The value of the gross estate shall include the value of all property-
To the extent of any property with respect to which a general power of appointment created on or before October 21, 1942, is exercised by the decedent-
but the failure to exercise such a power or the complete release of such a power shall not be deemed an exercise thereof. If a general power of appointment created on or before October 21, 1942, has been partially released so that it is no longer a general power of appointment, the exercise of such power shall not be deemed to be the exercise of a general power of appointment if-
To the extent of any property with respect to which the decedent has at the time of his death a general power of appointment created after October 21, 1942, or with respect to which the decedent has at any time exercised or released such a power of appointment by a disposition which is of such nature that if it were a transfer of property owned by the decedent, such property would be includible in the decedent's gross estate under sections 2035 to 2038, inclusive. For purposes of this paragraph (2), the power of appointment shall be considered to exist on the date of the decedent's death even though the exercise of the power is subject to a precedent giving of notice or even though the exercise of the power takes effect only on the expiration of a stated period after its exercise, whether or not on or before the date of the decedent's death notice has been given or the power has been exercised.
To the extent of any property with respect to which the decedent-
exercises a power of appointment created after October 21, 1942, by creating another power of appointment which under the applicable local law can be validly exercised so as to postpone the vesting of any estate or interest in such property, or suspend the absolute ownership or power of alienation of such property, for a period ascertainable without regard to the date of the creation of the first power.
For purposes of subsection (a)-
The term "general power of appointment" means a power which is exercisable in favor of the decedent, his estate, his creditors, or the creditors of his estate; except that-
For purposes of clauses (ii) and (iii), a power shall be deemed to be exercisable in favor of a person if it is exercisable in favor of such person, his estate, his creditors, or the creditors of his estate.
The lapse of a power of appointment created after October 21, 1942, during the life of the individual possessing the power shall be considered a release of such power. The preceding sentence shall apply with respect to the lapse of powers during any calendar year only to the extent that the property, which could have been appointed by exercise of such lapsed powers, exceeded in value, at the time of such lapse, the greater of the following amounts:
For purposes of this section, a power of appointment created by a will executed on or before October 21, 1942, shall be considered a power created on or before such date if the person executing such will dies before July 1, 1949, without having republished such will, by codicil or otherwise, after October 21, 1942.
26 U.S.C. § 2041
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS1976-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 94-455 struck out provision that a disclaimer or renunciation of a power of appointment not be deemed a release of that power.1962-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87-834 struck out provisions which excepted real property situated outside of the United States.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1976 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 94-455 applicable to transfers creating an interest in person disclaiming made after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 2009(e)(2) of Pub. L. 94-455, set out as a note under section 2518 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1962 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 87-834 applicable to estates of decedents dying after Oct. 16, 1962, except as otherwise provided, see section 18(b) of Pub. L. 87-834, set out as a note under section 2031 of this title.
- person
- The term "person" shall be construed to mean and include an individual, a trust, estate, partnership, association, company or corporation.