In re the Transfer Tax Upon the Estate of Garland

Benton, S. The personal effects of the deceased, worth about $500, were given to his widow and children. Also his farm, appraised at $6,200. There was also given a life use to James T. Garland, an uncle, which the superintendent of insurance has found to be of the present value of $337. It is claimed that this is taxable, and the surrogate is asked to impose a tax of $16.85, besides the penalty accrued thereon. The property passing to the widow and children is coneededly exempt from this tax, but a tax by the act is imposed upon the transfer of any property, real or personal, of the value of $500 or over, to certain persons, including this uncle. If the word “ property ” is to be defined to mean the whole estate, as more than $500 passed this life use would be taxable, but section 242 of the act defines the word “ property ” and says: “ It shall be taken to mean the property or interest therein of the 557 testator, etc., passing or transferred to those not herein specifically exempted .from the provisions of this article.” As the property passing to the widow and children is specifically exempted it is not included, and hence there is not property of the value of $500, as the word is defined in the Tax Law, passing to any person. Hence, there can be no tax imposed. This is in line with the surrogate’s decision in Matter of Conklin, 39 Misc. Rep. 771. Matter of Corbett, 171 N. Y. 516, is cited on the part of the State as authorizing this taxation, and it seems to have been followed in a recent case in Surrogate’s Court. A careful reading of Matter of Corbett will not sustain the contention of the State, for the court says: “ An estate of $15,000, in which $6,000 was given to a bishop or religious corporation, which are specifically exempted from taxation by the statute, and $9,000 given to a brother and sister, would not be taxable because the aggregate amount passing the persons not specifically exempted would not be of the value of $10,000.” The plain reading of the Transfer Tax Law compels the denial of the prayer of the State that a tax be imposed in this case. So ordered. Motion denied.