Summary
In Smith v. Commissioner, 17 T.C. at 144, the taxpayer wanted the gross award spread back and the expenses deducted for the year of the award, while the Commissioner argued for spreading back the net cost; we held for the taxpayer.
Summary of this case from Kenseth v. Comm'r of Internal RevenueOpinion
Docket No. 27569.
1951-07-31
WELDON D. SMITH, PETITIONER, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RESPONDENT.
Robert J. Lansdowne, Esq., for the petitioner. Sheldon V. Elkman, Esq., for the respondent.
1. Petitioner was employed as general manager of a department store for 10 years. His duties were practically nonexistent for the last half of the contract, but he continued as an employee until the expiration of the contract. Under the contract terms petitioner was entitled to a base salary plus additional compensation based on a percentage of net profits. Due to a dispute as to what constituted ‘net profits,‘ petitioner did not receive the additional compensation for 1942, 1943, 1944, and 1945, until after he had instituted a lawsuit. The suit was settled and petitioner received a lump sum payment of $212,000. He paid $25,000 in attorney fees therefor. Held, petitioner is entitled to use the back pay treatment specified in section 107(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. Held, further the legal fees are deductible in the year in which paid. An allocation between principal and interest for the $212,000 is made.
2. Petitioner was one of five equal stockholders in an incorporated cattle farm. Over the life of said corporation, he loaned it $38,220 in addition to his $4,000 capital investment. He participated in the operation of the corporation which became bankrupt during the taxable year. Over the years, petitioner had invested in or loaned money to a number of businesses and also personally took part in their operations. Held, under all the facts the $38,220 constituted a business bad debt which became worthless during the taxable year. Robert J. Lansdowne, Esq., for the petitioner. Sheldon V. Elkman, Esq., for the respondent.
The respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's income tax for the year 1945 in the amount of $69,184.95. The issues to be decided are: (1) whether $212,000 paid petitioner by a former employer during 1945 constituted back pay subject to the provisions of section 107(d) of the Internal Revenue Code; and (2) whether $38,220 represented a debt owed petitioner, whether it became worthless in 1945, and whether, if it was a debt, it was a business or nonbusiness debt. If the first issue is answered in the affirmative, subsidiary questions arise as to the allocation of the $212,000 between principal and interest, and as to the treatment of legal fees incurred in obtaining the $212,000.
FINDINGS OF FACT.
Petitioner is an individual residing in Buffalo, New York. His Federal income tax return for 1945 was prepared on a cash basis and was filed with the collector of internal revenue for the twenty-eighth district of New York.
Petitioner began to work for Adam, Meldrum and Anderson Co. Inc., (hereinafter referred to as A.M. & A.), a department store in Buffalo, New York, in 1922, as comptroller. He later became a director, treasurer, vice-president, and general manager. He was a substantial stockholder, holding more common than preferred stock.
On November 8, 1934, petitioner and A.M. & A. entered into a written contract of employment, whereby he was to serve as general manager for a period of 10 years beginning January 1, 1935. Pertinent provisions of the contract were as follows:
FIRST: The Company agrees to employ the General Manager for a period of ten years from January 1st, 1935, to perform all the duties and functions of General Manager, as now existing, and as may hereafter be changed or modified by The Company.
THIRD: The compensation of the General Manager is fixed at a minimum salary of fifteen thousand Dollars ($15,000.00), per annum, and in addition thereto further compensation to be computed as follows: In any year in which the net profits of The Company exceed One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000.00), the General Manager shall receive additional compensation, which shall be ten per cent (10%) of the amount of such excess net profits over the amount above stated.
Due to differences arising between petitioner and other members of the board of directors of A.M. & A. petitioner's duties were gradually reduced. By a resolution of the board of directors on September 16, 1935, his duties were outlined and limited. On January 15, 1940, Herbert M. Uline was hired as merchandise manager by A.M. & A. and a resolution of the board of directors on March 4, 1940, defined and broadened the duties of Uline. At a board meeting on April 29, 1941, petitioner was not reelected treasurer and ceased at that time to be either an officer or director of A.M. & A. At the same meeting Uline was elected executive vice-president and a director of A.M. & A. As executive vice-president, Uline was petitioner's superior. Further duties were vested in Uline by a resolution dated June 18, 1941.
A.M. & A. was on a fiscal year basis, running from February 1 to January 31. The first time petitioner was entitled to additional compensation as provided for in the employment contract was 1937, i.e., for the fiscal year of A.M. & A. ended January 31, 1937. He received as extra compensation $5,113.50 in 1937, and $4,524.37 in 1938 for the fiscal year of A.M. & A. ended January 31, 1938. The next year in which net profits were sufficient to entitle petitioner to additional compensation was for the fiscal year of A.M. & A. ended January 31, 1942. At that time a disagreement occurred between petitioner and A.M. & A. as to what constituted ‘net profits‘ of the corporation, continuing until settled in 1945. In 1942 and 1943 the amounts which A.M. & A. computed as owing to petitioner were offered to him as payments in full but were refused because petitioner contended he was entitled to far more. However, petitioner did report these offered amounts in his income tax returns as constructively received in those years and paid income tax on them. For 1942 he reported $10,838.70 representing $9,375.19 for the year ended January 31, 1942, and $1,463.51, representing an additional amount for the taxable year ended January 31, 1938. In his 1943 return, petitioner reported $7,241.57 as constructively received. While no additional compensation was offered petitioner by A.M. & A. for the year ended January 31, 1944, petitioner reported $9,000 as constructively received by him, which amount was merely an estimate.
