Court Opinion

ID: 4622988
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-21 02:51:58.038125+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:56:16.610034
License: Public Domain

MARY E. WENGER, PETITIONER, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RESPONDENT.Wenger v. CommissionerDocket No. 92245.United States Board of Tax Appeals42 B.T.A. 225; 1940 BTA LEXIS 1033; June 26, 1940, Promulgated 1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1033  1.  Petitioner created a trust, the income to be accumulated by the trustee and, together with the corpus, to be held and distributed in amounts, within the discretion of the latter, when called for by petitioner and/or her children to relieve any of them should "any accident, sickness, calamity, misfortune, adversity, bereavement or loss, financially or otherwise, * * * visit, overtake or befall * * * [them]." The trustee possessed no adverse interest.  Held, that the conditions giving rise to the exercise of the discretion to distribute on the part of the disinterested trustee are so broad as to reserve to petitioner, in conjunction with the trustee, the right to revest both income and corpus.  Accordingly, the total trust income for the taxable years involved is taxable to petitioner under both sections 166 and 167 of the Revenue Act of 1934.  2.  Held, that in computing the amount of the trust income for each year taxable to petitioner, losses by the trust must be reflected to the same extent as if the tax liability with respect to such income was that of the trust.  3.  Two losses sustained by the trust upon mortgage investments held not to have resulted from1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1034  sales or exchanges of capital assets and, consequently, they are not capital but ordinary losses, deductible in their full amount.  A. W. Wenger, Esq., for the petitioner.  A. R. Carnduff, Esq., for the respondent.  LEECH42 B.T.A. 225">*225  The respondent determined deficiencies in the income tax of petitioner in the amounts of $2,350.04 for the calendar year 1934 and $4,430.85 for the calendar year 1935.  The principal issue is whether or not the income of a trust created by petitioner on January 3, 1932, is taxable to her.  If all or any part of the income of the trust is taxable to petitioner, it becomes necessary to determine whether in computing the amount of such income for 1934 there should be deducted (a) a loss of $2,970 sustained by the trust 42 B.T.A. 225">*226  because of the worthlessness of 30 shares of preferred stock of Northeastern Public Service Co., (b) a loss of $3,309.22 sustained by the trust because of the acceptance of Home Owners' Loan Corporation bonds in satisfaction of a second mortgage, and (c), for 1935, a loss of $4,787.98 sustained by the trust because of a foreclosure of a first mortgage upon property upon which the trust held a second1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1035  mortgage and an interest by virtue of a land contract.  We find the facts as stipulated, and also find additional facts based on evidence presented at the hearing.  FINDINGS OF FACT.  Petitioner is the widow of Emil P. Wenger, who died testate on June 2, 1916.  He was also survived by four children, all of whom were then minors, and all of whom were born of the marriage between petitioner and the deceased.  Petitioner and her children are beneficiaries of trusts created for each by the will of Emil P. Wenger.  On January 3, 1932, when petitioner was 62 years of age, she executed a certain trust instrument conveying to A. W. Wenger, as trustee, certain securities having a value of approximately $400,000.  The pertinent provisions of this trust instrument are the following: F.  This Trust shall continue for a period of fifteen (15) years and six (6) months from the date hereof, (which period will insure the Trust continuing in existence until the youngest daughter, Louise, if she lives, reaches the age of thirty-five), provided, however, that it may be sooner terminated, (1) by the mutual consent of the maker hereof, her four children and the then acting Trustee or Trustees; 1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1036  (2) by the mutual consent of the maker hereof, the then acting Trustee or Trustees, and the survivors or survivor of her children, in the event any of them predecease her.  (3) By the death of all of said children prior to the time fixed above for the orderly termination hereof.  (4) By the death of the marker hereof prior to the date specified for the orderly termination hereof, provided at said time all of the children then living shall have reached the age of thirty-five and shall have received conveyance to their respective distributive shares of the trust property belonging to them under the will of said Emil P. Wenger, deceased.  Said mutual consent shall be evidence by a writing signed by all of the parties mentioned above, capable of participating in voting upon the proposition, whereupon the distribution of the trust property then on hand, together with any and all undistributed income, after the deduction of proper charges and expenses, shall be made to the beneficiaries, as hereinafter outlined.  G.  Distributions from the income of the Trust Estate shall be made by the Trustee and/or his successors as follows: (1).  