Dillin v. Commissioner

56 T.C. 228, 1971 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 137
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMay 6, 1971
DocketDocket Nos. 5050-67, 5051-67
StatusPublished
Cited by46 cases

This text of 56 T.C. 228 (Dillin 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
Dillin v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 228, 1971 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 137 (tax 1971).

Opinion

Sterkett, Judge:

Respondent in bis notices of jeopardy assessments determined deficiencies and additions to tax, under sections 6651(a) and 6653 (a), I.R.C. 1954,2 as follows:

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Altbougb there is one basic issue for decision, the respondent’s determination presents several different questions: (1) Whether petitioner William N. Dillin was taxable on certain amounts because he was a U.S. citizen at the time he engaged in the activity which gave rise to the pertinent payments; (2) if the answer to the first question is negative, whether petitioner William N. Dillin was a nonresident alien at the time he received the payments; (3) if William N. Dillin was a nonresident alien the respondent contends that the amounts in question were from sources within the United States; and (4) whether Patrea L. Dillin was taxable upon one-half of the amounts in question by virtue of the Texas community property law. In addition, we are called upon to decide whether respondent erred in determining certain additions to the tax of both petitioners.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulations and the exhibits attached thereto are incorporated herein by this reference.

Petitioners William N. Dillin (hereinafter referred to as Dillin) and Patrea L. Dillin (hereinafter referred to as Patrea), husband and wife, resided in Nassau, Bahamas, at the time their petitions were filed herein. For the taxable year 1963, Dillin filed a U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return; Patrea filed a separate U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. On these returns the petitioners reported income on a community property basis, and used the cash receipts method of accounting. Neither petitioner filed a Federal income tax return for 1964 or 1965.

Petitioners have been married since January 1951. From approximately 1952 until September of 1963 the petitioners resided in Corpus Christi, Tex. On his Federal income tax return for 1963 Dillin, who was an attorney at law not engaged in its practice, stated his occupation as oil operator. Dillin was not a petroleum engineer or a geologist. lie bad never OAvned any producing oil or gas wells. A considerable part of bis activity as an oil operator was in engaging as a landman, in negotiating oil and gas leases. When a landman acts for an oil company, the company designates the parcels of realty that it is interested in and sets the maximum purchase price it is willing to pay.

In May of 1958, Dillin went to Washington, D.C., on a business trip and while there phoned Charles F. O’Neall (hereinafter O’Neall), a close friend of his. O’Neall told Dillin that he was going to go to Argentina the following day to investigate the possibilities of a real estate transaction there. During this conversation O’Neall stated that Argentina had recently elected a new President and that Argentina had great need for crude oil. He told Dillin that he had a friend and associate, Antonio Angel Diaz (hereinafter Diaz), who could assure a hearing before Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (hereinafter YPF), a Government agency which had ownership and control of substantially all Argentine oil rights. YPF Avas in charge of all oil production, distribution, and marketing, and was authorized to conduct business on its own or through Argentinian or foreign companies. O’Neall suggested that he and Dillin “should get together and do some sort of oil deal down there,” and that Dillin should think of an oil operator who might be interested in an Argentine concession. Subsequently, O’Neall called from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and stated that the prospects looked favorable and that Dillin should contact an oil operator who would be interested.

The day following this conversation, Dillin went to the offices of Paul R. Turnbull (hereinafter referred to as Turnbull) and Frank P. Zoch, Jr. (hereinafter referred to as Zoch), who operated a domestic oil-drilling company in Corpus Christi, Tex. He spoke to Turnbull, who stated that their company would not be interested in a concession arrangement but would be interested in a drilling contract should one become available.

When O’Neall returned from Argentina he informed Dillin that a drilling contract was possible. Dillin then contacted Zoch who arranged a meeting in Dallas, Tex., at the offices of Southeastern Drilling Corp. (Southeastern Dallas), a domestic drilling company which during 1958 operated from 8 to 10 rigs in the United States. Southeastern Dallas and/or its shareholders and subsidiaries were involved to some extent in foreign drilling operations in Trinidad, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Borneo.

In July of 1958, a meeting was held in the offices of Southeastern Dallas in Dallas; Dillin, O’Neall, Zoch, and Turnbull attended, as did William P. Clements, Jr. (hereinafter referred to as Clements), the president and chief executive officer of Southeastern Dallas, and Spencer Taylor, a vice president. At this meeting O’Neall indicated that he had information with respect to a developing oil program in Argentina. He stated that he had done legal work for Diaz (O’Neall was an attorney), who was in the newsreel business in Argentina, and that Diaz had close personal contact with YPF officials. O’Neall said that YPF needed help in drilling wells and that he thought Diaz could be of assistance in obtaining a drilling contract.

During a break in this meeting the participants, excluding O’Neall and Dillin, decided that although they were unsure of the merits of O’Neall’s presentation it would be at least worthwhile to send Turn-bull to Argentina in order to make a “reconnaissance” of the situation there.

When the meeting was reconvened, Clements indicated Southeastern Dallas’ interest and proposed that Dillin and O’Neall be paid 20 percent of the net profits of any drilling contract that was obtained after all debts and expenses were paid. No salaries of the officers of Southeastern Dallas were to be paid from Argentine proceeds, but, any traveling expenses of Southeastern Dallas’ personnel would come from net profits. O’Neall and Dillin agreed and O’Neall stated that 10 percent would be divided between himself and Dillin and the other 10 percent would go to Diaz.

At this meeting Clements stated that he would be pleased with a contract that employed one rig for a period of 2 years. He stated that future profits would come from future contracts. The agreement of the parties was not reduced to writing at this time.

After the meeting of July 1958, Dillin returned to Corpus Christi. It was not contemplated that he would have further duties. Dillin expected to help in any necessary manner but he felt that his “main job had been done;” i.e., to select and interest a competent drilling contractor. At the July meeting O’Neall stated that he would go to Argentina immediately; there was no discussion of specific actions to be taken.

Shortly after the July meeting Turnbull and O’Neall went to Argentina. Turnbull was charged with making a more or less superficial evaluation of the situation. O’Neall went to assist Turnbull and to act as his interpreter. Neither Turnbull nor O’Neall had authority to act for Southeastern Dallas.

During his stay in Argentina, Turnbull reported that he met with Dr.

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Bluebook (online)
56 T.C. 228, 1971 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 137, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dillin-v-commissioner-tax-1971.