Case ID: wis_166/html/0055-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "KerwiN, J. Mabshall, J.\n     Esci-iweiler, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

State ex rel. Nunnemacher and others, Respondents, vs. Widule, County Clerk, Appellant.
    
      May 17
    
    June 12, 1917.
    
    
      State ex rel. Pfister v. Widule, ante, p. 48, followed.
    Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Milwaukee county: W. J. Tukwee, Circuit Judge.
    
      Reversed.
    
    This is an appeal from a judgment entered in a certiorari proceeding, setting aside the assessments of income made in the year 1916 by the income tax board of review for Milwaukee county and confirmed by the Wisconsin tax commission, on account of moneys received during the year 1915 by respondents, stockholders in the Lindwurm Company, a corporation, as dividends on their stock in said company. The amount assessed to the various stockholders aggregated $30,413.87. Separate actions were commenced by the re-lators and afterwards consolidated by stipulation of counsel.
    The Lindwurm Company was organized August 28, 1899, with an authorized capital stock of $125,000, of which $82,000 was subscribed and paid. The company was organized to purchase what was known as “The Lindwurm Earm,” a tract of 160 acres located in the county of Milwaukee. The farm was purchased at a foreclosure sale for $100,000, plus $4,976.85 costs and interest, $15,000 being paid down and a mortgage given to secure the balance of $85,000. The company held the farm from 1899 until September 17, 1909, when it executed a land contract for the sale of 142.06 acres of said tract to the city of Milwaukee for park purposes for $142,060 to be paid as follows: $15,000 on delivery of the contract, and the balance, $127,000, in twenty equal annual instalments of $6,353 each, with interest at four per cent., payable semi-annually. Payments were made as agreed up to March 7, 1915, at which time with the consent of the company the total balance, $82,589, was paid. The moneys received from the city of Milwaukee on said land contract were distributed as dividends by tbe Lindwurm Company to its stockholders shortly after receipt in proportion to their stock holdings and upon the dates following:
    September 8, 1910. $5,986
    March 11, 1911. 2,255
    September 15, 1911. 8,405
    March 14, 1912. 2,048
    September 7, 1912. 7,792
    March 13, 1913. 2,478
    September 5, 1913. 7,977
    March 23, 1914. 1,722
    September 29, 1914. 8,200
    During year 1915. 81,180
    The distributions were in cash and denominated on the books of the corporation “stock dividends.” The payments so distributed to the stockholders were considered by the company on its books as a return of capital and were so applied to the extent necessary to make full return of the $82,000 in stock outstanding.
    Using as a basis the method of computation followed by the company, i. e. by considering the payments to stockholders as being a return of capital, it was considered on January 1, 1912, $65,354 in stock was outstanding (the amounts returned prior thereto amounting to $16,646). During the year 1912 the company distributed $9,840, so there remained outstanding January 1, 1913, $55,415; during the year 1913 it repaid $10,455, leaving a balance January 1, 1914, of $45,069; during 1914 it repaid $9,922, leaving a balance January 1, 1915, of $35,137; during the year 1915 the company returned to the stockholders $81,180, of which $35,137 was applied on March 26, 1915, as the balance necessary to return or pay off the amount of capital stock. The balance remaining' after the credit of said $35,137 out of the total payment of $81,180 was $46,043. _ ____
    
      Tbe total amount assessed to tbe company on account of income received by it during 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1914 as reported to tbe tax commission was $15,629.13. Tbe amount so assessed to tbe corporation, plus wbat was considered by tbe corporation to be tbe balance of capital returned during 1915, $35,137, amounts to $50,766.13. This amount, wbicb equals 62.54 of the total distribution in 1915, was allowed as a deduction, and the balance of tbe distribution in said year, amounting to $30,413.87, or 37.46 per cent, of tbe total amount of tbe dividend for said year, was taxed to tbe various stockholders in proportion to their stock bolding.
    After computation by tbe assessor of incomes of amounts deductible as set forth above, the following are tbe assessments wbicb tbe board of review fixed and confirmed against tbe several relators on tbe moneys so received: Louise Nunne-macher, $4,450; Charles F. Pfister, $2,225; Gerhard J. Kop-meier, $1,112; Estáte of John Elser, $2,225; George Kuem-merlein, $S90; Frank J. Boehm, $445; Edward Bulfin, $371; Frank E. Geilfuss, $183; Robert E. Hackett, $2,039; Estate of Lydia W. Payne, $1,112; Estate of Robert Nunne-macher, $8,158.
    Tbe Lindwurm Company has never considered going into tbe real-estate business generally and it has never acquired or held any other property. Tbe Lindwurm Earm had not been improved or platted. Income was received by tbe company from grain raised on tbe farm and from rent. Tbe income received amounted practically to tbe taxes assessed against tbe property.
    Eor tbe appellant there was a brief by tbe Attorney General, E. E. Brossard, assistant attorney general, Winfred C. Zabel, district attorney of Milwaukee county, William M. Tibbs, special assistant district attorney, and Daniel W. Sullivan, assistant district attorney; and tbe cause was argued orally by Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Brossard.
    
    
      Eor the respondents there was a brief by Lawrence A. 01-well of Milwaukee, and oral argument by Mr. Olwell and by Mr. 0. T. Bundy of Eau Claire.
   KerwiN, J.

This case is ruled by State ex rel. Pfister v. Widule, ante, p. 48, 163 N. W. 641.

By the Court.■ — The judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded with instruction to affirm the assessment of income made by the income tax board of review of Milwaukee county and confirmed by the Wisconsin tax commission.

Mabshall, J.

(dissenting). I dissent from the decision in this case for the reason assigned in State ex rel. Pfister v. Widule, ante, p. 48, 163 N. W. 641.

RoseNberry, J., concurs in the foregoing dissenting opinion.

Esci-iweiler, J.

(dissenting). I have the same reasons for dissenting in this case as are expressed in the case of State ex rel. Pfister v. Widule, ante, p. 48, 163 N. W. 641.