In the event any accident, sickness, calamity, misfortune, 1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1037  adversity, bereavement or loss, financially or otherwise, shall visit, overtake or befall the maker hereof and/or any of her children, or their descendants, then and in that event the said Trustee may distribute to such beneficiary or beneficiaries hereof, upon her, his or their written request or requests, such sum or sums which, in the discretion of said Trustee, will be sufficient to alleviate, aid and relieve such beneficiary or beneficiaries from such misfortune or happening.  (2).  In the event it should occur that any one or more of said children should suffer loss in the investment of funds received by them respectively 42 B.T.A. 225">*227  from the Estate of Emil P. Wenger, deceased, at the time they respectively reached the ages of twenty-five and thirty years, after having followed advice given by the maker, regarding the investment of said funds, (as more particularly set forth in the early part of this Trust Agreement) then upon written request of any of such beneficiaries to the Trustee, he shall pay to any such beneficiary such sum or sums of money necessary to enable such beneficiary or beneficiaries to recoup such losses suffered by them respectively and thus place them, 1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1038  in a situation where they will not run the risk of losing their right to demand and receive a conveyance to them respectively of the corpus of their respective Trust Estates, upon reaching thirty-five years of age.  It is not intended that the relief contemplated to be afforded by the above sections shall be limited merely to the accrued and accumulated income from the Trust Estate, but the Trustee is granted the right, power and authority of encroaching upon the principal of the Trust, should the income be insufficient at such time for the purposes set forth and the gravity of the situation demands that the aid be furnished.  (3).  In the event the earnings, income, rents, receipts and profits received by the Trustee, during any year, are sufficient in amount so that in the judgment of said Trustee it would be advisable to make a distribution of part or all of such surplus income, the trustee shall be authorized to pay out and distribute all, or any part thereof, to the beneficiaries hereof in the following proportion: One-half of any sum determined upon to be distributed, to the maker hereof, Mary E. Wenger; and the other half equally between my children.  Alice E. M. Sandonnini, 1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1039  E. Boyer Wenger, P. Cedric Wenger and Louise Wenger, or the survivors.  Provided, that if any of such children should die prior to the termination of this Trust, but leave a child or children surviving, then the share which would have been payable to the parent, if he or she were living at the time of such distribution, shall be payable to such issue per stirpes.  The trustee of the 1932 trust, A. W. Wenger, is the nephew of the petitioner and has been her trusted adviser since 1916.  In determining the deficiencies the respondent added the income of the trust, which (without making any deduction for losses hereinafter mentioned) amounted to $11,323.93 in 1934 and $15,395.76 in 1935, to the net income reported by petitioner in her returns for those years.  All of the income of the trust has been accumulated and none of it has been distributed since the trust was created in 1932.  The trustee has never received any request for aid or for distributions from petitioner or her children.  Petitioner bought bonds for $2,970 which were later converted through reorganization proceedings into 30 shares of preferred stock of the Northeastern Public Service Co.  Petitioner transferred this1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1040  stock to the trust when it was created in January 1932.  Subsequently, a default occurred in the payment of interest on an issue of new bonds, which were superior to the preferred stock.  A protective committee was formed and a new plan of reorganization was adopted and approved by the court on April 17, 1934.  Under this plan, the holders of the preferred stock were entitled to receive in exchange for each share of stock held by them one $50 bond and 1 1/4 shares of new common stock, provided, however, that $40 in cash was paid in for each share of preferred stock exchanged.  The final date for 42 B.T.A. 225">*228  making the exchange was July 21, 1934.  The trustee of the trust herein involved did not make the exchange, and as a result the preferred stock then became worthless.  Petitioner owned a second mortgage and a land contract in respect of real estate at 1400 West Winchester Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, because of a loan of $4,414.92 made at the time a building was being constructed on this property.  In 1932 she transferred this contract to the trust.  In 1934, when the amount due on the second mortgage had been reduced to $4,040, the first mortgage was in default, and the purchaser1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1041  under the contract was unable to make further payments thereon, the trust accepted a tender of Home Owners' Loan Corporation bonds in the amount of $731.18 in settlement and sustained a loss as a bad debt in the amount of $3,309.92 then ascertained as worthless and charged off.  The trust, in making its 1934 income tax return, deducted 60 percent thereof, or $1,985.53, as a capital loss.  