Becken v. Commissioner , 5 T.C. 498 ( 1945 )

Albert C. Becken, Jr., Petitioner, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent

Becken v. Commissioner

Docket No. 4600

United States Tax Court

5 T.C. 498; 1945 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 115;

July 27, 1945, Promulgated

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Decision will be entered under Rule 50.

1. The sum of $ 17,000 received by petitioner in a compromise settlement of a suit for specific performance of a contract to deliver $ 40,000 of stock in a corporation, the alleged right to which rested in an employment contract including an agreement by petitioner not to compete for a period of five years, held, taxable as ordinary income and not as capital gain.

2. Where taxpayer in taxable year began operating as an individual in the wholesale jewelry trade, keeping his books on an accrual basis, and set up a reserve at end of year to cover contingent cash discounts, definitely accrued volume or trade discount, and bad debts, upon proof of the exact amount of the volume discount and of the amount allocated to bad debts and the reasonableness thereof, held, that the volume discount is deductible in computing gross sales for the year, that the amount of the bad debts reserve is deductible, and that the cash discounts reserve is not deductible.

Samuel H. Horne, Esq., for the petitioner.

Carroll Walker, Esq., for the respondent.

Arundell, Judge.

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ARUNDELL

This proceeding, arising out of a deficiency determined by respondent in the amount of $ 4,955.48 in petitioner's income tax for the calendar year 1941, presents the following issues: (1) Was the sum of $ 17,000 received by petitioner in a compromise settlement of a suit for specific performance taxable as a long term capital gain or as ordinary income? A further question on this issue is whether, if the transaction is to be treated as a sale or exchange of a capital asset, petitioner had a basis of $ 40,000, with the result that he sustained a capital loss of $ 23,000. (2) Was petitioner entitled to a deduction from gross income for a reserve account set up to cover volume and sales discounts and bad debts?

FINDINGS OF FACT.

Issue I.

Petitioner is a resident of Glencoe, Illinois, and his income tax return for the calendar year 1941 was filed with the collector for the first district of Illinois.

Prior to 1932 petitioner was president, chairman of the board, and principal stockholder of a wholesale jewelry firm, A. C. Becken Co., which company was adjudicated bankrupt in June 1932. Petitioner was well known in the wholesale jewelry field and had a very large personal following in the industry.

About the middle of June 1932, one James W. Clark, who was engaged in the wholesale-retail jewelry business, entered into negotiations with petitioner to employ petitioner as vice president of a new corporation he planned to organize if he were able to purchase the assets of the bankrupt A. C. Becken Co. from the trustee in bankruptcy. Clark submitted to petitioner a written offer dated June 17, 1932, and on June 20, 1932, petitioner accepted the offer in writing. That contract, after preliminary recitals, provides in material part as follows:

(1) In the event the undersigned purchases the assets of said A. C. Becken Company from said Fred E. Hummel, Trustee in bankruptcy, as hereinafter provided, he shall cause to be formed a corporation for the purpose of continuing the business of said A. C. Becken Company, and shall cause A. C. Becken, Jr., to be elected as Vice President thereof at a salary of $ 500.00 per month.

(2) In the event the undersigned purchases said assets of said A. C. Becken Company from said Fred E. Hummel, Trustee, and is required to pay therefor a sum amounting to $ 275,000.00, or more, but not in excess of $ 300,000.00; he shall, within one week after said purchase, pay to A. C. Becken, Jr. the sum of $ 20,000.00 in cash. In the event the undersigned is compelled to pay more than $ 300,000.00 for said assets, then the undersigned shall only pay to A. C. Becken, Jr. a bonus amounting to $ 20,000.00, less one-half of the amount of money in excess of $ 300,000.00 that the undersigned is compelled to pay on such purchase. If, however, the undersigned is required to pay less than $ 275,000.00 on said purchase, said bonus to be paid to A. C. Becken, Jr. shall be increased by one-half of the amount of money less than $ 275,000.00 that the undersigned is required to pay on said purchase. In addition to the above cash bonus, the undersigned shall also cause to be issued to A. C. Becken, Jr. upon the formation of said corporation, capital stock of the company representing $ 40,000.00. In no event shall said A. C. Becken, Jr. receive less than $ 10,000.00 in cash and $ 40,000.00 in capital stock. The basis of the capitalization shall be the inventory value of the assets purchased at the sale plus any additional assets conveyed to the corporation.

