Nienhuys v. Commissioner

17 T.C. 1149, 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 295
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJanuary 14, 1952
DocketDocket No. 25248
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 17 T.C. 1149 (Nienhuys v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nienhuys v. Commissioner, 17 T.C. 1149, 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 295 (tax 1952).

Opinion

OPINION.

The Domicile Issue

ARUNdell, Judge:

The parties are in agreement on the basic premise that the amount of the estate tax on the estate of the decedent is dependent, in part, upon whether or not the decedent was domiciled in the United States at the date of his death.1 This agreement of the parties is in accordance with the respondent’s regulations which provide that “A resident is one who, at the time of his death, had his domicile in the United States * * *. All persons not residents of the United States as above defined * * * are nonresidents.” Section 81.5, Regulations 105.

The parties are also in agreement on the fact that the decedent was born in The Netherlands and throughout his life, and at the time of his death, was a citizen of The Netherlands. In view of the agreement of the parties on these points, our immediate question is whether the decedent’s domicile at the time of death was in the United States as determined by the respondent.

We start with the fundamental principle that “a domicile once acquired is presumed to continue until it is shown to have been changed.” Mitchell v. United States, 88 Wall. 850. There is no question about the decedent having been domiciled in The Netherlands prior to the year 1940 when he left there on a business trip and his return thereto was prevented by the invasion of his country by enemy forces. In the light of the presumption of continued Dutch domicile, the facts must be examined to determine whether in or after 1940 any events occurred which result in overcoming that presumption. The opinion in the case of Mitchell v. United States, supra, gives as guides these principles:

To constitute the new domicile two things are indispensable: First, residence in the new locality; and, second, the intention to remain there. The change cannot be made except facto et animo. Both are alike necessary. Either without the other is insufficient. Mere absence from a fixed home, however long continued, cannot work the change. There must be the animus to change the prior domicile for another. Until the new one is acquired, the old one remains. These principles are axiomatic in the law upon the subject.

The quoted principles are the basis of the respondent’s approach to the problem. He states in his brief that “The two components, factum and cmirrms, must concur in order to effect a change of domicile.” Although the decedent’s failure to return to Holland in 1940 was forced upon him by circumstances beyond his control, the fact is that he did reside in the United States for nearly six years. Thus, the first of the two components that are relied on by the respondent— the factum — must be recognized as having existed.

As to the second factor — “the animus to change the prior domicile”— there is not only no sufficient evidence to overcome the presumption that Holland continued to be the country of his domicile, but there is abundant evidence to establish that no new domicile was acquired in the United States.

We have set out some of the facts upon which is based our ultimate finding that the decedent’s domicile was in The Netherlands. An examination of all of the evidence, particularly the testimony of persons who were well acquainted with the decedent, leaves upon our minds a clear picture of a man who was unhappy about his enforced absence from his domicile and who intended to return to that domicile when circumstances made it possible and practicable to do so. He had an established business in Holland, which had been founded by his father, and which he wanted to carry on. His association with Duys & Co. was that of an employee, which was a far cry from the executive position of directing the business of his own corporation. He had in Holland a large home on extensive grounds, in which he and his wife had entertained on a large scale. In this country he lived in small apartments which were not at all suited to his customary way of living. The respondent points out that the decedent had sufficient income to have warranted the decedent’s occupancy of more sumptuous quarters. His failure to do so is in keeping with his expressed view that his stay in the United States was only temporary. Other members of his family were in Holland and the decedent was concerned about their welfare. There is no evidence that he had any relatives in this country.

The respondent calls attention to certain statements made by the decedent in forms pertaining to his quota immigration visa. In reply to a question as to his “present permanent residence address” the decedent gave the address of the New York apartment that he was occupying at that time. One of the forms that the decedent signed contained the printed statement that “I intend to remain_ -” Under the blank space were the words: “(Permanently or length of time).” The decedent inserted the word “permanently” in the blank space. The statements in the forms were made in the early part of the year 1941, at which time no one could prophesy with any assurance the length of the decedent’s enforced absence from his homeland which was then in enemy hands and his Government was in exile. The forms did not provide space for any extended explanation. Even so, if we consider the statements as indicating actual residence in the United States, they do not establish domicile upon which “the incidence of estate and succession taxes has historically been determined.” Bowring v. Bowers, 24 F. 2d 918, certiorari denied 277 U. S. 608; Frederick Rodiek, supra. “Residence without the requisite intention to remain indefinitely will not suffice to constitute domicile * * *.” Section 81.5, Regulations 105.

Neither do we regard with any significance the decedent’s filing of resident income tax returns. Residence has a different meaning in the income tax provisions of the Code than it has in those relating to estate tax. For income tax purposes, an alien in the United States “who is not a mere transient or sojourner is a resident” and must file returns. Section 29.211-2, Regulations 111, quoted with approval in Commissioner v. Nubar, 185 F. 2d 584.

The evidence supports the presumption of continuance of original domicile and overcomes the presumption of the correctness of the respondent’s determination. It is accordingly held that the respondent erred in his determination that the decedent was a resident of the United States at the time of his death.

Value of Stock of H. Duys <& Co., Inc.

The decedent owned 1,096 shares of the common stock of Duys & Co. at the time of his death. The shares were reported in the estate tax return at a value of $126,040, which is at the rate of $115 per share at the optional valuation date. The respondent determined a value of $189,257.28, or $172.68 per share, and by amendment to his answer he alleges that the shares had a value of $312,360, i. e., $285 per share, and claims a consequent increase in the deficiency.

Duys & Co. was a closely held corporation. All of its common stock was held by the Duys and Menhuys families. In 1947 all voting rights were in the common stock.

As is usual in cases of valuation of stock of closely held corporations, each party has introduced evidence of the existence of factors which, standing alone, supports his position.

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Related

Nienhuys v. Commissioner
17 T.C. 1149 (U.S. Tax Court, 1952)

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Bluebook (online)
17 T.C. 1149, 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 295, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nienhuys-v-commissioner-tax-1952.