Pfaff v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue/Opinion of the Court

by Stanley Forman Reed

United States Supreme Court

312 U.S. 646

PFAFF et al.  v.  COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE.

 Argued: March 4, 5, 1941. --- Decided: March 31, 1941

This case presents the same question as Helvering v. Enright's Estate, 312 U.S. 636, 61 S.Ct. 777, 85 L.Ed. --, decided today. Petitioners are the executors of a deceased physician who during 1935 was a member of a medical partnership and entitled to forty per cent of its profits. He died December 25, 1935, on which date there were outstanding about $69,000 of partnership accounts receivable for services rendered to patients during his lifetime. His death worked a dissolution of the partnership under § 62(4) of the New York Partnership Law, Consol.Laws, c. 39. The decedent's interest in these accounts came to over $27,000. Both he and the partnership were on a cash basis. Pursuant to section 42 of the Revenue Act of 1934, 26 U.S.C.A. Int.Rev.Code, § 42, and article 42(1) of Treasury Regulations 86, the commissioner included the decedent's share of the accounts receivable in his 1935 income, though only at about one-fifth of face value. The Board of Tax Appeals sustained the commissioner's view of the statute, and also ruled that the valuation of the decedent's interest in the accounts at one-fifth of face value was amply supported. The Circuit Court of Appeals, without writing an opinion, affirmed the Board. 2 Cir., 113 F.2d 114. Because of a conflict with the Third Circuit's decision, 112 F.2d 919, in the Enright case, supra, we granted certiorari, 311 U.S. 639, 61 S.Ct. 140, 85 L.Ed. --.

There is no relevant difference between these facts and Helvering v. Enright's Estate. For the reasons stated in that opinion it was proper to include in the decedent's 1935 income the fair value of his interest in the accounts.

Affirmed.

Notes