Estate attorney sued over alleged undervaluation
The matriarch of a family business in Hawaii had four children, two of which were involved in the business.
Sullivan v. Loden
In this malpractice case against an estate attorney, the attorney was denied a summary judgment. The primary issue related to the attorney’s valuation of stock of a family business that was gifted to two of the four children of the decedent. While an “equalization payment” was made to each of the two remaining children, one of these two sued the attorney for both breach of fiduciary duty and for undervaluing the stock gifted, resulting in an underpaid equalization payment.
Estate Attorney Is Denied a Summary Judgment for Alleged Incorrect Valuation of Gifts of Stock—Malpractice Case Proceeds
In this malpractice case against an estate attorney, the attorney was denied a summary judgment. The primary issue related to the attorney’s valuation of stock of a family business that was gifted to two of the four children of the decedent. While an “equalization payment” was made to each of the two remaining children, one of these two sued the attorney for both breach of fiduciary duty and for undervaluing the stock gifted, resulting in an underpaid equalization payment.
Ownership transition in the middle market
There are an estimated 200,000 middle-market businesses in the U.S., which represent about one-third of private-sector GDP and close to 50 million jobs, according to the National Center for the Middle Market.
Appellate court KOs unaccrued interest on dissipated assets
In a divorce case, an appellate court vacated the order of the trial court that erroneously charged the husband with over $4 million in unaccrued interest on marital assets that the husband fraudulently dissipated from the marital estate.
Mohen v. Mohen
In the trial court (TC), the wife was awarded $4,360,158 of mostly unaccrued interest on the corpus of trusts the husband set up unilaterally for the children. The TC took the value of those trusts, $9,291,372, as part of the marital estate. The TC also added $990,945 of interest that the trusts had received and the remaining unaccrued future interest for a total value of “distribution” paid to the husband of $14,642,475 related to the trusts. The appellate court (AC) determined that the future interest was future interest and, thus, not part of the marital estate. However, the AC let stand the determination that the value of the trusts were to be treated as a distribution to the husband.
Husband Dissipates Assets by Placing Them in Trusts for the Children, but the Appellate Court Does Not Allow Unaccrued Interest
In the trial court (TC), the wife was awarded $4,360,158 of mostly unaccrued interest on the corpus of trusts the husband set up unilaterally for the children. The TC took the value of those trusts, $9,291,372, as part of the marital estate. The TC also added $990,945 of interest that the trusts had received and the remaining unaccrued future interest for a total value of “distribution” paid to the husband of $14,642,475 related to the trusts. The appellate court (AC) determined that the future interest was future interest and, thus, not part of the marital estate. However, the AC let stand the determination that the value of the trusts were to be treated as a distribution to the husband.
Pandemic Triggers Chances for Valuers in Exit Planning
Remarks from the AICPA ENGAGE conference on the timely opportunities for financial professionals in exit/succession planning. This article gives some basics on how valuation experts can leverage their experience into this type of consulting.
Estate planning opportunity amid depressed business values
Among the key takeaways from the recent ENGAGE 2020 conference sponsored by the AICPA was one of particular interest to business valuers.
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.
Tax Court spurns IRS’ gift tax valuation theory and methodology
In a gift tax dispute, the U.S. Tax Court recently found for the taxpayer when it rejected the unusual reasoning and methodology the Internal Revenue Service’s trial expert proposed to keep low the discounts applicable to the nonvoting membership units in two limited liability companies (LLCs).
Grieve v. Commissioner
In gift tax dispute, Tax Court rejects IRS expert’s valuation of noncontrolling, nonmarketable interests in two LLCs; expert proposed valuation theory and method were intended to lower opposing experts’ minority and marketability discounts but lacked support in facts, case law, or among peers.
Tax Court Rejects IRS’ Value Analysis, Finding It Assumes Additional Actions Not ‘Reasonably Probable’
In gift tax dispute, Tax Court rejects IRS expert’s valuation of noncontrolling, nonmarketable interests in two LLCs; expert proposed valuation theory and method were intended to lower opposing experts’ minority and marketability discounts but lacked support in facts, case law, or among peers.
More than one valuation issue in Kress
Tax affecting is only one issue that makes the federal district court’s opinion in Kress a must-know for valuators, notwithstanding a recent reader comment that it’s doubtful the case would have received much attention had it not been for the tax-affecting angle.
Reader comment on Kress case coverage
Responding to the attention the Kress case has received (at BVR and elsewhere), Harry Fuhrman, financial analyst with the Internal Revenue Service, gave us the following comments.
Kress appeal still a possibility
As the valuation community ponders the reach of the recent Kress decision, many eyes are trained on the government’s next move.
Kress v. United States signifies approval of S corp tax affecting
In a gift tax case teeming with valuation issues, one notable aspect was that, in valuing the minority shares of an S corporation, both parties’ experts applied a C corporation tax rate to the company’s earnings and the court, without ado, accepted the practice.
Gift Tax Case Suggests Overall Acceptance of S Corp Tax Affecting
In gift tax case requiring valuation of minority shares in S corporation, district court accepts application, by all experts, of C corp-level tax rate to company’s earnings; court, with minor DLOM adjustment, credits valuations by taxpayers’ expert, noting his market approach is “the most sound.”
Kress v. United States
In gift tax case requiring valuation of minority shares in S corporation, district court accepts application, by all experts, of C corp-level tax rate to company’s earnings; court, with minor DLOM adjustment, credits valuations by taxpayers’ expert, noting his market approach is “the most sound.”
Tax Court’s Novel Theory Aims to Prevent ‘Double Inclusion’
Tax Court finds assets transferred into family limited partnership on behalf of incapacitated decedent shortly before death are includible in gross estate under IRC section 2036(a)(2); to avoid “double inclusion,” court states new rule limiting includible ...
Tax Court’s Novel Theory Aims to Prevent ‘Double Inclusion’
Tax Court finds assets transferred into family limited partnership on behalf of incapacitated decedent shortly before death are includible in gross estate under IRC section 2036(a)(2); to avoid “double inclusion,” court states new rule limiting includible ...
Estate of Powell v. Commissioner
Tax Court finds assets transferred into family limited partnership on behalf of incapacitated decedent shortly before death are includible in gross estate under IRC section 2036(a)(2); to avoid “double inclusion,” court states new rule limiting includible ...
Court of Appeals Sides With Taxpayers on Right to Vet IRS Expert Valuation
Court of Appeals finds Tax Court held mistaken view of burden of proof and erred in declining to evaluate taxpayers’ multiple challenges to IRS’s expert valuation; on remand, Tax Court may consider new valuation evidence, appeals court says.
Cavallaro v. Commissioner (Cavallaro II)
Court of Appeals finds Tax Court held mistaken view of burden of proof and erred in declining to evaluate taxpayers’ multiple challenges to IRS’s expert valuation; on remand, Tax Court may consider new valuation evidence, appeals court says.
Court of Appeals Sides With Taxpayers on Right to Vet IRS Expert Valuation
Court of Appeals finds Tax Court held mistaken view of burden of proof and erred in declining to evaluate taxpayers’ multiple challenges to IRS’s expert valuation; on remand, Tax Court may consider new valuation evidence, appeals court says.