Determining the FMV of Privately Held Promissory Notes
Privately held promissory notes need to be valued for gift/estate, tax, and related-party transactions. These appraisals must objectively consider the same risk and reward relationship that we use when valuing an operating company. However, the data sources that have historically been used are problematic. For example, corporate bonds from publicly traded companies are not typically comparable because publicly traded companies are large, diversified, and represent lower risk. This webinar will present a better source of ...
Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2023 Edition
January 2023 PDF, Softcover (426 pages)
BVR (editor)
Business Valuation Resources, LLC
Estate and Gift Tax, Business Valuation and the IRS—What’s Next and What you Need to Know
During this session Michael Gregory will discuss the impact on business valuation for estate and gift tax reporting purposes. Mike will explore the status of the IRS, what it intends to do, what it is likely to do, and the current stance on several technical issues. You'll also gain practical advice on how to avoid an IRS audit and recommendations for responding to an audit. You will hear real-world examples based on the experience of ...
Willamette focuses on wealth transfer valuation
Estate and gift tax planning and valuation issues are the focus of the Autumn 2022 Insights from Willamette Management Associates.
Couturier v. Comm'r
The Tax Court was asked in this ESOP-related case to approve the taxpayer’s motion for summary judgment. The petitioner contended that the IRS “is precluded as a matter of law from asserting excise tax liability under section 4973” because it did not issue him a notice of deficiency challenging his income tax treatment of the transactions that generated the excess contributions. The motion was denied. The alleged excess contributions were more than $26 million with alleged excise tax of more than $8 million.
Tax Court Denies Taxpayer’s Motion for Summary Judgment Relative to an Excess IRA Contribution Relating to an ESOP Purchase/Sale
The Tax Court was asked in this ESOP-related case to approve the taxpayer’s motion for summary judgment. The petitioner contended that the IRS “is precluded as a matter of law from asserting excise tax liability under section 4973” because it did not issue him a notice of deficiency challenging his income tax treatment of the transactions that generated the excess contributions. The motion was denied. The alleged excess contributions were more than $26 million with alleged excise tax of more than $8 million.
Estate and Gift: The Complete Valuation Package (A BVR Workshop)
Unwrap all things estate and gift in this engaging session with Marissa Turrell and Carla Glass. This presentation will assume a basic understanding of business valuation, of both operating companies and holding companies, and focus on specifics related to valuing ownership interests for estate and gift purposes. Some topics will focus on issues that arise only in valuation for gift and estate purposes, such as seminal court cases on the matter, Chapter 14, working with ...
AICPA offers free webcast on estate/gift valuations
A two-and-a half-hour webcast on estate and gift valuations is available free of charge from the AICPA.
Bohac v. Benes Serv. Co.
The Nebraska District Court in this case applied discounts to its determination of fair value (FV). The Supreme Court found that the district court did not use the correct definition of fair value, resulting in discounts being applied to the estate’s shares. The Supreme Court also found that the proper premise of value was going concern and the proper methodology for value was the asset approach. The Supreme Court also allowed as a liability the deferred tax on potential future sale of assets by the corporation.
The Nebraska District Court Is Reversed in Its Determination of Fair Value
The Nebraska District Court in this case applied discounts to its determination of fair value (FV). The Supreme Court found that the district court did not use the correct definition of fair value, resulting in discounts being applied to the estate’s shares. The Supreme Court also found that the proper premise of value was going concern and the proper methodology for value was the asset approach. The Supreme Court also allowed as a liability the deferred tax on potential future sale of assets by the corporation.
Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2022 Edition
January 2022 PDF (454 pages)
BVR (editor)
Business Valuation Resources, LLC
Valuing a Business, 6th Edition
April 2022 Hardcover
Shannon Pratt
McGraw-Hill Co.
Estate Planning Pitfalls
Estate planning can be a risky business. Some of those risks were on full display in a recent tax case, Nelson v. Comm'r.
