* This opinion replaces the prior opinion of this Court in

these cases, Winn v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1997-286, which is

hereby withdrawn.

T.C. Memo. 1998-71

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

PHILIP D. AND ELEANOR G. WINN, Petitioners v.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent *

DAVID A. AND LOUISE A. GITLITZ, Petitioners v.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket Nos. 5358-96, 5359-96. Filed February 19, 1998.

Darrell D. Hallett, Larry N. Johnson, Robert J. Chicoine,

and John M. Colvin, for petitioners.

Keith G. Medleau, for respondent.
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MEMORANDUM OPINION

COHEN, Chief Judge: In Winn v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.

1997-286, we concluded that respondent's motions for summary

judgment should be denied, and petitioners' cross-motions for

partial summary judgment should be granted. Thereafter,

respondent filed a motion for reconsideration. Released today is

the Opinion in Nelson v. Commissioner, 110 T.C. ___ (1998), in

which the Court decides the same legal issue, to wit, whether

discharge of indebtedness income to an S corporation increases a

shareholder's basis in the stock of the corporation, in favor of

respondent. The arguments discussed in Nelson were fully briefed

and argued in these cases. Under these circumstances,

respondent's motion for reconsideration will be granted. This

Memorandum Opinion replaces T.C. Memo. 1997-286, which is hereby

withdrawn.

Background

Respondent determined a deficiency of $242,555 in Philip D.

and Eleanor G. Winn's (the Winns) 1992 Federal income tax and a

deficiency of $251,192 in David A. and Louise A. Gitlitz's (the

Gitlitzes) 1991 Federal income tax. At the time their respective

petitions were filed, all petitioners resided in Colorado.

Philip D. Winn (Winn) and David A. Gitlitz (Gitlitz) were

shareholders in P.D.W. & A., Inc. (PDW&A), a Colorado

corporation. In 1991, PDW&A had an election in effect to be
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taxed as an S corporation. Effective January 1, 1992, PDW&A

revoked its S corporation election.

PDW&A was a partner in Parker Properties Joint Venture

(Parker). Parker realized $4,154,891 in discharge of

indebtedness income in 1991. PDW&A's distributive share of

Parker's discharge of indebtedness income in 1991 was $2,021,296. 

At the time that Parker realized the discharge of indebtedness

income, PDW&A was insolvent to the extent of $2,181,748.

Winn increased his basis in his PDW&A stock by the amount of

his pro rata share ($1,010,648) of the discharge of indebtedness

income. Winn did not claim a loss on the Winns' 1991 Federal

income tax return because Winn believed that the passive activity

loss limitations prevented him from doing so. On the Winns' 1992

Federal income tax return, Winn claimed losses from PDW&A that

were carried over from 1991 totaling $1,010,648.

Gitlitz increased his basis in his PDW&A stock by the amount

of his pro rata share ($1,010,648) of the discharge of

indebtedness income. Gitlitz claimed losses from PDW&A totaling

$1,010,648 on the Gitlitzes' 1991 Federal income tax return. 

Absent the basis increase, the deductibility of these losses

would have been suspended under section 1366(d), I.R.C.

Respondent disallowed the losses claimed by Winn and Gitlitz

on the premise Winn and Gitlitz lacked sufficient basis in their

PDW&A stock.
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Discussion

Under Rule 121, Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, a

summary adjudication may be made "if the pleadings, answers to

interrogatories, depositions, admissions, and any other

acceptable materials, together with the affidavits, if any, show

that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that a

decision may be rendered as a matter of law." Rule 121(b), Tax

Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. The parties agree that

whether discharge of indebtedness income increases a taxpayer's

basis in his S corporation stock may be decided as a matter of

law.

In Nelson v. Commissioner, 110 T.C. ___, filed this date,

the Court agreed with respondent that a shareholder of an

insolvent S corporation may not increase his or her basis to

reflect discharge of indebtedness income to the S corporation. 

That Opinion is controlling here. Respondent's motions for

summary judgment will be granted, and petitioners' cross-motions

for partial summary judgment will be denied.

Appropriate orders

will be issued.