Court Opinion

ID: 4620967
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-21 02:43:43.172104+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:59:58.621344
License: Public Domain

APPEAL OF ROTHHOLZ EXAMINING & SHRINKING CO., INC.Rothholz Examining & Shrinking Co. v. CommissionerDocket No. 4844.United States Board of Tax Appeals3 B.T.A. 721; 1926 BTA LEXIS 2585; February 13, 1926, Decided Submitted December 7, 1925.  1926 BTA LEXIS 2585">*2585  A corporation taxpayer carrying on a business and using during the year shop and delivery equipment of the average book value of $11,713.62, held not a personal service corporation under the provisions of the Revenue Act of 1918.  H. Earlton Hanes, Esq., for the taxpayer.  J. A. Adams, Esq., for the Commissioner.  TRUSSELL 3 B.T.A. 721">*721  Before SMITH, LITTLETON, and TRUSSELL.  This is an appeal from the determination of a deficiency for the year 1921 in the sum of $835.08.  The deficiency arose from the refusal of the Commissioner to classify the taxpayer as a personal service corporation and to allow it to set up additional salaries in an amended return.  FINDINGS OF FACT.  1.  The taxpayer is a New York corporation, with its principal place of business at Rochester, with a capitalization of $5,000, held as follows: Per cent.J. A. Bakrow, president45F. M. Rothholz, secretary and treasurer45H. A. Friedman102.  The taxpayer is engaged in the business of examining, shrinking, and waterproofing cotton and woolen goods, and its income is derived from services performed upon such goods.  The said Rothholz and Bakrow, 1926 BTA LEXIS 2585">*2586  the principal stockholders, devoted all their time to the business of the taxpayer.  Rothholz was an expert in waterproofing and sponging and the secret processes used therein.  He was the only one connected with the taxpayer's business who had knowledge of this and personally supervised the operations.  Bakrow was an expert in examining woolens, and he, together with Rothholz, personally examined each piece of goods worked upon.  The goods worked upon were brought in by clothing manufacturers and returned after the treatment by the taxpayer.  3.  The taxpayer operated a large plant and employed other labor to assist in the work.  The wages paid for 1921 were $17,996.64.  The value of the plant and equipment was as follows: Jan. 1, 1921.Jan. 1, 1922.Machinery and equipment$7,941.24$8,480.34Furniture and fixtures873.08873.08Auto trucks2,170.003,090.10Total10,984.3212,443.523 B.T.A. 721">*722  The gross income for the year 1921 was $47,401.61, deductions, including salaries of members, $41,863.31, and net income $5,538.30.  4.  The balance sheet of the taxpayer as of January 1, 1921, and January 1, 1922, is as follows: Jan. 1, 1922.Jan. 1, 1921.ASSETS.Cash$66.41$24.97Accounts receivable4,236.013,718.53Inventory268.50Personal10,045.014,490.14Machinery and equipment8,480.347,941.24Furniture and fixtures873.08873.08Auto trucks3,090.102,170.0027,059.4519,217.96LIABILITIES.Notes payable3,970.105,428.00Accounts payable2,207.74Reserve for machinery and equipment4,750.283,902.25Reserve for furniture and fixtures455.48368.18Reserve for auto trucks1,764.521,146.50Capital stock5,000.005,000.00Surplus8,911.333,373.0327,059.4519,217.961926 BTA LEXIS 2585">*2587  5.  The officers drew salaries for 1921 as follows: J. A. Bakrow, president$5,145.00F. M. Rothholz, secretary-treasurer5,145.00Total10,290.00They made further withdrawals as follows: Bakrow$3,342.43Rothholz2,067.05Total withdrawals by officers15,699.48The Commissioner, for the prior year (1920), allowed officers' salaries of $15,700.  In the original return for 1921, filed by the taxpayer as a personal service corporation, the total officers' salaries were $10,290.  Upon the Commissioner's refusal to classify the taxpayer as a personal service corporation, it filed an amended return for the taxable year 1921, showing officers' salaries in the sum allowed by the Commissioner for the prior year.  DECISION.  The deficiency should be computed in accordance with the following opinion.  Final determination will be settled on 15 days' notice, pursuant to Rule 50.  OPINION.  TRUSSELL: The business of examining, shrinking, and waterproofing cotton and woolen goods is a part of the manufacturing processes 3 B.T.A. 721">*723  by which such goods are converted into clothing and other articles suitable for the use of the wearers and1926 BTA LEXIS 2585">*2588  users of such articles.  In this process the element of personal service does not appear to materially differ from that of other manufacturing businesses in which the services of experienced men are required.  The taxpayer's business needed and employed shop equipment, office furniture, and delivery equipment of an average depreciated value during the year in question of $11,713.62.  This is capital, and it surely can not be said of this business that such capital did not materially contribute to the production of income.  We are, therefore, of the opinion that this taxpayer was not, during the year 1921, entitled to classification as a personal service corporation.  In the course of its business during that year, the taxpayer authorized and paid to two of its principal officers salaries of $5,145 each, which amounts, in view of the figures of gross and net income, seem to be reasonable compensation for the services of such officers.