Court Opinion

ID: 4626350
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-21 02:59:02.903132+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:56:51.807728
License: Public Domain

R. H. Oswald Company, Inc. v. Commissioner.R. H. Oswald Co., Inc. v. CommissionerDocket No. 19641.United States Tax Court1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44; 8 T.C.M. 964; T.C.M. (RIA) 49262; October 25, 19491949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*44  Walter E. Barton, Esq., 811 Investment Bldg., Washington, D.C., for the petitioner. Lester A. Ponder, Esq., for the respondent.  ARNOLD Memorandum Findings of Fact and Opinion ARNOLD, Judge: Respondent determined deficiencies against petitioner for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1943 and June 30, 1944, as follows: 19431944Income tax$ 144.08Declared value excessprofits tax5,570.88$ 3,100.64Excess profits tax33,530.8347,356.27Petitioner contests the disallowance of salaries paid petitioner's president, R. H. Oswald, for the taxable years for his services. Other adjustments made by respondent are uncontested. The facts are found as stipulated and are here summarized. Other facts are found from the evidence and exhibits submitted. Findings of Fact The petitioner is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Indiana, with principal office at Evansville, Indiana. The corporate income and declared value excess profits and excess profits tax returns of the petitioner for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1943, and June 30, 1944, were filed with the collector of internal revenue at Indianapolis, Indiana. Petitioner1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*45  kept its books and made its returns for the fiscal years on the accrual basis. Petitioner was organized on July 17, 1922 as The Oswald-Sparrenberger Company. On June 30, 1943 the name of petitioner was changed to R. H. Oswald Company, Incorporated. The capital stock of petitioner since the date of organization has been $30,000, consisting of 300 shares of the par value of $100 per share. From July 31, 1929 until Nov. 13, 1937 one-half of the stock was owned by R. H. Oswald and one-half by Henry W. Sparrenberger. Since November 13, 1937, the capital stock of the petitioner has been held as follows: R. H. Oswald290 sharesMatilda Oswald (wife of R. H.Oswald)5 sharesCharles E. Oswald (brother of R. H.Oswald)5 sharesThe following table shows petitioner's net sales and net income and the amounts paid by petitioner to Oswald for the fiscal years from 1939 to 1946, inclusive, and deducted on its income tax returns as officers' compensation for those years: Paid toYearNet SalesNet IncomeOswald1939$ 745,010.57$ (733.01)$ 7,200.001940809,626.905,394.747,200.001941864,234.375,837.067,200.0019421,150,225.2317,256.367,200.0019431,884,758.8324,000.0045,767.8319442,350,855.2324,000.0048,503.1219452,602.082.8824,000.0048,519.6419462,434,831.6724,000.0021,706.431949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*46  Petitioner has paid no cash dividends on its stock since the fiscal year ended June 30, 1932. Henry Sparrenberger was one of the organizers of petitioner and was secretary-treasurer thereof. In 1937 he sold his stockholdings to R. H. Oswald, Matilda Oswald, and Charles E. Oswald and was not connected with petitioner thereafter. The minutes of petitioner's board of directors' meeting of January 8, 1930, state: "In view of the fact that the increase or decrease of profits of this company are due entirely to the efforts and management of the active officers, it is hereby authorized by the Board of Directors that for the year 1929-30 and the following years, the following plan shall form a basis for their compensation. "'That each active officer shall have credited to his personal drawing account $7,200.00 per year as regular salary, and in addition, when the earnings of the company exceed 20% on outstanding capital stock, the officers shall receive 50% of such excess, to be distributed equally as additional compensation.'" The minutes of the meeting of the board of directors of August 6, 1941 state: "RESOLVED, that by unanimous consent of the Board of Directors the salary1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*47  of R.  H. Oswald was to be $7,200.00 (Seven-thousand two hundred dollars) per year and as additional compensation; when the net worth of the Company exceeded $75,000.00 (Seventy-five thousand dollars) then all additional gross earnings above 80% (eighty per cent) on the par value of the outstanding capital stock, would be used as additional salary compensation for R. H. Oswald." The minutes of the meeting of the board of directors of July 31, 1942, state: "RESOLVED, that the salary of R. H. Oswald, President of the Oswald-Sparrenberger Company, Evansville, Indiana, be $800.00 (Eight hundred dollars) per month effective as of July 1, 1942, and as additional compensation; when the net worth of the Company exceeded $75,000.00 (Seventy-five thousand dollars) then all additional gross earnings above 80% (Eighty per cent) on the par value of the outstanding capital stock, would be used as additional Salary Compensation for R. H. Oswald, and remain until changed by the Board of Directors." The minutes of the meeting of the board of directors of August 4, 1943, state: "RESOLVED, that the salary of R. H. Oswald, President of the R. H. Oswald Company, Inc., of Evansville, Indiana, be1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*48  $800.00 (Eight hundred dollars) per month; and as additional compensation, while the net worth of the company exceeds $75,000.00 (Seventy-five thousand