Erburu v. Commissioner

Michael P. Erburu and Kathryn Erburu, Husband and Wife, Petitioners, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent

Erburu v. Commissioner

Docket No. 51137

United States Tax Court

23 T.C. 820; 1955 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 257;

January 31, 1955, Filed

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Decision will be entered under Rule 50.

On January 31, 1951, Transamerica Corporation made a distribution to its stockholders, of Bank of America stock. The stock so distributed had a cost equivalent of $ 1.072 per share and a fair market value as at the date of the distribution of $ 2.065 per share for each outstanding share of Transamerica stock. On such date Transamerica had no accumulated earnings or profits nor did it have any current earnings or profits during the year 1951. At all times pertinent, Transamerica had a deficit in excess of $ 100,000,000. Held, the fair market value of the property distributed is to be applied in reduction of the basis at which petitioners held their stock in Transamerica pursuant to section 115 (d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939.

George H. Koster, Esq., for the petitioners.

T. M. Mather, Esq., for the respondent.

Van Fossan, Judge. Opper, J., concurs in the result.

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VAN FOSSAN

Respondent determined a deficiency in income tax of petitioners for the year 1951 in the amount of $ 166.24. The sole question presented is whether any part of a property distribution made by a corporation to its stockholders in the year 1951, at the beginning of which year the corporation had no earnings or profits, during which year the corporation suffered an operating loss, and at the end of which year the corporation had no earnings or profits, is taxable in whole or in part to the recipients as either dividend income under section 115 (a) and (b) or some other form of income under section 22 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939.

FINDINGS OF FACT.

The stipulated facts are accordingly so found.

The petitioners are individuals residing at Ojai, California. The return for the period here involved was filed with the collector of internal revenue for the sixth district of California, in Los Angeles.

Throughout the year 1951 the petitioners were the owners of 389 shares of the capital stock of Transamerica Corporation (hereinafter called Transamerica), which is a Delaware corporation, incorporated in 1928, with principal office located at San Francisco, California. Its outstanding capital stock during the year 1951 consisted of 9,859,350 shares of common stock, of a par value of $ 2 per share.

On July 31, 1951, Transamerica made a cash distribution to its stockholders in the amount of 60 cents per share, which distribution has been acknowledged by the respondent to constitute a return of capital, and not dividend income. On January 31, 1951, Transamerica made a distribution to its stockholders of 788,748 shares of stock of the Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association, a national banking association (hereinafter called Bank of America), at the rate of 1 share of Bank of America stock for each 12 1/2 shares of Transamerica stock. The resolution of the board of directors of Transamerica adopted January 3, 1951, authorizing such distribution, is as follows:

Resolved, that out of the net assets of this Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends, a dividend in shares of common capital stock of Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association of the par value of $ 6.25 each (hereinafter called "Bank Stock") be, and it hereby is, declared on the outstanding $ 2.00 par value shares of the capital stock of this Corporation, in the ratio of one full share of Bank Stock for each twelve and one-half shares of $ 2.00 par value capital stock of this Corporation, the said dividend to be payable January 31, 1951, to stockholders of record at the close of business January 13, 1951, and to be in lieu of and in substitution for the regular semi-annual cash dividend of fifty cents (50 cents) a share.

The fair market value of the Bank of America stock on the date of the foregoing distribution was $ 25.8125 per share.

The distribution of the Bank of America stock represented in value a distribution of $ 2.065 per share on each share of Transamerica stock. The 788,748 shares of Bank of America stock distributed by Transamerica had a cost in the hands of Transamerica of $ 10,569,568.33, which cost is equivalent to $ 1.072 per share for each outstanding share of Transamerica capital stock. The fair market value of such shares of stock on the date of distribution was $ 20,359,557.75, which amount is equivalent to $ 2.065 per share for each outstanding share of Transamerica capital stock. The excess of the market value over the cost in the amount of $ 9,789,989.42 is equivalent to $ 0.993 per share for each outstanding share of the capital stock of Transamerica.

At the end of the year 1950 and the beginning of the year 1951, Transamerica not only had no accumulated earnings or profits, but had a deficit in excess of $ 100,000,000. During the year 1951 Transamerica not only had no earnings or profits, but suffered a loss from operations. At the end of the year 1951 Transamerica not only had no accumulated earnings or profits, but had a deficit in excess of $ 100,000,000. During the year 1951 the petitioners received distributions from Transamerica as follows:

(1) Cash at $ 0.60 per share, or	$ 233.40
(2) 31 3/25 shares of Bank of America National Trust and Savings
Association stock at fair market value of $ 25.8125 per share
for said stock	803.29
Total distributions received	$ 1,036.69

The respondent has determined that $ 386.28 of the foregoing distribution represents a taxable dividend. This amount so treated as taxable dividend is the equivalent of $ 0.993 per share of the 389 shares of Transamerica stock owned by the petitioners. In making his determination, respondent has determined that the distribution is taxable to the stockholders to the extent of the excess of the fair market value of the Bank of America stock distributed by Transamerica over the latter's cost thereof.

