Goldman Sachs Capital III POSASR Automatic shelf registration (post-effective amendment)

Exhibit 8.2

December 4, 2007

[Letterhead of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP]

GS Finance Corp.,
        85 Broad Street,
             New York, New York 10004.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.,
        85 Broad Street,
             New York, New York 10004.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          As counsel to GS Finance Corp. (the “Company”) and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (the “Guarantor”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of the Company’s debt securities, warrants and units and the guarantee thereof by the Guarantor pursuant to the Prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement of the Company and the Guarantor to which this opinion is filed as an exhibit, we hereby confirm to you that the discussion set forth under the heading “United States Taxation” therein is our opinion, subject to the limitations set forth therein.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading “United Sates Taxation” in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Sullivan & Cromwell LLP