From the beginning to the expiration of his contract petitioner did whatever he was permitted to do and never refused to perform any duties. His duties were decreased from time to time and by 1941 were practically nonexistent. No one else was appointed general manager; rather, a new position was created above his. He was paid his base salary of $15,000 per year throughout the entire term of his contract. A.M. & A. never cancelled the contract although they had an option to do so upon payment of an amount equal to the base salary for the cancelled part of the term. He had an office in the store and was there every day, both morning and afternoon, unless he was on vacation.
On January 4, 1944, petitioner instituted an action against A.M. & A. to recover the additional compensation he claimed was due him under his employment contract for A.M. & A.'s fiscal years ended January 31, 1938, 1942, and 1943, plus interest thereon. The action never came to trial, but was settled November 13, 1945, with an agreement that A.M. & A. pay him $212,000 during 1945 in full settlement of all claims in said action plus claims for the fiscal years ended January 31, 1944 and 1945.
The following table shows the allocation by years of the $212,000 as set forth in the settlement release and agreement:
+--------------------------------------+ ¦Period ¦Amount ¦ +--------------------------+-----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1937-Jan. 31, 1938¦$2,000.00 ¦ +--------------------------+-----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1941-Jan. 31, 1942¦28,872.48 ¦ +--------------------------+-----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1942-Jan. 31, 1943¦42,515.54 ¦ +--------------------------+-----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1943-Jan. 31, 1944¦71,625.06 ¦ +--------------------------+-----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1944-Jan. 31, 1945¦66,986.92 ¦ +--------------------------+-----------¦ ¦Total ¦$212,000.00¦ +--------------------------------------+
The agreement made no allocation between that portion which constituted principal and that which constituted interest. The computations of the petitioner and of A.M. & A. (the latter being the one requested by the respondent) are in agreement as to the allocation for the years ended January 31, 1938, 1942, and 1943.
The dispute as to allocations arises for the fiscal years 1944 and 1945. The computations for these disputed years are as follows:
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ¦Feb. 1, 1943-Jan. 31, 1944 ¦Petitioner ¦A. M. & A. ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Net profits per auditor's statement ¦$525,961.40 ¦$525,961.40 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Interest paid R. B. Adam Estate ¦1,416.74 ¦1,416.74 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Additional depreciation, leased buildings ¦13,297.22 ¦13,297.22 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦A. M. & A. Bank Judgment as per statement ¦199,424.82 ¦199,424.82 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Adjustment Mdse. Bank cert. exchange ¦69,936.76 ¦0 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Expenses of Bank plan paid by A. M. & A. Co¦14,120.31 ¦14,120.31 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Bonus, executives and others ¦49,150.00 ¦49,150.00 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦ ¦$873,307.25 ¦$803,370.49 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Less ¦140,000.00 ¦140,000.00 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦ ¦$733,307.25 ¦$663,370.49 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Commission as per contract, 10% ¦$73,330.73 ¦$66,337.05 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Interest to Oct. 31, 1945 ¦7,699.73 ¦6,965.39 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Total ¦$81,030.46 ¦$73,302.44 ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Amount per settlement: $71,625.06 ¦ ¦ ¦ +-------------------------------------------+------------+----------------¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Feb. 1, 1944-Jan. 31, 1945 Petitioner A. M. & A. Net profits as per auditor's statement $478,958.00 $478,958.00 Loss on sale of land and building 240,992.99 240,992.99 Additional depreciation, leased buildings 13,297.22 13,297.22 Adjustment, mdse., bank certificate exchange 44,608.55 0 Bonus, executives and others 47,775.00 47,775.00 $825,631.76 $781,023.21 Less 140,000.00 140,000.00 $685,631.76 $641,023.21 Commission as per contract, 10% $68,563.18 $64,102.32 Interest to October 31, 1945 3,085.34 2,884.60 Total $71,648.52 $66,986.92 Amount per settlement: $66,986.92
The total allocation between principal and interest according to the computation is:
+---------------------------------------+ ¦ ¦Petitioner ¦A. M. & A. ¦ +---------+------------+----------------¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ +---------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Principal¦$203,420.80 ¦$191,966.26 ¦ +---------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Interest ¦22,646.20 ¦21,711.12 ¦ +---------+------------+----------------¦ ¦Total ¦$226,067.00 ¦$213,677.38 ¦ +---------------------------------------+
The difference between the computations of petitioner and A.M. & A. for the years ended January 31, 1944 and 1945, is in the refusal of A.M. & A. to recognize that part of the claim entitled ‘Adjustment, mdse., bank certificate exchange.‘ This arose from the exchange of certificates issued bank depositors in the amount of withheld deposits, as a result of bank difficulties in the 1930's of the Adam, Meldrum & Anderson State Bank, stock of which was largely held by A.M. & A. These certificates were exchangeable for merchandise at A.M. & A. based on the retail price of goods. Only cost was considered by A.M. & A. in determining annual profits and petitioner contended that, since merchandise was scarce during these years (1944 and 1945) it could have been sold for cash at its full retail price and the difference between said retail price and cost would have been reflected in A.M. & A.'s annual profits. He therefore arrived at a hypothetical profit figure which he included in his claim, and which A. M. & A. refused to consider.