Petitioners' cost of the 389 shares of Transamerica stock exceeds the amount of the distributions received by the petitioners in the year 1951.

OPINION.

The specific question is whether, under the circumstances of this case, petitioners received a taxable dividend upon the distribution to them of Bank of America stock by Transamerica, in which corporation they were stockholders.

On January 31, 1951, Transamerica made a distribution to its stockholders of Bank of America stock. The stock so distributed had a cost equivalent of $ 1.072 per share and a fair market value, as at the date of distribution, of $ 2.065 per share for each outstanding share of Transamerica capital stock. On such date, Transamerica had no accumulated earnings or profits, nor did it have any current earnings or profits during the year 1951. At all times pertinent, Transamerica had a deficit in excess of $ 100,000,000.

Respondent has determined that the foregoing distribution represents a taxable dividend to the extent of the excess of the fair market value of the stock distributed over and above Transamerica's cost thereof. Respondent thus takes the position, on brief, that the cost of the Bank of America stock in the amount of $ 1.072 per share represents a distribution under section 115 (d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939, ^{Commissioner v. Hirshon Trust, (C. A. 2, May 17, 1954) 213 F. 2d 523, reversing a Memorandum Opinion of this Court, certiorari denied 348 U.S. 861">348 U.S. 861 (October 25, 1954), and Commissioner v. Godley's Estate, (C. A. 3, May 28, 1954) 213 F.2d 529">213 F. 2d 529, reversing 19 T. C. 1082, certiorari denied 348 U.S. 862">348 U.S. 862 (October 25, 1954).}

Both the Hirshon and Godley cases arose from the same factual situation. That is to say, the taxpayers in both cases were stockholders in the same corporation and were the distributees of the stock of another corporation in the same corporate distribution. At the time of the distribution in kind, the fair market value of the property distributed exceeded its cost to the distributing corporation. Such appreciated value also exceeded the corporation's earnings or profits available for dividends when considered apart therefrom. The earnings or profits were, however, sufficient to cover the cost basis of the property to the corporation.

In the Godley case before this Court the argument was advanced by respondent that statutory earnings or profits covered the cost or adjusted basis of the property distributed; that, therefore, the distribution in kind was "out of earnings or profits" under section 115 (a) of the 1939 Code ^{*267 and backed by earnings or profits "to the extent" of cost or adjusted basis under section 115 (b); section 115 (a) and (b), supra, the argument went, the distribution in kind was then taxable to the distributees to the extent of the full fair market value of the property received by operation of section 115 (j). *266 rejected this argument and took the view that the fair market value of the distributed property was taxable as a dividend to the extent of the earnings or profits of the distributing corporation, without increase as a result of the appreciation in value over the cost of the distributed property; that to the extent the earnings or profits were insufficient to cover a charge equal to the fair market value of the distribution, the taxpayer had received a distribution in excess of earnings or profits; and that the amount of such excess was to be applied in reduction of the basis at which the taxpayers held their stock in the distributing corporation with any excess over such basis being taxable as a capital gain under section 115 (d), supra. The Memorandum Opinion filed in the Hirshon case shortly thereafter was based thereupon and was to the same effect.}

On appeal of the Godley case, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed, sustaining respondent's argument and saying, in part:

Section 115 (a) and (b) define a dividend. For purposes of characterizing a distribution as a dividend vel non, i. e., whether it is out of earnings or profits, the sole relevant test is from the standpoint of the distributing corporation and from that standpoint fair market value is immaterial. The amount of a distribution, once it is determined that the distribution is a dividend, is governed by 115 (j) and is measured solely from the standpoint of the distributees and with reference to fair market value, and for that purpose the earnings or profits of the corporation are immaterial. * * *

In Commissioner v. Hirshon Trust, supra, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reached the same result upon the same theory.

Without pausing to discuss the position taken by this Court and that taken by the Courts of Appeals in reversing, we would point up the reason why, in our opinion, the theory employed by those courts cannot, in any event, be extended to reach the conclusion advocated by respondent in the instant case.

