Cottonwood Place, LLC, Hugh F. Smisson, III, Tax Matters Partner v. Commissioner

2020 T.C. Memo. 115

• Court: United States Tax Court
• Decided: August 4, 2020
• Docket: 14076-17
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

T.C. Memo. 2020-115

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

COTTONWOOD PLACE, LLC, HUGH F. SMISSON, III, TAX MATTERS PARTNER, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket No. 14076-17. Filed August 4, 2020.

Charles E. Hodges II, Antoinette G. Ellison, and Aditya Shrivastava, for

petitioner.

Christopher D. Bradley, Jason P. Oppenheim, and John T. Arthur, for

respondent.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

KERRIGAN, Judge: This case is before the Court on respondent’s motion

for partial summary judgment. On March 27, 2017, respondent issued a notice of -2-

[*2] final partnership administrative adjustment (FPAA) for tax year 2009 to Hugh

F. Smisson III, as tax matters partner for Cottonwood Place, LLC (Cottonwood).

In the FPAA respondent disallowed a $4,592,000 deduction for a noncash

charitable contribution and asserted a gross valuation misstatement penalty

pursuant to section 6662(h), or in the alternative, a penalty pursuant to section

6662(a).

Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal

Revenue Code (Code) in effect for the year at issue, and all Rule references are to

the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

Respondent contends that the extinguishment clause in Cottonwood’s deed

of conservation easement violates the requirements of section 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii),

Income Tax Regs. Petitioner, by contrast, contends that respondent’s

interpretation of the regulation is incorrect or, alternatively, if respondent’s

interpretation is found to be correct, that the regulation is invalid. Petitioner

further contends that Cottonwood substantially complied with the requirements of

the regulation. -3-

[*3] Background

There is no dispute as to the following facts drawn from the parties’ motion

papers and attached exhibits. When the petition was filed, Cottonwood’s principal

place of business was in Georgia.

On August 9, 2007, HRH Investments, LLC (HRH), purchased from

Augusta Woodlands, LLC, a 1,490-acre tract of land in Effingham County,

Georgia. The deed for the purchase was recorded in Effingham County. HRH

subdivided the property into smaller parcels and contributed 140.56 acres

(property) to Cottonwood in December 2008.

On December 31, 2009, Cottonwood granted a conservation easement of

135.56 acres of the property to the Georgia Land Trust, Inc., by deed recorded in

Effingham County. The deed includes provisions for the distribution of proceeds

in the event of extinguishment or condemnation. If the easement is terminated or

extinguished by judicial proceedings or condemnation, “[t]he amount of the

proceeds to which Grantee shall be entitled, after the satisfaction of any and all

prior claims, shall be determined, unless otherwise provided by Georgia law at the

time, in accordance with the Proceeds paragraph below.” If the easement is taken,

in whole or part, by the exercise of eminent domain, the Grantee shall be entitled -4-

[*4] to compensation in accordance with applicable law and the proceeds

paragraph included in the deed.

Paragraph 19 of the deed, referred to as the proceeds paragraph, provides

that the conservation easement grants a real property interest immediately vested

in the grantee. The proceeds paragraph states in pertinent part:

As required under Treas. Reg. § 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii), the parties stipulate to have a current fair market value determined by multiplying the fair market value of the Property unencumbered by this Conservation Easement (minus any increase in value after the date of this Conservation Easement attributable to improvements) by the ratio of the value of the Conservation Easement at the time of this conveyance to the value of the Property at the time of this conveyance without deduction for the value of the Conservation Easement. The value of this Conservation Easement at the time of this conveyance, and the value of the Property at the time of this conveyance without deduction for the value of the Conservation Easement, shall be determined according to that certain Property Appraisal Report, on file at the office of the Grantee, prepared on behalf of Grantor to establish the value of the gift of this Conservation Easement. The values at the time of this Conservation Easement shall be those values used to calculate the deduction for federal income tax purposes pursuant to § 170(h) of the Code.

In the deed Cottonwood reserved specific rights for forestry and other

agricultural purposes. The reserved rights include the right to construct a limited

number of improvements, including driveways, utilities, an irrigation system, and

a pond. The deed provides the grantor with the right to construct and maintain one

pond that is under four acres. -5-

[*5] Discussion

Summary judgment may be granted where the pleadings and other materials

show that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that a decision

may be rendered as a matter of law. Rule 121(b); Sundstrand Corp. v.

