Lacy Contracting Co. v. Commissioner

56 T.C. 464, 1971 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 127
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJune 1, 1971
DocketDocket No. 1597-69
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 56 T.C. 464 (Lacy Contracting Co. 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
Lacy Contracting Co. v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 464, 1971 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 127 (tax 1971).

Opinion

Steerett, Judge:

For the taxable years ended June 30, 1966, and June 30,1967, the respondent determined deficiencies in the petitioners' Federal income taxes of $3,371.56 and $1,226.84, respectively. Due to concessions by the petitioners the sole issue remaining for decision is whether the provisions of section 267 (a) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 19541 apply so as to prevent petitioner L. II. Lacy Co. from deducting bonuses which were accrued as of the close of its taxable year, June 30, but which were not paid until the following December.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts were stipulated. The stipulations and the exhibits attached thereto are incorporated herein by this reference.

The petitioners are corporations incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas. At the time their petition was filed herein their principal place of business was Dallas, Tex. They filed consolidated Federal income tax returns for the years in issue with the district director of internal revenue at Dallas, Tex.

L. H. Lacy Co. (hereinafter referred to as petitioner), a construction company, was incorporated on December 20, 1955. During the years in issue Jerry H. Lacy (hereinafter referred to as Lacy) owned 52 percent of the outstanding capital stock of Lacy Contracting Co. which, in turn, owned 100 percent of the capital stock of the petitioner. During the years in issue the officers and/or directors of petitioner were as follows:

J. H. Lacy_ President_Director.
L. H. Lacy_Vice president_
Jes Mclver_Vice president_ Director.
Vera Boswell_Secretary/treasurer_Director.

Petitioner reported its income on the basis of a fiscal year ended June 30 and the accrual basis method of accounting. Lacy reported his income on the basis of a calendar year and the cash basis method of accounting.

As of June 30, 1966, pursuant to authorization by its board of directors, the following entry and explanation was recorded on the petitioner’s books of account:

Bonus expense_ $15, 000
Accrued bonus payable_ $15, 000
To set up year-end bonuses to employees per board of directors and memo.

On December 6, 1966, the following entry and explanation was recorded on the books of account of the petitioner:

Accrued bonus payable_1 $15,500
Payroll taxes withheld and employee retirement trust_ $3, 388
Cash in bank___ 12,112
Payment of bonuses accrued a t fiscal year ended 6/30/66.

For the taxable year 1966 it was within the sole discretion of Lacy to apportion the total amount of bonuses authorized by petitioner’s board of directors among various officers and employees. For 1966, Lacy determined that $5,000 was to be his share. He made this decision on an undetermined date in September of 1966.

On December 6, 1966, petitioner issued its check to Lacy in the sum of $3,900 in partial payment of the aforesaid $5,000 'bonus. Of the remaining $1,100, $1,000 was paid to the First National Bank in Dallas as a deposit for Federal withholding taxes and $100- was paid into the petitioner’s retirement trust. For the taxable year 1966, J. H. Lacy and his wife reported on their joint Federal income tax return a bonus of $5,000 as having been received from petitioner.

As of June 30, 1967, the, following entries and explanations were recorded on the petitioner’s books of account:

Bonuses expense — officers and employees_ $25, 000
Accrued payroll- $25,000
To record accrued bonuses as of June 30,1907.
Accrued bonuses_'_ 15, 000
Federal income tax payable_ 7, 500
Retained earnings__ 7, 500
To correct entry for accrued bonuses.1

At a special meeting of petitioner’s board of directors held on August 4, 1967, it was resolved that bonuses in the amount of $10,000 be paid to officers and other employees for fiscal year 1967. Again Lacy determined the apportionment of the above amount among officers and employees, and he determined that he would receive a bonus of $1,000. He made this decision at an undetermined date in September of 1967.

On December 1, 1967, the following entry and explanation was recorded on the books of account of petitioner:

Bonuses payable_ $10,200
Payroll taxes withheld and employee retirement trust- $2, 254. 80
Cash in bank- 7,945.20
Payment of bonuses accrued at fiscal year ended 6/30/67.

On December 1,1967, petitioner issued its check to Lacy in the sum of $780 in payment of the aforementioned $1,000 bonus. The remaining $220 was paid by petitioner for Federal withholding tax and into the company’s retirement trust. For the taxable year 1967 Jjacy and his wife included in gross income on their joint Federal income tax return the bonus of $1,000.

As of June 30, 1966, and June 30, 1967, Lacy owed $4,420.94 and $8,207.70, respectively, to the petitioner. Neither of the two bonuses here in issue was credited to a separate account of the recipient on the books of petitioner. The bonuses were not physically set aside nor were they evidenced by notes of the petitioner.

The charter and bylaws of the petitioner made no provision, either for or against, the payment of bonuses to officers and/or other employees. During the years in question no written contract of employment existed between Lacy and the petitioner. It was the petitioner’s practice to pay its employees bonuses just before Christmas time so that they would have funds for the holiday season. There were no written restrictions concerning the time of payments.

After Lacy made his determination, in September of 1966 or 1967 of the amount that a particular employee was to receive, that employee was not informed that he would receive a bonus until it was received by him in December. At all times between June 30, 1966, and December 6,1966, and between June 30,1967 and December 31,1967, respectively, the petitioner had sufficient funds out'of which to pay the bonuses here in issue. During the years in question Lacy was authorized to sign checks on behalf of the petitioner; his signature alone was sufficient.

The respondent disallowed the petitioners’ deductions for the amounts of the bonuses accrued for Lacy, stating:

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Lacy Contracting Co. v. Commissioner
56 T.C. 464 (U.S. Tax Court, 1971)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
56 T.C. 464, 1971 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 127, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lacy-contracting-co-v-commissioner-tax-1971.