Hagerty v. Commissioner

1973 T.C. Memo. 162, 32 T.C.M. 788, 1973 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 125
United States Tax Court·Decided July 24, 1973·No. Docket Nos. 4034-70, 4792-70, 5497-70·Unpublished

Opinion

CAROL PATTON HAGERTY (Formerly Mrs. Carol Patton), 1 Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Hagerty v. Commissioner
Docket Nos. 4034-70, 4792-70, 5497-70
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1973-162; 1973 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 125; 32 T.C.M. (CCH) 788; T.C.M. (RIA) 73162;
July 24, 1973, Filed
*125

During 1963 and the major portion of 1964 petitioners traveled throughout Europe selling the products of the American corporation. In October of 1964 they returned to Europe, settling in France, to assist their customers in merchandising the products sold in the earlier years, to create and test new marketing and advertising ideas for the American corporation and to form a European sales office which would take over the selling activities of the American corporation. Petitioners returned to the United States in June of 1966. Held: Petitioners were bona fide residents of a foreign country for one entire taxable year and the income received while residents of France was attributable to services performed in a foreign country and therefore such income is excludable under sec. 911.

Stephen A. Seall and James F. Thornburg, for the petitioners.
Robert P. Ruwe, for the respondent. 2

STERRETT

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

STERRETT, Judge: The Commissioner determined deficiencies in petitioners' Federal income taxes as follows:

PetitionerDocket No.YearAmount
Carol Patton Hagerty4034-701966$3,894.03
Carol Patton Hagerty4792-7019655,620.00
William J. Hagerty5497-7019664,167.16

*126 The sole issue presented for adjudication relates to whether the income received by petitioners during the years in issue qualifies under section 9112 as earned income from sources without the United States and is thereby exempt from taxation. This decision rests on:

(1) Whether petitioners were bona fide residents of a foreign country for an uninterrupted period which includes an entire taxable year, and

(2) Whether the payments by W. J. Hagerty & Sons, Ltd., Inc., an American corporation, to petitioners constitute earned income attributable to personal services performed in a foreign country.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulation, together with the exhibits attached thereto, are incorporated herein by this reference. 3

Carol Patton Hagerty (formerly Mrs. Carol Patton) (hereinafter referred to as Carol or petitioner) filed her 1965 and 1966 Federal individual income tax returns with the district director of internal revenue at Indianapolis, Indiana. William J. Hagerty (hereinafter referred to as Hagerty or petitioner) filed his 1966 *127Federal individual income tax return with the district director of internal revenue at Indianapolis, Indiana. At the time of the filing of the petitions herein the petitioners resided in South Bend, Indiana.

W. J. Hagerty & Sons, Ltd., Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the American corporation) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana on February 1, 1961. During the years in issue the American corporation engaged in the business of selling silver polish and related items (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Hagerty Products), which had been originated by Hagerty's mother and father.

From the time of its incorporation until August 11, 1964, Hagerty was the president and treasurer of the American corporation. Thereafter he became chairman of the board with his brother, M. Patrick Hagerty (hereinafter referred to as Patrick) assuming the position of president and his mother, Mary Helena Hagerty (hereinafter referred to as Mary) accepting the post of secretary. In addition to himself, his 4 brother and mother, various other relatives were also employed by the American corporation.

The outstanding stock of the American corporation consisted of 10 shares which were *128owned by petitioner from February 1961 through December of the same year, at which time said shares were transferred pro rata to the grandchildren of petitioner's father. Whenever a new grandchild was born, the original 10 shares were redivided and reissued.

During 1963 and 1964, Hagerty and Carol traveled extensively throughout Europe to merchandise the silver polish, tarnish preventive, and related products of the American corporation to European silversmiths. Carol was Hagerty's secretary and administrative assistant. The American corporation's European sales during this 2 year period totaled approximately $915,000.

Sales for 1963 and 1964 may be summarized as follows:

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Hagerty v. Commissioner, 1973 T.C. Memo. 162, 32 T.C.M. 788, 1973 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 125 (tax 1973).

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