(3) A. C. Becken, Jr. shall devote his entire time and attention in and about the operation of the business of said corporation to be formed. The said A. C. Becken, Jr. shall be allowed a vacation of one month with salary. If, however, it is necessary for him to take a further leave of absence because of ill health, he shall be permitted to take such additional time as his health may require, and in that event, such additional absence shall be without any salary.

(4) The undersigned shall also cause said A. C. Becken, Jr. to be elected a director of the corporation.

(5) A. C. Becken, Jr., shall not in anywise for the period of five (5) years from and after the date of said incorporation, directly or indirectly engage in any competing business under any name containing "Becken" or "Becken Company", and said A. C. Becken, Jr. shall not for the period of five (5) years from and after the date of the organization of said newly formed corporation, become directly or indirectly connected with or interested in any catalogue jewelry house without the consent of the undersigned.

(6) The undersigned shall cause said new corporation to be organized within a reasonable time from and after the purchase of said assets, and shall cause said stock to be issued to said A. C. Becken, Jr. upon the formation of said corporation.

Pursuant to the contract Clark acquired the assets of the bankrupt corporation, inventoried between $ 600,000 and $ 700,000, paying therefor $ 475,000. In July 1932 the new corporation was organized by Clark under the name of "A. C. Becken Co.," and it acquired the assets formerly owned by the old corporation. Petitioner went to work for the new corporation, devoting his entire time and attention to the operation of the business. He worked on the sales end of the business, made arrangements with salesmen, and checked over a new catalogue mailing list. Beginning in July 1932, he received a salary of $ 500 per month. The minimum cash bonus of $ 10,000 provided for in the contract was paid to him, but the capital stock of the A. C. Becken Co. was never delivered to him, although he asked Clark for it in July, August, and September of 1932. Petitioner terminated his association with the new corporation early in October of 1932.

During the five-year period following July 1932, petitioner did not directly or indirectly engage in any competing business under any name containing "Becken" or "Becken Company," nor did he become directly or indirectly connected with or interested in any catalogue jewelry house.

In 1937, Clark having died in the meantime, petitioner brought suit in the Superior Court of Cook County, Illinois, against the executor of the estate of Clark for specific performance of the contract, alleging that he had performed on his part and, among other things, asking to have transferred and delivered to him the $ 40,000 of capital stock of the A. C. Becken Co., with dividends thereon. The executor filed an answer denying generally the material allegations in the complaint and alleging that petitioner did not do anything to entitle him to the salary of $ 500 per month, that he was a faithless and disloyal employee, that he abandoned his employment, and that his claim, if any, was barred by laches. A master was appointed to hear the evidence and make findings of fact and conclusions of law. In his report the master found that petitioner was entitled to the minimum of $ 10,000 mentioned in the contract and also to $ 40,000 in capital stock of A. C. Becken Co. The Superior Court, however, did not adopt the master's report, but on January 9, 1941, entered a decree dismissing the complaint for want of equity. An appeal was taken to the Appellate Court of Illinois, and while it was pending the parties to the suit executed a settlement whereby petitioner was paid $ 17,000 and a stipulation was entered into dismissing the appeal.

In schedule F of his income tax return for 1941 petitioner reported the receipt of $ 17,000 by way of settlement of the suit for specific performance, stating that he had acquired the right in June 1932, under the contract with Clark, to $ 40,000 of capital stock in the A. C. Becken Co. He made no attempt to compute a basis for the right, but reported the full amount of $ 17,000 as gain on the disposition thereof. Fifty percent, or $ 8,500, was taken into account in computing the net income.

Respondent, in his notice of deficiency, determined that the $ 17,000 constituted ordinary income and increased petitioner's taxable net income by $ 8,500.

Issue II.

In 1941, beginning February 1, petitioner was operating as an individual in the wholesale jewelry business. His books were kept on an accrual basis.

In the jewelry trade the business is seasonal, the largest peak occurring at Christmas time, with a minor peak in May and June. Wholesalers usually spread their sales and shipments over the year. I is traditional in the industry to have two settlement periods for the retailers following the seasonal peaks -- one in July, for the first six months of the year, and the other in the following January, for the last six months of the preceding year. Settlements in these months were customarily subject to 2 percent cash discount. Besides the cash discounts, petitioner had one customer, Ferrell Jewelry Co., to which he allowed a quantity or volume discount of 10 percent, based on the volume of purchases from petitioner, and three or four other customers to whom he allowed volume discounts of 5 percent. Volume discounts were allowed irrespective of seasonal settlements and were contingent only upon the customers' having purchased a certain quantity of goods during the year. On December 31, 1941, the Ferrell Jewelry Co. owed petitioner $ 8,926.11 for purchases made during the preceding six months and was then absolutely entitled to the 10 percent volume discount of $ 892.61. The Ferrell account, less the volume discount to which it was entitled, was actually settled on January 15, 1942, for cash and notes.

