Pokorny Realty Co. v. United States

75 Ct. Cl. 459
United States Court of Claims·Decided June 6, 1932·No. No. L-30·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

Williams, Judge,

delivered the opinion:

The plaintiff claims that during the taxable year ending May 31, 1923, it was, within the meaning of the applicable statutes, affiliated with two other corporations, to wit: M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd., and Pokorny Estate, Inc.; that during the taxable years ending, respectively, May 31, 1924, and May 31, 1926, it was affiliated with M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd.; and that it is entitled to have its tax liability for those years computed oh the basis of such affiliations instead of on its own separate return, as held by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.

If plaintiff is entitled to have its taxes for the years in question computed upon the affiliated basis claimed, it has overpaid its taxes for the years 1923, 1924, and 1926, in the sum claimed, which amount it is entitled to recover, to-/ gether with interest as provided by law. J

The applicable provisions of the statutes as to the taxfes for the year 1923 are found in section 240, subdivisions/ (a) and (c) of the revenue act of 1921 (42 Stat. 227, 260)

“ (a) That corporations which are affiliated within the/ meaning of this section may, for any taxable year begin[467]*467ning on or after January 1, 1922, make separate returns or, under regulations prescribed by.the commissioner with the approval of the Secretary, make a consolidated return of net income for the purpose of this title, in which case the taxes thereunder shall be computed and determined upon the basis of such return. If return is made on either of such bases, all returns thereafter made shall be upon the same basis unless permission to change the' basis is granted by the commissioner.
* H* H* * H* * *
“(c) For the purpose of this section two or more domestic corporations shall be deemed to be affiliated (1) if one corporation owns directly or controls through closely affiliated interests or by a nominee or nominees substantially all the stock of the other or others, or (2) if substantially all the stock of two or more corporations is owned or controlled by the same interests.”

Section 240, subdivisions (a) and (c) of the revenue acts of 1924 (43 Stat. 253, 288), and 1926 (44 Stat. 9, 46) are the applicable statutes for the years 1924 and 1926, respectively — subdivision (a) of the two acts is identical with subdivision (a) of section 240. of the revenue act of 1921. Subdivision (c) of the said acts is somewhat changed and reads as follows:

“(c) For the purpose of this section two or more domestic corporations shall be deemed to be affiliated (1) if one corporation owns at least 95 per centum of the voting stock of the other or others, or (2) if at least 95 per.centum of the voting stock of two or more corporations is owned by the same interests. * * * ”

The plaintiff was engaged mainly in owning and renting real estate. The business of Pokorny Estate, Inc., was substantially the same a;s that of plaintiff. M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd., was engaged in conducting retail shoe stores. The capital stock of the plaintiff consisted of 1,500 shares, of the par value of $100.00 each.

The stock of M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd., consisted of 450 shares of the par value of $100.00 each.

The stock of Pokorny Estate, Inc., consisted of 1,494 shares, of the par value of $100.00 each.

[468]*468The stockholders of the three corporations, and the percentage of stock held by them in the respective corporations were:

Pokorny Realty Company
Nanie Haas Pokorny-o CO
Clara M. Pokorny-1;---o <N
Bertha Pokorny Kamien----o C-J
70%'
M. E. Levey_ M O
Coleman E. Adler_ M O
Julius Goldstein-^-M O
30%
M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd.
Nanie Haas Pokorny.:_'_ 37.77%
Clara M. Pokorny_ 33.33%
Bertha Pokorny Kamien_:___ 6.67%
-77.77%.
Bella Pokorny Levey_ 6. 67%
Rosa Pokorny Adler_ 6.67%
Leonora Pokorny Goidstein___ 6. 67%
Ralph Pokorny Levey_ 2.22'%
22.23%'
Pokorny Estate, Ino.
Nanie Haas Pokorny_14.86%
Clara M. Pokorny_14. 86%
Bertha Pokorny Kamien_j._14.86%
44. 58%:
Bella Pokorny Levey_14. 86%
Rosa Pokorny Adler_14. 86%
Leonora Pokorny Goldstein._ 6. 67%
Hanna Pokorny Haas_10. 84%
- 55. 42%.

All the stockholders of the corporations involved are members of a single family, being the children, grandchildren,, sons-in-law, and. daughters-in-law of one Michael Pokorny,, deceased. The stock of the corporations was never voted in. the ordinary sense, all business matters relating to the conduct , of the corporations being arranged as a result of friendly discussions by the stockholders at family meetings.. Money was loaned between the various corporations without, security or interest, and properties were leased by the corporations from and to each other at rentals lower than that, [469]*469charged to outsiders. The business oí the three corporations was conducted as one enterprise.

The majority stockholders owning 70 per cent of the stock of the plaintiff, own 77.77 per cent of the stock of M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd., and 44.58 per cent of the stock of Pokorny Estate, Inc. The minority stockholders owning 30 per cent of the stock of the plaintiff own no stock whatever in either of the other corporations. Minority stockholders owning 22.23 per cent of the stock of M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd., own no stock in the plaintiff company. Majority stockholders owning 55.42 per cent of the stock of Pokorny Estate, Inc., own no stock in the plaintiff. It will be noted there is a wide divergence in the amount of stock held in the three companies by the majority stockholders of plaintiff, Nanie Haas Pokorny holding 30 per cent of the stock of plaintiff, 37.77 per cent of the stock of M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd., and 14.86 per cent of the stock in Pokorny Estate, Inc.; Clara M. Pokorny owning 20 per cent of the stock of plaintiff, 33.33 per cent of the stock of M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd., and 14.86 per cent of the stock of Pokorny Estate, Inc.; while Bertha Pokorny Kamien owns 20 per cent of the stock of plaintiff, 6.67 per cent of the stock of M. Pokorny & Sons, Ltd., and 14.86 per cent of the stock of Pokorny Estate, Inc.

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Pokorny Realty Co. v. United States, 75 Ct. Cl. 459 (cc 1932).

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