Von-Lusk v. Commissioner

104 T.C. No. 8, 104 T.C. 207, 1995 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 9
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedFebruary 2, 1995
DocketDocket No. 4271-93
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 104 T.C. No. 8 (Von-Lusk 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
Von-Lusk v. Commissioner, 104 T.C. No. 8, 104 T.C. 207, 1995 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 9 (tax 1995).

Opinion

OPINION

Raum, Judge:

This case involves the Commissioner’s determination that certain expenses deducted in Von-Lusk’s returns for 1988, 1989, and 1990, were not deductible but instead were to be capitalized under section 263A.1

Von-Lusk (also referred to as the partnership) is a California limited partnership. Petitioner, the Lusk Co., is an S corporation and was the tax matters partner of Von-Lusk for 1988, 1989, and 1990. On the date the petition was filed in this case, the principal place of business for both the partnership and the Lusk Co. was in Irvine, California.

Von-Lusk filed a U.S. Partnership Return of Income (Form 1065) for each of the calendar years 1988, 1989, and 1990. On December 14, 1992, the Commissioner issued notices of final partnership administrative adjustment (FPAA) to Von-Lusk for those years in which deductions claimed on the returns for each of the years were disallowed as follows:

Partnership item 1988 1989 1990
Interest expense $190,761 $352,150 $457,659
Taxes 206,377 229,845 211,903
Other deductions 110,725 201,443 187,797

After the initial pleadings in this Court, the Commissioner filed an amendment to answer, in which the Commissioner conceded the foregoing interest expense deductions. The adjustments in the FPAA’s for taxes and other deductions remain at issue. The explanation of adjustments in the FPAA’s stated that “The deduction for taxes is not allowed because the partnership has not established that the amounts claimed were not capital in nature.” It went on to state that “The deduction for other expenses is not allowed because the partnership has not substantiated that the amounts claimed were ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred by the partnership during the taxable year in carrying on a trade or business or an activity engaged in for profit or that the amounts claimed were not capital in nature.”

Von-Lusk was formed in 1966 with the stated purpose of managing, holding, and developing for investment approximately 278 acres of raw land (the property), which was contributed to the partnership by its partners in 1966. Prior to the transfer, the general and limited partners (collectively) each owned an undivided one-half interest in the property. The general partner (the Lusk Co.) and the limited partners collectively (various members of the Von der Ahe family) each own a 50-percent interest in the partnership.

The Lusk Co. is a residential and commercial real estate development company. The Lusk Co. is the general partner in more than 40 general and limited partnerships in California (the Lusk partnerships). The Lusk partnerships invest in and develop real estate; own and rent apartments, commercial buildings, and industrial buildings; and own and operate a livestock ranch and farm.

The Lusk Co., as general partner and managing partner of real estate development partnerships, engages the services of many contractors, lobbyists, various engineers, architects, and others to perform services for these partnerships. These independent contractors, on behalf of the Lusk partnerships, meet with government officials, obtain building permits and zoning variances, negotiate permit fees, perform engineering and feasibility studies, and draft architectural plans. The contractors bill the Lusk partnerships that benefit from their work for the cost of their services. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Von-Lusk incurred independent contractor costs of $17,912, $62,611, and $88,848, respectively. Von-Lusk claimed these amounts on its returns for such years under the caption “other deductions” as consultants, advertising, insurance, market research, off-premise sales, and other costs.

Service Mortgage Co. is a California corporation and an affiliate of the Lusk Co. Service Mortgage Co. provides management services for the Lusk Co. and the Lusk partnerships. Service Mortgage Co. employs executives, project managers, secretaries, and accountants. These employees monitor the Lusk partnership projects and review and direct the work of the contractors discussed above. Service Mortgage Co. bills the cost of their employees to the Lusk partnerships that benefit from the work.

When Service Mortgage Co. bills a Lusk partnership other than a partnership engaged in property management or rental activities, the amount is charged to a “work' in progress” account for that particular partnership. Service Mortgage Co. includes a markup for overhead and facilities costs in the wages charged to “work in progress” accounts. The Lusk partnerships that own and operate rental property are charged for time spent by Service Mortgage Co.’s administrative personnel. These charges are deducted by the Lusk partnerships as period costs.

During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Service Mortgage Co. billed Von-Lusk in the amounts of $92,813, $138,822, and $98,949, respectively. These amounts include the wages, payroll taxes, and fringe benefits of Service Mortgage Co.’s administrative personnel and the overhead markup described above. The overhead markup represents approximately 40 percent of the total amount billed. The wages, payroll taxes, and fringe benefits of Service Mortgage Co.’s administrative personnel represent approximately 60 percent of the total amount billed. Accordingly, during 1988, 1989, and 1990, Service Mortgage Co. billed Von-Lusk approximately $37,125, $55,529, and $39,580, respectively, for overhead and $55,688, $83,293, and $59,369, respectively, for the wages, payroll taxes, and fringe benefits of Service Mortgage Co.’s administrative personnel. Von-Lusk deducted the amounts it paid to Service Mortgage Co. during the years 1988, 1989, and 1990, on its tax returns for those years under the caption “other deductions — wages and salaries”.

The “other deductions” claimed on Von-Lusk’s tax returns for the years 1988, 1989, and 1990, consist of the following costs:

Other deductions 1988 1989 1990
Consultants $13,563 $49,750 $74,644
Advertising 475 3,875 - 0 ->
Insurance 711 905 916
Wages and salaries 92,813 138,822 98,949
Market research 500 1,625 6,934
Other deductions 1988 1989 1990
Off-premise sales CJI ^ CO 00 CD T — I LO CÍ
Other costs 00 O a tH CD t> rH
Total 110,725 201,433 187,797

The deductions for “Advertising”, “Market research”, and “Off-premise sales” refer to costs incurred to advise Von-Lusk as to the appropriateness of product mix and pricing for the property. Von-Lusk did not engage in active sales efforts during 1988, 1989, and 1990. On its returns for the years 1988, 1989, and 1990, Von-Lusk deducted real property taxes incurred and paid in the amounts of $206,377, $229,845, and $211,303, respectively. Von-Lusk also deducted $600 in 1990 for a California franchise tax shown to be due on its California franchise tax-return.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
104 T.C. No. 8, 104 T.C. 207, 1995 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 9, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/von-lusk-v-commissioner-tax-1995.