Flournoy v. Wade

26 Cal. App. 3d 327, 56 A.L.R. 3d 1307, 103 Cal. Rptr. 38, 1972 Cal. App. LEXIS 945
California Court of Appeal·Decided June 23, 1972·No. Civ. No. 1556·Published·Cited by 11 cases

Opinion

Opinion

BROWN (G. A.), J.

The sole issue is whether the amount of federal gift tax paid upon the transfer of property in contemplation of death when said property subsequently becomes subject to federal and state inheritance taxes is deductible from the appraised value of the property to determine the “clear market value” upon which the state inheritance tax is determined under circumstances where the amount of the federal gift tax paid is credited against the amount of the federal estate tax.

The facts are stipulated (see Appendix A). The question is one of law,

[330] Shortly before his death, Antonio Giolitti transferred without, consideration virtually all of his property to his three children. The appraised market value of the transferred properties at the date of death was $453,586.86. It is stipulated the transfers were in contemplation of death (Rev. & Tax. Code, § 13642)1 and they were subject to- both the state gift and inheritance taxes and the federal gift and estate taxes. Federal and state gift tax returns were prepared and filed subsequent to death and the amount of the federal gift tax fixed and paid was $82,603.93 and the State of California gift tax $14,924.71. The federal government offset and reduced the federal estate tax liability by the sum paid as federal gift tax (26 U.S.C. § 2012). The State of California allowed the amount of the state gift tax as a credit against the state inheritance tax (§ 14059).

The respondents claimed the $82,603.93 paid as federal gift tax was a debt of the estate pursuant to section 13983 and should be allowed as a deduction from the appraised value of the estate for the purpose of determining the “clear market value” (§§ 13402, 13312). In his report, the inheritance tax appraiser disallowed the $82,603.93 as a deduction. Judge Donald R. Franson sustained respondents’ objection to- the report of the inheritance tax appraiser and determined that the federal gift tax is deductible. Judge Joseph L. Joy signed the order fixing the inheritance tax, from which order this appeal is taken.

If the amount of the federal gift tax is allowed as a deduction, there is no state inheritance tax liability (see Appendix A, Second Alternate). If it is not, the tax liability is $3,619.58 (see Appendix A, First Alternate). We have concluded that it should not be allowed as a deduction.

The California inheritance tax is not a property tax but is a succession tax imposed by reason of beneficial succession of property upon the death of another (Kirkwood v. Bank of America (1954) 43 Cal.2d 333, 338-339 [293 P.2d 532), and it is settled that the Legislature has the power to provide which deductions are allowable in arriving at the value upon which those beneficially interested must pay (Estate of Fabris (1962) 200 Cal.App.2d 408, 411 [19 Cal.Rptr. 397]).

Under the statutory scheme enacted by the Legislature, the inheritance tax is imposed upon the “clear market value” of, the property transferred whether or not the transfer was made during the lifetime of the transferor (§ 13402). Market value is determined as of the date of the transferor’s death whether or not the transfer was made during his life (§§ 13311, 13951). The “clear market value” means the market value of any property [331] included in any transfer less any deductions allowable by law (§ 13312). The deductions specified in sections 13981 through 13991 “and no others” are allowed by the statute against the market value and nothing is allowed as a deduction “that does not actually reduce the amount of an inheritance or transfer” (§ 13981). The deductions must be “obligations of the decedent or his estate” (§ 13982, subd. (a)) and be paid “ by the estate or the transferee” (§ 13982, subd. (b)). There is no specific provision authorizing the deduction of a federal gift tax. However, respondent seeks to bring this claimed deduction under the umbrella of section 13983, which provides: “Debts of a decedent owed by him at the date of his death are deductible from the appraised value of property included in any transfer subject to this part made by the decedent.”

Section 13981 provides, among other things, that “This article [§§ 13981-13991] is a limitation on deductions allowable.” Deductions allowable are not necessarily the same as those paid by the estate (Estate of Skinker (1956) 47 Cal.2d 290, 294 [303 P.2d 745, 62 A.L.R.2d 1137]), and the taxpayer must be able to place his finger upon the precise provision of the statute which secures it to him (Estate of Webb (1966) 241 Cal.App.2d 85, 93 [50 Cal.Rptr. 397]).

While it is true that where doubt arises a taxing statute must be construed in favor of the taxpayer and against the government (Estate of Kirshbaum (1968) 268 Cal.App.2d 155, 160 [73 Cal.Rptr. 711]; Cal. Motor etc. Co. v. State Bd. of Equal. (1947) 31 Cal.2d 217, 223-224 [187 P.2d 745]), nevertheless deductions, exemptions or credits applicable thereto are to be narrowly construed in favor of the state and against the taxpayer (Great Western Financial Corp. v. Franchise Tax Bd. (1971) 4 Cal.3d 1, 5 [92 Cal.Rptr. 489, 479 P.2d 993]; Estate of Steehler (1925) 195 Cal. 386, 396 [233 P. 972], remittitur corrected 197 Cal. 67 [239 P. 718]).

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Flournoy v. Wade, 26 Cal. App. 3d 327, 56 A.L.R. 3d 1307, 103 Cal. Rptr. 38, 1972 Cal. App. LEXIS 945 (Cal. Ct. App. 1972).

26 Cal. App. 3d 327 (Flournoy v. Wade) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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