dollars) then all additional gross earnings above 80% (Eighty per cent) on the par value of the outstanding capital stock, would be used as additional Salary Compensation for R. H. Oswald, and remain until changed by the Board of Directors." A similar resolution was passed on August 2, 1944. Petitioner's financial statement for the fiscal years ended June 30, in 1942, 1943, and 1944, shows: Fiscal Years EndedJune 30,June 30,June 30,ASSETS194219431944IncomeCash on hand and in bank$ 12,628.41$ 36,813.79$ 7,726.98Accounts and notes receivable - Less reserves46,593.8169,350.0774,848.71Merchandise inventory62,008.6542,564.6676,559.44U.S. government bonds15,000.00Total current assets$121,230.87$148,728.52$174,135.13Fixed AssetsReal estate and buildings$ 4,950.00$ 17,135.84$ 19,336.39Auto equipment15,353.9813,194.998,592.38Furniture and fixtures1,362.711,220.21994.21Machinery and equipment1,134.871,134.871,134.87Total$ 22,801.56$ 32,685.91$ 30,057.85Less depreciation reserves11,920.2310,618.898,271.12Net book value$ 10,881.33$ 22,067.02$ 21,786.73Deferred ChargesUnexpired insurance$ 615.66$ 887.90$ 2,140.48Prepaid interest159.03Prepaid payroll1,166.55Total$ 774.69$ 2,054.45$ 2,140.48Total assets$132,886.89$172,849.99$198,062.34LIABILITIESCurrent LiabilitiesAccounts payable - Trade$ 10,812.63$ 16,356.86$ 14,577.23Notes payable31,725.003,026.2913,000.00Accrued taxes and expense4,159.764,995.743,220.36Personal accounts payable4,602.7634,656.1835,502.86Reserve for Federal income taxes5,528.459,730.546,460.00Reserve for Federal OAB and WH taxes10,196.0813,801.98Accts. receivable - Cr. balances197.17Total current liabilities$ 56,828.60$ 78,961.69$ 86,759.60Other LiabilitiesReal estate mortgage$ 2,295.08Reserve for wage liability$ 1,365.97$ 1,365.97Total$ 2,295.08$ 1,365.97$ 1,365.97Capital AccountsCommon stock outstanding$ 30,000.00$ 30,000.00$ 30,000.00Earned surplus43,763.2162,522.3379,936.77Total$ 73,763.21$ 92,522.33$109,936.77Total liabilities$132,886.89$172,849.99$198,062.341949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*49  Petitioner's statement of operations for the taxable years shows: Fiscal Years EndedParticularsJune 30, 1943June 30, 1944IncomeNet Sales Revenue$1,884,758.82$2,350,855.23Deduct Cost of Sales1,568,927.712,015,264.89% to Net Sales83.24%85.72%Gross Operating Profit$ 315,831.11$ 335,590.34% to Net Sales16.76%14.28%Deduct ExpensesMerchandise and Delivery Expense$ 108,565.78$ 124,583.67Sales Department Expense76,432.7588,939.25General and Administration Expense97,020.4098,398.27Total Operating Expense$ 282,018.93$ 311,921.19% to Net Sales14.96%13.27%Operating Profit$ 33,812.18$ 23,669.15% to Net Sales1.80%1.01%Additions to IncomePurchase Discount$ 2,438.56$ 6,133.07Old Accounts Collected167.59164.29Rents Received480.00283.00Profit on Sales of Assets.15Total$ 3,086.15$ 6,580.51% to Net Sales.16%.28%Total$ 36,898.33$ 30,249.66% to Net Sales1.96%1.29%Deductions from IncomeInterest Paid$ 1,280.31$ 871.37Bad Account Loss Provision8,885.574,920.29Depreciation Rental Property197.00Casualty Damage2,535.45Contributions458.00Total$ 12,898.33$ 6,249.66% to Net Sales.68%.27%Net Profit for the Periods$ 24,000.00$ 24,000.001949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*50  Oswald was employed in the wholesale grocery and fresh fruit and vegetable business in Evansville since 1911. In 1922 he joined with others in forming petitioner and has since been its president and general manager. Prior to 1938, Oswald's duties for the petitioner consisted of buying and assembling fruits and vegetables, determining prices to be charged, instructing salesmen as to quantities of goods expected and prices thereof, and generally keeping the supplies flowing to petitioner so that retail customers could be supplied. After Sparrenberger's departure in 1937 his duties, which included being credit manager and office supervisor, were assumed by Oswald. Oswald had no previous experience either as credit or office manager. Oswald personally secured the merchandise from the producers or sellers and determined the quantities that he thought could be sold, based on the local market conditions. He employed the majority of the petitioner's personnel and the warehouseman in charge employed the remainder. Petitioner handles some merchandise on consignment in car lots. Oswald worked long hours during the years from 1941 to 1944, inclusive. He has always been a hard worker1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*51  and has never taken a vacation. He often worked 15 or 16 hours a day during the war years. Petitioner remained open 24 hours a day for phone orders; its doors were closed only about three hours a day. Oswald made spot checks of merchandise received to determine if it was of the quality ordered. Petitioner's trade area consists of the City of Evansville, Indiana, and the surrounding territory within a radius of approximately 100 miles. Petitioner had in the taxable year about 18 salesmen, 12 office employees, 55 warehousemen and truck drivers, and operated about 20 trucks. Fresh fruits and vegetables were not rationed during the war years. A consumer was limited in his purchases thereof only by the available supply and his own monetary resources. Petitioner's retail outlets were generally stores and concerns with which petitioner had done business for a number of years and many of which Oswald knew fairly well. Some 90 per cent of petitioner's customers were grocers, the remainder were hotels, restaurants and institutions such as hospitals. The bulk of the business was in fresh fruits and vegetables. Some 20 per cent to 25 per cent was in grocery items such as canned goods. 