Weil v. Commissioner

23 T.C. 424, 1954 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 33
United States Tax Court·Decided November 30, 1954·No. Docket No. 40613·Published·Cited by 28 cases

Opinion

OPINION.

Fisher, Judge:

All of the facts were stipulated by the parties and are incorporated herein by reference.

Petitioners filed a joint income tax return for the calendar year 1948 with the then collector of internal revenue at Cleveland, Ohio. During that year, petitioners realized gain of $1,470,328.84 upon the sale or exchange of capital assets of which 50 per centum, or $735,164.42, constitutes net long-term capital gain pursuant to the provisions of section 117 (a) and (b), Internal Revenue Code of 1939. Also during that year they realized an adjusted gross income, exclusive of capital gain, in the amount of $50,753.61. Their total deductions allowable under section 23 of the 1939 Code for that year were $114,269.63, and their credits against net income for exemptions were $1,200. This proceeding involves the proper computation of their income tax liability under the alternative tax provisions of section 117 (c) (2) then in effect.

For the purpose of facilitating our discussion of the issue involved in the instant case, the term “taxable capital gain” is used throughout to mean both net long-term capital gain and the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, that is, 50 per centum of the total gain mentioned above. We shall also use the term “ordinary income” throughout this opinion to mean adjusted gross income reduced by the amount of taxable capital gain.

The provisions of section 117 (c) (2), in effect in 1948, state as follows:

If for any taxable year the net long-term capital gain of any taxpayer (other than a corporation) exceeds the net short-term capital loss, there shall he levied, collected, and paid, in lieu of the tax imposed by sections 11 and 12, a tax determined as follows, if and only if such tax is less than the tax imposed by such sections:
A partial tax shall first be computed upon the net income reduced by the amount of such excess [the taxable capital gain, in the instant case], at the rates and in the same manner as if this subsection had not been enacted, and the total tax shall be the partial tax plus 50 per centum of such excess.

Respondent determined that petitioners’ net income was their ordinary income ($50,753.61) plus their taxable capital gain ($735,164.42) less their deductions ($114,269.63), or $671,648.40. He computed their “partial tax” under the alternative tax computation to be zero since the net income “reduced” by the amount of the taxable capital gain resulted in a negative figure upon which no tax could be calculated. He thus determined that petitioners’ total alternative tax was 50 per cent of their taxable capital gain, or $367,582.21.

Petitioners, on the other hand-, contend that respondent’s determination of the alternative tax results, in effect, in a disallowance of otherwise authorized deductions and credits in instances such as this one where net income is less than taxable capital gain. They urge instead that the 50 per cent rate be applied to the taxable capital gain only to the extent that such gain does not exceed the taxable income figure (net income less credits for exemption) upon which the tax liability is determined under the regular, as distinguished from the alternative, method of computation. In the instant case, the net income ($671,648.40, as stipulated by the parties) less petitioners’ $1,200 credit against net income for exemptions results in a taxable income of $670,448.40. Petitioners contend that the total alternative tax is 50 per cent of this figure, or $335,224.20.

The issue presented in the instant case is one of first impression. In the usual situation where ordinary income exceeds deductions and credits, the issue does not arise. In calculating the alternative tax, a partial tax is first computed upon the net income reduced by the amount of the taxable capital gain. This reduced net income in effect consists of the ordinary income less the deductions. After credits against net income for exemptions are subtracted from this figure, the partial tax is determined according to the regular tax rate schedule. Since full tax benefit has thus been accorded the deductions and credits in the computation of the partial tax, it is clear that the capital gain portion of the alternative tax is 50 per cent of the taxable capital gain.

The instant case, however, involves the unusual situation where ordinary income is less than deductions and credits, or where, in a manner of speaking, there is a deficit in ordinary income. Under these circumstances, net income (which is ordinary income plus taxable capital gain less deductions) is less than the taxable capital gain. In calculating the alternative tax, the partial tax amounts to zero, for the net income reduced by the taxable capital gain (a larger amount) is a negative number due to the deficit in ordinary income. The taxpayer in this situation therefore does not get a tax benefit for his entire deductions or credits in the computation of the partial tax. The issue thus arises as to whether or not the unused deductions (i. e., the deficit in ordinary income) and credits may be deducted from the taxable capital gain in computing the capital gain portion of the alternative tax. It is our view for the reasons expressed below that taxable capital gain is not to be reduced by the amount of unused deductions and credits in computing the alternative tax.

At the outset, we wish to point out that we are concerned only with the alternative tax computation. Were petitioners’ tax determined pursuant to the ordinary method, full allowance would be given to the deductions and credits, for the tax rates provided in sections 11 and 12 of the 1939 Code would be imposed upon a taxable income figure composed of net income (the sum of petitioners’ ordinary income and taxable capital gain less their deductions) less their credits against net income for exemptions. Section 117 (c) (2), however, requires that the alternative tax be imposed “if and only if” such tax is less than the tax imposed by sections 11 and 12. In the instant case, the alternative tax is less under both petitioners’ and respondent’s computations and it accordingly must be imposed under either view.

A brief history of the tax treatment of capital gains will enable us to view the present controversy in its proper perspective. Prior to the Revenue Act of 1921, capital gains were taxed in full in the year realized. Because taxpayers were reluctant to make sales or exchanges which would result in large capital gains taxed in 1 year at high progressive tax rates, the 1921 Act enacted the first alternative tax treatment of capital gains “in order to permit such transactions to go forward without fear of a prohibitive tax.” See H. Rept. No. 350, p. 10 and S. Rept. No. 275, p. 12, 67th Cong., 1st Sess., reported in 1939-1 C. B. (Part 2) at pp. 168, 176 and 181, 189. Section 206 (b) of that Act provided that the alternative tax shall be imposed at the election of the taxpayer and shall be determined by a partial tax at regular progressive rates imposed upon the “ordinary net income” plus 12% per cent of the “capital net gain,” but that the total tax shall not be less than 12% per cent of the total net income.

The Revenue Act of 1924 reenacted the alternative tax principle of the earlier law but the minimum tax provision (12% per cent of the total net income, supra) was omitted.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Weil v. Commissioner, 23 T.C. 424, 1954 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 33 (tax 1954).

23 T.C. 424 (Weil v. Commissioner) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Pesch v. Commissioner
78 T.C. No. 8 (U.S. Tax Court, 1982)
Stevenson Co-Ply, Inc. v. Commissioner
76 T.C. 637 (U.S. Tax Court, 1981)
United California Bank v. United States
439 U.S. 180 (Supreme Court, 1978)
United States v. Foster Lumber Co.
429 U.S. 32 (Supreme Court, 1976)
Estate of Sidles v. Commissioner
65 T.C. 873 (U.S. Tax Court, 1976)
Bridges v. Commissioner
64 T.C. 968 (U.S. Tax Court, 1975)
Axelrod v. Commissioner
1973 T.C. Memo. 190 (U.S. Tax Court, 1973)
Pope & Talbot, Inc. v. Commissioner
60 T.C. No. 9 (U.S. Tax Court, 1973)
Drew v. Commissioner
1972 T.C. Memo. 40 (U.S. Tax Court, 1972)
Chartier Real Estate Co. v. Commissioner
52 T.C. 346 (U.S. Tax Court, 1969)
Statler Trust v. Commissioner
43 T.C. 208 (U.S. Tax Court, 1964)
Weil v. Commissioner
23 T.C. 424 (U.S. Tax Court, 1954)