Century Transit Co. v. United States

124 F. Supp. 148, 46 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 733, 1954 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2831
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Jersey
DecidedAugust 20, 1954
DocketNo. 11897
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 124 F. Supp. 148 (Century Transit Co. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Jersey primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Century Transit Co. v. United States, 124 F. Supp. 148, 46 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 733, 1954 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2831 (D.N.J. 1954).

Opinion

MADDEN, District Judge.

This is an income tax matter wherein plaintiff, Century Transit Co., a corporation of the State of New Jersey, with its principal place of business in Camden, New Jersey, hereinafter known as Century, having filed its income tax returns for the years in question with the Collector of Internal Revenue, at Camden, New Jersey, sues to recover income tax, declared value excess profits tax, and excess profits tax assessed against it for the years 1939, 1940,1941.

On January 18, 1943, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue determined deficiencies and Century’s tax liability for the years 1939, 1940 and 1941 as follows:

On December 30, 1943, Century, under protest and duress, paid the Collector of Internal Revenue at Camden, New Jersey, the amount of the deficiency as so determined against it by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for the year 1939, together with interest thereon.

On January 3, 1944, Century paid the said Collector the amounts of the deficiencies so determined against it by the said Commissioner for the years 1940 and 1941, together with interest thereon.

The total amount of said payments, including interest, was the sum of $5,-450.07.

On December 13, 1945, Century filed claims for refunds of said Income and Declared Value Excess Profits Tax for the said years 1939, 1940 and 1941, together ■ with interest thereon, which claims for refund were disallowed by Commissioner of Internal Revenue by registered letter dated November 3,1948.

Century on December 31, 1935, filed a petition under 77B of the then Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C.A. § 207.

Nick Fiorentino, who prior to the bankruptcy proceedings was the principal stockholder and was actively engaged in the operation of Century’s business, continued to operate the business during the time of the bankruptcy proceedings as an employee of the Trustee.

On or about December 9, 1937, Camden Securities Company loaned Century $12,500 which loan ultimately was to be [150]*150secured by Century’s note and mortgage on all its assets. In order to secure itself during the interim that the mortgage could be properly authorized, executed and delivered, the Camden Securities Company took an assignment of a judgment against the Century in the approximate sum of $10,500 and had execution issued thereon and a Sheriff’s Levy made on all of Century’s assets. In addition thereto, Camden Securities Company, without paying anything therefor, acquired a number of general creditors claims against Century totalling approximately $6,000. Camden Securities Company then agreed with Century that if it would deliver the note and mortgage which were to be payable in monthly installments of $350 each with interest thereon, it would surrender and assign to Century the judgment and claims. The mortgage was never delivered by Century to Camden Securities Company and it retained the temporary securities.

In January, 1941, Century paid Camden Securities Company the last installment on its loan, whereupon Camden Securities Company gave Century a warrant to satisfy the judgment and assigned the various general creditor claims to Century. Century paid Camden Securities Company nothing for these general creditors claims and they were charged off Century’s books.

At the time Camden Securities Company loaned Century the said money, Nick Fiorentino assigned to Camden Securities Company his 98 shares of stock in Century Transit Co. During 1937 to 1941, inclusive, there were only issued and outstanding 100 shares of common stock. At the time of said assignment, Camden Securities Company agreed with Fiorentino, that if he would devote his full time and work faithfully in the operation of Century’s business, performing such duties as should be assigned to him by Century, and if Century would repay Camden Securities Company its loan of $12,500, then the Camden Securities Company would sell and assign to him Century’s stock then held by it for the sum of $1. Said 98 shares of stock were assigned to Fiorentino in February, 1941, after Century paid off its said loan.

In addition to his activities with Century, Fiorentino, for his own account, operated a garage, and automobile repair shop. Century stored and maintained its busses in Fiorentino’s garage for which it agreed to pay Fiorentino $60 a month as rent. This arrangement commenced many years prior to the proceedings in bankruptcy, was continued during bankruptcy by the Trustee, as well as afterwards.

In December, 1937, just after coming out of the bankruptcy proceedings, Century’s Board of Directors voted to Fiorentino a weekly salary of $28.

For the years of 1939, 1940 and 1941, Century accrued on its books, as owing to Fiorentino for salary for the year 1939, the sum of $3,744; for the year 1940, the sum of $3,744 and for the year 1941, the sum of $3,450.25 being the differences in the sum of $5,200 ($100 per week) and the sum paid him in cash. The company was on the accrual basis. Fiorentino reported in his income as having received the full sum of $5,200’ in each of said years, and paid his income tax thereon. Fiorentino was on the cash basis.

For the year 1939, Century accrued on its books as owing to Fiorentino for rent, the sum of $480, being 8 months rent; for 1940, $720; and for 1941,. .$720.

These accrued items were not paid in cash by Century within either of the taxable years or within 2% months thereafter.

On December 31, 1943, Century on its books charged off to the surplus account the amounts previously accrued as. owing to Nick Fiorentino for salary and rent. Thereafter Century did not show on its books said amounts as accounts-payable or accrued expenses.

Century paid nothing to its various-creditors whose claims totalled $2,294.12, which claims were forgiven by the creditors, and which claims were not set up[151]*151on Century’s books when it came out of the bankruptcy proceedings. Prior to the proceedings the claims appeared as ■creditor liabilities on Century’s book.

During 1940, Century accrued on its books the sum of $1,500 as due Norman Heine for services rendered the corporation as Vice-President. Mr. Heine rendered valuable services to Century and the amount therefor is reasonable. No action thereon by the Board of Directors authorizing the employment of Mr. Heine or the payment of said salary appears in the minute book.

The minute book shows that no regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors, other than annual meetings, were held. After the annual meetings, only two special meetings of the Board were held during the entire year of 1939, •one in 1940, and none in 1941.

On December 31, 1943, Century on its books charged off the money previously accrued to Norman Heine as officer salary in the amount of $1,500. Thereafter Century did not show on its books said amounts as accounts payable or accrued ■expenses.

The grounds alleged in the complaint herein for the refund are the same as those alleged in the Claims for Refund heretofore filed with the Commissioner •of Internal Revenue for the years 1939, 1940 and 1941.

The claims asserted by plaintiff are as follows:

(1) That the Commissioner erred in disallowing the following deductions, claimed by the taxpayer for the years indicated :

(a) Salary and rent accrued as payable to Nick Fiorentino, for the years 1939, 1940 and 1941;

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Related

King v. Commissioner
51 T.C. 851 (U.S. Tax Court, 1969)
Nick Fiorentino v. United States
226 F.2d 619 (Third Circuit, 1955)
Fiorentino v. United States
226 F.2d 619 (Third Circuit, 1955)

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Bluebook (online)
124 F. Supp. 148, 46 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 733, 1954 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2831, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/century-transit-co-v-united-states-njd-1954.