Warner v. Commissioner

48 T.C. 49, 1967 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 117
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedApril 24, 1967
DocketDocket Nos. 5842-65, 5843-65, 5901-65
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 48 T.C. 49 (Warner 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
Warner v. Commissioner, 48 T.C. 49, 1967 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 117 (tax 1967).

Opinion

Fay, Judge:

Eespondent determined tbe following deficiencies in income tax for tbe calendar year 1963:

Doeltet No. Deficiency
5842-65 -$2, 312. 27
5843-65 _ 284.12
5901-65 _ 1,140.46

Tbe issue for decision in eacb docket is wbetber eacb set of petitioners sustained either a loss on “small business stock” in tbe year 1963 under tbe provisions of section 1244 of tbe Internal Eevenue Code of 1954 on tbe liquidation of Eancbers, Inc., or a capital loss 'subject to the limitations provided under section 1211 (b).

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts are stipulated and tbe stipulation of facts and exhibits attached thereto are so found.

Petitioners J ames A. Warner (hereinafter referred to as James) and Audrey J. Warner (hereinafter referred to as Audrey) timely filed a Federal joint income tax return for tbe calendar year 1963 with tbe district director of internal revenue, Boise, Idaho.

Petitioners Eoger G-. Warner (hereinafter referred to as Eoger) and Nancy L. Warner (hereinafter referred to as Nancy) timely filed a Federal joint income tax return for tbe calendar year 1963 with tbe district director of internal revenue, Boise, Idaho.

Petitioners Jerrie D. Schooley (hereinafter referred to as Jerrie) and Leta J. Schooley (hereinafter referred to as Beta) timely filed a Federal joint income tax return for the calendar year 1963 with the district director of internal revenue, Boise, Idaho.

At the time of filing the petitions, the legal residence of all petitioners was Boise, Idaho.

Sewmor Sewing Center, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Sewmor), an Idaho corporation wholly owned by James, is engaged in the sewing machine and vacuum cleaner sales business in Boise, Idaho. Sewmor had an excellent group of steady employees, averaging about 10 in number. Sewmor had not advertised for employees for a period of over 6 years although the industry experienced a substantial turnover in employees. James, Eoger, and Jerrie were employees of Sewmor.

Eanchers, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Eanchers), was a new domestic corporation organized under the laws of the State of Idaho with its principal place of business in Boise, Idaho. Its charter was issued on December 29,1961. At tbe first meeting of the board of directors of Handlers held on January 5,1962, James was elected president, Joanne Warner was elected vice president, and Howard M. Deeds was elected secretary-treasurer.

Banchers’ authorized capital was $100,000, divided into 10,000 shares of common stock at $10 per share. There was only one issue of stock which was common stock. At the time of incorporation there were three qualifying shares of stock issued.2

The purpose of incorporating Ranchers was to create an incentive for the employees to stay with Sewmor, an incentive to work harder, and also to give them a chance to save money and build up some assets for themselves. This objective was to be accomplished by having Sewmor’s employees invest 7 percent of their salaries and commissions in a fund to be matched by Sewmor. Said fund proceeds were to be used to purchase stock in Ranchers. Also, at Ranchers’ first meeting, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Be It Resolved that 3,000 shares -of stock of Ranchers, Inc., be, and the same is hereby, set aside and allowed for purchase by the trustees of the employees of Sewmor Sewing Center, Inc., pursuant ,to the trust agreement attached to these minutes, and that the corporation from said 3,000 shares sell stock of the corporation to the trustees -at its book value but not less than par value, to wit: $10.00 per share; that upon receipt from the trastees of payment for said stock the same shall be issued to the trustees.

The trust agreement between Sewmor and its employees, alluded to in the resolution set out above, provided that if each employee agreed to have 7 percent withheld from his gross salary, Sewmor would contribute a like amount to the trust fund for the benefit of said employee. The trustees would use the funds as available to purchase stock in Ranchers. The trustees would subsequently transfer the stock to the employees. The 3,000 shares allotted were available for purchase only by the employees of Sewmor. Section (f) of the trust agreement provided as follows:

(f) When said allotted stock of Ranchers, Inc. to the amount ,of 3,000 shares has been purchased by Trustees or on the-day of-, 196-, whichever occurs earlier, this trust shall be terminated and all unused funds of each Second Party [employees of Sewmor] as shown by the account sheet of said Second Party shall be refunded to the Second Party entitled thereto and upon presentation of the trust and voting trust certificate of said Second Party to the Trustee, the stock represented by said trust and voting trust certificate shall thereupon be issued and delivered to said Second Party. * * *

At the time of the adoption of the aforesaid resolution the directors of Ranchers were considering using the proceeds from the sale of Eanchers stock to Sewmor’s employees to purchase commercial paper, to wit, sewing machine contracts. This plan, however, never materialized.

At the annual meeting of Eanchers’ stockholders on February 15, 1963, it was decided to discontinue the plan to use the trustees and trust certificates. Issuance of the stock would be made directly to each stockholder. It was also resolved to allow the employees of Sewmor to purchase additional stock from the allotted 3,000 shares alluded to above.

At a meeting of Eanchers’ stockholders and directors on February 18, 1963, it was decided to enter into a fire retardant program. They also decided (1) to purchase and did purchase a Northrup P-61 B airplane, and (2) to employ Eobert E. Savaria as a pilot and issue 100 shares of Eanchers stock to him for his services performed in equipping the aircraft for fire-fighting purposes.

During the months of February, March, and April 1963, James and Audrey subscribed to and paid for 1,541 shares of common stock of Eanchers at a cost of $15,410. Certificate No. 9 representing such shares was issued to James on September 30, 1963. Said stock was paid for solely in cash. The stock was continuously owned by said petitioner until Eanchers was liquidated.

During the months of February through July 1963, Eoger and Nancy subscribed to and paid for 261% shares of Eanchers common stock at a cost of $2,615. Certificate No. 10 representing such shares was issued to Eoger on September 30, 1963. Said stock was paid for solely in cash and was continuously owned by said petitioner until Eanchers was liquidated.

During the months of February through July 1963, Jerrie and Leta subscribed to and paid for 151 shares of Eanchers common stock at a cost of $7,510. Certificate No. 6 representing such shares was issued to Jerrie on September 30, 1963. The stock was paid for solely in cash and was continuously owned by said petitioner until Eanchers was liquidated.

On August 29, 1963, Eanchers’ airplane was wrecked and Eobert E. Savaria was killed.

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Warner v. Commissioner
48 T.C. 49 (U.S. Tax Court, 1967)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
48 T.C. 49, 1967 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 117, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/warner-v-commissioner-tax-1967.