Therese Hahn v. Commissioner

110 T.C. No. 14
United States Tax Court·Decided March 4, 1998·No. 17210-96·Published

Opinion

110 T.C. No. 14

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

THERESE HAHN, Petitioner v.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket No. 17210-96. Filed March 4, 1998.

P and her husband (H) purchased property in 1972 as joint tenants with right of survivorship. P became the sole owner of the property upon H's death in 1991. H's Federal Estate Tax Return reported 100 percent of the date of death value of the property as H's interest therein. P sold the property in 1993 and, pursuant to secs. 2040(a) and 1014(b)(9), I.R.C., included 100 percent of the date of death value of the property in calculating her basis. R determined that, because H died after Dec. 31, 1981, pursuant to sec. 2040(b)(1), I.R.C., only 50 percent of the date of death value of the property was required to be included in H's gross estate and, pursuant to sec. 1014(b)(9), I.R.C., P should receive a step-up in basis for only 50 percent of the value of the property.

Held: Amendment to definition of "qualified joint interest" in sec. 2040(b)(2), I.R.C., did not expressly or impliedly repeal effective date of 50-percent inclusion rule of sec. 2040(b)(1), I.R.C., which

therefore does not apply to spousal joint interests created before Jan. 1, 1977.

K. Bruce Friedman, for petitioner.

Laurel M. Robinson, for respondent.

OPINION

COHEN, Chief Judge: This case was assigned to Special Trial Judge John F. Dean pursuant to section 7443A(b)(4) and Rules 180, 181, and 183.1 The Court agrees with and adopts the opinion of the Special Trial Judge, which is set forth below.

OPINION OF THE SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE DEAN, Special Trial Judge: This case is before us on petitioner's motion for summary judgment and respondent's cross- motion for partial summary judgment. Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's 1993 Federal income tax in the amount of $50,123 and an accuracy-related penalty under section 6662(a) in the amount of $10,025.

The issue for decision concerns petitioner's basis in property which had been held by petitioner and her now-deceased husband in joint tenancy with right of survivorship. To resolve this issue, we must decide whether the 1981 amendment of the definition of "qualified joint interest" in section 2040(b)(2)

1 Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

expressly or impliedly repealed the effective date of section 2040(b)(1). Petitioner resided in Oakland, California, at the time she filed her petition.

A motion for summary judgment is appropriate "if the pleadings, answers to interrogatories, depositions, admissions, and any other acceptable materials, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that a decision may be rendered as a matter of law." Rule 121(b); Sundstrand Corp. v. Commissioner, 98 T.C. 518, 520 (1992), affd. 17 F.3d 965 (7th Cir. 1994). The moving party bears the burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact, and factual inferences are viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. United States v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655 (1962); Preece v. Commissioner, 95 T.C. 594, 597 (1990).

The opposing party cannot rest upon mere allegations or denials but must set forth specific facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial. Rule 121(d). The existence of any reasonable doubt as to the facts will result in denial of the motion for summary judgment. Hoeme v. Commissioner, 63 T.C. 18, 20 (1974). We set forth a summary of facts relevant to our discussion that do not appear to be in dispute; the facts are stated solely for purposes of deciding the motions and are not findings of fact for this case. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a); Sundstrand Corp. v. Commissioner, supra at 520.

Background On June 8, 1972, John P. Hahn, petitioner's husband, signed a subscription agreement to purchase shares in Fifty CPW Tenants Corporation (CPW) for a purchase price of $44,000. On February 15, 1973, 440 shares of CPW were issued to petitioner and her husband as joint tenants with right of survivorship. These shares were allocated to apartment 10C, located at 50 Central Park West, New York, New York.

On August 19, 1991, Mr. Hahn died, and petitioner became the sole owner of the CPW shares. On July 8, 1993, the estate of John P. Hahn filed a Federal Estate Tax Return reporting 100 percent of the value of the CPW shares on the date of Mr. Hahn's death as the value of his interest in the shares. The value of the shares on the date of Mr. Hahn's death was reported at $700,000.

Petitioner sold the CPW shares on September 28, 1993. On a Form 2119 (Sale of Your Home) attached to her 1993 Federal income tax return, petitioner reported a selling price for the CPW shares of $720,000 and a basis of $758,412.2 Accordingly, petitioner reported no gain on the sale.

In a notice of deficiency issued June 17, 1996, respondent determined, inter alia, that, pursuant to section 2040(b)(1),

2 On a statement attached to her return, petitioner calculated her basis as follows: $700,000 date of death value, $572 of transfer fees, $43,200 of commissions, $13,140 of transfer taxes, and $1,500 for asbestos removal.

petitioner could receive a stepped-up basis for only 50 percent of the date of death value of the CPW shares. Accordingly, respondent determined that petitioner had a basis in the CPW shares of $428,340, composed of the following amounts: One-half of the original cost basis ($22,000), one-half of the date of death value ($350,000), $43,200 of commissions, and $13,140 of transfer taxes.3 From the $720,000 selling price, respondent subtracted the $428,340 basis and allowed the section 121 one- time exclusion of $125,000 of gain from the sale of a principal residence to determine a gain on sale of $166,660. Discussion Petitioner argues that because the joint tenancy was created prior to January 1, 1977, and because she provided no part of the consideration for the purchase, the contribution rule of section 2040(a) is applicable and, consequently, under section 1014, she is entitled to a stepped-up basis in 100 percent of the property. Respondent argues that because petitioner's husband died after 1981, as a matter of law the 50-percent inclusion rule of section 2040(b)(1) is applicable and that petitioner is entitled to a stepped-up basis under section 1014 in only 50 percent of the property. Alternatively, respondent argues that if the contribution rule of section 2040(a) is applicable, petitioner

3 Respondent did not include the $572 of transfer fees and $1,500 for asbestos removal in petitioner's basis.

has not proven that her husband provided all of the consideration used to purchase the property.

The only evidence petitioner has submitted concerning the original consideration used to purchase the CPW shares is her sworn affidavit that her husband provided the entire consideration. Petitioner also notes that she and her husband resided in New York, a noncommunity property State, at the time of purchase. Assuming arguendo that the contribution rule of section 2040(a) is applicable, we are still left with the unresolved factual dispute as to the source of the consideration used to purchase the shares. We do not resolve disagreements over relevant factual issues in a summary judgment proceeding, and, consequently, petitioner's motion for summary judgment is denied. See Espinoza v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 412, 416 (1982); Hoeme v. Commissioner, supra at 20.

Respondent's motion, however, does not implicate any factual issues. Respondent argues that, pursuant to section 2040(b), petitioner is entitled to a stepped-up basis in only 50 percent of the CPW shares, regardless of whether petitioner or her husband furnished the consideration for the purchase. Accordingly, a decision on respondent's motion may be rendered as a matter of law.

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