a           
          trustee for an IRA trust.                                                   
               Nonetheless, Mr. Thomson testified that he submitted a written         
          application to the IRS in May 1986 and received approval by letter          


               7(...continued)                                                        
          Income Tax Regs., effective Dec. 20, 1995.  T.D. 8635, 1996-1               
          C.B. 52.                                                                    







Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011