Case Name: Appeal of THE McLAIN, HADDEN, SIMPERS CO.
Court: United States Board of Tax Appeals
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1925-09-08
Citations: 2 B.T.A. 531
Docket Number: Docket No. 1486
Parties: Appeal of THE McLAIN, HADDEN, SIMPERS CO.
Judges: Before GeaupNek, Teammell, and Geeen.
Reporter: Reports of the United States Board of Tax Appeals
Volume: 2
Pages: 531–535

Head Matter:
Appeal of THE McLAIN, HADDEN, SIMPERS CO.
Docket No. 1486.
Submitted May 5, 1925.
Decided September 8, 1925.
A. O. Humphreys, Esq., for the taxpayer.
J. A. Adams, Esq., for the Commissioner..
Before GeaupNek, Teammell, and Geeen.

Opinion:
This appeal is from the determination of a deficiency in income and profits taxes in the sum of $1,341.57 for the year 1918, based on the Commissioner's ruling that the taxpayer was not a personal service corporation within the meaning of section 200 of the Revenue Act of 1918.
FINDINGS OF FACT.
The taxpayer was organized in 1915 under the laws of Pennsylvania with an authorized and issued capital stock of $15,000, all of which was fully paid for. The stock was held during 1918 as follows:
Shares
' W. R. McLain, president,_ 66
H. S. Hadden, vice president,_ 49
Robert S. Simpers, treasurer,_ 39
A. H. Bartsch, assistant treasurer,- 0
W. H. Hicks, secretary,- 1
Total_150
The income and deductions for the year 1918 were as follows:
INCOME.
Profit or commission on advertising space-$59,339.47
Special work_ 10, 535. 60
Commissions- 1, 813.19
Drawing and plioto sales- 14,605. 72
Printing_ 2,154. 55
Discount on purchases- 1,037.21
Gross income_$89,485. 74
DEDUCTIONS.
Employees' salaries-$46, 549.33
Other expenses- 15, 986. 82
Officers' salaries- 18,207.00
Interest and discount- 136. 84
Taxes- 75. 00
Bad debts_ 1,238. 07
Depreciation_ 480. 68
- 82,673.74
Net income. 6,812.00
The balance sheets as at the beginning and end of the year 1918 are as follows:
The taxpayer was in the year 1918 and is now engaged in the advertising business. In such business it acts as agent in placing contracts for advertising space, prepares advertising booklets and circulars, counsels and advises with its clients as to advertising policies and campaigns, and prepares and supervises advertising copy for periodicals. Its income for the year 1918 was derived from six sources: (1) Commissions and fees for advertising space, $59,339.47; (2) special work in preparation of catalogues, booklets, etc., $10,-535.60; (3) commissions from engraving companies, $1,813.19; (4) drawings and photo sales advertising campaigns, $14,605.72; (5) printing, $2,154.55; (6) cash discount on purchase, $1,037.21.
The principal income was from commissions and fees for advertising space. During the year 1918 the taxpayer had 32 clients, of whom 22 clients paid the publishers direct and 10 clients paid their accounts through the taxpayer. The gross business of these contracts was $288,554.52, of which $151,368.59 was paid direct to the publisher by the advertiser, and $127,175.93 was billed through the taxpayer. The form of contract in which the advertiser paid direct to the publisher was as follows:
Advertising Order
Order No_ From Cortright Metal Roofing Co.
Date_, 19_
You are hereby authorized to insert our advertisement to occupy_in _during the term of_months for which we agree to pay_ dollars, $-payable- One copy of each issue to be mailed to us at 50 N. 23d Street, Phila., and one to our Western office, 538 So. Clark Street, Chicago, Ill. We reserve the right to cancel after three months at yearly rates.
This advertisement to be placed_
We reserve tlie right to change our matter when we wish it-
This contract is limited to the time above stated.
This contract is subject to_% commission to the McDain-Hadden-Simpers Co., which you authorize us to pay them in view of our remitting direct.
Signed_,
ACCEPTANCE OP ADVERTISING ORDER FROM CORTWIGHT METAL ROOFING CO.
Order No_
Date_, 19—
We accept your order dated_to insert your advertisement in-to occupy_to be used_during the term of-months, for which you agree to pay_dollars, $-payable-
We agree to send one copy of the paper containing advertisement to your main office, 50 N. 23d Street, Philadelphia, Pa., also one copy to your Western office, 538 So. Clark Street, Chicago, Ill., during the life of the contract. We grant you the privilege of cancelling after three months at yearly rates. You may change your matter when you desire.
We note the contract is limited to time stated.
We agree to allow the McLain-Hadden-Simpers Co._% commission, which you are authorized to pay them, sending us the net amount of the bill direct.