We find that of the $212,000 received by petitioner $191,966.26 represented principal and $20,033.74 represented interest, allocable as follows:
+--------------------------------------------------+ ¦Period ¦¦Principal ¦Interest ¦ +--------------------------++-----------+----------¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ +--------------------------++-----------+----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1937-Jan. 31, 1938¦¦$1,463.51 ¦$536.49 ¦ +--------------------------++-----------+----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1941-Jan. 31, 1942¦¦23,569.37 ¦5,303.11 ¦ +--------------------------++-----------+----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1942-Jan. 31, 1943¦¦36,494.01 ¦6,021.53 ¦ +--------------------------++-----------+----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1943-Jan. 31, 1944¦¦66,337.05 ¦5,288.01 ¦ +--------------------------++-----------+----------¦ ¦Feb. 1, 1944-Jan. 31, 1945¦¦64,102.32 ¦2,884.60 ¦ +--------------------------------------------------+
Petitioner received the $191,966.26 as back pay for services rendered to A.M. & A. under his employment contract. He paid $25,000 for legal fees incurred in collection of the $212,000.
In 1936, petitioner met the Houck family (three brothers and their mother) who operated Llenroc Farm located on the Canadian side of the Niagara River near Buffalo. The farm had been operated by the Houcks since 1915, at first by the father and then by the sons following their graduations from Cornell Agricultural College. They engaged in dairy farming and raised prize cattle. After their father's death, in the early 1930's, the sons had to seek other employment because of economic conditions. At the time petitioner met the Houcks, they were desirous of finding someone to assume business management of the farm.
Petitioner had been raised on a farm and was ‘a little bit‘ of a cattle fancier. In January 1937, after a number of conferences with the Houcks at which the history, past earnings and future financial possibilities of the farm were discussed, and after petitioner and one of the Houcks each had an independent appraisal of the farm made, petitioner and the Houcks formed a Canadian corporation known as Llenroc Farms, Ltd., (hereinafter referred to as Llenroc). The corporation was capitalized at $20,000, petitioner paying $4,000 cash, and the Houcks contributing the farm property, implements and animals in payment for their stock. Each stockholder owned 20 per cent of the stock.
Petitioner was interested in the farm as a business enterprise, not as a hobby. He was the treasurer and general manager, and supervised the personnel, purchasing, seeding plans, crop gathering, etc. He attended to these matters in the evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays. A farm manager was hired to take charge of actual operations, and he lived on the farm. Neither the Houcks nor petitioner used the farm as a residence, nor for vacations.
Shortly after incorporation, in the summer of 1937, the cattle herd became infected with tuberculosis and was destroyed by the Government, which paid Llenroc only a nominal amount.
From 1937 through 1943 petitioner deposited his own money to the credit of Llenroc and made purchases for Llenroc. In the 4 months following Llenroc's incorporation on January 29, 1937, petitioner made the following deposits to Llenroc's account:
+--------------+ ¦2/27/37 ¦$125 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦3/1 ¦1,175¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦3/5 ¦500 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦3/17 ¦700 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦3/22 ¦500 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦4/2 ¦500 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦4/9 ¦300 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦4/19 ¦200 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦5/5 ¦600 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦5/10 ¦300 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦5/13 ¦600 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦5/20 ¦200 ¦ +--------+-----¦ ¦5/25 ¦200 ¦ +--------------+
The other stockholders also did so, but to a much smaller extent since they did not have any more money available. Cumulative balances of these amounts, as they appeared in Llenroc's books during the years of its existence, were as follows:
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+ ¦Date ¦Total ¦Petitioner¦W. L. Houck¦C. T. Houck¦J.E. Houck¦ +--------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------¦ ¦1/31/38 ¦$21,863.78¦$19,863.78¦$1,800.00 ¦$200.00 ¦ ¦ +--------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------¦ ¦1/31/39 ¦30,563.78 ¦28,563.78 ¦1,800.00 ¦200.00 ¦ ¦ +--------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------¦ ¦1/31/40 ¦36,250.00 ¦34,250.00 ¦1,800.00 ¦200.00 ¦ ¦ +--------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------¦ ¦1/31/41 ¦37,050.00 ¦35,050.00 ¦1,800.00 ¦200.00 ¦ ¦ +--------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------¦ ¦1/31/42 ¦37,650.00 ¦35,650.00 ¦1,800.00 ¦200.00 ¦ ¦ +--------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------¦ ¦1/31/43 ¦39,150.00 ¦36,650.00 ¦2,050.00 ¦325.00 ¦$125.00 ¦ +--------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------¦ ¦1/31/44 ¦41,520.00 ¦38,070.00 ¦3,000.00 ¦325.00 ¦125.00 ¦ +--------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------¦ ¦1/31/45 ¦41,520.00 ¦38,070.00 ¦3,000.00 ¦325.00 ¦125.00 ¦ +--------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------¦ ¦10/30/45¦41,670.00 ¦38,220.00 ¦3,000.00 ¦325.00 ¦125.00 ¦ +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
The largest amounts appear as of January 31, 1938 (Llenroc was on a fiscal year ending January 31), and were partly occasioned by the replacement of the herd following its destruction. It was the understanding of the stockholders that these amounts would be returned as soon as Llenroc could do so. They were carried on the financial statement as ‘Stockholders Accounts‘ under current liabilities. At the beginning, petitioner as treasurer of Llenroc, made out corporation interest-bearing notes to himself, but did not continue this through the years. No interest was ever paid since Llenroc did not have the money to pay it.
