In re Gumbinner's Estate

[1] The executors of decedent’s estate appeal from the order assessing a transfer tax upon the estate, and allege that the appraiser’s valuation of the business conducted by the decedent prior to his death was excessive. The decedent was the sole owner of the business conducted by him under the name of Paul Gumbinner Company. The appraiser estimated th,e value of the business at $286,067.-14. His report, however, does not contain an itemized statement showing the value which he placed upon the various items constituting the assets of the business. The evidence before him showed that the market value of the merchandise on hand at the date of decedent’s death

[2] The executors have submitted a statement showing the gross profits for the years 1903 to 1909, inclusive. This statement shows an average deduction of about $3,000 as “income from investments.” There is no explanation of the nature of these investments. If it is income from the investment of any part of the capital employed in the business, it should be deducted from the interest allowed on the cápital in ascertaining the net profits for the purpose of determining the value of the good will.

[3-5] In the statement referred to the executors also claim a deduction of $15,000 each year from the gross profits for depreciation of buildings, fixtures, machinery, and stock. It appears that the decedent in his annual statements did not make any allowance for depreciation of buildings, machinery, etc. There is no evidence in the appraiser’s report as to the character of the buildings used by the decedent as factories, but the increase in the value of the ground is usually equivalent to any depreciation in the value of a brick or stone structure erected upon it. The decedent’s books do not show any allowance for depreciation of the stock inventoried at the end of each year. .This, however, is merely a detail of bookkeeping, as, if the deduction for depreciation were made in the inventoried value of the stock each year, such deduction would necessarily be reflected in the profit and loss account of the succeeding year, and would not substantially alter the ratio between capital and profit and loss as shown on the books of the company.

As the executors ask for a deduction for depreciation of merchandise inventoried, without allowing for such deduction in calculating profit and loss at the end of the year, their contention in this respect should not be allowed. They should, however, be allowed a reasonable deduction for depreciation of machinery and fixtures. These become worn and obsolete in the course of 15 or 20 years, and a fund should be set aside for their replacement. As the evidence shows that most of the machinery installed by the decedent in his factories in 1892 was still in operation at the time of his death, although in a worn and dilapidated condition, I think a reasonable deduction for depreciation upon such

[6] The drawings of the decedent for his personal account should, in the absence of evidence that they were excessive, be regarded as the value of his services to the business, and should also be deducted in arriving at the net profits. There should also be deducted interest on the capital employed. As these items are contained in the statement’ submitted to the appraiser by the executors, it is only necessary to modify that statement by reducing their estimate of depreciation, namely, $15,000, to the figure represented by the deduction of 6 per cent, upon the value of the machinery in both factories. The average net profits for the five years preceding the date of decedent’s death, ascertained as here indicated and multiplied by two, will represent the value of the good will.

[7] The appraiser was correct in including in the assets of decedent’s estate the machinery in the factory at Emaus, Pa., as the evidence showed that this machinery did not constitute part of the building, and that it was not erected in such a manner that its removal would materially alter or deface the buildings.

[8, 9] The executors also appeal from that part of the order entered upon appraiser’s report which assessed a tax upon the remainder after the life estates of decedent’s widow and daughter, as if such remainder passed to one beneficiary of the 5 per cent, class. The testator directed that the income from his residuary estate be paid to his widow and daughters during their respective lives, and upon the death of the survivor that the principal be divided among the surviving issue of the daughter per stirpes; in the event of the daughter dying without leaving issue, such remainder to be divided into 60 equal parts and paid to the various legatees mentioned in the will.

Section 230 of the Tax Law provides that when property is transferred in trust, and the interests of the transferees are dependent upon conditions whereby they may be defeated or abridged, a tax shall be imposed upon the transfer at the highest rate which, upon the happening of any of the contingencies or conditions, would be possible. In Matter of Zborowski, 213 N. Y. 109 , 107 N. E. 44 , it was held that such interests are presently taxable. The contingency which would defeat the vesting in possession of the interests bequeathed to the issue of the daughter would be the death of the daughter without issue, and the highest rate which could be imposed upon the remainder would be the rate at which it would be assessed in such a contingency. Therefore the remainder should be divided into 60 parts, and each legacy taxed as if it were bequeathed to an individual of the 5 per cent, class. That part of the remainder which would go to exempt corporations in the contingency mentioned is not now subject to taxation.

The order fixing tax will be reversed, and the appraiser’s report remitted to him for the purpose of ascertaining the value of the good will as herein indicated. The order to be entered upon his report should conform to this decision in regard to the taxation of the remainder.