Accepted-,
In this class of contracts the taxpayer was paid a commission of 10 to 15 per cent. This was paid by the publisher to the taxpayer and credited by the taxpayer to the advertiser's account. The advertiser contracted to pay the taxpayer a guaranteed minimum annual fee, which was payable whether the commissions received from the publishers equaled that amount or not. The accounts were billed by the publisher direct to the advertiser, but duplicate bills sent to the taxpayer for checking purposes. The advertiser, however, sent its proof and advertising material through the taxpayer, who supervised its preparation and forwarded the copy and goods to the publisher at proper times.
The form of the second class of contracts was as follows:
ACCEPTANCE OF ADVERTISING CONTRACT
This contract is dated_
It begins -
We accept your contract to insert your advertisement in_to occupy _to be used_during the term of_, for which you agree to pay_, payable in monthly installments after publication is ordered.
You are to receive a copy of the paper containing the advertisement during the life of this contract. We grant you the privilege of cancelling any time by paying card rates for space used according to present printed schedule; you may change your matter when you desire. This advertisement is to be placed
We note this contract is limited to_
Publisher's signature.
During tlie life of this contract all proofs to be forwarded to McLain-Had-den-Simpers Co., 210 W. Washington Square, Philadelphia, for O. K., as well as one copy of each paper containing your ads.
All bills will be made out direct to you, but first sent to McLean-I-Xadden-Simpers Co. for O. K.
The client operating under this class of contract paid the taxpayer the advertising account plus their fees charged. The taxpayer billed the accounts each month in sufficient time to obtain the 2 per cent cash discounts. In each instance (except one) the money was received from the advertiser in sufficient time to forward it to the publisher and receive the cash discount. The cash discount was supposed to have been credited to the advertiser. The amount of $1,037.21 is claimed by the Commissioner to be an amount not passed on to the advertiser and income to the taxpayer.
The taxpayer's method of doing business was substantially as follows: When the taxpayer was enpployed by a client who desired to extend its business by advertising, it would first make a survey of the business, its product, and its markets. Then it would develop some suitable slogan or trade-mark about which to base a publicity campaign. This would be followed by the preparation of a publicity campaign with suitable pamphlets, sales letters and advertising for periodicals. Upon the plan being adopted it would supervise the publication of the catalogue, pamphlets, et cetera, and the purchase of space in periodicals. Contracts for the space in periodicals were executed between the publisher and the client. No space in periodicals was purchased or contracted for in advance by the taxpayer. After the execution of these contracts the taxpayer supervised the details of carrying the contracts into effect, such as the preparation and forwarding of copy and cuts and the checking up of accounts. The taxpayer had no printing or engraving plant of its own. It merely supervised and devised the work. Its equi}> ment consisted of furniture and fixtures necessary to carry on its work, valued at $3,985.34.
The taxpayer did not employ solicitors to obtain business. Three of the stockholders devoted all their time exclusively to the business during the year 1918. The other two stockholders devoted part time, as hereinafter set forth. W. K. McLain, president, owning 59 shares, had general supervision of the business. He also personally advised and had contact with a certain group of the clients. H. S. Hadden, vice president, owning 49 shares, had charge of the New York office, and personal contact with the clients there. Robert S. Simpers, treasurer, owning 30 shares, during the year 1918 was in the military service, but before and after that year he had personal contact with certain specified clients. During part of the year 1918 he kept in touch with the office to some extent. A. H. Bartsch, assistant treasurer, and owning five shares, devoted most' of his time to one client, the Bosch Magneto. W. H. Hicks, secretary, owning one share, only devoted a few days a month to the business in auditing the books, for which he received a nominal salary. The office personnel had nothing to do with the planning of campaigns, original ideas, or consultation with clients. Their duties were confined to the actual work in making drawings, designs, et cetera, together with the necessary bookkeeping and accounting.
The taxpayer during the year 1918 regularly employed 28 employees other than the stockholders, as follows:
Employees
Copy department_ 10
Art department_ 2
Accounting and records_ 4
Production and checking department_ 5
Stenographic and filing department_ 7
Total_:_ 28
The total compensation paid the employees for said year was $46,549.33. The salaries of the officers and stockholders amounted to $18,207.
The taxpayer is recognized by the publishers as a card-rate advertising agent. This recognition was granted after investigation of its financial responsibility. The taxpayer also investigated the financial responsibility of its clients and during the year in question had no losses or bad debts except the sum of $1,238.07. This so-called bad debt was in reality expenses incurred in developing an advertising campaign for a prospective client that did not materialize.
DECISION.
The determination of the Commissioner is approved.
Steenbcagen and Aeundell not participating.