Each year, from the time of its incorporation, Llenroc's expenses were greater than its gross profits. Since its opening financial statement had a ‘special reserve‘ of $13,617.65, no deficit appeared until the statement of January 31, 1942. A summary of the Surplus Account is as follows:
+----------------------------+ ¦Surplus Reserve (Deficit) ¦ +----------------------------¦ ¦1/31/38 ¦$13,617.65 ¦ +-----------+----------------¦ ¦1/31/39 ¦8,541.48 ¦ +-----------+----------------¦ ¦1/31/40 ¦5,437.75 ¦ +-----------+----------------¦ ¦1/31/41 ¦1,791.50 ¦ +-----------+----------------¦ ¦1/31/42 ¦(2,022.59) ¦ +-----------+----------------¦ ¦1/31/43 ¦(2,680.36) ¦ +-----------+----------------¦ ¦1/31/44 ¦(6,950.29) ¦ +-----------+----------------¦ ¦1/31/45 ¦(13,704.63) ¦ +----------------------------+
The Capital Stock Account at all times was $20,000. In his 1944 income tax return, petitioner claimed a deduction of $4,000 for his Llenroc stock as being worthless, which deduction was allowed.
The farm was encumbered by large mortgages and was taken over by the mortgagee in the summer of 1945. Following this, in October 1945, Llenroc filed a general assignment of all its assets for benefit of creditors under the Canadian Bankruptcy Act. In his 1945 income tax return petitioner claimed a deduction of $38,220 as a debt owed him by Llenroc which became worthless during that year. Respondent denied this deduction on the alternative grounds that it was not a loan but a capital investment, or, if a loan, it had become worthless before 1945.
Petitioner filed a claim as a creditor in the amount of $38,220 with the trustee in bankruptcy which was allowed. In the final statement by the trustee in bankruptcy four classes of creditors were listed: secured creditors, preferred creditors, ordinary creditors and directors' claims (contingent). Petitioner's claim was in the last class. The secured and preferred creditors received 100 per cent dividends, the ordinary creditors received 35 per cent dividends, while those falling in the last class (including petitioner) received 2.047 per cent. Petitioner received this dividend amounting to $1,056.83 in 1949, the year in which the bankrupt estate was closed and the trustee discharged. Petitioner reported this amount in his income tax return for 1949.
Petitioner had invested money in a number of enterprises and had investigated possibilities of many more. In addition to purchasing stock in small corporations, he lent money or else allowed his earnings to remain in the venture and draw interest. These earnings left on deposit were not always available for withdrawal. He not only put his money into enterprises but also participated in their management, being an officer or director, or both. He owned stock in A.M. & A. and left some of his earnings in the corporation upon which he received 6 per cent interest. He was a director and officer until the difficulties which arose in the early 1940's. He held 49 per cent of the stock of Adam, Meldrum & Anderson Cleaning Corporation (unrelated to A.M. & A.), and was an officer and director. He left some of the salary credited to him in the business. Until the business was sold in 1944 or 1945 he would spend several hours per day at the cleaning plant. Petitioner was also a stockholder and director of Adam, Meldrum and Anderson State Bank and of Central Cleaning Plant, which merely required attendance of board meetings. He acquired a 25 per cent interest in Central in the 1930's and still held it at the time of trial.
Petitioner took part in the management of a garage in which his brother and he were partners, and loaned money to the enterprise. Subsequent to the year in question he became 99 per cent stockholder in the Oliver Gear Works of which he was president and manager. He left part of his salary on deposit with them and received interest thereon. He also owns and manages a business building in Buffalo. All of these enterprises were in addition to petitioner's activities with Llenroc.
Petitioner investigated numerous other businesses in which he decided not to obtain an interest.
Petitioner was in the business of giving financial aid and personal services to business ventures and, therefore, the $38,220 represented a bad debt which arose from a business regularly engaged in by petitioner which became worthless in 1945.
OPINION.
RICE, Judge:
The first issue is whether the $212,000 is ‘back pay‘ subject to the provisions of section 107(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicable portions are set forth in the margin.
