West Flagler Amusement Co. v. Commissioner

21 T.C. 486, 1954 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 312
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJanuary 19, 1954
DocketDocket No. 24598
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 21 T.C. 486 (West Flagler Amusement Co. 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
West Flagler Amusement Co. v. Commissioner, 21 T.C. 486, 1954 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 312 (tax 1954).

Opinion

OPINION.

Harron, Judge:

Petitioner contends that its average base period net income is an inadequate standard of normal earnings because, it alleges, it commenced business and changed the character of its business immediately prior to and during the base period within the meaning of section 722 (b) (4) of the Internal Kevenue Code. Petitioner claims that it qualifies for relief from excess profits tax under section 722, and that by use of the so-called “push-back” rule, its constructive average base period net income amounts to at least $315,000.

The taxable years involved are the fiscal years ending on September 30 in 1941,1942, 1943, 1944, and 1945.

The pleadings present questions under sections 722 (a) and 722 (b) (4), only. At the trial of this proceeding, the petitioner abandoned an alternative issue which was raised originally in the petition under sections 722 (b) (5) and 713 (f) (7).

The first question to be decided is whether the petitioner commenced business immediately prior to the base period. The evidence shows that petitioner was organized in 1930, and in that year it leased 20 acres of land upon which it constructed a racing course and the customary spectator facilities. The property was at first rented to lessees who conducted a greyhound racing track. During the 1931-32 and 1932-33 seasons, the property was in the hands of a receiver, but shortly after the close of the 1932-33 season, the receiver was discharged. Starting with the 1933-34 racing season, petitioner has operated its track continuously. The petitioner operated its racing track business during its fiscal year which began on October 1, 1933. Since the petitioner’s first base period year began on October 1, 1936, it is evident that the petitioner was engaged in the business of operating a greyhound racing track during 3 fiscal years (from October 1,1933, to September 30, 1936) before the first fiscal year of its base period. Petitioner did not commence business immediately prior to the base period. See Monarch Cap Screw & Manufacturing Co., 5 T. C. 1220, 1231, wherein it was held that a change in business in 1934 was not “immediately prior to the base period”; Acme Breweries, 14 T. C. 1034, 1055, where it was held that a change in the character of business in 1933 was not within the scope of subsection (b) (4); A. B. Frank Co., 19 T. C. 174, 181.

However, petitioner argues that-the meaning of the provision in subsection (b) (4), “immediately prior to the base period,” permits consideration of the “time lag” which may be encountered between the commencement of a business and the time when a normal level of earnings is reached, and that satisfaction of the condition set forth in the statutory provision is not dependent upon the particular year in which a business begins. In advancing this argument, petitioner cites section 35.722-3 (d) of Regulations 1121 which is quoted in the margin. Petitioner contends, in particular, that if its business was not fully developed and its earnings had not reached their full normal level prior to the base period, then it qualifies under the “commencement of business” rule in subsection (b) (4). Petitioner contends, further, that it had not reached its full normal earning level even by the end of the base period. Petitioner, under this issue, relies heavily upon Del Mar Turf Club, 16 T. C. 749.

We have considered petitioner’s contentions having due regard for the regulation cited, and, also, for the further amplification of the regulation in Bulletin on Section 722 of the Internal Revenue Code issued by the Commissioner on November 1, 1944.2 But upon consideration of the entire record in this proceeding we cannot sustain petitioner’s contentions. The evidence leads us to conclude that petitioner had established its business in the greyhound racing industry of greater Miami by the beginning of its base period. Certain facts should be brought forward which bear upon our conclusion. It has been stipulated that daylight greyhound racing began in the Miami area in 1924, and evening racing began in 1926. At some time between 1926 and 1928, the Biscayne Kennel Club began the operations of its track; in 1928 the Miami Beach Kennel Club began operating its track; petitioner’s lessees began operation of its track in 1930, and petitioner took over operations in 1933; and Hollywood started its operations in 1934. Greyhound racing was illegal until 1931. Its legalization is some indication that, as a business, it gained a strong enough foothold before 1931 to survive the period of its illegal existence. But, aside from such inference, we are impressed by the indisputable fact that during the 4 racing seasons beginning in 1932 up to the 1936 season, the petitioner, Miami Beach, and Biscayne, all attained a normal level of operations as is shown by the table set forth in the Findings of Fact which shows attendance and mutuel play. Petitioner’s record of attendance and mutuel play before its base period, if not better than that of Biscayne, compared favorably, as it also did with Miami Beach.

From all of the evidence before us, we have found that petitioner’s initial period of developing its racing track business and of establishing itself in the greyhound racing business of the Miami area was completed by the beginning of the base period, that the normal level of earnings attributable to the commencement of its business was reached by the beginning of the base period, and that it did not commence its business immediately prior to the base period within the meaning of section 722 (b) (4).

Del Mar Turf Club, supra, is distinguishable upon its particular facts. In that case, the taxpayer commenced business in 1937, during the base period, and the evidence established that “it did not reach by the end of the base period the earning level that would have been reached by the end of the base period if the business had commenced in 1935 instead of 1937.” We cannot reach that conclusion in this case. Bather, we have found, upon the entire record, that petitioner’s earnings attained a level during the base period which would not have been greater if petitioner had commenced the operation of its business at some time before the time in 1933 when such operations began.

Victory Glass Co., 17 T. C. 381, 387, also is distinguishable upon its facts. In that case, the taxpayer, also, began business in 1937, during the base period.

Petitioner contends, further, that it changed the character of its business immediately prior to the base period. . It attributes the alleged change of character to the installation of electrically illuminated glass starting boxes, the erection of a “detail” board, the practice of posting immediately odds and the amounts of wagering on the board, the use of “lock-out” kennels before races, and the inauguration of stake races. Petitioner asserts that these things constituted opeN ating changes and that they brought about a large increase in parimutuel wagering and in net income. Petitioner argues, in connection with this contention, that when it commenced to operate its track in 1933, the public lacked confidence in the integrity of greyhound racing operations, and suspected track operators of engaging in questionable practices.

The evidence does not satisfy us that such attitude existed in the minds of the public to such a degree that the items relied upon by petitioner constituted making a change in the character of its business.

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West Flagler Amusement Co. v. Commissioner
21 T.C. 486 (U.S. Tax Court, 1954)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
21 T.C. 486, 1954 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 312, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/west-flagler-amusement-co-v-commissioner-tax-1954.