Parsons v. Commissioner

1972 T.C. Memo. 72, 31 T.C.M. 290, 1972 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 185
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMarch 23, 1972
DocketDocket No. 6647-70.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1972 T.C. Memo. 72 (Parsons 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
Parsons v. Commissioner, 1972 T.C. Memo. 72, 31 T.C.M. 290, 1972 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 185 (tax 1972).

Opinion

John G. Parsons and Winifred Parsons v. Commissioner.
Parsons v. Commissioner
Docket No. 6647-70.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1972-72; 1972 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 185; 31 T.C.M. (CCH) 290; T.C.M. (RIA) 72072;
March 23, 1972, Filed.
John G. Parsons and Winifred Parsons, pro se, 3903 Milky Way, Waukesha, Wis.Matthew W. Stanley, Jr., for the respondent.

FEATHERSTON

Memorandum Findings of Fact and Opinion

FEATHERSTON, Judge: Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' Federal income tax in the amounts of $10,709.79 and $657.40 for 1965 and 1966, respectively. The issues presented for decision are as follows:

(1) Whether, within the meaning of section 357(c), 1 petitioner John G. Parsons' adjusted basis in property which he transferred to a corporation, Parsons Agency, Inc., in exchange for its stock was exceeded by the liabilities assumed by the corporation, plus the liabilities to which the property was subject; and

*188 (2) Whether petitioner John G. Parsons received constructive dividends from the corporation, Parsons Agency, Inc., during 1965 and 1966.

Findings of Fact

John G. Parsons (hereinafter referred to as petitioner) and his wife, Winifred Parsons, were legal residents of Waukesha, Wisconsin, at the time they filed their petition. They filed their joint Federal income tax returns for 1965 and 1966 with the 291 district director of internal revenue at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In their return for 1965, petitioners reported the income from an insurance business, conducted as a sole proprietorship, under the accrual method of accounting.

After petitioner was graduated from college in 1939, he commenced a career in the insurance business. Before purchasing his own insurance agency, he served as a superintendent of accounts for American Surety Company; as an inspector of buildings to establish fire insurance rates for the Fire Insurance Rating Bureau; and as a State agent for the North British Mercantile Insurance Company.

Leaving the employ of the insurance companies, petitioner, in May of 1960, bought a small insurance agency for $2,500. He subsequently expanded this business by buying*189 several other small agencies at a cost of $15,000. In each case, he borrowed the money needed to make the purchase. During 1964, the net commissions from petitioner's insurance agency were $42,987.88. These commissions were derived from the sale of practically all lines of insurance, including fire, automobile, general casualty, life, and hospitalization insurance and surety bonds.

On May 1, 1965, petitioner established a corporation, Parsons Agency, Inc. (sometimes hereinafter the corporation), to which he transferred his individually-owned insurance business in exchange for all the issued stock. His objective in incorporating the business was to facilitate the future transfer of an interest in the business to his young associate. Petitioner intended to exchange his sole proprietorship, including all the renewals, for the stock but to invest no cash in the corporation. In working out the details of the incorporation, he was assisted by two attorneys, a certified public accountant, and his bookkeeper.

The following opening entries were made in the jouranl of the corporation:

DebitCredit
First National Bank of Waukesha$ 1,380.51
Accounts Receivable$37,551.80
Stock Subscriptions Re- ceivable318.25
Office Furniture & Equip- ment3,500.00
Automobiles3,000.00
Goodwill58,000.00
F.I.C.A. Payable59.80
Federal W/H Payable95.00
State W/H Payable21.60
Notes Payable29,396.13
Accounts Payable936.15
Company Accounts Pay- able45,480.86
Capital Stock25,000.00

*190 The $58,000 figure for goodwill did not represent petitioner's cost or adjusted basis in the several insurance agencies which he acquired between 1960 and 1965; rather it was a figure selected to balance the opening entries. However, the fair market value of the insurance renewals transferred to the corporation on May 1, 1965, was not less than the $58,000.

The item in the opening entries for notes payable in the amount of $29,396.13 was comprised of note No. 38669, payable to the Waukesha State Bank, in the amount of $2,255.38, and other notes, payable to the First National Bank of Waukesha, totaling $27,140.75. Note No. 38669 was given by petitioners to cover part of the purchase price of a Buick and was secured by a chattel mortgage on that automobile.

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Bluebook (online)
1972 T.C. Memo. 72, 31 T.C.M. 290, 1972 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 185, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/parsons-v-commissioner-tax-1972.