Roosevelt Investment Corp. v. Commissioner

45 B.T.A. 440
CourtUnited States Board of Tax Appeals
DecidedOctober 24, 1941
DocketDocket Nos. 101453, 101558
StatusPublished

This text of 45 B.T.A. 440 (Roosevelt Investment Corp. v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Board of Tax Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Roosevelt Investment Corp. v. Commissioner, 45 B.T.A. 440 (bta 1941).

Opinion

[452]*452OPINION.

Hill :

The first issue is whether the basis to Eoosevelt Investment for purposes of depreciation is the adjusted cost basis of the corporations which transferred their properties to Eoosevelt Investment or the actual cost to the transferee. Petitioner Eoosevelt Investment contends that the properties were transferred to it solely in exchange for stock and that the transaction in which it acquired the properties was either a tax-free exchange under section 112 (b) (5) of the Eevenue Act. of 1934 or a statutory reorganization under section 112(g) (1) (C) of the Eevenue Act of 1934. It maintains that, since the properties were acquired pursuant to a reorganization within the meaning of section 112 (g) (1) (C), the basis remains the same as in the hands of the transferors. Eespondent argues that the securities received from Eoosevelt Investment by the transferors were not “substantially in proportion” to the transferors’ interests in the property prior to the exchange and contends that such disproportion disqualifies Eoosevelt Investment from the benefits of section 112 (b) (5). He contends that the continuity of interest necessary for the application of section 112 (g) (1) (C) was not present, so that section 113 (a) (I) is not applicable.

We first inquire whether petitioner Eoosevelt Investment acquired the hotel property in the course of a reorganization as defined by section 112 (g) (1) (C) of the Eevenue Act of 1934.1 In order to qualify under this section there must be a continuity of interest in the transferors. Pinellas Ice & Cold Storage Co. v. Commissioner, 287 U. S. 462; Le Tulle v. Scofield, 308 U. S. 415. Immediately after the transfer the transferors or their shareholders must be in control of the transferee. Control within the meaning of the reoganization provisions is defined by section 112 (h) of the Eevenue Act of 1934 as the ownership of at least 80 percent of the voting stock and 80 percent of all other classes of stock of the corporation.

[453]*453In the instant case Realty Investment transferred a lease valued at $25,000 and $25,000 in cash to petitioner Roosevelt Investment in exchange for 50 percent of all of Roosevelt Investment’s common voting stock. No stock other than common was issued by the new corporation. First Realty subscribed in behalf of First Hotel for 25 percent of the new corporation’s shares, paying $25,000 cash therefor and causing First Hotel to transfer its interest in the hotel property to the new corporation. Maltby-Thurston subscribed for the remaining 25 percent of the new corporation’s stock, paying $25,000 cash and causing the operating company to transfer its interest in the hotel property to the new corporation. Immediately after the transfer the control of the new corporation was in the hands of the trans-ferors. Realty Investment then owned 50 percent of Roosevelt Investment’s entire capital stock, First Hotel or its sole shareholder, First Realty, owned 25 percent, and Maltby-Thurston and the other stockholders of the operating company owned 25 percent of the shares of Roosevelt Investment. Realty Investment, First Hotel, and the operating company were the transferor corporations and they or their stockholders were in control of the new corporation by virtue of ownership by them or their shareholders of 100 percent of all shares, voting and otherwise, of Roosevelt Investment.

We have found as a fact that Edris subscribed for stock of the new corporation in behalf of Realty Investment and the cash thus paid must be deemed to be that of Realty Investment. Respondent has argued at length regarding alleged disproportion of interests transferred to Roosevelt Investment to value of stock received. It is sufficient answer to this argument for purposes of discussion here that the proportionate interest required under section 112 (b) (5) is not required for a statutory reorganization under section 112 (g) (1) (C). The transfer under consideration was pursuant to a reorganization, and, by virtue of coming within the terms of section 112 (g) (1) (C), Roosevelt Investment’s basis for purpose of computing depreciation is that of its transferors, increased by the gain or decreased by the loss recognized to the transferors upon the transfer. Sec. 113 (a) (7).2

[454]*454No gain or loss was recognized on the transfer of the various properties to the new corporation in exchange for the new corporation’s stock. Sec. 112 (b) (4), Revenue Act of 1934. Although a liability of the operating company and a portion of the mortgage indebtedness of First Hotel and First Realty were assumed by Roosevelt Investment, such assumption is not to be considered as “other property or money” received by the taxpayer within the meaning of section 112 (c), (d), or (e) of the Revenue Act of 1934 and does not prevent the exchange from being within the provisions of section 112 (b) (4) of the Revenue Act of 1934. Sec. 213 (f) (1) and (2), Revenue Act of 1939.

Respondent next contends that, even though the transfer was in the course of a reorganization, the basis in the hands of Roosevelt Investment must be reduced in the amount of indebtedness of which the transferors were relieved at the time of the transfer. We see no reasonable ground for this contention. Respondent has cited no authority in behalf of his argument and given no valid reason for the adjustment of the basis in the manner which he suggests. The statutory provisions for adjustment of basis will be found only in section 113 (b) of the Revenue Act of 1934 and, after giving effect to gain or loss recognized on the transfer, no adjustment to basis other than as authorized by section 113 (b) may be made. While section 113 (a) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to basis of tax-free exchanges in general, has been amended by section 213 (d) of the Revenue Act of 1939, so that for all taxable years beginning after December 31, 1938, assumption or taking subject to liabilities will affect the basis in the hands of the transferee, that section can not be applied retroactively. Moreover, section 113 (a) (6) is specifically not applicable when the transferee corporation acquires property by issuance of its securities. Accordingly, we hold for petitioner on this issue. Upon our disposition of the issue we need not consider petitioner’s argument that the transfer was in the course of a tax-free exchange under section 112 (b) (5) of the Revenue Act of 1934.

The second issue, which involves the rate of depreciation on the hotel building, must be decided for respondent. Petitioner has failed to give convincing proof that respondent erred in determining that the proper rate of depreciation is 2 percent. Respondent’s determination of a 2 percent depreciation rate is supported by the fact that Roosevelt Investment deducted depreciation on the hotel building on its 1935 and 1936 returns and carried a reserve for depreciation on the hotel on its books at that rate. Testimony adduced at the hearing did not demonstrate that the 2 percent rate of depreciation was unreasonable nor that the proper rate should be other than 2 percent.

[455]*455The third issue is whether or not respondent erred in determining the proportion of the dividend from Roosevelt Investment received by First Realty which was attributable to earnings and profits.

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Related

Pinellas Ice & Cold Storage Co. v. Commissioner
287 U.S. 462 (Supreme Court, 1933)
LeTulle v. Scofield
308 U.S. 415 (Supreme Court, 1940)

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Bluebook (online)
45 B.T.A. 440, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/roosevelt-investment-corp-v-commissioner-bta-1941.