Carlstedt v. Commissioner

1997 T.C. Memo. 331, 74 T.C.M. 170, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 390
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJuly 22, 1997
DocketDocket No. 2418-96
StatusUnpublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 1997 T.C. Memo. 331 (Carlstedt 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
Carlstedt v. Commissioner, 1997 T.C. Memo. 331, 74 T.C.M. 170, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 390 (tax 1997).

Opinion

WILLIAM N. AND MOIRA M. CARLSTEDT, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Carlstedt v. Commissioner
Docket No. 2418-96
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1997-331; 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 390; 74 T.C.M. (CCH) 170;
July 22, 1997, Filed

*390 Decision will be entered for respondent.

On the facts, Held: Ps have failed to sustain their burden of proving that H did not materially participate in the activity of CDI during 1990 and 1991 within the meaning of sec. 469(h) (1), I.R.C., and sec. 1.469-5T(a) (1), Temporary Income Tax Regs., 53 Fed. Reg. 5725 (Feb. 25, 1988), and consequently Ps may not offset certain undisputed passive losses against their share of income from CDI for those years.

Ronald M. Soskin and Stephen E. Arthur, for petitioners. *
Ronald T. Jordan, for respondent.
NIMS

NIMS

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

NIMS, *391 Judge1 Respondent determined deficiencies in the Federal income tax of petitioners, William N. Carlstedt and Moira M. Carlstedt, in the amounts of $ 180,351 and $ 183,550, for the taxable years ended December 31, 1990, and December 31, 1991, respectively. (The term petitioner will be used henceforth to refer to William N. Carlstedt.) *392

*393 All section references are to sections of the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years at issue, unless otherwise indicated. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

After concessions by petitioners, the issues for decision are as follows:

1. Whether petitioner engaged in the activity of Carlstedt Dickman, Inc. (CDI) for 500 hours or less in both 1990 and 1991, such that petitioner did not materially participate in CDI pursuant to section 469 and temporary regulations thereunder; and, if so,

2. Whether section 1.469-2T(f) (2), Temporary Income Tax Regs., 53 Fed. Reg. 5721 (Feb. 25, 1988), is invalid on its face or as applied to petitioners, resulting in respondent's incorrect characterization of petitioners' income from CDI as nonpassive.

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

Petitioners are married and resided in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the time they filed their petition in this case.

FINDINGS OF FACT

During the years at issue, petitioner was a shareholder or partner in the following real estate-related*394 enterprises: (1) CDI; (2) Citimark Development Co. (Citimark); (3) Citimark Management, Inc. (CMI); (4) Citimark Communications, Inc. (CCI); and (5) Monaghan Leasing Co. (Monaghan).

Carlstedt Dickman, Inc.

CDI, an Indiana corporation, is a general contractor that provides design and building services, including construction management, to retail, industrial, and health care companies. CDI had an election in effect to be treated as an S corporation during the years at issue. The net income of CDI in 1990 and 1991 was $ 892,765 and $ 745,803, respectively.

Petitioner has been president, a director, and a shareholder of CDI since its founding in 1982. Petitioner's wife (Mrs. Carlstedt) was also an officer and director of CDI in 1990 and 1991. During the years at issue, petitioner owned 80 percent of the stock of CDI, and Michael Dickman (Dickman), vice president of CDI, owned 20 percent of the stock. Petitioner was paid a salary by CDI in 1990 and 1991 in the amounts of $ 93,885 and $ 74,130, respectively.

CDI earned its gross income in 1990 and 1991 from two sources. Approximately 93 to 95 percent of its income was derived from commercial construction contracts obtained through*395 a competitive bidding process. CDI earned the remaining 5 to 7 percent of its income from the construction of leasehold improvements (tenant finishes) for unrelated third parties, as well as for tenants in buildings owned by Citimark.

In 1990 and 1991, petitioner engaged in a number of activities on CDI's behalf. He met with CDI project managers (Kenneth Johnson and John Cook) and superintendents and, occasionally, with the company's estimators. Petitioner held formal company meetings and field meetings concerning the general business of CDI. He held secretary meetings and accounting staff meetings. He met with CDI's bonding and insurance companies. Petitioner also prepared for and made project presentations to certain prospective customers. He occasionally discussed project bid markups with Dickman. Petitioner made decisions regarding the legal affairs of the company and met or spoke with CDI's attorneys to discuss such matters. Petitioner also made occasional site visitations in connection with projects under construction.

Petitioner was in charge of hiring, firing, and evaluating key personnel.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1997 T.C. Memo. 331, 74 T.C.M. 170, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 390, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/carlstedt-v-commissioner-tax-1997.