At the end of 1941 petitioner's accounts receivable totaled $ 73,453.92. At that time petitioner set up on his books a reserve in the amount of $ 2,887 under the heading "Discount and Bad Debts Account Reserve." The components of the reserve account were determined by taking first the discount of $ 892.61 due the Ferrell Co. and adding thereto 2 percent (or $ 1,330.59) of the accounts receivable, exclusive of the Ferrell account, for anticipated cash discounts, and 1 percent thereof (or $ 664.80) for bad debts. Discounts actually allowed in January of 1942 and charged against the reserve account amounted to $ 1,517.90. That figure included the volume discount of $ 892.61 allowed to the Ferrell Co. With respect to accounts receivable at the end of 1941, $ 1,000.61 was subsequently charged off as bad debts against the reserve account. Bad debt losses in the business vary with conditions. At present they are nominal. In 1931 they ran as high as 25 percent of accounts receivable.

In petitioner's return for 1941, schedule H, sales were reported in the amount of $ 163,122.33, less $ 1,935.21 representing discounts actually allowed in July on sales for the first six months of the year. In the same schedule a deduction was taken for "general expense" in the amount of $ 6,205.07. That amount included the $ 2,887 "Discount and Bad Debts Account Reserve."

After obtaining permission from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, petitioner filed a return for the one month of January 1942, and thereafter filed his returns on the basis of a fiscal year ending January 31. Petitioner has subsequently maintained a reserve for bad debts and charges bad debts to such reserve, but on the fiscal year basis a reserve for discounts is not needed.

OPINION.

Issue I.

Petitioner contends that the $ 17,000 he received from the executor of Clark's estate in 1941, in compromising the suit for specific performance, was the result of a sale or exchange of a capital asset which he "constructively" received in 1932, namely, $ 40,000 of capital stock in the A. C. Becken Co. In his return for 1941 he treated the $ 17,000 as a capital gain, making no attempt to compute a basis for his "asset." He now takes the position, however, that he made an overpayment, on the theory that his basis was $ 40,000 and that in reality he sustained a capital loss of $ 23,000. He argues that, even if his basis is zero, the sum of $ 17,000 is to be treated only as a capital gain, subject to the restrictions of section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code. ^{section 22 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code. His contention is that whatever right petitioner had stems from an employment contract, and that payments received in compromise settlement of such contracts constitute ordinary income.}

We can not agree with petitioner's contention that he constructively received $ 40,000 in capital stock in 1932. The "doctrine of constructive receipt is one to be applied sparingly. It is only in unique circumstances and a clear case that the invoking of this doctrine will be approved." Hal E. Roach, 20 B. T. A. 919, 924. Petitioner did not report the receipt of the stock in his return for 1932 or for any other later year prior to 1941. The doctrine of constructive receipt may not be invoked to have income placed in a year where, because of the statute of limitations, the tax thereon may not be collected. Alice H. Moran, Executrix, 26 B. T. A. 1154; affd., 67 Fed. (2d) 601. In that case we said, at page 1157:

* * * The doctrine of constructive receipt at most is a conceptual device whose "primary function is to bring about a fair and reasonable application of income tax. * * *"

Cf. J. O. W. Gravely, 29 B. T. A. 29; Raleigh v. United States, 5 Fed. Supp. 622.

Petitioner apparently treats his alleged right to the $ 40,000 of capital stock as resting in a contract separate and apart from the agreement whereby Clark undertook to employ him. We do not think that is proper. The agreement to issue the stock forms an integral part of the entire contract. It is no more severable from petitioner's obligations in item three to "devote his entire time and attention in and about the operation of the business" and in item five not "in anywise for the period of five (5) years * * * directly or indirectly [to] engage in any competing business under any name containing 'Becken' or 'Becken Company,'" etc., than is the agreement in item two that petitioner should have a minimum cash bonus of $ 10,000. Just as in the case of the $ 10,000 cash bonus, the agreement to issue the stock is attributable to petitioner's undertaking to work for the new corporation, or to his undertaking not to compete for a period of five years, or both. If it is attributable to the agreement to work, the value of the stock when received would be ordinary income, Walter P. Coleman, 8 B. T. A. 1126; and if it is attributable to the agreement not to compete, the value when received would still be ordinary income, Beals' Estate v. Commissioner, 82 Fed. (2d) 268, affirming 31 B. T. A. 966. Certainly the result is not different if the right to the stock is attributable to both.