Commissioner, 98 T.C. 518, 520 (1992), aff’d, 17 F.3d 965 (7th Cir. 1994). The

burden is on the moving party to demonstrate that there is no genuine dispute as to

any material fact and that the party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. FPL

Grp., Inc. & Subs. v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. 73, 74-75 (2001). After reviewing

the pleadings and the motion with accompanying exhibits, we conclude that a

decision may be rendered as a matter of law.

I. Qualified Conservation Contribution

Section 170(a)(1) allows a deduction for any charitable contribution made

within the taxable year. If the taxpayer makes a charitable contribution of

property other than money, the amount of the contribution is generally equal to the

fair market value (FMV) of the property at the time the gift is made. See sec.

1.170A-1(c)(1), Income Tax Regs.

The Code generally restricts a taxpayer’s charitable contribution deduction

for the donation of “an interest in property which consists of less than the

taxpayer’s entire interest in such property”. Sec. 170(f)(3)(A). However, there is -6-

[*6] an exception to this rule for a “qualified conservation contribution.” Sec.

170(f)(3)(B)(iii). This exception applies to a “qualified conservation

contribution”, which is a contribution of a qualified real property interest to a

qualified organization exclusively for conservation purposes. Sec. 170(h)(1).

Section 170(h)(5)(A) provides that a contribution will not be treated as

being made exclusively for conservation purposes “unless the conservation

purpose is protected in perpetuity.” The accompanying regulation recognizes that

“a subsequent unexpected change in the conditions surrounding the [donated]

property * * * can make impossible or impractical the continued use of the

property for conservation purposes”. Sec. 1.170A-14(g)(6)(i), Income Tax Regs.

In these circumstances the conservation purpose can be treated as protected in

perpetuity if the restrictions are extinguished by judicial proceeding and the

easement deed ensures that the charitable donee, following the sale of the

property, will receive a proportionate share of the proceeds and use those proceeds

consistently with the conservation purposes underlying the original gift. Id. This

results in the satisfaction of the “perpetuity” requirement because the sale

proceeds replace the easement as an asset deployed by the donee “exclusively for

conservation purposes”. Sec. 170(h)(5)(A); see also Oakbrook Land Holdings,

LLC v. Commissioner, 154 T.C. ___, ___ (slip op. at 7) (May 12, 2020). -7-

[*7] Section 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii), Income Tax Regs., specifies that the donee’s

share of proceeds is as follows:

[F]or a deduction to be allowed under this section, at the time of the gift the donor must agree that the donation of the perpetual conservation restriction gives rise to a property right, immediately vested in the donee organization, with a fair market value that is at least equal to the proportionate value that the perpetual conservation restriction at the time of the gift, bears to the value of the property as a whole at that time. * * * For purposes of this paragraph * * *, that proportionate value of the donee’s property rights shall remain constant. Accordingly, when a change in conditions give rise to the extinguishment of a perpetual conservation restriction under paragraph (g)(6)(i) of this section, the donee organization, on a subsequent sale, exchange, or involuntary conversion of the subject property, must be entitled to a portion of the proceeds at least equal to that proportionate value of the perpetual conservation restriction, unless state law provides that the donor is entitled to the full proceeds ***.

To meet the requirements of section 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii), Income Tax Regs.

(proceeds regulation), the deed must guarantee that the donee will receive “a

proportionate share of extinguishment proceeds”. Carroll v. Commissioner, 146

T.C. 196, 219 (2016); see PBBM-Rose Hill, Ltd. v. Commissioner, 900 F.3d 193,

207 (5th Cir. 2018) (“[T]he ‘proportionate value’ is a fraction equal to the value of

the conservation easement at the time of the gift, divided by the value of the

property as a whole at that time.”). -8-

[*8] Respondent contends that the deed violates the proceeds regulation because

it provides that the portion of proceeds required to be allocated to the donee in the

event of an extinguishment shall be reduced by the value of improvements to the

land made by Cottonwood after the grant of the easement. The proceeds

regulation specifically states that the donee “must be entitled to a portion of the

proceeds at least equal to that proportionate value”. Sec. 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii),

Income Tax Regs. The word “must” clearly requires that the donee receive at least

the proportionate value. PBBM-Rose Hill, Ltd. v. Commissioner, 900 F.3d at 208.

The regulation does not permit that “any amount, including that attributable

to improvements, may be subtracted out” of the proceeds. Id.; see also Coal Prop.