Valuing Marketable Securities Portfolios
Given the expected reduction in the estate tax exemption, the use of privately-held marketable equity securities (MES) portfolios as a wealth transfer vehicle is likely to increase. Join Gary Gerlach to learn the ins and outs of valuing these investment vehicles. We will cover the use of multiple (free) sources of closed-end mutual fund (CEF) data and discounts and analyze and select guideline CEFs, focusing on metrics such as asset type, concentration and allocation issues ...
What Business Valuers Need to Know and What to Do if Audited by the IRS with 25 Golden Suggestions
The IRS has recently undertaken some major initiatives in business valuation. Many of these relate to estate and gift tax and examination functions in the “Small Business Self Employed” and the “Large Business and International” divisions associated with BV. Michael Gregory examines those initiatives and guides analysts through successful negotiations with the IRS. Subscribers will learn 25 “golden rules” to help in resolving issues with the IRS.
Gift and Estate Tax Valuation Update
Join Barry Sziklay for important 2021 income and transfer tax valuation cases as well as the valuation aspects of the adequate disclosure regulations required to report a gift for federal transfer tax purposes and start the statute of limitations running. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Chapter 14 valuations, Special Valuation Rules §§ 2701-2704, will be addressed in a summary fashion given the complexities of the rules required for a valuation to meet the requirements of Chapter ...
In Jackson case, Tax Court dismisses IRS expert’s revenue projections as ‘simply not reasonable’
When Michael Jackson died, his image and likeness was besmirched and yet, once competent executors took charge, they were able to make a lot of money for the estate in the immediate post-death years. The issue was to what extent this subsequent development could factor into the image-and-likeness valuation. In explaining his high valuation, the IRS’ expert offered a theory of “foreseeable opportunities” that the U.S. Tax Court found unpersuasive.
Five Timely Insights From the NYSSCPA Business Valuation and Litigation Services Conference
The conference season is well underway, and Business Valuation Update has been on the virtual road, collecting the latest insights on a wide variety of topics. Here are some interesting takeaways from the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) Business Valuation and Litigation Services Conference, held May 17. Topics included emerging issues (SPACs, cryptocurrency, Zoom as a practice-builder) and some new perspectives on evergreen topics (estate valuations, cannabis, distressed firms, and collaborations).
Tax Court issues highly anticipated ruling in Michael Jackson case
In the long-running litigation between the estate of the late megastar Michael Jackson and the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Tax Court recently issued its opinion on the value of Jackson’s image and likeness, as well as the value of his interest in two music publishing assets. Overall, this much-anticipated decision is a major win for the Jackson estate. The court’s momentous decision includes an expansive analysis of the rivaling valuation testimony.
Tax Court allows for ‘slight’ discount for lack of control for majority interests in real estate holding companies
In a gift and estate tax dispute, the estate and Internal Revenue Service agreed to apply discounts for lack of control and marketability to the majority interests in a number of real estate holding companies.
Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2021 Edition
January 2021 Hardcover, PDF
BVR (editor)
Business Valuation Resources, LLC
Pandemic Triggers Chances for Valuers in Exit Planning
One of the key takeaways from the recent ENGAGE 2020 conference sponsored by the AICPA was one of particular interest to business valuers. “The pandemic has created some temporary financial planning opportunities,” says Steve Siegel, JD, LLM, president of The Siegel Group. “If you have a client who plans to pass their business along to a child one day—while business values are low, this is a useful time to get a new business appraisal. If you wait, values may recover, and federal tax laws may be less generous to business owners seeking to transfer their interests to family members.”
Nelson v. Commissioner
In gift tax case, Tax Court finds donor transferred percentages in limited liability company rather than fixed dollar amounts based on language in transfer instruments; further, where transferred minority interests include elements of control, minority discount should be reduced, not eliminated.
Court Says Reduced Minority Discount Appropriate Where Minority Interest Has Elements of Control
In gift tax case, Tax Court finds donor transferred percentages in limited liability company rather than fixed dollar amounts based on language in transfer instruments; further, where transferred minority interests include elements of control, minority discount should be reduced, not eliminated.
Perfect Storm: COVID-19 and 2020 Election—Unexpected Windfall for E&G Tax Planning
Insights into the impacts on the estate and gift tax area and the opportunities it presents for business valuers.