Charlton Woolen Co. v. White

27 F. Supp. 371, 23 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 439, 1939 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2908
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedApril 11, 1939
DocketNo. 3270
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 27 F. Supp. 371 (Charlton Woolen Co. v. White) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Charlton Woolen Co. v. White, 27 F. Supp. 371, 23 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 439, 1939 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2908 (D. Mass. 1939).

Opinion

FORD, District Judge.

This is a suit to recover an alleged deficiency of income and excess profits tax for the year 1917, amounting to $11,121.67 and for the further sum of $1,000 paid in compromise of penalties and interest.

Statements of fact and conclusions of law appearing herein are intended to meet the requirements of Rule 52 of the new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S. C.A. following section 723c.

I find the facts as follows: The plaintiff is a Massachusetts corporation and filed its return for the year 1917 on March 29, 1918, and paid the tax shown thereon of $6,730.78 on June 18, 1918. On August 18, 1920 an additional assessment of $11,121.67 was made against the plaintiff for the calendar year 1917. Demand was made for the latter tax by the Collector of Internal Revenue on or about September 23, 1920. On September 30, 1920 the plaintiff filed a claim for abatement in the amount of $5,615.91 and during the time that said claim for abatement was pending the Bureau of Internal Revenue took no steps to make collection of any portion of the additional assessment of $11,121.67. On November 19, 1920 the plaintiff filed with the Collector a claim for refund of $1,480.-05, a portion of the income and excess profit taxes paid on the original return for 1917. No collection of any portion of the additional assessment of $11,121.67 was attempted or made until after the expiration of five years from the date of assessment. During the latter period of five years the books and accounts of the plaintiff were examined by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and on May 21, 1926 the Commissioner allowed the plaintiff’s claim for abatement in the amount of $2,299.22 and rejected the balance. Also during this period of more than five years two additional refund claims for 1917 were filed by the plaintiff and briefs and affidavits were submitted by the plaintiff in respect of the merits of the additional assessment. During this period conferences concerning the determination of the correct tax liability of the plaintiff for the year 1917 were held between representatives of the plaintiff and officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. The collection of the additional assessment of $11,121.67 was made by a field representative of the Collector on December 17, 1925.

The field investigation of the plaintiff’s tax returns covered the returns of the plaintiff for the years 1916 -to 1920, including the calendar year of 1917. Later the review of the revenue agents’ field report and the audit and examination by the Income Tax Unit of the Bureau of Internal Revenue of- the plaintiff’s tax liability was extended to cover the taxable years 1909 to 1920, inclusive.

While this audit was in progress, the plaintiff executed five waivers dated September 21, 1921, January 22, 1924, December 12, 1924, December 10, 1925, and December 17, 1925.

On September 25, 1925, a warrant of distraint was issued by the Collector and demand made upon the plaintiff for the additional taxes for the year 1917 of $11,121.-67, with interest and penalties amounting to $4,865.65. On December 17, 1925 the plaintiff paid to the representatives of the Collector the sum of $11,121.67 on account of the said additional tax for 1917, and an additional sum of $1,000 in compromise of penalties and interest which was finally accepted by the Commissioner.

A claim for refund in the amount of $12,121.67 was filed May 15, 1927; was rejected by the Commissioner, and on November 30, 1927 this suit was instituted.

The plaintiff contends that the collection of the tax in question was barred by the statute of limitations.

The applicable statutes are as follows:

Revenue Act of 1921, c. 136, 42 Stat. 227, 264, 265: “Sec. 250. * * * (d) The amount of income, excess-profits, or war-profits taxes due under any return made under this Act for the taxable year 1921 or succeeding taxable years shall be determined and assessed by the Commissioner within four years after the return was filed, and the amount of any such taxes due under any return made under this Act for prior taxable years or under prior income, excess-profits, or war-profits tax Acts, or under section 38 of the Act entitled ‘An Act to provide revenue, equalize duties, and encourage the industries of [373]*373the United States, and for other purposes,’ approved August 5, 1909, shall be determined and assessed within five years after the return was filed, unless both the Commissioner and the taxpayer consent in writing to a later determination, assessment, and collection of the tax; and no suit or proceeding for the collection of any such taxes due under this Act or under prior income, excess-profits, or war-profits tax Acts, or of any taxes due under section 38 of such Act of August 5, 1909, shall be begun, after the expiration of five years after the date when such return was filed, but this shall not affect suits or proceedings begun at the time of the passage of this Act.”

Revenue Act of 1928, c. 852, 45 Stat. 791:

“Sec. 607. Effect of Expiration of Period of Limitation Against United States. Any tax (or any interest, penalty, additional amount, or addition to such tax) assessed or paid (whether before or after the enactment of this Act) after the expiration of the period of limitation properly applicable thereto shall be considered an overpayment and shall be credited or refunded to the taxpayer if claim therefor is filed within the period of limitation for filing such claim.” 26 U.S.C.A. § 1670(a) (2).
“Sec. 611. Collections Stayed by Claim in Abatement. If any internal-revenue tax (or any interest, penalty, additional amount, or addition to such tax) was, within the period of limitation properly applicable thereto, assessed prior to June 2, 1924, and if a claim in abatement was filed, with or without bond, and if the collection of any part thereof was stayed, then the payment of such part (made before or within one year after the enactment of this Act) shall not be considered as an overpayment under the provisions of section 607, relating to payments made after the expiration of the period of limitation on assessment and collection.” 45 Stat. 875.

Revised Statutes of the United States:

Sec. 3229. “The Commissioner, with the advice and consent of the Secretary, may compromise any civil or criminal case arising under the internal revenue laws instead of commencing suit thereon; and, with the advice and consent of the said Secretary and the recommendation of the Attorney General, he may compromise any such case after a suit thereon has been commenced.” 26 U.S.C.A. § 1661.

It was not disputed that the 1917 tax here in question should have been assessed and collected within five years from the date of the filing of the tax return. The return being filed on March 29, 1918 the period of limitations expired under the statute, March 29, 1923.

The defendant argues that the period of limitations was extended by the various waivers given by the plaintiff and it is the contention of the plaintiff that the waivers were intended by both parties to apply only to future assessments that might result from the audit that was being made and that they were not intended to relate to the assessment here involved.

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Related

Pittsburgh Can Co. v. United States
113 F.2d 821 (Third Circuit, 1940)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
27 F. Supp. 371, 23 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 439, 1939 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2908, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/charlton-woolen-co-v-white-mad-1939.