Holdings, LLC v. Commissioner, 153 T.C. 126, 138 (2019). Since the deed

reduces the donee’s share of the proceeds by reducing the FMV of the

unencumbered property at the time of sale by any increase in value attributable to

posteasement improvements before applying the proportionate distribution

percentages, the conservation purpose is not protected in perpetuity. See sec.

170(h)(5)(A); sec. 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii), Income Tax Regs.; see also PBBM-Rose

Hill, Ltd. v. Commissioner, 900 F.3d at 208; Coal Prop. Holdings, LLC v.

Commissioner, 153 T.C. at 145. -9-

[*9] II. Validity of Proceeds Regulation

Petitioner contends that the proceeds regulation is invalid under the criteria

established by Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837

(1984). He raises substantive challenges to the regulation. In Oakbrook Land

Holdings, LLC v. Commissioner, 154 T.C. at ___ (slip op. at 26-33), we upheld

the substantive validity of the proceeds regulation.

Petitioner contends that respondent’s interpretation of the proceeds

regulation is not entitled to deference under Auer v. Robbins, 519 U.S. 452, 461

(1997). We concluded in Oakbrook Land Holdings, LLC v. Commissioner, T.C.

Memo. 2020-54, at *25 (quoting Kisor v. Wilkie, 588 U.S. ___, ___, 139 S. Ct.

2400, 2415 (2019)), that “we see no need to rely on the Auer deference because

the ‘traditional tools of construction’ lead us to hold that the Commissioner’s

construction of the regulation is correct even if we look at the question de novo.”

Petitioner further contends that the proceeds regulation violates the first part

of the two-part inquiry established by Chevron. The first part is to inquire

“whether Congress has directly spoken to the precise question at issue.” Chevron,

467 U.S. at 842. In Oakbrook Land Holdings, LLC v. Commissioner, 154 T.C.

at ___ (slip op. at 26), we concluded that Congress did not specifically address the

allocation of extinguishment proceeds. Petitioner argues that our analysis under - 10 -

[*10] the first part of Chevron requires reconsideration because the interpretation

of the proceeds regulation as we have upheld contradicts the basic income tax

principles created by Congress. We disagree.

Petitioner also argues that the proceeds regulation violates the second part

of the two-part inquiry in Chevron, which is whether the regulation “is based on a

permissible construction of the statute.” Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843. He contends

that the proceeds regulation exceeds the IRS’ statutory authority because there are

existing Federal tax laws which already address involuntary conversions.

Specifically, petitioner refers to sections 1001, 1011, 1012, 1031, and 1033.

Sections 1001, 1011, and 1012 address the general principles of computing gain or

loss and determining basis in general. Section 1031 provides rules for the tax

treatment of exchanges of real property held for productive use or investment.

Section 1033(a) addresses taxation of involuntary conversions which occur when a

property “(as a result of its destruction in whole or in part, theft, seizure, or

requisition or condemnation or threat or imminence thereof) is compulsorily or

involuntarily converted”. These Code sections address principles of tax law that

differ from section 170, which addresses the requirements for a charitable

contribution deduction. - 11 -

[*11] Deductions are a matter of legislative grace, and therefore, the taxpayer

needs to meet the requirements of the statute to be entitled to the deduction.

INDOPCO, Inc. v. Commissioner, 503 U.S. 79, 84 (1992). The Code sections that

petitioner cites do not address the requirements for claiming a charitable

contribution deduction for a conservation easement. The proceeds regulation

addresses the requirement that a conservation purpose be protected in perpetuity.

See sec. 170(h)(5); sec. 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii), Income Tax Regs. We agree with our

conclusion in Oakbrook Land Holdings, LLC v. Commissioner, 154 T.C. at ___

(slip op. at 26-32) that Congress has not spoken directly to the extinguishment of

conservation easements and that the proceeds regulation is a permissible

construction of the statute.

III. Petitioner’s Additional Arguments

A. Georgia Law

The proceeds regulation entitles the donee to a proportionate share of

postextinguishment proceeds “unless state law provides that the donor is entitled

to the full proceeds from the conversion without regard to the terms of the prior

perpetual conservation restriction.” Sec. 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii), Income Tax Regs.

Petitioner argues that Georgia law allocates the full amount of any extinguishment - 12 -

[*12] proceeds to the donor, citing Anderson v. Lynch, 3 S.E.2d 85 (Ga. 1939),

rendering the proceeds regulation inapplicable in this case.

