Cherin v. Commissioner

89 T.C. No. 69, 89 T.C. 986, 1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 161
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedNovember 23, 1987
DocketDocket No. 7034-84
StatusPublished
Cited by153 cases

This text of 89 T.C. No. 69 (Cherin 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
Cherin v. Commissioner, 89 T.C. No. 69, 89 T.C. 986, 1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 161 (tax 1987).

Opinions

WHITAKER, Judge:

Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner’s Federal income tax for the years and in the amounts as follows:

Years Amount
1972. $27,425
1973. 18,905
1974. 13,191
1975. 2,740
1976. 1,586
1977. 185
1978. 1,416

By amendment to the answer, respondent asserts that the deficiencies constitute substantial underpayments attributable to tax-motivated transactions within the meaning of section 6621(c),1 formerly section 6621(d). The issues for decision all arise out of petitioner’s investment in a cattle program operated and offered by Southern Star Land & Cattle Co., Inc. (Southern Star).2 Petitioner’s investments were made in June 1971 and January 1972. This same cattle shelter has been the subject of three memorandum opinions of this Court: Hunter v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1982-126; Siegel v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1985-441; and Jacobs v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1985-609. Thus, the essential question to be determined is whether this petitioner’s case is factually distinguishable from Hunter, Siegel, and Jacobs. Petitioner contends that it is distinguishable.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and they are so found. Petitioner’s residence at the time of the filing of this petition was in Hialeah, Florida.

In and prior to 1971, petitioner’s principal business was the management of beauty shops. In 1971, petitioner separated from his wife and allocated to her for her support many of the income-producing properties which comprised his beauty shop business. He also anticipated retirement upon reaching the age of 65 in 1975. Petitioner was looking for an investment which would produce significant income for his retirement years, when his income from other sources was expected to be materially reduced. In due course, petitioner inquired of Nathan Newman, an accountant, financial advisor, and attorney, who had been assisting petitioner for approximately 20 years, as to possible investments. Newman was then aware of the Southern Star program, and apparently had an arrangement with Southern Star for payment of a finder’s fee for investors in the program produced by him, a fact which petitioner did not discover until long after his investments had been made. Newman recommended that petitioner invest in the Southern Star program, which was described by him to petitioner as one which would not require petitioner’s personal attention, and would produce a regular income after retirement. Newman showed to petitioner a projection showing receipt of regular income after 1975. The projection had been prepared by a Mr. Levine who was described as a friend.3 Petitioner thereafter made some projections, himself, but made no other investigation. Petitioner was relatively unsophisticated in making investments, and had become accustomed to relying upon Newman, whom petitioner regarded as capable and unbiased. Petitioner had no experience in either ownership or management of cattle and had no desire to become a cattle operator. Petitioner’s reliance upon Mr. Newman’s advice under the facts of this case was reasonable.

On June 1, 1971, petitioner and Southern Star entered into a sales agreement providing for the purchase4 of a herd of 25 purebred Aberdeen Angus cows and a one-third interest in a bull. Simultaneously with execution of the sales agreement, petitioner entered into a management agreement pursuant to which Southern Star undertook to manage the herd. Petitioner probably executed a number of related documents, as specified in these two agreements, including one or more promissory notes, a security agreement, and he may have received a separate bill of sale. On January 17, 1972, petitioner entered into a similar set of agreements for the purchase of a herd of five Aberdeen Angus cows and a two-thirds interest in an Aberdeen Angus bull. The principal reason for acquisition of the second herd was to obtain the contract right under the management agreement to have the herd include a bull calf out of Southern Star’s prize bull. Petitioner never inspected the cattle allocated to his herds.

The parties have primarily sought to focus on the distinctions from and similarities to the facts in Hunter, Siegel, and Jacobs. Therefore, a discussion of Southern Star and its cattle program is a necessary background. Southern Star was organized in 1970 by Neil Levine and Harry Epstein.5 It operated three cattle ranches — at Citra, Florida; Cassoday, Kansas; and Marshfield, Missouri. In general, the Southern Star program contemplated the purchase of one or more herds of cattle, varying in size, with herd management by Southern Star constituting an essential element of the program. The terms of the management agreements were indefinite, with termination to occur when the herds were liquidated. Liquidation was to occur upon notice under varying circumstances, the investor’s opportunity to give notice being more restrictive than Southern Star’s. While the management agreement remained in effect, the herds were to be managed solely in the discretion of Southern Star. Each management agreement provided specifically that, so long as the agreement was in effect, Southern Star had “full control of the location, maintenance, expansion, breeding, and culling” as well as the determination of the “most opportune time for sales.” The size of each investor’s herd was to be increased by about 50 percent through the retention of calves. Calves which were not so retained were to be sold by Southern Star and the proceeds divided between the parties, except that in all transactions except petitioner’s 1971 purchase, the proceeds were applied first on the unpaid purchase price. The herds of specific investors such as petitioner were, at least in theory, identified by tattoo and ear tag numbers, but were mixed with other similar herds and other cattle of Southern Star and placed on one or more of the ranches in Southern Star’s discretion.

The purchase price of petitioner’s first herd was $62,5006; $10,000 of that sum was allocated to the one-third interest in a bull, reflecting a purported value for the bull of $30,000. The balance of $52,500 was allocated to the 25 cows, reflecting a purchase price per cow of $2,100. The sales agreement required a downpayment of $900 and installment payments of $300 per month, plus interest, starting July 1, 1971, for 30 months. Starting January 1, 1974, the monthly payments increased to $500 for the succeeding 90 months. Thus, within 10 years, $54,900 was specified in the contract to be paid on principal. The deferred payments were reflected by a nonrecourse promissory note.7 Petitioner originally intended to make each of these payments as they came due.

Petitioner’s second herd of five cows and a two-thirds interest in a bull (which actually turned out to be 2 one-third interests in two bulls) had a purchase price of $32,500. The downpayment was $1,000, and the balance was to be paid from 30 percent of the proceeds from the sales of cattle.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
89 T.C. No. 69, 89 T.C. 986, 1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 161, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cherin-v-commissioner-tax-1987.