Harrison v. Commissioner

24 T.C. 46, 1955 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 207
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedApril 20, 1955
DocketDocket Nos. 47962, 47963
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 24 T.C. 46 (Harrison 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
Harrison v. Commissioner, 24 T.C. 46, 1955 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 207 (tax 1955).

Opinion

OPINION.

Johnson, Judge:

The first issue we must consider is whether the exchange of partnership assets for corporate stock and drawing accounts occurred in 1946 or 1947. The petitioners contend that the exchange occurred in 1946 and under section 275 (c) 1 of the 1939 Code the statute of limitations would have run against respondent’s determination. It is respondent’s contention that the exchange occurred in 1947.

Under Missouri law the existence of a corporation dates from the time of the filing of the articles of incorporation with the secretary of state. The certificate given by the secretary of state is evidence in the State courts of the existence of the corporation. However, a corporation may not commence business until certain requirements are met, and a certificate authorizing it to commence business has been issued by the secretary of state. See secs. 351.070 and 351.075, E. S. Mo. 1949.

Also, under State law the filing of the articles of incorporation by the secretary of state constitutes acceptance by the corporation of all existing subscriptions to its shares, and thereupon subscribers for shares or their assignees shall be deemed to be stockholders of the corporation. Sec. 351.175, R. S. Mo. 1949.

Since the corporation filed its articles of incorporation in 1946, and since a certificate was issued by the secretary of state in 1946, the corporation did exist in 1946. In addition, the articles of incorporation stated that petitioners and Greve subscribed to all the authorized capital stock; therefore, the corporation had bona fide shareholders in 1946. However, according to the jurisprudence of Missouri, the articles of incorporation are not proof conclusively that the stock was fully paid. Raleigh Investment Co. v. Bunker, 285 Mo. 440, 227 S. W. 121; Yardley v. Caruthersville Motor Co., 225 Mo. App. 321, 35 S. W. 2d 971. Therefore, the articles of incorporation are not proof conclusively that the partnership assets were transferred to the corporation in 1946.

Let us briefly review the facts. There was a partnership that closed its books as of December 31, 1946. Also in 1946 there was a corporation with bona fide stockholders, but the corporate books show no record of any corporate property ownership until January 2, 1947. No corporate tax return was filed for 1946.

The articles of incorporation, dated December 23, 1946, stated that the petitioners gave $455,000 of assets subject to $305,000 of liabilities for $150,000 of corporate stock, but the corporate books as of January 2, 1947, show that $548,426.59 of assets subject to liabilities of $92,543.48 ($44,019.92 plus $48,523.56) to petitioners, and $305,883.11 to others, was exchanged for $150,000 of corporate stock. The discrepancy between the stated values in the articles of incorporation and the actual book values was a result of a rough approximation on the part of petitioners’ attorney when he drafted the articles of incorporation. It is significant that if the assets had in fact been transferred at the time the articles of incorporation had been drafted or immediately thereafter, there would have been no need for an approximation. The books would have reflected the actual value of the assets involved in the transfer.

The statement in the articles of incorporation that certain assets were transferred to the corporation is not conclusive proof of the transfer, particularly since there has been no showing that the assets were closed out of the partnership books prior to December 31, 1946. Further, there is no showing that the assets were transferred to the corporate books prior to January 2, 1947. Finally, the intention of the petitioners was that the corporation would commence business as of the first day of January 1947. On these facts we can only conclude that the assets were transferred in 1947 and not 1946. That statute of limitations is not a bar to the respondent’s determination.

Next, we shall consider the remaining two issues together, that is, was there an exchange under section 112 (b) (5), and if not, was there a gain within section 112 (c) (1). First, we must consider whether the exchange of the partnership assets was within the provisions of section 112 (b) (5), that is, was there an exchange of property to a corporation by petitioners solely in exchange for stock and securities of the corporation, and immediately after the exchange were petiti-tioners in control of the corporation, and, finally, was the amount of stock and securities received by petitioners substantially in proportion to their interest in the property prior to the exchange. If the exchange was within section 112 (b) (5), no gain or loss would be recognized.

Respondent contends that petitioners received something other than stock and securities in the exchange because drawing accounts are not securities within the contemplation of section 112 (b) (5). Respondent determined that the drawing accounts were “other property” and under section 112 (c) (l)2 petitioners incurred a recognized gain in the exchange. On the other hand, petitioners contend that they have complied with section 112 (b) (5).

The net worth of the partnership at the close of business on December 31,1946, was $242,400.62. There is no dispute that the $150,000 of capital stock was distributed to petitioners in the proportion of their interest in the partnership property. The question arises as to the $92,400.62 which is the difference between the partnership net worth and the stated value of the capital stock. This $92,400.62 was credited on the corporate books as “John W. Harrison, Drawing $44,019.92” and “Clifford F. Harrison, Drawing $48,523.56.” No explanation was given for the variance between $92,400.62 and the aggregate of the drawing account entries which amounted to $92,543.48.

According to the stipulated facts the journal entry on the corporate books correctly reflected all of the partnership assets and liabilities as of December 31, 1946. But upon careful examination of the record it appears that the corporate journal entries, denominated drawing accounts, did not have similar liability accounts in the partnership. Rather the drawing accounts’ counterpart in the partnership was an undenominated net worth of at least $92,400.62. It now appears, even though a goodwill account was not set up on the.corporation’s books, that this net worth was in the nature of partnership goodwill.

jby setting up part of the partnership net worth as drawing accounts, petitioners acquired a right to withdraw substantial sums from the corporation: The record contains no evidence as to restrictions on the use of the drawing accounts.

Now, if this exchange is to be within section 112 (b) (5), the drawing accounts must come within the definition of “securities.” In the past securities have been held to be such obligations as bonds, debenture notes, and subscription rights, but short-term notes for 3, 4, and 5 years are not deemed securities. Neville Coke & Chemical Co., 3 T. C. 113, affd. 148 F. 2d 599; Pacific Public Service Co., 4 T. C. 742, affd. 154 F. 2d 713. Thus it would appear under prior decisions that “securities” are in the nature of long-term obligations. When long-term obligations and stock are exchanged for property, the original interest in the business is continued and perpetuated, which is in accord with the underlying theory of a tax-free exchange.

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

Related

Portage Plastics Company, Inc. v. United States
470 F.2d 308 (Seventh Circuit, 1972)
Taub v. Commissioner
1971 T.C. Memo. 155 (U.S. Tax Court, 1971)
Turner v. Commissioner
1961 T.C. Memo. 101 (U.S. Tax Court, 1961)
Brown v. Commissioner
27 T.C. No. 3 (U.S. Tax Court, 1956)
Irwin v. Commissioner
24 T.C. 722 (U.S. Tax Court, 1955)
Harrison v. Commissioner
24 T.C. 46 (U.S. Tax Court, 1955)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
24 T.C. 46, 1955 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 207, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harrison-v-commissioner-tax-1955.