Boyd v. Commissioner

46 T.C. 252, 1966 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 102
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMay 17, 1966
DocketDocket Nos. 91171, 92413
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 46 T.C. 252 (Boyd 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
Boyd v. Commissioner, 46 T.C. 252, 1966 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 102 (tax 1966).

Opinions

BRUCE, Judge:

Respondent determined deficiencies in the income taxes of petitioner Garvis O. Boyd for the calendar years 1956, 1957, and 1958 in the respective amounts of $706.85, $797.42, and $933.82 and a deficiency in the income tax of petitioner E. P. Philpot for the calendar year 1958 and an addition to tax in the respective amounts of $1,191.55 and $297.89. Eespondent has conceded that the addition to tax determined against petitioner Philpot for failure to file a return is not owing. The only issue remaining in these consolidated cases is whether during the years involved, petitioners, employees of Pan American World Airways, Inc., Guided Missiles Eange Division, stationed on down range missile bases in the Bahama Islands, were bona fide residents of a foreign country or countries within the meaning of section 911(a) (1) of the Internal Eevenue Code of 1954.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulation of facts and exhibits attached thereto are incorporated herein by this reference.

Petitioner Garvis O. Boyd and Wilma I. Boyd, his wife, filed their joint Federal income tax returns (Form 1040) for the calendar years 1956, 1957, and 1958 with the district director of internal revenue in Jacksonville, Fla. Wilma did not join in filing the petition in this case and therefore is not a party to this proceeding. During the years in question, petitioner Boyd was employed by the Guided Missiles Eange Division of Pan American World Airways, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Pan American), on missile bases located in the Bahama Islands. He was stationed on Grand Bahama Island during 1956, 1957, and part of 1958 and on Grand Turk Island during the latter part of 1958.

Petitioner E. P. Philpot filed his Federal income tax return (Form 1040) for the calendar year 1958 with the director of international operations, Washington, D.C. During 1958, petitioner Philpot was employed by Pan American’s Guided Missiles Eange Division on Grand Bahama Island.

Prior to 1950, the U.S. Government established at Cape Canaveral (renamed Cape Kennedy), Fla., a site for the development of a long-range missile program. The responsibility for the development of this program .devolved upon the U.S. Air Force.

On July 21,1950, an agreement was entered into between the United States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the concurrence of the government of the Bahama Islands, providing for a guided missile flight-testing range to extend through the Bahama Islands and the waters adjacent thereto, and to be used by both governments. The agreement was effective for a period of 25 years and thereafter until 1 year from the day on which either government should give notice to the other of its intention to terminate. The provisions of this agreement, together with all supplementary agreements, exchange of notes, addenda, and amendments relative thereto, are incorporated herein by reference. Subsequently other agreements were executed by tbe United States and Great Britain extending tbe fligbt-testing range to include Antigua and Ascension Islands. These agreements are substantially tbe same as tbe above agreement.

Thereafter missile-tracking stations were constructed by tbe Air Force on sites over tbe 5,000-mile range extending from Cape Kennedy, Fla., to Ascension Island, including bases upon tbe islands of Grand Bahama and Grand Turk.

In 1953, tbe U.S. Air Force entered into a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with Pan American under which Pan American undertook to furnish tbe services, personnel, and materials necessary for tbe management, operation, and maintenance, under tbe direction of tbe Air Force, of tbe missile test-range facilities installed by tbe Air Force on tbe various bases at Cape Canaveral (now Cape Kennedy), Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and down range, including those located on Grand Bahama and Grand Turk Islands. The contract by its terms was for a period of 1 year, but from time to time it was extended until 1956 when another similar contract was executed between tbe same parties, which in turn was extended periodically. This agreement was in effect through 1958, as well as for some time thereafter.

Pan American was responsible for tbe operation and management of tbe missile stations, including maintaining facilities and equipment and planning and conducting range test operations. Each base was staffed with sufficient personnel to handle all administrative and operating functions. Once a base was established, Pan American was responsible for tbe bousing, feeding, maintenance, supply, health, medical, recreation, and assignment of personnel. Food, prepared and served by Pan American cooks, was provided for Pan American employees in cafeteria-style dining halls located on tbe bases at no cost to tbe employees. Post exchanges were operated in conjunction with tbe dining balls for tbe employees’ convenience. Laundry service and recreational activities were provided free of charge and a roving barber employed by Pan American was periodically available for haircuts at a small charge. Most of tbe Pan American employees lived on tbe bases in barrack-type quarters provided by Pan American without charge, although a few employees whose families had accompanied them down range lived in island housing.

Each base had both a military base commander and a Pan American base manager. Pan American employees were responsible only to the Pan American base manager. Each employee was expected to work any and all hours necessary to accomplish the mission of the range, but during off-work hours they could go and come from the bases to the island community without restriction.

Each employee received a 30-percent bonus, in addition to his salary, during his down range employment. The bonus was intended to serve as an incentive for overseas duty and as compensation for irregular working hours and weekend duty. In addition to 20 working days paid vacation which accrued after 12 months of service, down range employees were granted periods of special leave time to give them an opportunity to transact personal business, obtain dental care, and have a change of scenery.

In a booklet which Pan American provided its down range employees, it was stated:

Although many of our employees have realized substantial benefits from the provisions of the income tax law, the Company takes no position concerning possible eligibility. It is strictly between the employee and the agent of the Bureau of Internal Revenue to whom he sends his return.

In accordance with a 1952 addendum to the agreement of July 21, 1950, between the United States and Great Britain, Pan American periodically gave the comptroller of customs and the immigration officer of the Bahama Islands the names of its employees who were employed down range.

Grand Bahama is the fourth largest of the Bahama Islands with a total of ISO square miles. In 1958 it had an estimated population of 5,800. Its main industry is lumber; secondary industries are fishing and agriculture. The missile base is located on the central southern coast of the island, near Gold Bock Creek, and is surrounded by a fence which separates the base from island property. There are two other missile installations on the east and west ends of the island, respectively, which are not surrounded by fences.

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Related

Scott v. United States
432 F.2d 1388 (Court of Claims, 1970)
Allen v. Commissioner
1968 T.C. Memo. 218 (U.S. Tax Court, 1968)
Nold v. Commissioner
1967 T.C. Memo. 171 (U.S. Tax Court, 1967)
Nahacky v. Commissioner
1967 T.C. Memo. 128 (U.S. Tax Court, 1967)
Boyd v. Commissioner
46 T.C. 252 (U.S. Tax Court, 1966)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
46 T.C. 252, 1966 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 102, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/boyd-v-commissioner-tax-1966.