City Bank of Washington v. Commissioner

38 T.C. 713, 1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 92
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedAugust 23, 1962
DocketDocket No. 90485
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 38 T.C. 713 (City Bank of Washington 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
City Bank of Washington v. Commissioner, 38 T.C. 713, 1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 92 (tax 1962).

Opinion

Mulroney, Judge:

The respondent determined deficiencies in the petitioner’s income tax for the year 1956 in the amount of $117,753.72 and for the taxable period January 1, 1959, to May 29, 1959, in the amount of $258,838.57. The year 1956 is here involved solely because of respondent’s disallowance of a net operating loss carryback to that year from 1959. The issues are (1) whether the loss realized by petitioner in the sale of certain United States Treasury obligations is to be recognized, which turns upon whether the sale took place before or after petitioner’s adoption of a plan of liquidation under section 337 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954,1 and (2) whether a gross receipts tax assessed by the District of Columbia on the gain realized by petitioner on the sale of its assets after the adoption of a plan of liquidation under section 337 is an expense relating to exempt income which is not deductible under section 265.

FINDINGS OP PACT.

Some of the facts were stipulated and they are herein included by this reference.

The City Bank of Washington, hereinafter called City Bank or petitioner, is a corporation organized under the laws of Virginia. Its Federal income tax returns for the periods here involved were filed with the district director of internal revenue for the district of Baltimore, Maryland. Except for its concluding fiscal year, City Bank was on a calendar year and it used an accrual method of accounting in maintaining its books of account and in preparing its tax returns.

For many years the City Bank carried on a banking business in the District of Columbia, under the banking laws of said District, Since the close of business on May 29, 1959, City Bank has conducted no business except that incident to its liquidation.

American Security and Trust Company, hereinafter called American Security, is a corporation originally chartered under the laws of Virginia in 1889 and reincorporated in 1890 under the banking laws of the District of Columbia, where.it has carried on a banking business at all times material herein. American Security Corporation, hereinafter called the affiliate, is a corporation organized in 1957 under the District of Columbia Business Corporation Act. The stockholders of American Security hold the stock of the affiliate in the same proportions. At all times material herein the affiliate has carried on general business operations in the District of Columbia, primarily in the financial, but nonbanking, field. Robert C. Baker is president of both American Security and the affiliate.

From time to time prior to March 17, 1959, representatives of American Security and the affiliate and representatives of City Bank discussed the possibility of combining American Security and City' Bank. American Security desired the combination in order to broaden its base and improve its competitive position in the District of Columbia. At the same time representatives of City Bank were conducting similar discussions with representatives of the Riggs National Bank of Washington, D.C., and this fact was known to the representative of American Security and affiliate. On March 17, 1959, a meeting was held in the offices of Robert C. Baker which, in addition to Baker, was attended by Clarence F. Burton, chairman of the board of directors of City Bank; John C. Pyles, Jr., president of City Bank; Robert G. Merrick, a majority stockholder of City Bank, and William F. Kelly, counsel for City Bank. Burton, Pyles, Merrick, and Kelly together owned or controlled 16,506 shares of the 26,000 shares of outstanding stock of City Bank. In the course of the meeting, Baker, speaking for American Security and the affiliate, stated that American Security and affiliate were prepared to purchase the stock of City Bank upon a basis which, would net the City Bank stockholders $325 per share. Burton, Pyles, Merrick, and Kelly expressed their willingness to accept such an offer and stated that they would recommend its acceptance by the other stockholders of City Bank.

On March 19,1959, Baker and Thomas D. Carson, vice president of American Security, together with counsel, met with Deputy Comptrollers of the Currency to explain the proposed program for the acquisition of the stock and assets of City Bank, the liquidation of City Bank, and the assumption of its liabilities, and to request expeditious action by the office of the Comptroller of the Currency on such program.

In a letter dated March 20,1959, and addressed to Burton and Pyles (City Bank), Baker confirmed that, subject to the approval of the boards of directors of American Security and the affiliate, affiliate would offer to promptly purchase all of the 26,000 outstanding shares of City Bank at $325 per share net to each stockholder on certain enumerated terms and conditions. Six stockholders of City Bank affixed their signatures to the letter under the legend “Agreed,” committing a total of 17,573 shares of City Bank stock to the proposal.

On March 24,1959, American Security filed an application with the Comptroller of the Currency for consent to purchase the assets and assume the liabilities of City Bank. On March 24,1959, the boards of directors of American Security and the affiliate adopted resolutions at special meetings approving the plan to purchase the assets and assume the liabilities of City Bank and authorized certain of their respective officers to take necessary steps for putting the program into effect.

On March 25,1959, City Bank, American Security, and the affiliate executed a “Basic Memorandum Agreement” which provided that American Security and the affiliate would enter into agreements to purchase all of the assets of City Bank for $8,450,000 and assume all of its liabilities as promptly as possible after the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency had been obtained. The basic agreement* further provided that the affiliate would make an offer to purchase all of the 26,000 shares of City Bank stock at a net price of $325 per share.

On April 6, 1959, City Bank and American Security executed a “Purchase and Assumption Agreement” covering the sale of City Bank’s banking assets to American Security and the assumption by American Security of the liabilities of City Bank. The agreement provided, in part, as follows:

Whereas, Seller [City Bank] intends to cease the transaction of the business for which it was organized and thereafter proceed with the voluntary liquidation of its assets, and dissolution; and
EIGHTH: Seller agrees that immediately after the closing date it will proceed to complete its liquidation by distributing its assets and thereupon dissolve.
*♦*»** *
TENTH: The closing date shall be the close of business of the day on which Seller shall cease to do business preparatory to its liquidation and dissolution, such date to be fixed by the stockholders of Seller.
ELEVENTH: This agreement is subject to the approval of the Plan of Voluntary Dissolution and Complete Liquidation of Seller by a vote of holders of two-thirds (%rds) of its stock, and is further subject to the prior approval by the Comptroller of the Currency and his prior consent to the establishment and operation by Purchaser of branch banks at the present locations of Seller.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

George L. Riggs, Inc. v. Commissioner
64 T.C. 474 (U.S. Tax Court, 1975)
Beauchamp & Brown Groves Co. v. Commissioner
44 T.C. 117 (U.S. Tax Court, 1965)
Alameda Realty Corp. v. Commissioner
42 T.C. 273 (U.S. Tax Court, 1964)
Howell v. Commissioner
40 T.C. 940 (U.S. Tax Court, 1963)
City Bank of Washington v. Commissioner
38 T.C. 713 (U.S. Tax Court, 1962)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
38 T.C. 713, 1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 92, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-bank-of-washington-v-commissioner-tax-1962.