Ailloni-Charas v. Commissioner

1988 T.C. Memo. 83, 55 T.C.M. 252, 1988 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 111
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedFebruary 29, 1988
DocketDocket Nos. 6167-84, 39343-84.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1988 T.C. Memo. 83 (Ailloni-Charas v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ailloni-Charas v. Commissioner, 1988 T.C. Memo. 83, 55 T.C.M. 252, 1988 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 111 (tax 1988).

Opinion

DAN and MIRIAM AILLONI-CHARAS, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Ailloni-Charas v. Commissioner
Docket Nos. 6167-84, 39343-84.1
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1988-83; 1988 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 111; 55 T.C.M. (CCH) 252; T.C.M. (RIA) 88083;
February 29, 1988.
Dan Ailloni-Charas, pro se.
Dennis Bresnan, for the respondent.

WRIGHT

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

WRIGHT, Judge: By separate notices of deficiency dated January 13, 1984 and October 15, 1984, respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' Federal income taxes as follows:

Taxable YearAmount of Deficiency
1975$ 9,869
19761,823  
1977363    
19781,030  

The issues for decision are (1) whether petitioners are entitled to an investment tax credit and deductions for depreciation and expenses*113 for their distributive share of loss taken with respect to their investment in Sci-Fi Pictures Company, a partnership formed to purchase and commercially exploit the film "Solaris," and (2) whether, with respect to taxable years 1975 and 1976, petitioners are liable for additional interest under section 6621(c). 2

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. The only testimony at trial was expert opinion testimony.

Petitioners Dan and Miriam Ailloni-Charas resided in Rye Brook, New York, at the time of filing the joint petition. Petitioners used the cash basis method of accounting. Miriam Ailloni-Charas is a petitioner solely by filing a joint return*114 with her husband, Dan Ailloni-Charas. All references to petitioner, singularly, will be to Dan Ailloni-Charas.

During the years in issue, petitioner was the president of Stratmar Research Corporation (Stratmar), a marketing consulting business. Petitioner hold a Ph.D. in management science from the Graduate School of Business at New York University. Petitioner first learned about the partnership, Sci-Fi Pictures Company (Sci-Fi), from his accountants, the firm of Auerbach, Buck and Company (Auerbach, Buck). He had never before invested in a motion picture, nor has he done so since making the investment in Sci-Fi.

Petitioner received a "Confidential Internal Memorandum" (the memorandum) prepared and circulated by Sci-Fi to solicit and advise prospective limited partners. The memorandum advised that Sci-Fi, a partnership organized and operated under New York law, was formed for the purpose of acquiring and commercially exploiting a motion picture film called "Solaris" (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the film).

The memorandum stated that limited partnership interests would be available for subscription payments in the amount of $ 57,500 per interest, with at least 25*115 percent due simultaneously with the execution of the Partnership Agreement (the Agreement). The partnership sought total capital contributions in the amount of $ 1,855,000. 3 The general partner was to contribute $ 15,000 while the limited partners were expected to contribute an aggregate sum of $ 1,840,000. The film would be purchased for a price of $ 1,650,000. The memorandum did not contain an appraisal of the film. The Agreement provided that the profits would be distributed among the partners pursuant to a formula which divided 97.5 percent of the profits among the limited partners, according to their respective capital accounts and which allocated the remaining 2.5 percent of the profits to the general partner. Losses were to be allocated on a formula which granted 99 percent of the loss to the limited partners and 1 percent of the loss to the general partner until such time as net profits were earned. The memorandum provided that the general partner would receive a management fee of 12 percent of all income from the film's exploitation.

*116 Most of the discussion set forth in the memorandum concerned the tax consequences which would result from the investment in Sci-Fi. It was anticipated that depreciation, which would be computed under the income forecast method, would give rise to estimated total depreciation deductions, if there was no offsetting income, in the amounts of $ 942,000 in the first year, $ 157,000 in the second year, and $ 78,500 for each of the next three years. The balance was to be written off in the sixth and final year. The memorandum stated that the investment tax credit would be available with respect to the film, generating an initial deduction in the amount of $ 165,000 for the first year of distribution. 4 The memorandum added that an interest deduction would be allowable for each limited partner who financed part of his subscription payment with a promissory note.

*117 The memorandum indicated that the distribution of a motion picture was a risky endeavor, emphasizing that not only would the commercial success of the film be "highly speculative" but the beneficial tax consequences might be disallowed by respondent.

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1988 T.C. Memo. 83, 55 T.C.M. 252, 1988 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 111, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ailloni-charas-v-commissioner-tax-1988.