Petitioner owned a second mortgage and a land contract because of a loan of $4,300 she made on property at 1260 West Winchester Avenue in Detroit, Michigan.  She was compelled to pay $537.98 additional to protect her interests against the first mortgagee, making her cost of the mortgage, $4,837.98.  She transferred her interests to the trust in 1932.  In 1934, the first mortgagee foreclosed and took the property.  The second mortgagee was entitled to a year for redemption and to remain in possession during that year.  During the year the trust received $50 because of its right to possession, reducing the cost of the mortgage to $4,787.98.  In 1935, the trust sustained an ordinary loss in that amount, as a bad debt then ascertained as worthless and charged off.  The trust, in making its 1935 income1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1042  tax return, deducted 40 percent thereof, or $1,915.19, as a capital loss.  OPINION.  LEECH: Respondent contends that the income of the trust is taxable to the petitioner under the provisions of sections 166 and 167 of the Revenue Act of 1934. 11940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1043 42 B.T.A. 225">*229  On brief petitioner contends that respondent has raised new issues in his brief because no mention was made of section 166 and section 167(a)(1) of the 1934 Act in the notice of deficiency, or in respondent's answer.  A similar contention was made and decided against the petitioner in . It was there said: * * * The Board has said many times that the real question for decision is the correctness of the action of the Commissioner and not the correctness of the reason which he assigned in his notice of deficiency.  * * * [Citing cases.] Here he included the income of the trust in the income of the petitioner and still insists that that income was properly included in the income of the petitioner.  He merely assigns a new reason for his action.  The burden of proof does not shift under such circumstances although such a delayed reversal of reasoning is unfortunate and might justify a further hearing if the petitioner claimed surprise and desired to introduce further proof to meet the change.  * * * In our opinion the issues framed by the pleadings in the instant proceeding are broad enough to raise the question1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1044  of whether the income of the trust is or is not taxable to petitioner under the provisions of either section 166 or 167.  In the petitioner the following errors on the part of the Commissioner, among others, are set out: (a) In determining, as a matter of law, that said trust instrument of January 3, 1932, created merely a revocable trust, and that the entire income from the trust property was lawfully chargeable to the petitioner for the several years in controversy.  (b) In determining, as a matter of law and fact, that under the provisions of said trust instrument the petitioner is to be regarded as having remained, in substance, the owner of the entire corpus of the trust property by reason of the fact that she had retained power to revest the entire corpus in herself.  (c) In determining, as a matter of law and fact, that the petitioner is chargeable with all the net income from said trust estate, although the trustee and his successors is vested with the discretion of determining the time and amount of any distribution of income, and that only upon the occurrence of an act of God or the visit of a calamity, causing serious damage or injury to the petitioner, could she receive1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1045  under said trust agreement more than one-half of the net income of the trust.  In the answer of the respondent it is admitted that he held the 42 B.T.A. 225">*230  entire income from the property covered by the trust instrument to be taxable to petitioner for the taxable years.  The allegations of error set forth in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) above were denied.  Thus the issues, as framed, are in substance whether the income of the trust may be included in petitioner's income under either of the sections.  It is quite clear, we think, that one-half of the income of the trust for each of the two years is taxable to petitioner under section 167 in view of the provisions of paragraph G(3) of the trust instrument empowering the trustee in any year to distribute to her that proportion of the trust income if in his judgment it would be advisable to make such distribution.  It is shown that since the creation of the trust the income has been accumulated and added to corpus and the trust estate is enhanced by these accumulations.  It is thought too clear to necessitate discussion that in both of these years the trustee, who is without adverse interest (1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1046 ), possessed the power to make such distribution and consequently to that extent the trust income is taxable to petitioner. However, respondent contends that the provisions of paragraphs G(1) and (2) of the trust instrument, under which the trustee possesses, under certain conditions, the power to distribute to petitioner both the current and accumulated income and corpus of the trust, require the taxing to petitioner under both sections 166 and 167 of all of the trust income in each year before us.  