Reel v. Iowa Department of Revenue

REYNOLDSON, Justice.

The fighting issue in this appeal involves the Iowa Department of Revenue’s exclusive use of mortality tables in computing the value of a life beneficiary’s interest in a testamentary trust. The beneficiary, whom the evidence disclosed would not live out a normal life, asserted due process guarantees of the state and federal constitutions were violated by the Iowa statute and Department rule prescribing the mortality tables as the sole basis for determining value of the interest and resulting inheritance tax. Trial court held there was no violation of constitutional due…