SEC. 107. * * *(d) BACK PAY.—(1) IN GENERAL.— If the amount of the back pay received or accrued by an individual during the taxable year exceeds 15 per centum of the gross income of the individual for such year, the part of the tax attributable to the inclusion of such back pay in gross income for the taxable year shall not be greater than the aggregate of the increases in the taxes which would have resulted from the inclusion of the respective portions of such back pay in gross income for the taxable years to which such portions are respectively attributable, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Commissioner with the approval of the Secretary.(2) DEFINITION OF BACK PAY.— For the purposes of this subsection, ‘back pay‘ means (A) remuneration, including wages, salaries, retirement pay, and other similar compensation, which is received or accrued during the taxable year by an employee for services performed prior to the taxable year for his employer and which would have been paid prior to the taxable year except for the intervention of one of the following events:(ii) dispute as to the liability of the employer to pay such remuneration, which is determined after the commencement of court proceedings; * * *
Respondent argues that subsequent to January 1940 petitioner performed no services for his employer and therefore that section 107(d) is inapplicable. While it is true that section 107(d) is subject to strict interpretation, Norbert J. Kenny, 4 T.C. 750, 754 (1945), we feel that respondent's argument is incorrect. Petitioner was an employee of A. M. & A. under a contract running for 10 years from January 1, 1935. Due to friction which developed between petitioner and others, his duties were limited so that by 1941 he had very little other than his title of general manager. But, petitioner continued in A.M. & A.'s employ until the expiration of his contract. He had an office in the store and was there every day except when on vacation. He did whatever he could in the performance of his duties. No one else was ever named general manager. Rather, a new position was created. Nor did A.M. & A. exercise its option to terminate its contract with petitioner. Petitioner was paid his base salary of $15,000 per year and A.M. & A. did not dispute his right to ‘additional compensation‘ provided for in the employment contract, but disputed the amount.
We feel, therefore, that the $191,966.26 received falls expressly within the definition of back pay found in section 107(d)(2)(A)(ii) and that petitioner is entitled to treat it as provided in section 107(d)(1).
The case of Estate of Lester O. Stearns, 14 T.C. 420 (1950), affd. (C.A. 6, 1951) 189 F.2d 259, is distinguishable from this case, since in that case recovery was had for breach of contract following its termination by the employer. There, the petitioner did not continue as an employee while here petitioner continued as an employee until the expiration of his employment contract.
The settlement release between petitioner and A.M. & A. designated the manner in which the $212,000 was divided between the years involved in the dispute, and this division is not contested. But it failed to allocate each yearly portion between principal and interest. The parties are in agreement as to this allocation for the years 1938, 1942, and 1943, but disagree as to the allocation for the years 1944 and 1945. The petitioner claims that all of the amounts received in these latter years represent principal, since they are less than the amounts of principal he claimed for these years. The respondent, on the other hand, maintains that A.M. & A.'s computation is the correct one, namely, that the amount for each of these years is computed of both principal and interest. The difference between A.M. & A.'s computation ($73,302.44) and the settlement figure ($71,625.06) for the year 1944 is conceded by respondent to be a decrease in interest for that year, its purpose merely being to round off the entire settlement to an even amount $212,000).
While respondent is a third party to the settlement, the method which he advocates is that of one of the parties to the settlement. This method appears to be the best method advanced. It is equitable and the basis for obtaining it is evident from the computations submitted. Nor has the petitioner introduced any evidence sufficient to overcome the prima facie correctness of respondent's determination. We therefore uphold the respondent's computation as set forth in our findings of fact.
The petitioner paid $25,000 during 1945 as legal fees incurred in the settlement for and the collection of the $212,000 from A.M. & A. The parties agree that this $25,000 is deductible but are in disagreement as to the method of doing so. The petitioner claims that the entire amount is deductible in 1945, the year in which it was paid, while the respondent asks that it be allocated over each of the years in proportion to the amount of back pay applicable to each year.
Back pay is afforded the treatment of allocation to applicable years simply because of the existence of section 107 of the Code. Without this section, the entire $212,000 would be income in 1945. Section 107 is silent as to expenses incurred in connection with any collection of back pay, and there are no regulations nor decisions which we have been able to find on the question. To limit application of section 107 to amounts received less expenses connected with collection is not a function for the Court, but rather is a task for the Congress if that is the result which they wish. We therefore hold that petitioner is entitled to deduct the $25,000 legal expense in 1945.
The second issue involves the $38,220 which petitioner deducted as a worthless debt in 1945. The respondent argues that this amount represented a capital investment rather than a loan, or, in the alternative, that it became worthless before the taxable year in question; or, if it was a debt, it was a nonbusiness debt.
Whether a contribution by a stockholder to a corporation is a capital contribution or a loan is a question which must be answered by a consideration of all the factors present in a particular case. Sam Schnitzer, 13 T.C. 43 (1949), affd. (C.A. 9, 1950), 183 F.2d 70, certiorari denied, 340 U.S. 911 (1951). In a majority of cases of this type, there are factors indicative of either answer. The fact that deposits to Llenroc's account were begun almost immediately following incorporation and the fact that not several large deposits but a number of small ones (averaging several hundred dollars) were made in the course of the life of Llenroc would seem to indicate that Llenroc was inadequately capitalized at its inception. While it is true that the destruction of the herd would account for a large portion of the $19,863.78 put in by petitioner during Llenroc's first year of existence, it would not account for the money put in before the summer of 1937 when the herd was destroyed. It is also true that no interest was provided for and that most of the advances had no evidences of indebtedness.