Paragraph G of the trust instrument gives the trustee the power to distribute to petitioner the income of the trust and, if necessary, the corpus to the extent required to meet and relieve the situation if: (1) Any accident, sickness, calamity, misfortune, adversity, bereavement or loss, financially or otherwise, shall visit, overtake or befall her, and (2) She makes a written request upon him for relief.  Petitioner contends that these provisions constitute substantial conditions precedent to the exercise of a power by the trustee to distribute income or, if necessary, the corpus to petitioner and that until these contingencies1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1047  arise no such power exists.  . Clearly, the second condition, a mere necessity for a written demand from petitioner for payment, is not such a condition.  The power to effect the distribution under that condition would be wholly within the control of the grantor and the trustee and the latter is without adverse interest.  If a request by the grantor was all that was required to give rise to the trustee's power to distribute, then the trust would, we think, 42 B.T.A. 225">*231  obviously fall literally within the provisions of both sections 166 and 167.  It remains to be considered whether the first condition presents substantial, definite contingencies the occurrence of which are beyond the control of petitioner or the trustee.  See  In this connection it may be said that, if it be admitted that the occurrence of one of the various contingencies there set out is necessary to the exercise of the power, petitioner has not established the fact that no one of them had occurred during each of the years before us.  One condition only is established by1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1048  the record, that petitioner in neither year made a written request to the trustee for distribution.  This fact alone does not give rise to the presumption that none of the specified events occurred.  Petitioner is a woman with a large estate.  For all we know, she may have had losses in her investments in each year exceeding the current income of the trust, which she had the right to recoup by a request for distribution by the trustee but has voluntarily refrained from doing so.  The burden of proof is upon petitioner and under identically similar conditions we held in , that the petitioner there had failed to show error in respondent's determination. However, in our opinion, it is unnecessary to resolve the issue here upon the ground of failure of proof.  The so-called contingencies, "any accident, sickness, calamity, misfortune, adversity, bereavement of loss, financially or otherwise", the occurrence of one of which gives rise to the right to call for distributions from the trust, are so broad and all-embracing that the use and enjoyment of the income and, if necessary, the corpus by petitioner, is, for practical1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1049  purposes, almost as complete as if she had retained title to the property.  Petitioner has merely set aside in the hands of a trustee an amount of her excess capital to be held and accumulated as a protection to herself and her children against a "rainy day." These named contingencies permit her, if she cares to do so, and secures the acquiescence of the trustee, to cause the expenditure of the income, and if necessary the corpus, for the needs for which she would normally have used and expended the property had no trust been created.  The income and, if necessary, the corpus are subject to use upon her call, within the discretion of the disinterested trustee, for payment of her doctors' and hospital bills, the recoupment of any personal loss sustained in her investments or to relieve and compensate for practically any happening adverse to her interest which might occur.  Its use is in no wise limited to compensation for losses or deprivations which her own personal resources are 42 B.T.A. 225">*232  unable to meet nor limited to financial losses.  Personal bereavements or misfortunes of any kind throw the door open to calls by petitioner for distributions and leave no obstacle between her1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1050  and the enjoyment of both income and corpus except the exercise of discretion by a trustee without adverse interest.  Conditions as broad and all-embracing as those set out in paragraph G do not occur.  Experience convinces us that the normal life of or may not occur.  Experience convinces us that the normal life of any individual, no matter how protected, sheltered, and circumstanced, contains in every year some occurrence or event which would fall within one of the conditions described.  And this is especially true of one in the position of this petitioner, possessing large private means and with the responsibilities and activities which this condition entails.  Thus, whether petitioner actually calls upon the trustee for distribution to her, we can not conceive of any year in which the right to make such a call would not exist and there be, consequently, the power in her in conjunction with the trustee to cause the distribution to her of all of the income and corpus.  We conclude that the income of the trust for the two years before us is taxable to petitioner under both sections 166 and 167.  The remaining issue is whether the losses shown in our findings may be deducted1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1051  from the income of the trust in determining the amount which the trustee might have distributed to petitioner.  