We can not say that petitioner ever "owned" a capital asset of which he could dispose. The only judicial determination of which there is evidence in the record, as to his right to the stock, was against him. Be that as it may, however, if the stock, when and if acquired, represented compensation either for services or for an agreement not to compete, then upon the principle of Lyeth v. Hoey, 305 U.S. 188">305 U.S. 188, and Margery K. Megargel, 3 T. C. 238 (on which petitioner most strongly relies), and other similar cases, that the "nature and basis of the action [here the specific performance suit] show the nature and character of the consideration received upon compromise," the sum of $ 17,000 stands upon the same footing as ordinary income.

In the Megargel case Mrs. Megargel actually owned stock, acquired from her husband in part payment of loans she made to him. She was induced by fraudulent representations to transfer that stock to another. Later, she sued to have the transfer annulled and the stock returned to her, or, if it could not be returned, to have payment for the present value thereof. The litigation was compromised, and the defendant in the action paid to Mrs. Megargel a cash settlement. It was held that the amount received was upon the sale of a capital asset; that the taxpayer, because of fraud, had parted with capital; that she sued to recover it; and that, having by compromise recovered the cash equivalent of the stock from which she had parted, she made a recovery of capital. We do not understand how that holding lends any support to petitioner's position here. Here, petitioner did not "own" a capital asset from which he was induced to part by fraudulent representations.

In view of our conclusion that the compromise settlement and the payment of $ 17,000 did not constitute a capital transaction, it is unnecessary for us to consider petitioner's contention with respect to his "basis." We think respondent has properly treated the entire sum of $ 17,000 as ordinary income.

Issue II.

The question here is whether petitioner is entitled to a deduction of all or any part of the $ 2,887 "Discount and Bad Debt Reserve."

We have found as a fact that $ 892.61 of that sum was for a volume, quantity, or trade discount, definitely ascertained as due the Ferrell Jewelry Co. at the end of the taxable year and not contingent upon payment at any particular time. It was in no sense a contingent liability as of December 31, 1941. Since it was a liability definitely incurred during the taxable year, and since petitioner's books were kept on an accrual basis, he was entitled to accrue that sum. I. T. 1272, I-1 Cumulative Bulletin 123, 124 (1922). ^{section 43 of the code, deductions are to be taken for the taxable year in which "paid or accrued," or "paid or incurred." The fact that the item was improperly termed a reserve on petitioner's books does not prevent its deductibility if it was properly accrued. Rogers, Brown & Crocker Bros., Inc., 32 B. T. A. 307. Petitioner is therefore entitled to a deduction of the amount of $ 892.61 in the computation of gross sales for the taxable year. American Lace Mfg. Co., 8 B. T. A. 419.}

There is no evidence in the record as to the amounts of the 5 percent volume or trade discounts which petitioner testified were owing to three or four customers at the end of 1941, and we are, therefore, unable to make any allowance for those discounts.

As for the 2 percent cash discounts, it is clear that they were, as of the end of the taxable year, contingent liabilities; and it is now well settled law that reserves for such liabilities are not allowable deductions. American Cigar Co., 21 B. T. A. 464. Cf. Lucas v. American Code Co., 280 U.S. 445">280 U.S. 445. No allowance may be made, therefore, for the cash discounts.

Finally, we have found that of the $ 2,887, the sum of $ 664.80 was allocated for bad debts reserve. There is express statutory provision for the deductibility of reasonable additions to reserves for bad debts, ^{*506 regulations. *133 here was the first in which petitioner was operating as an individual in the jewelry business. We think, therefore, that he is to be treated as a new taxpayer filing a first return of income, within the meaning of section 19.23 (k)-1. Section 19.23 (k)-5 of the regulations provides that a taxpayer who adopts the reserve method of treating bad debts may deduct from gross income a reasonable addition to a bad debt reserve.}

The burden, of course, was on petitioner to prove the reasonableness of the amount allocated to a bad debts reserve, but the findings, we think, amply demonstrate that petitioner has discharged that burden. The amount of $ 664.80 was roughly 1 percent of the accounts receivable at the end of the taxable year, exclusive of the Ferrell account. It has been said that "the correctness of the taxpayer's estimate in fixing the amount to be added to the reserve in any year may be supported by reference to the losses actually incurred in subsequent years * * *." Farmville Oil & Fertilizer Co. v. Commissioner, 78 Fed. (2d) 83. The evidence here shows that in 1942 $ 1,000.61 was actually charged to the reserve account in respect of accounts receivable on December 31, 1941. Surely, under all the circumstances here, it can not be said that petitioner's estimate of $ 664.80 was not a reasonable one.