Counterbalancing these factors are a number of considerations. One of the major items is the fact that, unlike the situations in Isidor Dobkin, 15 T.C. 31 (1950) and Edward G. Janeway, 2 T.C. 197 (1943), affd. (C.A. 2, 1945) 147 F.2d 602, the contributions in this case were completely disproportionate to stock holdings. While there were five equal stockholders, petitioner advanced $38,220, W. L. Houck, $3,000, C. T. Houck, $325, J. E. Houck, $125 and their mother (the fifth stockholder) nothing.
In addition, there is the fact that petitioner's claim as a creditor was allowed by Llenroc's trustee in bankruptcy. The money was carried on Llenroc's financial statements as a current liability. The parties intended the money to be loans. While this intent is not a controlling factor, it does have some evidentiary value. Isidor Dobkin, supra. Another factor indicative of a loan and which distinguishes this case from the Dobkin and Janeway cases is that in this case the questionable amount was not a portion of the original corporate investment, but, rather was money subsequently advanced to Llenroc.
Having considered the enumerated factors plus all others appearing in the record we hold that the $38,220 represented a loan by petitioner to Llenroc.
Under section 23(k)(1) a deduction is allowed for ‘debts which become worthless within the taxable year.‘ The respondent argues that the debt owned petitioner by Llenroc became worthless prior to 1945. He cites petitioner's allowed deduction in his 1944 income tax return for the worthlessness of his Llenroc stock as indicative of this. The year in which a debt becomes worthless is a question of fact for this Court to determine. Redman v. Commissioner (C.A. 1, 1946), 155 F.2d 319; W. A. Dallmeyer, 14 T.C. 1282 (1950). Although Llenroc suffered a loss each year it was in operation, its financial statement of January 31, 1945, showed a deficit of $13,704.63 and a capital account of $20,000. Therefore, while a large part of the capital cushion was gone, it would still appear from the financial statement that petitioner's loan of $38,220 was not as yet worthless. It was not until the summer of 1945 that the mortgage was foreclosed and the following October that bankruptcy proceedings were begun. Up until the foreclosure, the parties still hoped that Llenroc would be successful. Considering all the facts, the debt was not worthless, as of January 31, 1945, and it was the events occurring during 1945 subsequent to January 31 which caused it to become so. Petitioner was correct, therefore, in claiming that 1945 was the year of worthlessness.
The last question to be resolved is whether petitioner suffered a business or a nonbusiness loss. Whether a taxpayer is entitled to a business deduction under section 23(k)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, or limited to a nonbusiness deduction under section 23(k)(4) is a question of fact. Regulations 111, section 29.b3(k)-6. Section 23(k)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that in the case of a nonbusiness bad debt, ‘the loss resulting therefrom shall be considered a loss from the sale or exchange, during the taxable year, of a capital asset held for not more than 6 months. ‘ Ordinarily a loss by an individual from a corporate investment is not considered a business loss, since the corporation and the individual are separate entities and the corporation, not the individual, carries on the business. However, where a person invests in a number of businesses and takes a part in their management over and above passively giving financial aid, it has been held that he is in the business of investing and personally participating in various ventures. Henry E. Sage, 15 T.C. 299 (1950); Vincent C. Campbell, 11 T.C. 510 (1948).
In the Sage case, the petitioner personally participated in a number of business ventures in which he had vested. We held that a loss suffered in one of the ventures was deductible as a business loss. The taxpayer was not a passive investor, nor was he concerned with only one venture. He was engaged in a number of activities and his assets were money plus personal services. The same issue present in that case is present in the one now before us. We feel that the Sage case is applicable. Petitioner was engaged in a number of business ventures, not only giving financial assistance, but also personally participating in the varied enterprises. As such, it was a part of his regular business.
We are cognizant of A. Kingsley Ferguson, 16 T.C. 1248, but feel it is distinguishable from the instant case on its facts. In that case, petitioner failed to prove that he expended time, money and effort sufficient to constitute a business of low-cost housing ventures. From all of the facts before us, this case, like the Sage case, indicates varied ventures for which petitioner did expend sufficient time, money and effort so as to constitute a business.
Under such circumstances we hold that petitioner may deduct the $38,220 as a bad debt for 1945 arising from a business in which he was regularly engaged.
Reviewed by the Court.
Decision will be entered under Rule 50.
KERN, J., dissents.