1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*52  Petitioner paid $172,802.06 in the fiscal year 1943 and $195,975.67 in the fiscal year 1944 as salaries and wages of employees other than officers' compensation. Petitioner had earned surplus, according to its books and records, in the amounts of $43,763.21, $62,522.33 and $79,936.77 as of June 30, 1942, 1943, and 1944, respectively. During the fiscal years 1943 and 1944 petitioner was listed in the Produce Reporter "Blue Book", the function of which is to inform the industry of the financial and moral reputation of various concerns in the fruit and vegetable industry. Petitioner has been rated "XXXX", the highest rating used, in that publication since 1931. The respective amounts of $45,767.83 and $48,503.12 were paid by petitioner to Oswald during the fiscal years 1943 and 1944, or within two and one-half months thereafter, and claimed as deductions by petitioner on its Federal income and excess profits tax returns for those years as compensation for personal services rendered by Oswald. A reasonable allowance for compensation for the personal services of Oswald to petitioner is for the taxable year ended June 30, 1943, $22,500, and for the taxable year ended June 30, 1944, $25,000. 1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*53  These amounts were ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred by petitioner in the respective years in carrying on its business. Opinion Petitioner's capital stock is 300 shares of which 290 are owned by R. H. Oswald, its president and general manager, and the remainder by his wife and brother, who serve as directors but are not employed by the corporation. It is thus a one man corporation. For the fiscal years 1943 and 1944 petitioner paid Oswald $45,787.83 and $48,503.12, respectively, and deducted these amounts on its tax returns as compensation for his services. Respondent allowed the fixed compensation of $800 per month provided by the recorded resolution of petitioner's board of directors and disallowed the contingent additional amount paid pursuant to that resolution as being excessive. Petitioner contends that the additional compensation based upon profits should be allowed as a deduction. Petitioner argues that Oswald had had 30 years' experience in the wholesale fresh fruit and vegetable business, 20 years as petitioner's president and general manager, that for five years he had performed all the executive and managerial duties and did so in the taxable years, 1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*54  that he did the buying, fixed sales prices, supervised the salesmen and oversaw almost every detail of the business and usually devoted 15 or 16 hours a day to the business, that the business is unusually hazardous because of the perishable nature of the commodities, and that the burden of responsibility was heavier during the war years because of rapid labor turnover, inexperienced help and black market conditions. Petitioner also argues that the ratio of Oswald's compensation to petitioner's net sales was unusually low, being only 2.44 and 2.06 per cent thereof for the fiscal years 1943 and 1944, respectively. Under the compensation arrangement Oswald received the fixed salary of $9,600, the petitioner then retained the next $24,000 of earnings amounting to 80 per cent on the capital stock, and Oswald received all further earnings. Petitioner argues strongly that the resolution of January 8, 1930, was a contract under which petitioner was obligated to pay compensation to Oswald and Sparrenberger based upon results, that this was an incentive arrangement and evidenced a policy of providing incentive contingent compensation which continued to the taxable years. At that time and until1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*55  November 13, 1937, Oswald and Sparrenberger were the sole stockholders. They controlled the corporation and the profits inured to their benefit in whatever form they might choose. They were in effect both employer and employees and in this situation the compensation plan approved by the directors is not controlling in determining the reasonableness of the compensation paid pursuant thereto. No employees other than these officers participated in the profits as incentive compensation. After November 13, 1937, Oswald owned 290 shares out of the 300 and his wife and brother each owned 5 shares. He then controlled the corporation, and was for all practical purposes the sole distributee of the earnings whether labeled dividends or compensation. The subsequent resolutions, as shown in our findings, providing for a salary which included a share of the profits did not represent a free bargain between the corporation and Oswald to secure his services on terms advantageous to the corporation. The arrangement siphoned off earnings that would otherwise be available as dividends or capital surplus. It can be given but little, if any, weight in determining what is reasonable compensation. Petitioner's1949 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 44">*56  evidence, however, establishes that Oswald's services in the taxable years, warranted compensation in excess of the amounts allowed by the respondent. His industry, long hours, and heavy responsibilities, the volume of petitioner's business and the net earnings attest to this. Upon consideration of all the relevant evidence we have determined that a reasonable allowance for compensation for Oswald's services to petitioner in the taxable years was $22,500 for the year ended June 30, 1943 and $25,000 for the year ended June 30, 1944. Decision will be entered under Rule 50.