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Valuation Of Estate Assets

A Few Selected Assets

Assets belonging to the deceased estate owner are included in his or her estate at their "fair market value" on the date of death or if the executor elects, their value six months after date of death.

Type of Assets

How Asset Is Valued

Reference

Listed Stocks and Bonds (including over the counter)

The mean between highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the valuation date.

Reg. Sec. 20.2031-2(b)(1)

Mutual Funds

Valued at their "bid" price or redemption value (i.e., the amount the fund would pay the shareholder if it redeemed the shares on the valuation date).

Regs. Secs. 20.2031-8 (b) and 25. 2512-6(b);
U.S. vs. Cartwright,
411 U.S. 546 (1973)

Survivor’s Annuity (under a joint and survivor annuity contract)

The amount which the same insurance company would require for a single life annuity on the survivor, as of the applicable valuation date.

Reg. Sec. 20.2031-8

Close Corporation Stock

Fair market value is based on history and nature of business, economic outlook, book value, earning capacity, dividend paying capacity, goodwill, recent sales of stock and similar publicly traded company stock.

Rev. Rul. 59-60, 1959-1 C.B. 237

Real Estate

Fair market value of real estate in the United States or in a foreign country.

IRC Secs. 2031, 2032A, 2033

Real Estate (farm or corporate owned)

Value may be determined by "actual use" rather than on its "highest and best use" if certain conditions are met.

IRC Sec. 2032A

Flower Bonds

Par value to the extent of any federal estate tax due. Market value on excess over the federal estate tax due.

Reg. Sec. 20.6151-1(c)

Mortgages and Notes

The amount of the unpaid principal plus accrued interest, unless a lower value can be proven (i.e., an insolvent debtor).

Reg. Sec. 20.2031-4

Life Insurance on the Decedent’s Life

Amount receivable by the estate or by a named beneficiary, if the deceased insured had "incidents of ownership" in the policy.

Reg. Sec. 20.2042-1

Life Insurance Policy Owned by Decedent on the Life of Another Person

The cost of buying another policy of the same value and same type on the same insured.

Reg. Sec. 20.2031-8

Joint Tenancy with a Spouse

One-half of the value of property owned jointly by spouses is included in the estate of the first spouse to die.

IRC Sec. 2040(b)

Joint Tenancy with Other than Spouse (general rule)

Entire value of property less the original contribution of the survivor is included in the estate of the first joint tenant to die.

IRC Sec. 2040(a)