DISNEY, J., dissenting: The majority holds that the petitioner's debt of $38,220 from Llenroc was not a ‘non-business bad debt‘ within the language of section 23(k)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code— in other words, that it was incurred in the taxpayer's trade or business. I am unable to agree. In my opinion the concept of business has been here extended entirely too far. In Ralph C. Holmes, 37 B.T.A. 865, referring to Hutchings v. Burnet, 58 F.2d 514, we said ‘the phrase 'carrying on a trade or business' as used in the revenue statutes bears a more restricted meaning then the general definition of what constitutes business transactions.‘ Though perhaps in the broadest sense the petitioner's transactions here involved might be termed business matters, my view is that within the purview of the revenue statutes, particularly section 23(k)(4) of the code, the debt involved was not a business debt. Not every monetary transaction even though made with the intent to profit comes within the concept of business within the revenue acts. In Higgins v. Commissioner, 312 U.S. 212, we find: ‘As the Circuit Court of Appeals observed, all expenses of every business transaction are not deductible.‘
Section 23(k)(4) was added to the Internal Revenue Code by section 124 of the Revenue Act of 1942. The committee reports, both of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Committee on Finance, covering section 124 state with reference to the determination whether a debt is incurred in the trade or business: ‘ * * * the determination is substantially the same as that which is made for the purpose of ascertaining whether a loss from the type of transaction covered by section 23(e) is 'incurred in trade or business' under paragraph (1) of that section.‘ 1942-2 C.B. 573. It is clear I think that the concept of trade or business involved here is not different from that laid down in the Higgins case, supra; and it is equally clear that there a distinction is made between true business expenses and others in connection with a taxpayer's investments. It is my thought that Congress has never seen fit to broaden such concept of business as laid down in the Higgins case but that the instant case attempts so to do and to pull into the statutory idea of business matters which can be so denominated only by entertainment of a very broad and extra-statutory concept. Examination of the legislative history of this matter, in my view, clearly so indicates. As above stated, the statute originates in section 124 of the Revenue Act of 1942. Section 121 of the Revenue Act of 1942 is the basis for section 23(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code providing, for the first time, for the deduction of ‘non-trade or non-business expenses.‘ The Congressional committee reports, again of both House and Senate, covering section 121 (section 118 of the original House bill), emphasize the lack of any change in the concept of trade or business by pointing out that the amendments made allow deductions ‘whether or not such expenses are paid or incurred in carrying on a trade or business‘ and allowing deductions for exhaustion and wear and tear ‘whether or not such property is used by the taxpayer in a trade or business.‘ 1942-2 C.B. 570. Further indication that the essential concept of business was not altered, but that specific statutory additions, to the matter of deductions, were made, is the fact that section 23(e)— as above seen furnishing substantially the same test as for section 23(k)(1)— not only makes a sharp distinction between matters ‘incurred in trade or business‘ and those ‘entered into for profit though not connected with trade or business,‘ but was not amended by the Revenue Act of 1942 as were section 23(a) (by the addition of the non-trade or nonbusiness expenses) and section 23(k) (by the addition of subsection (4) here involved). Section 23(e) allows losses in two classes, that is, (1) in trade or business, and (2) in profit transactions, not trade-or-business connected. The lack of amendment in 1942 of section 23(e) at a time when both sections 23(a) and 23(k), as to deductions and bad debts, were being amended, appears clearly to indicate that the distinction between transactions in trade or business and profit transactions outside thereof, was being continued. The majority view in the instant case however, in my opinion, merely because the petitioner's loss of about $38,000 could not be said not to be in a profit transaction, throws it into ‘trade or business.‘ In the absence of a definite relation of the previous distinction between trade or business and other profit transactions outside of trade or business, I think the majority conclusion is unjustified. I note that the definition of a ‘non-business debt‘ in section 23(k)(4) ties the matter closely to losses and therefore to section 23(e), for the definition of ‘non-business debt‘ is, so far as here concerned, one that is other than a debt ‘the loss from the worthlessness of which is incurred in the taxpayer's trade or business.‘ In short, the definition in section 23(k)(4) particularly excludes mere profit-transaction losses from the category of business debts. Unless the loss from the debt here in question was incurred ‘in the taxpayer's trade or business‘—in the language of section 23(e)(1), it is not a business debt; that is to say, ‘non-business debt‘ in section 23(k)(4) includes those, loss from which is incurred in mere profit transactions not connected with trade, within section 23(e)(2). Surely, therefore, the lack of amendment of section 23(e)(2). Surely, therefore, the lack of amendment of section 23(e) indicates plainly that the ‘non-business debt,‘ newly provided in 1942 by section 23(k)(4), was not intended broadly to cover mere profit-transaction debts or anything beyond the previously established and unamended concept of ‘trade or business,‘ losses from which had been and continued to be allowed under section 23(e)(1). In the face of such treatment of this situation by Congress petitioner must perforce, and indeed contrary to clear Congressional intent, broaden the definition of trade or business in order to include the loss here involved. I strongly affirm that such treatment is not only not within the Congressional intent but is contrary to it. When Congress wished to add nonbusiness expense deductions, it did not broaden the previous concept of business but recognized it and added a new idea, section 23(a)(2); likewise, when it wished to alter the treatment of ‘non-business debts,‘ it did not enlarge the concept of business but its definition specifically limited ‘non-business debts‘ to those other than where the loss from worthlessness was incurred in trade or business, the exact expression used in section 23(e)(1). Anything else is left a nonbusiness debt— and the petitioner's debt here is found among the residue. Had Congress intended to extend the coverage to business debts and not to limit them carefully to those ‘incurred in trade or business‘ under previous statutory definition, it could easily have so stated. The careful reference, in the definition, to loss in trade or business, as expressed in section 23(e)(1), negatives the conclusion of the majority here. This thought is emphasized in the committee reports above referred to where, 1942-2 C.B. 573, it is stated that the character of the debt is to be determined by the relation which the loss bears to the trade or business of the taxpayer, requiring that relation to be ‘a proximate one in the conduct of the trade or business.