Sorba v. Secretary of Treasury

97 P.R. 275
CourtSupreme Court of Puerto Rico
DecidedMay 12, 1969
DocketNo. R-67-99
StatusPublished

This text of 97 P.R. 275 (Sorba v. Secretary of Treasury) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sorba v. Secretary of Treasury, 97 P.R. 275 (prsupreme 1969).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Dávila

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Viñas Sorba and López Ramírez, together with another partner, were engaged in the construction business. For the taxable years in controversy (1958 to 1960, both inclusive), they owned the shares indicated below in the following enterprises:

Corporation Other Viñas López Partner
1. Vilo Corporation 50% 50% -
2. Wideland Construction Corp. 381/3% 331/3% (331/3%)
3. Modern Construction Corp. 41%% 412/3% (16%%)
4. Condado Enterprises, Inc. 50% 50% -

The Secretary of the Treasury ordered an investigation of the returns filed by the partners for the years 1958 through 1960 and, upon termination of the investigation, served notices of income tax deficiencies on the appellants. The taxpayers, alleging error in the Secretary’s determination, appealed to the Superior Court and requested the court to set [279]*279aside the deficiencies. The court dismissed the complaints, except for certain items of little importance.

The deficiencies notified by the Secretary of the Treasury which are involved in this case are the following:'

—YEAR 1958—
Viñas Sorba López Ramírez
Dividends from Vilo Corp. $45,201.46 $46,420.00 M
Dividends from Wideland Corp. 14,870.24 720.29 tO
Business expenses (each taxpayer) 2,000.00 2,000.00 CO
Total adjustment $62,071.70 $49,140.29
4) Plus 5 % penalty in both cases, § 293 (a). 5) Penalty under § 294(d) (2) to López Ramírez.
-YEAR 1959—
Viñas Sorba López Ramírez
1) Dividends from Modern Construction Corp. $34,407.99 $ 9,054.32
2) Dividends from Wideland Corp. 875.00 875.00
3) Business expenses (each taxpayer) 2,000.00 2,000.00
Total adjustment $37,282.99 $11,929.32
Plus 5% penalty for both taxpayers. ^
Penalty under § 294(d) (2) to López Ramírez. CR
—YEAR 1960—
Viñas Sorba López Ramírez
1) Dividends from Modern Construction Corp. $11,977.50 $17,977.50

CR ^

[280]*2802) Business expenses $ 2,500.00 $ 2,000.00
Total adjustment $14,477.50 $19,977.50
3) Plus 5 % penalty for both taxpayers, § 293 (a).
4) Penalty under'§ 294(d) (2) to López Ramírez.'

The items from which the deficiencies attributed to the appellants arise are divided into three main categories: (a) constructive dividends, (b) business expenses, and (c) penalties.

—YEAR 1958—

On December 16, 1958, Vilo Corporation issued two checks in favor of Condado Enterprises for a total amount of $92,840 in order for the latter to acquire a lot. An amount equal-to half of that sum, that is, $46,420, was charged to the account of each appellant with Vilo-Corporation. A credit for a similar amount in favor of each appellant was entered on the books of Condado Enterprises. Condado Enterprises acquired the lot. On May 31, 1959, five months after the original entry, the external auditor made a correction in the books of Vilo Corporation eliminating from appellants’ accounts the- amounts charged and, in lieu thereof, the total amount of $92,840 was charged to Condado Enterprises. However, no change was made in the books of Condado Enterprises, which continued recognizing a $46,420 credit in favor of each appellant. In 1960, when Condado Enterprises was liquidated, the lot, its only asset, was awarded to Viñas and López. On their 1960 income tax returns the appellants reported capital gains on the acquisition of the lot and, in order to determine the gain, claimed their loan to Condado Enterprises as part of the cost of the lot. No collateral warranty was offered to guarantee reimbursement of the amount withdrawn from Vilo Corporation and no interest was charged for such amount. In 1958, Vilo had an - accumulated surplus of $146,444.03, but no declaration of dividends was' made.

[281]*281The Secretary of the Treasury classified this transaction as a constructive dividend paid by Vilo Corporation to its two sole stockholders who, in turn, lent the money to the Condado Enterprises. Due to the fact that the account of Viñas with Vilo had a $1,218.54 credit in favor of .Viñas, he was attributed a dividend of only $45,201.46, while the whole item of $46,420 was attributed to López.

Appellants allege that the transaction was a loan made by Vilo Corporation directly to Condado Enterprises and that the original entries in the books charging the amount involved to appellants were erroneous. In the alternative, they contend that if it is determined that it is a payment to the stockholders, such payment was made as a loan, and not as a distribution of dividends. . ;

After hearing and weighing all the evidence furnished, the trial judge concluded that the case dealt with a distribution of dividends in favor of appellants, who, in turn, lent the money to the Condado Enterprises. Appellants insist that, the court erred .in reaching this conclusion and that the transaction was actually a loan made by Vilo Corporation directly to Condado Enterprises or, in the alternative, to appellants....

The determination of the trial judge must be sustainéd unless there is not sufficient evidence in the record to support it. Buscaglia, Treas. v. Tax Court, 69 P.R.R. 477, 479, (1949); Clínica Julia v. Sec. of the Treasury, 76 P.R.R. 476, 495 (1954); Casanovas & Cía., Suers., Inc. v. Court of Tax Appeals, 61 P.R.R. 630, 631 (1943).

Appellants’ contention that it was a question oL a loan made by Vilo Corporation directly to Condado Enters prises is gainsaid by the entries- in the books of the two corr porations involved. In the books.of Vilo .the amount involved was originally • charged to both appellants, not to Condado Enterprises, and in the books of Condado Enterprises it was credited in favor of appellants, not Vilo. Bookkeeping entries are not conclusive evidence of the transactions entered and [282]*282where they conflict with the facts, they must give way before the latter. I Mertens, Law of Federal Income Taxation, § 9.06. As we stated in Inter-American Orange Crush v. Sec. of the Treasury, 81 P.R.R. 286 (1959), citing previous decisions, “. . . the determination of the taxable income ‘rests on actual facts and not on theories, technicalities, or bookkeeping entries.’ ” See also, Vilanova v. Sec. of the Treas., 83 P.R.R. 72, 89 (1961). The controlling factor is the intention of the parties as it arises from the facts. Cf. Krueger v. Sec. of the Treas., 89 P.R.R. 338, 347 (1963).

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