MR. JUSTICE ROBERTS delivered the opinion of the Court.
We took this case because it raises an important question as to the construction of the Revenue Act of 1926, § 302 (f), amended by the Revenue Act of 1932, § 803 (b).
The question is to what extent and in what sense the law of the decedent's domicile governs in determining whether a power of appointment exercised by him is a general power within the meaning of the statute.
The petitioner is the executor of Elizabeth S. Morgan who was the donee of two powers of appointment over property held in two trusts created by her father by will and by deed. The persons named are, or were, at death, citizens of Wisconsin. It is unnecessary to recite the terms of the trusts. Suffice it to say that under each, property remaining in the trustees' hands for Elizabeth S. Morgan was given at her death, to the appointee or appointees named in her will, with gifts over in case she failed to appoint. Under both trusts, if in the judgment
The Commissioner ruled that the value of the appointed property should be included in the gross estate and determined a tax deficiency. The Board of Tax Appeals approved his action.
Although, under the law of Wisconsin, the decedent could have appointed anyone to receive the trust property, including her estate and her creditors, the petitioner urges that, by statute and decision, Wisconsin has defined as special a power such as she held.
State law creates legal interests and rights. The federal revenue acts designate what interests or rights, so created, shall be taxed. Our duty is to ascertain the
None of the revenue acts has defined the phrase "general power of appointment." The distinction usually made between a general and a special power lies in the circumstance that, under the former, the donee may appoint to anyone, including his own estate or his creditors, thus having as full dominion over the property as if he owned it; whereas, under the latter, the donee may appoint only amongst a restricted or designated class of persons other than himself.
We should expect, therefore, that Congress had this distinction in mind when it used the adjective "general." The legislative history indicates that this is so.
With these regulations outstanding Congress has several times reenacted § 302 (f), and has thus adopted the administrative construction. That construction is in accord with the opinion of several federal courts.
As the decedent in this case could have appointed to her estate, or to her creditors, we hold that she had a general power within the meaning of § 302 (f). This conclusion is not inconsistent with authorities on which the petitioner relies,
The petitioner's second position is that, inasmuch as the trustees had an unfettered discretion to withhold principal or income from any beneficiary, they could exercise their discretion as respects any appointee of the decedent. This fact, they say, renders the power a special one. Assuming that the trustees could withhold the appointed property from an appointee, we think the power must still be held general. The quantum or character of the interest appointed, or the conditions imposed by the terms of the trust upon its enjoyment, do not render the powers in question special within the purport
The judgment is
Affirmed.
FootNotes
"Sec. 302. The value of the gross estate of the decedent shall be determined by including the value at the time of his death of all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, wherever situated —
.....
"(f) To the extent of any property passing under a general power of appointment exercised by the decedent (1) by will, or (2) by deed executed in contemplation of or intended to take effect in possession or enjoyment at or after his death, . . . except in case of a bona fide sale for an adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth; . . ."
"232.06. Special Power. A power is special: (1) When the person or class of persons to whom the disposition of the lands under the power to be made are designated. (2) When the power authorizes the alienation by means of a conveyance, will, or charge of a particular estate or interest less than a fee."
See Will of Zweifel, 194 Wis. 428; 216 N.W. 840; Cawker v. Dreutzer, 197 Wis. 98; 221 N.W. 401.
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