Estate of Harriet R. Mellinger, Deceased, Hugh V. Hunter and Wells Fargo Bank, Co-Executors - Page 17




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          section 2056(b)(7) and in] which the * * * [surviving spouse] had           
          a qualifying income interest for life."  Sec. 2044(a).  This                
          property is "treated as property passing from the" surviving                
          spouse, sec. 2044(c), and is taxed as part of the surviving                 
          spouse's estate at death, but QTIP property does not actually               
          pass to or from the surviving spouse.                                       
               Respondent argues that decedent should be treated as the               
          owner of QTIP property for valuation purposes.  Respondent has              
          identified nothing in the statute that indicates that Congress              
          intended that result or that QTIP assets should be aggregated               
          with other property in the estate for valuation purposes.  Cf.              
          secs. 267, 318, 544 (indicating aggregation of interests in terms           
          of ownership).  Furthermore, at no time did decedent possess,               
          control, or have any power of disposition over the FOH shares in            
          the QTIP trust.  Cf. secs. 2035, 2036, 2041 (requiring inclusion            
          in the gross estate where a decedent had control over the assets            
          at some time during her life).                                              
               Section 2044 was amended by the Technical Corrections Act of           
          1982, Pub. L. 97-448, sec. 104(a)(1)(B), 96 Stat. 2365, 2380.               
          The legislative history accompanying that amendment provides no             
          additional guidance on whether the interests involved in this               
          case should be aggregated.  Rather, "The bill clarifies that QTIP           
          property included in a deceased donee spouse's estate is treated            
          as passing from that spouse, for purposes of the estate tax,                





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