Here, the distributing corporation had no earnings or profits, either current or accumulated, but had a substantial deficit. Nor would the appreciation in value of the property distributed, even if it were realized and taken into account, serve to allay such deficit. There being no earnings or profits available at the time the distribution in controversy was made, no part thereof could be characterized as a dividend. Respondent recognizes this fact and would not tax the distribution to the extent of the historical cost. But, respondent contends that, regardless of whether the distributing corporation has earnings or profits or a deficit, the test for determining the taxability of a distribution thereby to the distributees, as applied by the Courts of Appeals in Godley and Hirshon remains the same, i. e., whether such distribution impaired the capital thereof. Therefore, inasmuch as there is no showing here that the distribution in question to the extent of the appreciation in value of the property distributed impaired the capital of Transamerica, respondent seeks to tax such increment of appreciation to petitioners as ordinary income.

In our opinion, respondent's theory does not withstand analysis. The reasoning applied by the Courts of Appeals is grounded upon the premise that the distribution be first classified as a dividend under section 115 (a) and (b). As previously pointed out, respondent recognized that the distribution with which we are concerned could not be so characterized from the standpoint of the distributing corporation. If this be true, by what process could such a distribution become partly dividend when received by the stockholders? It is only by applying a different standard for determining the status of the distribution in the hands of the stockholders from that which section 115 requires be applied thereto in the hands of the corporation that respondent has a case. While Congress undoubtedly could have enacted a double standard, it has not, in our opinion, done so. Cf. Commissioner v. Hirshon Trust, supra.

Respondent's argument is based upon certain language of the Court of Appeals in the Hirshon case to the effect that the appreciated value of the property there distributed was not, nor was it required to be, out of the earnings or profits of the distributing corporation, but was simply a distribution of that appreciation which was not a part of that corporation's earnings or profits, or of its capital. When read in context, however, such language does not convey the meaning ascribed to it by respondent. The court was there addressing itself to the application of section 115 (j), supra, for valuation of the distribution after the nature thereof had been previously determined. Section 115 (j), by its own wording, requires as a prerequisite to its application that a distribution first qualify as a dividend. This, the distribution in the instant case fails to do.

Nor is the increment of appreciation in value of the stock distributed by Transamerica taxable to petitioners as "other income" under the provisions of section 22 (a) of the 1939 Code. ^{Estate of Ida S. Godley, 19 T.C. 1082">19 T. C. 1082, and the views expressed therein at page 1092, to which views we adhere.}

We, therefore, hold that the distribution involved is taxable to the petitioners pursuant to the provisions of section 115 (d), supra, and, in accordance therewith, the fair market value of the property distributed will be applied first in reduction of the basis at which petitioners hold their stock in Transamerica with any excess being taxable as a capital gain. Inasmuch as it is stipulated that petitioners' basis for the Transamerica stock shares held by them is in excess of the amount of distributions received by petitioners therefrom during 1951, no part of the distribution in kind is representative of taxable income to petitioners.

Decision will be entered under Rule 50.

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Footnotes

• 1. SEC. 115. DISTRIBUTIONS BY CORPORATIONS.

  (d) Other Distributions From Capital. -- If any distribution made by a corporation to its shareholders is not out of increase in value of property accrued before March 1, 1913, and is not a dividend, then the amount of such distribution shall be applied against and reduce the adjusted basis of the stock provided in section 113, and if in excess of such basis, such excess shall be taxable in the same manner as a gain from the sale or exchange of property. * * *↩

• 2. SEC. 115. DISTRIBUTIONS BY CORPORATIONS.

  (a) Definition of Dividend. -- The term "dividend" when used in this chapter * * * means any distribution made by a corporation to its shareholders, whether in money or in other property, (1) out of its earnings or profits accumulated after February 28, 1913, or (2) out of the earnings or profits of the taxable year (computed as of the close of the taxable year without diminution by reason of any distributions made during the taxable year), without regard to the amount of the earnings and profits at the time the distribution was made. * * *↩

• 3. (b) Source of Distributions. -- For the purposes of this chapter every distribution is made out of earnings or profits to the extent thereof, and from the most recently accumulated earnings or profits. * * *↩

• 4. (j) Valuation of Dividend. -- If the whole or any part of a dividend is paid to a shareholder in any medium other than money the property received other than money shall be included in gross income at its fair market value at the time as of which it becomes income to the shareholder.↩

• 5. SEC. 22. GROSS INCOME.

  (a) General Definition. -- "Gross income" includes gains, profits, and income derived from * * * dividends, * * * or gains or profits and income derived from any source whatever. * * *↩