Slifka v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (Two Cases)

182 F.2d 345, 39 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 527, 1950 U.S. App. LEXIS 3999

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Decided: May 22, 1950
• Docket: 21514_1
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

The only question upon these appeals is whether the partnerships formed by the taxpayers in 1943 were within the statutory definition of that word. 1 The Supreme Court has recently three times dealt with similar situations, 2 and from these deci sions we understand that they present instances of the more general test laid down in Gregory v. Helvering : 3 i. e., whether an association, or joint venture, which satisfies all formal requirements and may be valid as between the parties, has been created to promote the conduct of their business in any other way than by reducing taxes. That this makes motive a test of taxability is true enough; but it is equally true that it makes it so only when the reduction of taxes is the sole motive. That does not mean that “business” may not be so conducted as best to keep down taxes; but it does mean that keeping down taxes is not of itself “business”. We should not be -justified in holding that, judged by that test, the Tax Court was “clearly erroneous” in holding that the “joint venture” at bar was not a “partnership.”

Orders affirmed.

1 . § 3797(aj (2), Title 26 U.S.C.A.: “The term ‘partnership’ includes a syndicate, group, pool, joint venture, or other unincorporated organization, through or by means of which any business * * * is carried on.”

2 . Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Tower, 327 U.S. 280, 66 S.Ct. 532, 90 L.Ed. 670, 164 A.L.R. 1135; Lusthaus v. Commissioner, 327 U.S. 293, 66 S.Ct. 539, 90 L.Ed. 679; Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Culbertson, 337 U.S. 733, 69 S.Ct. 1210, 93 L.Ed. 1659.

3 . 293 U.S. 465, 55 S.Ct. 266, 70 L.Ed. 596, 97 A.L.R. 1355,