We conclude, therefore, that petitioner is entitled to a deduction of $ 892.61 for the Ferrell trade discount and to a deduction of $ 664.80 for bad debts reserve, but not to a deduction of any amount for cash discounts.

Decision will be entered under Rule 50.

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Footnotes

• 1. SEC. 117. CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES

  (a) Definitions. -- As used in this chapter --

  (1) Capital assets. -- The term "capital assets" means property held by the taxpayer (whether or not connected with his trade or business), but does not include stock in trade of the taxpayer or other property of a kind which would properly be included in the inventory of the taxpayer if on hand at the close of the taxable year, or property held by the taxpayer primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of his trade or business, or property, used in the trade or business, of a character which is subject to the allowance for depreciation provided in section 23 (l) * * *

  * * * *

  (4) Long-term capital gain. -- The term "long-term capital gain" means gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than 18 months, if and to the extent such gain is taken into account in computing net income.↩

• 2. There must be an actual liability incurred before an amount may be accrued. Where a liability has actually been incurred and is uncertain only in the actual amount necessary to discharge it and the actual date at which it must be discharged, and amount representing a reasonable estimate of such actual liability incurred may be set up as an accrual and will constitute an allowable deduction for Federal income tax purposes for the taxable year in which such liability was actually incurred. * * *. Where a liability is not to be incurred until the happening of some contingency, such contingency must happen before there is, of course, a liability actually incurred, and prior to such time no amounts can properly be accrued in respect thereof for income tax purposes.↩

• 3. SEC. 23. DEDUCTIONS FROM GROSS INCOME.

  In computing net income there shall be allowed as deductions:

  * * * *

  (k) Bad Debts. --

  (1) General rule. -- Debts which become worthless within the taxable year; or (in the discretion of the Commissioner) a reasonable addition to a reserve for bad debts; * * *↩

• 4. Sec. 19.23 (k)-1. Bad debts. -- (a) Bad debts may be treated in either of two ways --

  (1) By a deduction from income in respect of debts ascertained to be worthless in whole or in part, or

  (2) By a deduction from income of an addition to a reserve for bad debts.

  Taxpayers were given an option for 1921 to select either of the methods mentioned for treating such debts. (See article 151, Regulations 62.) The method used in the return for 1921 must be used in returns for all subsequent years unless permission is granted by the Commissioner to change to the other method. A taxpayer filing a first return of income may select either of the two methods, subject to approval by the Commissioner upon examination of the return. If the method selected is approved, it must be followed in returns for subsequent years, except as permission may be granted by the Commissioner to change to another method. Application for permission to change the method of treating bad debts shall be made at least 30 days prior to the close of the taxable year for which the change is to be effective. (See also section 19.23 (k)-5.)

  * * * *

  Sec. 19.23 (k)-5. Reserve for bad debts. -- Taxpayers who have established the reserve method of treating bad debts and maintained proper reserve accounts for bad debts, or who, in accordance with section 19.23 (k)-1, adopt the reserve method of treating bad debts, may deduct from gross income a reasonable addition to a reserve for bad debts in lieu of a deduction for specific bad debt items.

  What constitutes a reasonable addition to a reserve for bad debts must be determined in the light of the facts, and will vary as between classes of business and with conditions of business prosperity. It will depend primarily upon the total amount of debts outstandiny as of the close of the taxable year, those arising currently as well as those arising in prior taxable years, and the total amount of the existing reserve. In case subsequent realizations upon outstanding debts prove to be more or less than estimated at the time of the creation of the existing reserve, the amount of the excess or inadequacy in the existing reserve should be reflected in the determination of the reasonable addition necessary in the taxable year. A taxpayer using the reserve method should make a statement in his return showing the volume of his charge sales (or other business transaction) for the year and the percentage of the reserve to such amount, the total amount of notes and accounts receivable at the beginning and close of the taxable year, and the amount of the debts which have been ascertained to be wholly or partially worthless and charged against the reserve account during the taxable year.↩