Industrial Research Products, Inc. v. Commissioner

40 T.C. 578, 1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 94
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJune 24, 1963
DocketDocket Nos. 81970, 81976
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 40 T.C. 578 (Industrial Research Products, Inc. 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
Industrial Research Products, Inc. v. Commissioner, 40 T.C. 578, 1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 94 (tax 1963).

Opinion

Mulroney, Judge:

The respondent determined deficiencies In these consolidated cases, as follows:

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The questions to be decided are the correctness of the deductions taken by petitioners in both dockets for bond premium amortization under section 125 of the 1939 Code and section 171 of the 1954 Code and whether petitioners in docket No. 81976 are entitled to a claimed business expense deduction.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts were stipulated and they are found accordingly.

Industrial Research Products, Inc., hereinafter referred to as Industrial, was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on October 21, 1946. Its principal place of business is in Franklin Park, Ill. At all times material hereto, Industrial kept its books and filed its income tax returns on the accrual method of accounting. Industrial filed its Federal income tax return for the year here involved with the district director of internal revenue at Chicago, Ill.

Hugh S. and Josephine Knotts Knowles are husband and wife. During the year 1954 they resided in Glen Ellyn, Ill. They filed a joint Federal income tax return for the year 1954 with the district director of internal revenue at Chicago, Ill.

Livingstone & Co., hereinafter referred to as Livingstone, is a dealer in bonds. It is a sole proprietorship with M. Eli Livingstone the sole proprietor. During the year 1954, Maurice Fine was employed by Livingstone as a salesman. Samuel Livingstone, who is a brother of M. Eli Livingstone, was employed by Livingstone as house counsel. He also did some accounting work for the company. Harry N. Cushing is an attorney, who was acquainted with M. Eli Livingstone in 1954.

Sonics Research Foundation, hereinafter referred to as Sonics, at all times material hereto was a not-for-profit corporation and an organization described in sections 170(c) and 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Hugh S. Knowles, hereinafter sometimes referred to as Knowles, is president of Sonics and in 1954 he was president and a director of Industrial. After June 30, 1954, Knowles and his wife owned all the stock of Industrial.

Hartford Electric Light Co. authorized a series of 314-percent debenture bonds dated September 1, 1941, maturing on September 1, 1971, which were issued in September 1941. Interest on such bonds was fully taxable and payable on March 1 and September 1. Such bonds were callable for the sinking fund at 100 on any interest date after September 1, 1946. Such bonds are hereinafter referred to as Hartford Electric bonds.

Illinois Power Co. authorized a series of 314-percent bonds dated February 1, 1948, maturing on February 1, 1978, which were issued on February 18, 1948. Interest on such bonds was fully taxable and payable on February 1 and August 1. Such bonds were callable as a whole or in part by lot on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ published notice at 100.43 to February 1, 1955, for sinking fund, property fund, or maintenance and renewal fund or from certain moneys in the trust estate. Such bonds are hereinafter referred to as Illinois Power bonds.

Appalachian Electric Power Co. authorized a series of 3%-percent bonds dated December 1,1947, maturing on December 1, 1977, which were issued on December 4, 1947. Interest on such bonds was fully taxable and payable on June 1 and December 1. Such bonds were callable as a whole or in part on not less than 30 nor more than 90 days’ published notice at 100% to November 30, 1957, from maintenance and improvement funds or with proceeds of released property. Such bonds are hereinafter referred to as Appalachian Electric bonds.

In the transactions hereinafter related the Connecticut Bank and Trust Co. of Hartford will be referred to as Connecticut; the Chase National Bank of New York will be referred to as Chase; the Continental Illinois Bank and Trust Co. of Chicago as Continental; the Philadelphia National Bank as Philadelphia; Bankers Trust Co. of New York as Bankers; and Garvin, Bantel & Co. as Garvin.

On July 30, 1954, Livingstone sold $523,300 face value Hartford Electric bonds to Industrial at 108% or a principal amount of $567,780.50, plus accrued interest of $7,275.34, making a total price of $575,055.84. By letter dated July 30, 1954, Livingstone advised Industrial that it was accepting Industrial’s note to Cushing in the amount of $523,300 as payment of that amount which left a cash payment due from Industrial in the amount of $51,755.84 with respect to its purchase of Hartford Electric bonds. Industrial executed a promissory note payable to Cushing in the amount of $523,300, which was dated August 3, 1954, and delivered to and accepted by Livingstone. On August 5,1954, Industrial paid Livingstone $51,755.84 with respect to its purchase of the $523,300 face value Hartford Electric bonds.

In connection with the purchase of the Hartford bonds, Livingstone notified Industrial by letter dated July 30, 1954, which read, in part, as follows :

I hereby bid you firm good through October 15, 1954,107%. for— $523,300 Hartford Electric Light Oo. 314s, due 1971
In the event of a market decline, I will indemnify you for any losses you may sustain due to bonds being called for redemption or market decline.

Livingstone also notified Industrial by another letter dated July 30, 1954, relating to Industrial’s purchase of these bonds which read, in part, as follows:

Gentlemen:
In connection with your purchase of $523,300 Hartford Electric Light 3%s, 1971, in the event that any or all of these bonds are called for redemption, I will redeem them at the price at which I have given you your “put” irrespective and notwithstanding such call.

Livingstone notified Industrial by letter dated October 13,1954, which read, in part, as follows:

We are extending your PUT on $523,300 Hartford Electric Light Co. 3% of 1971 .through. October 20,1954.

By letters dated August 5, 1954, Industrial (a) instructed Livingstone to deliver $523,300 Hartford Electric bonds to Cushing against payment of $523,300, and (b) instructed Cushing to receive the Hartford Electric bonds from Livingstone against payment to them of $523,300.

By letter dated August 4, 1954, Cushing instructed Livingstone to deliver the Hartford Electric bonds to Chase for Connecticut and receive from Chase $501,000, and on the same date Cushing instructed Connecticut to instruct Chase to receive from Livingstone the Hartford Electric bonds against payment to them of $501,000. Cushing executed his note payable to Connecticut in the amount of $501,000 which was dated August 13, 1954. All of the foregoing instructions were carried out and on August 13, 1954, Chase received custody of $523,300 face value Hartford Electric bonds as collateral security for the loan of $501,000 made that day by Connecticut to Cushing.

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Bluebook (online)
40 T.C. 578, 1963 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 94, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/industrial-research-products-inc-v-commissioner-tax-1963.