Walker v. Commissioner

1957 T.C. Memo. 40, 16 T.C.M. 171, 1957 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 212
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMarch 12, 1957
DocketDocket No. 50992.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1957 T.C. Memo. 40 (Walker 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
Walker v. Commissioner, 1957 T.C. Memo. 40, 16 T.C.M. 171, 1957 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 212 (tax 1957).

Opinion

Gerald L. Walker and Mildred McMeans Walker v. Commissioner.
Walker v. Commissioner
Docket No. 50992.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1957-40; 1957 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 212; 16 T.C.M. (CCH) 171; T.C.M. (RIA) 57040;
March 12, 1957

*212 Held, petitioner Gerald L. Walker was a bona fide resident of Japan for the entire year 1950, and the insurance commissions which he earned in 1950 under his contract for writing life insurance policies on the lives of American military personnel stationed in Japan, having been earned in Japan, were excludible from his gross income under the provisions of section 116(a)(1), Internal Revenue Code of 1939.

Parker C. Fielder, Esq., Box 913, Midland, Tex., for the petitioners. J. H. Felice, Esq., for the respondent.

BLACK

Memorandum Findings of Fact and Opinion

The Commissioner has determined a deficiency in income tax of $7,186.42, and an addition thereto of $1,796.61 for failure to make and file a return, for the taxable year 1950.

The petitioners contend: (1) that, except for an amount less than $600, their entire income was excludable from gross income under section 116(a)(1), Internal Revenue Code of 1939, and therefore they were not required to file a return; (2) that if they were required to file a return, the failure to do so was due to reasonable cause rather than willful neglect; and (3) that, if their entire income was taxable and they were required to file a return, they are entitled to a deduction from gross income in the amount of $17,285.96.

Findings of Fact

Issue 1

The petitioners, Gerald L. Walker (hereinafter referred to as Gerald) and Mildred McMeans Walker (hereinafter referred to as Mildred), are husband and wife and at all times have been citizens of the United States. Gerald and/or Mildred did*214 not file separate income tax returns or a joint income tax return for the year 1950.

Gerald was for a number of years engaged in selling life insurance. During the years 1941 through the early part of 1949, Gerald sold life insurance to military personnel at various military installations in the United States. He would remain at the various places for periods of time ranging from a few months to over 2 years. During this period, while Gerald sold insurance at the different military bases, the petitioners lived in apartments, hotels, motels, and for a short time rented a home. During these years they considered Texas to be their home and maintained a mailing address in Luling, Texas.

In 1949, Gerald entered into contract negotiations with Hubert G. Foster (hereinafter referred to as Foster), president of the Life Insurance Company of America (hereinafter referred to as the Company), in which Foster represented the Company and American International Underwriters (hereinafter referred to as the Agent). The negotiations concerned a contract under which Gerald was to sell life insurance in Japan to servicemen, members of the Armed Services of the United States, stationed there.

In*215 1949, as the result of the negotiations with Foster, Gerald entered into a written contract with the Company and the Agent covering the sale of life insurance, on a commission basis, in the Country of Japan. Under the terms of the contract he was to be a writing agent in Japan. The written contract had no provisions regarding the length of time that Gerald was to stay in Japan and perform under the contract; it provided for termination by either party on 30 days written notice.

Before entering into the contract, Foster wanted assurances from Gerald that he would move to Japan and agree to stay for a substantial period of time. Other persons were considered for the position but were unacceptable because they only wanted to stay in Japan for a few months. Gerald gave Foster the requested assurances, although no definite period of time was specified. It was upon Gerald's agreement that he would go to Japan and stay for a substantial length of time and that Mildred would go with him that he was employed under the contract.

Gerald stated on his application for passport dated April 21, 1949, that his proposed length of stay abroad was 6 months and that the purpose of the trip was "insurance*216 business." Mildred, in her application for passport dated July 9, 1949, stated as proposed length of stay 60 days and purpose of trip was "visit my husband." The respective statements made by Gerald and Mildred in their applications were made in accordance with the instructions given to them by the State Department officials. They also were told that they would have to secure permission from the authorities in Japan if they decided to stay for a longer period of time.

Gerald departed by air from the United States for Japan on May 7, 1949, and arrived in Japan on May 9, 1949. Upon arriving in Japan, Gerald registered with the authorities there as a resident. Mildred did not accompany Gerald at that time because she had not obtained a military permit, which was required. On July 9, 1949, Mildred departed by ship from the United States for Japan and arrived there on July 23, 1949. Upon her arrival she registered with the authorities and secured a permit for an indefinite stay.

The petitioners' children, Alice and Jerry, who were 29 and 23 years old respectively, had established separate homes prior to their parents' departure and did not accompany them to Japan. When the petitioners*217 left for Japan they took their clothing and personal effects with them and stored what furniture they had in a warehouse in Texas.

Upon arriving in Japan, Gerald was assigned living quarters in Hotel Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, by the military authorities. He was not free to seek his own accommodations. When Mildred arrived in Japan they were assigned quarters at Hotel Omori, Tokyo, Japan. In November 1949, Gerald and Mildred were given permission and moved to Hotel Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. They stayed at these hotels on a month-to-month tenancy.

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Related

Bouldin v. Commissioner
8 T.C. 959 (U.S. Tax Court, 1947)

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Bluebook (online)
1957 T.C. Memo. 40, 16 T.C.M. 171, 1957 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 212, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/walker-v-commissioner-tax-1957.