Richard hosted lunch in mid-March with Judge Laro and six other guests at the University Club in San Diego. All of the guests got the Judge’s Business Valuation book, which is now out in second edition. He is this Country’s most prominent Tax Court Judge on matters of Valuation for Estate tax and Gift tax purposes, as he oversaw the now famous “Mandelbaum” case. “Mandelbaum” is now the basis for IRS’s policies and procedures on Business Valuation for estate tax, gift tax, and income tax transfers.

We discussed future of the estate tax and gift tax in light of possible sunset of “Bush tax cuts.” We also discussed the Administration’s efforts to curtail or reduce Valuation Discounts. Of even more interesting note (if you happen to be a “tax junkie”), another famous economic concept that the Judge crafted which is now law, namely “Economic Substance,” is under review by the Supreme Court this week, as it was “tacked on” to the Obama-care bill.

Judge Laro was in town to handle a Tax Court case here in San Diego. He also teaches part-time at Richard’s alma mater, The University of San Diego.