Donald A. Jackson, Jr. And Marilynn Jackson v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue

708 F.2d 1402, 52 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5245, 1983 U.S. App. LEXIS 26597
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedJune 20, 1983
Docket82-7028
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 708 F.2d 1402 (Donald A. Jackson, Jr. And Marilynn Jackson v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Donald A. Jackson, Jr. And Marilynn Jackson v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 708 F.2d 1402, 52 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5245, 1983 U.S. App. LEXIS 26597 (9th Cir. 1983).

Opinions

PER CURIAM:

Donald and Marilynn Jackson petitioned the Tax Court for redetermination of income tax deficiencies, contending (1) they did not realize taxable income upon the transfer of a joint venture interest to their wholly owned corporation, and (2) they were entitled to deduct certain rental expenses incurred in connection with a condominium held for the production of income. The Tax Court found for the Commissioner on both issues. The Jacksons appeal. We reverse on the first issue, affirm on the second.

I.

Donald Jackson owned a 50 per cent interest in a joint venture formed to construct an apartment project. On September 15, 1972, Jackson personally signed a promissory note for a short-term gap loan from Wells Fargo Bank to cover initial capital costs of the joint venture. On October 11, 1972, Jackson appointed his wholly owned corporation, Housing Specialists, Inc. (HSI), to act, with respect to the joint venture, as an agent for Jackson as an undis[1404]*1404closed principal. On the same day, HSI and the other joint venturer obtained a construction loan from Gibraltar Savings and Loan Association. HSI appeared as a principal on the note. There was no evidence that Gibraltar was aware of the joint venture or of the fact that HSI was acting as an agent. Jackson guaranteed the loan personally. The Tax Court found that in the circumstances HSI was bound as a principal.

On January 3,1973, Jackson abolished his agency relationship with HSI and assigned his half interest in the joint venture to HSI. Jackson completely severed his individual relationship with the joint venture. HSI assumed all of the incidents of ownership, including managerial control and the right to a share of the surplus on dissolution. The Tax Court held HSI became a partner in the joint venture for federal tax purposes, see Evans v. Commissioner, 54 T.C. 40 (1970), 447 F.2d 547 (7th Cir.1971), and, because HSI succeeded Jackson as a joint venturer, HSI assumed Jackson’s half share of joint venture liabilities. The Tax Court concluded it was appropriate to treat the transfer as a sale under I.R.C. §§ 741 and 1001(a), (1954), the consideration being the share of the partnership liabilities assumed by HSI. Crane v. Commissioner, 331 U.S. 1, 12-14, 67 S.Ct. 1047, 1053-1054, 91 L.Ed. 1301 (1947); Millar v. Commissioner, 577 F.2d 212, 214—16 (3d Cir.1978); Smith v. Commissioner, 324 F.2d 725, 726 (9th Cir. 1963).

Jackson’s gain was calculated on the premise that Jackson was relieved of his half of the partnership liabilities (the two loans). This reduction in liability was the “amount realized” by Jackson from the transfer. Jackson’s basis in the partnership interest at the time of transfer was his half share of the two loans less his distributive share of a 1972 partnership loss, claimed by Jackson in his 1972 individual returns. Since the gain recognized on the transfers was the difference between the amount realized and Jackson’s adjusted basis, Jackson’s gain was the same as his share of the partnership loss deducted in his 1972 return.

Jackson contends that the transfer of his 50 per cent interest in the joint venture to his wholly owned corporation was a gratuitous contribution to capital and not a sale or other disposition resulting in an “amount realized” that would be taxable under section 1001(a) to the extent it exceeded Jackson’s adjusted basis.

Jackson was primarily liable on the Wells Fargo loan, and secondarily on the Gibraltar loan, both before and after the transfer. The government concedes that “[t]he Commissioner does not contend, and the Tax Court did not hold, that taxpayer transferred either of these liabilities to HSI.” The Tax Court recognized that HSI, “could not under state law, and did not assume primary liability for the loans.” See Cal.Corp. Code § 15017. Jackson testified that he wrote Gibraltar requesting release from the personal guarantee agreement and that the request was denied. Jackson’s continued personal liability on both loans distinguishes this case from rulings and cases cited by the Tax Court and the Commissioner. In neither Crane, nor Millar, did the taxpayer remain liable on the debt after the transfer. This liability entails the possibility that Jackson will, in fact, have to pay the loans from his own funds.

The Commissioner argues that, though Jackson’s liability may have remained the same, the transfer relieved him of liability in the capacity of a joint venturer.

There is an “amount realized” when the taxpayer receives “a full quid pro quo,” “valid consideration,” his “money’s worth,” International Freighting Corp. v. Commissioner, 135 F.2d 310, 313 (2d Cir. 1943). Crane rests, as does the income tax system as a whole, on the concept of gain. Simmons, Nonrecourse Debt and Basis: Mrs. Crane Where Are You Now? 53 S.Cal. L.Rev. 1, 10 (1979). Since Jackson was relieved of no liability and received neither money, property nor other economically significant consideration in exchange for his interest in the joint venture, the requirements of section 1001 for a taxable transfer were not met. Cf. Hirst v. Commissioner, 572 F.2d 427, 430-31 (4th Cir.1978) (en banc) (taxpayer accrued no economic gain after transfer of property to donee).

[1405]*1405The same reasoning undercuts the Commissioner’s reliance upon the provisions of I.R.C. § 741. There has been no “sale or exchange” of a partnership interest when the transferor partner receives nothing of economic significance.

The Commissioner argues Jackson’s transfer of his joint venture interest should be treated as a transfer to a controlled corporation within the meaning of I.R.C. § 351, and that gain should be recognized under I.R.C. § 357(c). We assume section 351 applies even though no exchange of stock occurred because the transfer was to a wholly owned corporation. See Commissioner v. Morgan, 288 F.2d 676, 680 (3d Cir.1961); but see Abegg v. Commissioner, 50 T.C. 145 (1968) aff’d, 429 F.2d 1209 (2d Cir.1970). But section 357(c) would apply only if the liabilities assumed, plus liabilities to which the property was subject, exceeded the adjusted basis of the property. The Tax Court found that HSI could not and did not assume Jackson’s liability on the loans, and Jackson’s interest in the partnership transferred to HSI was not subject to any other liability.

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708 F.2d 1402, 52 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5245, 1983 U.S. App. LEXIS 26597, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/donald-a-jackson-jr-and-marilynn-jackson-v-commissioner-of-internal-ca9-1983.