Estate of Cecil v. Comm’r
This was a gift tax valuation case the U.S. Tax Court decided. Gifts of minority interests in The Biltmore Co. were made from the its shareholders, the Cecils, to their children and grandchildren. The IRS audited the gift tax returns and assessed deficiencies for reporting too low fair market values of the gifts of The Biltmore Co. stock. Both sides presented experts to value the gifted interests. The experts agreed that the cash flows should be tax affected. The court accepted the tax affecting while allowing that it was not an admission by the Tax Court that tax affecting should apply in all cases. The Tax Court made changes to the values presented and cobbled together a final value that resulted in refunds to the taxpayers/petitioners.
BVLaw Review: The Top Valuation Cases of 2022
Here is our pick for the most noteworthy valuation cases that emerged over the past year. They include state and federal court decisions covering many areas of law that enhanced our understanding of valuation issues as they arose in a litigation setting.
Hot Topics at the 2022 VSCPA Forensic and Valuation Conference
It was back to in-person attendance at the 22nd annual Forensic and Valuation Conference hosted by the Virginia State Society of CPAs. Topics included the income approach, effective recruiting, reasonable compensation, guideline transactions, surviving cross-examination, IRS developments, and a “Hardball With Hitchner” session that covered some front-burner issues.
Recap of the New Jersey CPA Society FVS Conference
Some excellent speakers covered litigation tips, malpractice, estate tax audits, statistics for lost profits, cryptocurrency, and divorce matters at the Forensic and Valuation Services Conference hosted by the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA ...
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 ...
Six things to know from the NJCPA BV conference
While we enjoy attending the major valuation conferences, we also look forward to attending local state CPA society conferences that focus on valuation.
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.
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.
Agnelli v. Lennox Miami Corp.
In this lengthy opinion dealing with the fair value of a 12.5% interest the plaintiff held in a Florida hotel holding corporation, the U.S. District Court determined that discounts for minority interest and for marketability are not allowed. The court also determined damages for the breach of contract, or, in the alternative, breach of fiduciary duty, on the part of the plaintiff.
U.S. District Court Denies Use of Discounts in Determining the Fair Value of a Hotel Holding Corporation in a Dissolution Case
In this lengthy opinion dealing with the fair value of a 12.5% interest the plaintiff held in a Florida hotel holding corporation, the U.S. District Court determined that discounts for minority interest and for marketability are not allowed. The court also determined damages for the breach of contract, or, in the alternative, breach of fiduciary duty, on the part of the plaintiff.
BV News and Trends June 2022
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
King v. King
In this Maryland divorce case, the Court of Special Appeals affirmed the trial court on all appealed issues including marital property determinations; monetary award to the wife; determination of incomes of the husband and wife; and determinations of alimony, child support, and related expenses. The Court of Special Appeals also affirmed that the husband’s business was not a gift and was marital property, and it determined the value of the business as the wife’s expert presented. Both parties were forensic accountants.
Maryland Appellate Court Affirms Trial Court on Value of Husband’s Business as Well as Several Other Divorce-Related Issues
In this Maryland divorce case, the Court of Special Appeals affirmed the trial court on all appealed issues including marital property determinations; monetary award to the wife; determination of incomes of the husband and wife; and determinations of alimony, child support, and related expenses. The Court of Special Appeals also affirmed that the husband’s business was not a gift and was marital property, and it determined the value of the business as the wife’s expert presented. Both parties were forensic accountants.
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 ...
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.
Gary Trugman shares sample valuation reports
A good selection of eight sample valuation reports is available on the companion website of Gary Trugman’s book, Understanding Business Valuation, 6th edition.
Purchase price equals value of business caught up in divorce
In Wisconsin, the valuation opinions of two experts were deemed not credible for a business caught up in a marital dissolution.
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.
Dettloff-Meyer v. Meyer
The husband in this divorce case appealed the circuit court ruling that relied on the purchase price of the business less than a year before the valuation date. The purchase was made from the wife’s parents at a price the parents determined of $500,000, most of which was goodwill. After an initial ruling from the circuit court accepting the value less debt of the husband’s expert, the wife asked for a reconsideration. The Circuit Court granted the reconsideration and found a value of the business of $45,230. The husband appealed the reconsidered decision of the circuit court. The appellate court determined that the circuit court’s use of the purchase price was not erroneous.
Wisconsin Appellate Court Affirms Purchase Price as Value of the Business in a Divorce Matter
The husband in this divorce case appealed the circuit court ruling that relied on the purchase price of the business less than a year before the valuation date. The purchase was made from the wife’s parents at a price the parents determined of $500,000, most of which was goodwill. After an initial ruling from the circuit court accepting the value less debt of the husband’s expert, the wife asked for a reconsideration. The Circuit Court granted the reconsideration and found a value of the business of $45,230. The husband appealed the reconsidered decision of the circuit court. The appellate court determined that the circuit court’s use of the purchase price was not erroneous.
15 Cautionary Areas to Review in ESOP Valuations
Business valuation practitioners perform private-company equity appraisals for many applications including gift/estate tax planning, transaction opinions, and financial reporting; yet ESOP valuation assignments present complex challenges. Not only is the purpose of the appraisal unique, but the particular client, an ESOP trustee (acting as a fiduciary), also has many ESOP-specific disclosures and requirements. A well-developed ESOP valuation report may not simply achieve the appraisal prescription set forth in Revenue Ruling 59-60 or USPAP compliance. Join ...
BV News and Trends February 2022
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
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.
Prince estate and IRS settle valuation dispute
The IRS and Comerica Bank and Trust, the administrator of the estate of rock star Prince, have agreed to settle their dispute and agree on an estate value of $156.4 million, according to settlement documents submitted in the case.