Handy v. Delaware Trust Co.

285 U.S. 352, 52 S. Ct. 371, 76 L. Ed. 793, 1932 U.S. LEXIS 439, 10 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 1622, 3 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) 914

• Court: Supreme Court of the United States
• Decided: March 21, 1932
• Docket: 546
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Justice Sutherland

delivered the opinion of the Court.

This case, like Heiner v. Donnan, ante, p. 312, is here on a certificate from the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The question submitted is:

“ Does the second sentence of section 302 (c) of the revenue act of 1926 violate the due-process clause of the fifth amendment to the Constitution of the United States? ”

In this case, as in Heiner v. Donnan, the decedent, within two years prior to his death, had made transfers inter vivos without consideration which were complete and irrevocable. The commissioner1 included the value of the property so transferred in the value of the gross estate, and assessed a death transfer tax accordingly. Following a claim for refund and its rejection, the executor brought this action to recover the amount of the tax attributable to such inclusion. The trial court found that in fact none of the transfers had been made in contemplation of death, and rendered judgment for the executor for the amount claimed, on the ground that § 302 (c) violated the due- process clause of the Fifth Amendment and was therefore unconstitutional.

Our decision in Heiner v. Donnan requires an affirmative answer to the question submitted.

It is so ordered.

Mr. Justice Brandéis and Mr. Justice Stone dissent. Mr. Justice Cardozo took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.