Marcello v. Commissioner

43 T.C. 168, 1964 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 19
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedNovember 13, 1964
DocketDocket No. 2650-62
StatusPublished
Cited by357 cases

This text of 43 T.C. 168 (Marcello 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
Marcello v. Commissioner, 43 T.C. 168, 1964 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 19 (tax 1964).

Opinion

DawsoN, Judge:

Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioners’ income tax for the taxable year 1958 in the amount of $14,210.48 and a 5-percent addition to tax under the provisions of section 6653(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Respondent disallowed all business expenses claimed by petitioners in the amount of $1,655 and increased petitioners’ taxable income $26,666.66 by including in taxable income a gain on the sale of a capital asset. The adjustments and explanation are set forth in respondent’s notice of deficiency as follows:

Taxable income as disclosed by return_ $37, 585. 89
Unallowable deductions and additional income:
(a) Expenses incurred in operation of businesses— $1, 655. 00
(b) Gain from sale or exchange of capital assets.. 26, 666. 66 28, 321. 66
Taxable income as determined_ 65, 907. 55
(a) It has been determined that you 'are not entitled to the deduction for expenses incurred in operation of businesses in the amount of $1,655.00, as claimed on your return.
(b) It has been determined that you realized a net long-term capital gain from the sale or exchange of capital assets in the amount of $53,333.33, which you failed to take into account in the computation of your taxable income. It has been further determined that you are entitled to a deduction in the amount of $26,666.67 computed in accordance with the provisions of section 1202 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

All of the adjustments are in dispute.

The issues for decision are (1) whether petitioner, Joseph Marcello, Jr., incurred any unreimbursed business expenses in the year 1958; (2) whether petitioners realized taxable gain in 1958 with respect to the sale of an undivided interest in inherited real estate and, if so, in what amount; and (3) whether petitioners are liable for an addition to tax under the provisions of section 6653(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Certain documents were presented to the Court on oral stipulation of the parties and they are incorporated herein by this reference.

Joseph Marcello, Jr., and Anastasia, husband and wife, filed a joint income tax return for the calendar year 1958 on the cash basis of accounting with the district director of internal revenue, New Orleans, La. Petitioners now reside at 2928 Clifford Drive, Metairie, La.

During 1958 Joseph Marcello, Jr. (hereinafter called petitioner), reported income from two sources, the Nola Printing Co. and Holiday Motel, both of which were partnerships. Petitioner used his automobile in connection with his work for the Nola Printing Co. Petitioner visited distributors who sold a racing form sheet prepared and printed by Nola Printing Co. During these trips petitioner would supervise the collection of receipts and also make trips to the bank to deposit partnership funds. The automobile used for this purpose during 1958 was a 1957 Oldsmobile purchased on January 24, 1957, at a cost of $3,087. The Oldsmobile was the only automobile owned or possessed by petitioner and his family. Petitioner also used the automobile to commute to work to the offices of Nola Printing Co.

In his return for 1958, petitioner claimed a deduction in the amount of $283 for automobile expenses and a deduction in the amount of $772 for depreciation of the automobile based on a 75-percent usage for business reasons. In addition, petitioner claimed a deduction in the amount of $600 for miscellaneous travel and entertainment expenses. Petitioner’s expenditures were out-of-pocket. He was not reimbursed.

On July 1, 1955, Louisa Farrugia Marcello (hereinafter called Louisa), the widow of Joseph Marcello, Sr., and her nine children filed a petition in the District Court in and for the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in connection with succession of the property of J oseph Marcello, Sr., deceased, who died in 1952. That court ordered that Louisa be recognized as the surviving spouse in the community of the deceased, Joseph Marcello, Sr., entitled as such to the ownership of one-half or nine-eighteenths of the property left by the deceased and to a usufruct interest in the other one-half or nine-eighteenths of the decedent’s property. The court also ordered that the nine children be recognized as the sole heirs of their deceased father and that each child was entitled to the ownership of an undivided one-eighteenth interest in the property left by the deceased subject to the usufruct vested in the mother. Louisa was born on February 6,1893.

Included in the inheritance was a certain parcel of land, consisting of approximately 183 acres, designated as tract Nos. 9 and 10', Oak-dale subdivision, sec. C, J efferson Parish, State of Louisiana (hereinafter called tract C). Tract C was valued for estate purposes at $40,000.

On December 26, 1958, tract C was sold in nine separate parcels of approximately 20.333 acres each by Louisa and the nine children. The purchasers were nine newly organized corporations in which the sellers had no interest. The names of the purchasing corporations were Gems, Inc., Pearl Lands, Inc., Amethyst Lands, Inc., Emerald Lands, Inc., Sapphire Lands, Inc., Garnet Lands, Inc., Topaz Lands, Inc., Nuby Lands, Inc., and Moonlight, Inc. Each of these corporations, organized under the laws of the State of Louisiana, had been initially capitalized for $10,000.

After the sales, James J. 'Culotta, a residential real estate developer and builder and owner of all the stock of the nine corporations, transferred 50 percent of the shares in each corporation to Joseph Connolly, who had participated in prior residential construction developments with Culotta. . -

James J. Culotta transferred the 50-percent stock interests in the nine corporations to Joseph Connolly on the promise and understanding that Joseph Connolly would be responsible for raising the necessary financing for the proposed residential development of tract C. No other consideration was exchanged.

Another development project in which James J. Culotta and Joseph Connolly had joint interests about the time of the sale of tract C to the nine corporations had failed.

Each of the newly organized corporations gave, as total consideration, a negotiable promissory note, dated December 26, 1958, in the principal amount of $111,111.11. Each note was secured by special mortgage and vendor’s lien in the appropriate deed of sale for the respective 20.333 acres conveyed to such corporation.

Each note was signed in the name of the appropriate corporation by “James J. Culotta, President.” Each note provided that payments were to be made in 10 annual installments of $11,111.11 commencing on December 26,1959. Each note also provided that payments would be paid by the respective corporation to the order of bearer, $111,-111.11, for value received, with interest, payable monthly, at the rate of 6 percent per annum until paid. The notes also included provisions as to the makers’ and endorsers’ waiver of presentment for payment, demand notice of nonpayment, and protest.

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Bluebook (online)
43 T.C. 168, 1964 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 19, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/marcello-v-commissioner-tax-1964.