Manoogian Fund v. United States

24 T.C. 412, 1955 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 167
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJune 17, 1955
DocketDocket Nos. 816-R, 817-R.
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 24 T.C. 412 (Manoogian Fund v. United States) 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
Manoogian Fund v. United States, 24 T.C. 412, 1955 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 167 (tax 1955).

Opinion

OPINION.

LeMiRE, Judge:

After various preliminary maneuvers these consolidated proceedings are here for a determination on the merits. They involve the redetermination of excessive profits of the petitioner for its fiscal period June 1, 1944, through December 31, 1944, and for the fiscal year ended December 31,1945.

The primary question presented relates to the jurisdiction of this Court under the Renegotiation Act of 1943 to determine the status of the petitioner within the purview of section 101 (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939. If the answer is in the affirmative, the petitioner’s status as an exempt organization during the periods involved is to be determined.

The stipulated facts are incorporated herein by reference.

The petitioner was incorporated under the laws of the State of Michigan in December 1942 as a nonprofit corporation.

The purposes of the corporation, as set forth in article II of its charter, are as follows:

To use the capital and income of the corporation for such benevolent, charitable, educational, scientific, religious and public purposes as in the judgment of the trustees will promote the health, welfare, happiness, education, training and development of men, women and children, particularly the sick, young, erring, poor, crippled, helpless, handicapped, unfortunate and underprivileged, regardless of race, color, religion or station, primarily in the United States and elsewhere in the world. To give the capital and income of same to other charitable or other nonprofit organizations organized for same or similar purposes in the United States or elsewhere in the world.

On May 1, 1944, the petitioner filed a certificate of amendment to the articles of incorporation. The amendment added to article II the following paragraph:

To own and hold title to real estate, securities, and other properties and chattels, including businesses and enterprises ; the income of which and/or profit from the conduct of which, s-hall be used for the purposes hereinbefore enumerated.

The petitioner, sometimes hereinafter referred to as the Fund, was to be financed by “gift, donation, bequest and devise.”

Under date of June 1,1944, a deed of trust was entered into between Marie Tatian (Manoogian), Dickran Boyajian, and the Fund. By the terms of this instrument Boyajian agreed to accept, as trustee, certain chattels, including cash, and the use of the trade name, “Metal Parts Manufacturing Company.” Among other things, Boyajian was permitted to either liquidate or continue the operation of Metal Parts Manufacturing Company. By the trust deed the Fund became the beneficial owner of the machinery and plant equipment, etc., used by the Company. On June 16, 1914, Dickran Boyajian, as trustee for the Fund, filed a certificate for the conducting of business under the assumed name of Metal Parts Manufacturing Company, hereinafter referred to as the Company. Dickran Boyajian operated the Company from June 1, 1944, to October 31, 1945. The operation involved the manufacture and processing of various types and/or parts of antiaircraft shells.

During its fiscal period ended December 31, 1944, the Company had renegotiable sales of $2,156,480.76, from which it realized a profit of $283,827.27. During the fiscal period ended December 31, 1945, the Company had renegotiable sales of $916,761.86, from which it realized a profit of $90,887.16.

On August 6, 1948, the TTar Contracts Price Adjustment Board advised petitioner by letters and orders that during its fiscal period ended December 31, 1944, it had excessive profits in the principal amount of $175,000, and that during its fiscal year ended December 31, 1945, it had realized excessive profits in the principal amount of $50,000. On October 27, 1948, petitions were filed with this Court putting in issue the determinations of the Board that the petitioner had excessive profits for its fiscal periods in question.

On June 19,1944, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue addressed a letter to the Fund, advising that the admendment to its articles of incorporation would not affect the Bureau’s ruling, dated August 26, 1943, that the Fund was exempt from Federal income tax under section 101 (6).

On June 15,1948, the Commissioner again sent a letter to the Fund. After referring to its ruling of August 26, 1943, the letter set forth various facts. The opinion was expressed that on the basis of the evidence on file and the facts outlined, it had not been established that in 1943, and subsequent years, the Fund was organized and operated exclusively for the purposes specified in section 101 (6), and further stated that the ruling of August 26, 1943, was modified to hold that the Fund was not entitled to exemption from Federal income tax.

The ruling of June 15,1948, was in effect at the time the War Contracts Price Adjustment Board made its determinations of petitioner’s excessive profits for the fiscal periods involved and at the time the petitions were filed with this Court.

On December 6, 1948, the Commissioner wrote to the Fund stating that the ruling of June 15,1948, was revoked and the ruling of August 26,1943, reinstated. The letter did not set forth any facts upon which the opinion expressed was predicated.

During its fiscal period June 1, 1944, to December 31, 1944, petitioner realized excessive profits in the amount of $175,000.

During its fiscal year ended December 31, 1945, the petitioner realized excessive profits in the amount of $50,000.

The petitioner has failed to establish that during the fiseal periods in question it was exempt from renegotiation within the purview of section 403 (i) (1) (D) of the Renegotiation Act of 1943.

Petitioner concedes that if it is subject to renegotiation during the fiscal periods involved it realized excessive profits in the respective amounts determined by the Board.

Petitioner contends that the last ruling of the Commissioner under date of December 6,1948, that it was exempt under section 101 (6) of the Code is controlling, and, therefore, this Court lacks jurisdiction to determine whether or not it is an exempt organization within the purview of section 403 (i) (1) (D) and (i) (2) of the Renegotiation Act of 1943.1 Solely because of the omission in subsection (i) (2) of paragraph (D) the petitioner concludes that Congress intended to confer exclusive authority upon the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to interpret and apply the provisions of paragraph (D) of section 403 (i) (1).

In our opinion, the conclusion which the petitioner advances is without logic and an improper interpretation of the Congressional intent as shown by the legislative history of the Renegotiation Act.

Section 101 (6) has been in existence for many years. Congress was well aware that the statute and the Treasury Regulations applicable thereto have been construed and applied by the Federal courts, including the Supreme Court. Under such circumstances, we think that Congress deemed it unnecessary to authorize the Renegotiation Board to make new regulations interpreting and applying the exemption provided in paragraph (D).

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Manoogian Fund v. United States
24 T.C. 412 (U.S. Tax Court, 1955)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
24 T.C. 412, 1955 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 167, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/manoogian-fund-v-united-states-tax-1955.