Indiana Retail Hardware Ass'n v. United States

366 F.2d 998, 177 Ct. Cl. 288
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedOctober 14, 1966
DocketNo. 91-60
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 366 F.2d 998 (Indiana Retail Hardware Ass'n v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Indiana Retail Hardware Ass'n v. United States, 366 F.2d 998, 177 Ct. Cl. 288 (cc 1966).

Opinion

Whitaker, Senior Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court:

Plaintiff, Indiana Retail Hardware Association, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the Association), brings this suit for the recovery of income taxes paid by it for the years 1954,1955 and 1956. It claims that during this period it was a “business league * * * not organized for profit and no part of the net earnings of which inure [d] to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual,” within the meaning of section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 19541 and as such it was exempt from taxation by section 501(a) 2 thereof.

[290]*290Treasury Regulation § 1.501(c) (6)-l defines a business league as follows:

A business league is an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote such common interest and not to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit. It is an organization of the same general class as a chamber of commerce or board of trade. Thus, its activities should be directed to the improvement of business conditions of one, or more lines of business as distinguished from the performance of particular services for individual persons. An organization whose purpose is to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit, even though the business is conducted on a cooperative basis or produces only sufficient income to be self-sustaining, is not a business league. * * *

This regulation was first promulgated in 1929 and has remained substantially unchanged through repeated reenactments of the revenue laws,3 all of which contained a section or sections exempting business leagues from taxation.4 In none of these revenue acts has Congress indicated any dissatisfaction with the definition of a business league contained in the regulation. In addition, numerous court decisions have upheld its validity as a correct interpretation of the legislative intent. See Evanston-North Shore Board of Realtors v. United States, 162 Ct. Cl. 682, 320 F. 2d 375 (1963), cert. denied, 376 U.S. 931 (1964); United States v. Oklahoma City Retailers Ass'n, 331 F. 2d 328 (10th Cir. 1964); Automotive Electric Ass'n v. Commissioner, 168 F. 2d 366 (6th Cir. 1948) ; Apartment Operations Ass'n v. Commissioner, 136 F. 2d 435 (9th Cir. 1943) ; Underwriters’ Laboratories v. Commissioner, 135 F. 2d 371 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 320 U.S. 756 (1943). Under these circumstances the regulation must be treated as having the force and effect of law.

[291]*291Thus, in order to qualify under the statute and regulation as a tax exempt business league, an organization must meet the following conditions: (1) It must not be organized for profit; (2) no part of its net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual; (3) it must be an association of persons, incorporated or unincorporated, having a common business interest; (4) its purpose must be to promote that common business interest and not to engage in a business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit; and (5) its activities must be directed to the improvement of conditions in the common business, as distinguished from performing particular services for individuals. All of these conditions must be met for the tax exemption to be applicable.

Since the decision in these cases depends upon the facts in each, we set out below the facts presented in this case.

The Association is an Indiana non-profit corporation which was organized in 1913 5 and has continued in existence without interruption since that date. During the years in question it was the only trade association representing hardware retailers in the State of Indiana, with a membership of approximately 80 percent of the hardware retailers in the State, excluding hardware sections of department stores.

According to its Articles of Association, the objectives of the Association were “To promote and secure the mutual benefit, improvement, protection and cooperation of the retail hardware trade.” Its constitution and by-laws stated these objectives in more detail but were consistent with the Articles of Association.

As a part of its operation during the years 1954 through 1956, the Association engaged in both income and non-income-producing activities. Its non-income-producing activities included the following: the holding each year of annual Hardware Management and Hardware Sales Conferences ; the conducting of approximately 25 Display Clinics; the holding of an annual two- or three-day school on accounting and bookkeeping; the conducting of annual [292]*292group meetings in each of its 15 membership districts in Indiana; the publication and distribution to members without charge of a monthly magazine, the “Hoosier Hardware News”; the response to inquiries from members concerning modernization, management, and operational problems; the carrying on of legislative activities on behalf of members, including attempts to secure the passage or defeat of various bills in the Indiana Legislature; the holding each year of an annual convention of its members; and the conduct of other similar activities. These activities were in keeping with the Association’s objectives as stated in its Articles of Association.

If these had been the only activities in which the Association engaged, it would have satisfied all of the conditions required for exemption under the statute and regulation. However, as was mentioned above, the Association also engaged in income-producing activities. These activities included the sale to such of its members as wished to buy them of display fixtures and of various advertising promotional aids, such as calendars, wrapping paper, stickers and supplies, etc. The Association bought these things at wholesale prices and sold them at retail prices. It also supplied to such of its members as wished to pay for them managerial services, weekly bookkeeping, quarterly audits, yearly preparation of Federal income tax returns, and other similar services. It billed and collected premiums and distributed claim forms for underwriters who offered to the Association’s members and their employees group health, accident and life insurance. For the performance of these functions it received a percentage of the premiums collected.

In addition to the foregoing income-producing activities, the Association conducted an annual hardware show at the same time as the annual convention of its members. This show was attended by some of the members and by certain invited nonmembers. At the show various wholesalers and manufacturers would exhibit, demonstrate, and take orders for their wares. These exhibitors rented their display areas from the Association, which had initially rented a building for the purpose of the convention and show. From this [293]*293rental of exhibit space the Association derived substantial profit.

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

Related

Bluetooth Sig Inc. v. United States
611 F.3d 617 (Ninth Circuit, 2010)
Louisiana Credit Union League v. United States
501 F. Supp. 934 (E.D. Louisiana, 1980)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
366 F.2d 998, 177 Ct. Cl. 288, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/indiana-retail-hardware-assn-v-united-states-cc-1966.