‘ The language does not refer to loss resulting from ‘trade or business or transactions entered into for profit.‘ Yet this is the effect of the majority opinion. The definition of nonbusiness debts in section 23(k)(4) depends upon the ‘loss‘ which in turn must and does refer to section 23(e) because only there are losses allowed deduction. Thus we see that only a loss ‘incurred in the taxpayer's trade or business‘— the subject of section 23(e)(1)— is referred to, see that the concept of trade or business is not general, but special, and that only the preexisting concept was in mind, and see that general profit transactions outside of trade or business are specifically not covered. I think the majority opinion covers them into ‘trade or business.‘
I note also that the trade or business, proximate relation to which is required, must under the committee reports be one in which the taxpayer is engaged ‘at the time the debt becomes worthless.‘ Several examples are given, including one where a debt incurred because of a loan from A while he was in the grocery business became worthless after he had sold that business but retained the claim. The loss is not, the report holds, a proximate incident to the conduct of trade or business in which A was engaged at the time of worthlessness. Under this thought it was incumbent upon petitioner in the instant case to show the nature of his business at the time of the worthlessness of the debt. Though hesitating, because this is a fact question, to question the majority conclusion of fact, I must nevertheless point out that the evidence relied upon fails to indicate that the petitioner's business, at the time the debt became worthless, was such as to constitute trade or business even within the thought of Henry E. Sage, 15 T.C. 299, or Vincent C. Campbell, 11 T.C. 510, relied upon by the majority. The essence of those cases appears to be that if one is actively engaged in the affairs of a large number of transactions, corporate or otherwise, they may constitute his business. Thus in the Sage case there were numerous transactions and in the Campbell case petitioner was involved in the conduct of twelve corporations. Here the facts depended upon by the majority to constitute business are that petitioner had invested money in a number of enterprises, had investigated possibilities of many more, had purchased stock in small corporations and lent money or allowed his money to remain such ventures, had put his money in the enterprises and participated in their management as officer or director, or both. None of these elements can be considered because they are not shown to have existed in the taxable year, under the test suggested by the committee reports as above seen. The same is true of petitioner's taking part in the management and lending money to a garage in which he and his brother were partners. Nothing indicates whether this was true in the taxable year. Obviously, I think, his ownership of stock in A.M. & A., leaving earnings with that company, does not establish business. He was not a director or officer after the ‘early 1940's,‘ and even under the test of Commissioner v. People's-Pittsburgh Trust Co., 60 F.2d 187, the business of the corporation would not in 1945, the taxable year, be his business. I know of no case holding that merely being a general manager of a department store constitutes one's business. Moreover, his contract as manager terminated January 1, 1945. He had because of difficulties with A.M. & A. not, in fact, been general manager since April 1941 and had been engaged in litigation with the company since January 4, 1944. In addition petitioner was a stockholder and director of a bank and of Central Cleaning Plant. His ownership in Central is shown to have existed in the taxable year but neither of these companies can be relied upon to establish business because they merely required attendance at board meetings. Obviously he did not participate in the management of either one. Also, petitioner held 49 per cent of the stock of A.M. & A. Cleaning Corporation and was an officer and director and left some of his salary in the business, and spent several hours a day at the plant. However, the ‘business was sold in 1944 or 1945.‘ I therefore must eliminate it as a basis for petitioner's business in the taxable year 1945 for it may have been sold in 1944. Lastly, petitioner, subsequent to the year in question, became a stockholder, president, and manager of Oliver Gear Works. Such relationship after 1945 is obviously of no value to the petitioner's contention. The same is true of his present ownership and management of a building in Buffalo. Thus we find no showing that any of the alleged trades or businesses of the petitioner covered the taxable year 1945 except interest in Central Cleaning Plant, which required only attendance at board meetings and under no test of which I know could constitute petitioner's trade or business.
It should be noted, also, considering the reliance placed upon Henry E. Sage, supra, that it involved section 122(d)(5) and net operating loss deductions, and not section 23(k)(4). Moreover, section 122(d)(5) requires merely that the deduction be ‘attributable to‘ the operation of a trade or business regularly carried on and is not tied in with loss under section 23(e) as is section 23(k)(4). In Vincent C. Campbell, supra, petitioners had a practice as a part of their business to advance to or leave money on open accounts in twelve corporations in the organization, in the ownership and operation of which they had been engaged since 1929. I consider the case no support for the majority conclusion here in this one.
I would therefore conclude both on the facts and on the law that the debt from the worthlessness of which petitioner lost about $38,000 in 1945 was a ‘non-business debt‘ within the intendment of section 23(k)(4).
I therefore respectfully dissent.