Anderson involved contiguous parcels of land each subject to a mutually

restrictive covenant limiting the parcels to residential use. One of the parcels was

being taken by Fulton County for use as a public road, a nonresidential use. The

court held that the owners of the neighboring lots had no compensable interest

because they held no property interest in the lot being taken by Fulton County. Id.

at 89. The court concluded that the mutually restrictive covenant does not create a

property right entitling the neighboring property owners to compensation in a

condemnation proceeding of the servient estate but that, “[t]he most that can be

said is that the restrictive covenants * * * are enforceable as between parties

thereto and their successors with notice.” Id.

Petitioner contends that a conservation easement is a “negative” easement

and as such, should be treated as a restrictive covenant in accordance with Davista

Holdings, LLC v. Capital Plaza, Inc., 741 S.E.2d 266, 269 (Ga. Ct. App. 2013).

He argues that conservation easements do not create a property interest under

Anderson and that donees of conservation easements are therefore not entitled to

compensation from a sale following a condemnation proceeding. - 13 -

[*13] We do not find petitioner’s argument compelling. Petitioner does not cite

any Georgia authority that extends the principles of Anderson to conservation

easements held by charitable organizations. On the contrary Georgia has enacted

the Uniform Conservation Easement Act with minor modifications, see Ga. Code

Ann. secs. 44-10-1 to 44-10-8 (2003), which appears to support public policy in

favor of conservation easements.

The court in Anderson held that the plaintiffs owned no property interest in

the land sought to be condemned. Here, the deed explicitly provides that “this

Conservation Easement constitutes a real property interest, immediately vested in

Grantee.” See sec. 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii), Income Tax Regs. (requiring donor to

agree that the easement “gives rise to a property right, immediately vested in the

donee organization”). We rejected a similar argument in Belair Woods, LLC v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2020-112, at *18-*21.

B. Substantial Compliance

Petitioner argues that an alternative reason to deny respondent’s motion for

partial summary judgment is that Cottonwood “substantially complied” with the

requirements of the proceeds regulation. This argument also fails.

This Court has previously held that “a donor must show strict, and not

substantial, compliance with the perpetuity requirements of the regulation. * * * - 14 -

[*14] Substantial compliance does not work here.” Oakbrook Land Holdings,

LLC v. Commissioner, at *37-*38 (citing Kaufman v. Commissioner, 134 T.C.

182, 186 (2010) (finding that the taxpayers “cannot avoid the strict requirement in

section 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii), Income Tax Regs., simply by showing that they

would most likely be able to satisfy” their obligation to the land trust), vacated in

part by 687 F.3d 21 (1st Cir. 2012)).

C. Improvements

Finally, petitioner argues that partial summary judgment is not appropriate

because a question of fact remains as to whether the improvements authorized by

the deed would increase the value of the property. He argues that none of the

reserved improvements could increase the value of the property and that the deed

satisfies the requirements of the proceeds regulation because there would be no

improvements value to subtract from any extinguishment proceeds. We do not

agree.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit explicitly held that the

proceeds regulation’s meaning is unambiguous as to improvements: Their value

cannot be subtracted. See PBBM-Rose Hill, Ltd. v. Commissioner, 900 F.3d

at 208. Here, the deed explicitly allows for improvements to be made to the

property and allows any value derived from those improvements to be subtracted - 15 -

[*15] from the proceeds of a judicial extinguishment before the donee receives its

share of those proceeds. Whether those improvements will add value to the

property at some point “in perpetuity” is an unknowable speculation and not a

question of fact for this Court to address. We rejected a similar argument in Belair

Woods, LLC v. Commissioner, at *18 n.7.

IV. Conclusion

The deed granting the conservation easement reduces the donee’s share of

the proceeds in the event of extinguishment by the value of improvements made

by the donor. Accordingly, it does not satisfy the perpetuity requirement of

section 170(h)(5)(A). Furthermore, we reject petitioner’s challenge to the validity

of the proceeds regulation and conclude that the construction of section 170(h)(5)

as set forth in section 1.170A-14(g)(6), Income Tax Regs., is valid under Chevron.

See Oakbrook Land Holdings, LLC v. Commissioner, 154 T.C. at ___ (slip op.

at 26-33).

We will grant respondent’s motion for partial summary judgment. We have

considered all of the arguments made by the parties, and to the extent not

mentioned above, we conclude that they are moot, irrelevant, or without merit. - 16 -

[*16] To reflect the foregoing,

An appropriate order will be issued.