Frank's Trust of 1931 v. Commissioner

This case presents the question of whether the Tax Court erred in upholding the Commissioner’s disallowance of a deduction from the gross income of a trust estate for the year 1940. The claimed deduction was proper only if the trust agreement required the trustees to distribute the income currently or such sums were actually “properly paid or credited during such year to [the beneficiaries].” Int.Rev. Code §§ 162(b), 162(c), 26 U.S.C.A. IntRev. Code, 162 (b, c); cf. Commissioner v. Stearns, 2 Cir., 1933, 65 F.2d 371, certiorari denied, 1933, 290 U.S. 670, 54 S.Ct. 90, 78 L.Ed. 579. In the light of the facts of the taxpayer’s *993case the Tax Court held that neither condition existed. 8 T.C. 368. It found that the circumstances surrounding the crediting by the trustees of certain sums to the beneficiaries indicated an intent not to place the money unconditionally and irrevocably at their disposal. This conclusion was based upon the evidence which revealed the close relationship between the settlor, one of the. trustees, and the beneficiaries; the tender ages of the beneficiaries; likewise, the immediate agreement by these beneficiaries, after the sums in question had been “voted”, to leave the money with the trustees so that it could be lent to another trust which was engaged in the construction of a home for their mother and father. The transaction, therefore, did not satisfy § 162(c) of the Code. Cf. Richards’ Estate v. Commissioner, 2 Cir., 1945, 150 F.2d 837, 160 A.L.R. 1186; Commissioner v. Guitar Trust Estate, 5 Cir., 1934, 72 F.2d 544. This question is peculiarly within the competency of the Tax Court because it involves the conclusion to be drawn from certain evidentiary facts. Commissioner v. Scottish-American Investment Co., 1944, 323 U.S. 119, 65 S.Ct. 169, 89 L.Ed. 113.

The decision of the Tax Court will be affirmed.