Respondent contends that they were "corpus losses" which merely reduce the amount of corpus which will ultimately go to the remaindermen and therefore are not deductible in computing the income taxable to petitioner.  We think he is concluded in this contention by , the decision in which was predicated on the applicability of section 166.  This conclusion, of course, permits the deduction of a loss of $2,970 in connection with the worthlessness of preferred stock which, we have found, became worthless in that year.  The two losses on the properties at 1260 and 1400 West Winchester Avenue were treated by the trust as capital losses sustained upon a sale or exchange.  Petitioner now contends that these were ordinary losses in that they were bad debts then ascertained as worthless and charged off and were thus deductible in their full amount.  The loss on the property at 1400 West Winchester Avenue was sustained in a transaction in which the trust accepted, in settlement of its mortgage debt, Home Owners' Loan Corporation bonds1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1052  in a lesser amount.  We think the resulting loss is ordinary and thus deductible in full in the return for 1934.  ; ; . As to the other loss, no exchange was involved.  The 42 B.T.A. 225">*233  trust held a second mortgage and land contract.  The first mortgagee foreclosed and took the property.  The trust released nothing and received nothing.  The mortgage debt upon the happening of this event became worthless in its hands.  We agree with petitioner that this was also an ordinary loss as a bad debt then ascertained to be worthless and charged off and deductible in its full amount.  ; affd., . Reviewed by the Board.  Decision will be entered under Rule 50.TYSON and HILL dissent.  MELLOTTMELLOTT, dissenting: I agree that one-half of the income of the trust, less any capital or ordinary losses sustained, is taxable to petitioner under section 167 of the Revenue Act of 1934.  It is difficult to reconcile the holding of the majority, that all of it1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1053  is taxable to her under section 166 of the same act, with the holdings made in such cases as Corning v. Commissioner, 104 Fed.(2d) 329; John Edward Rovensky,37 B.T.A. 702">37 B.T.A. 702; Helvering v. Wood,309 U.S. 344">309 U.S. 344 (Feb. 26, 1940); Daisy Christine Patterson, Executrix,36 B.T.A. 407">36 B.T.A. 407; Henry A. B. Dunning,41 B.T.A. 1101">41 B.T.A. 1101; and Edna B. Elias,41 B.T.A. 1109">41 B.T.A. 1109. But even if the majority be correct in holding that the power to effect a distribution is wholly within the control of the grantor, a view which I do not share since I think the restrictions upon the exercise of it have real substance, still the conclusion that the income is taxable to the grantor under section 166 seems to be erroneous.  She is taxable with the income of the trust under that section only when the "power to revest in * * * [herself] title to any part of the corpus is vested" in her alone, in her in conjunction with any person not having a substantial adverse interest, or in any person not having a substantial adverse interest.  The provision of the trust instrument relied upon by the majority authorizes only1940 BTA LEXIS 1033">*1054  "Distributions from the income of the Trust Estate." When this provision is read in conjunction with sections B and C of the trust instrument, shown in the stipulation of facts but not set out in the findings above, it is difficult to understand how the majority can spell out a power in the grantor to revest the corpus in herself.  The holding of the majority seems to be predicated upon the assumption that a subservient trustee would distribute corpus to her whenever requested.  It may be pointed out, however, that, no matter how subservient he be, he could only encroach upon the corpus when the income of the trust should be insufficient "for the 42 B.T.A. 225">*234  purposes set forth and the gravity of the situation demands that the aid be furnished" - a situation which did not exist during the taxable years, when the income of the trust was $11,323.93 and $15,395.70, respectively.  Being of the opinion that petitioner is taxable upon but one-half of the income of the trust for the taxable years, I respectfully note my dissent.  Footnotes1. SEC. 166.  REVOCABLE TRUSTS.  Where at any time the power to revest in the grantor title to any part of the corpus of the trust is vested - (1) in the grantor, either alone or in conjunction with any person not having a substantial adverse interest in the disposition of such part of the corpus or the income therefrom, or (2) in any person not having a substantial adverse interest in the disposition of such part of the corpus or the income therefrom, then the income of such part of the trust shall be included in computing the net income of the grantor.  SEC. 167.  INCOME FOR BENEFIT OF GRANTOR.  (a) Where any part of the income of a trust - (1) is, or in the discretion of the grantor or of any person not having a substantial adverse interest in the disposition of such part of the income may be, held or accumulated for future distribution to the grantor; or (2) may, in the discretion of the grantor or of any person not having a substantial adverse interest in the disposition of such part of the income, be distributed to the grantor; or (3) is, or in the discretion of the grantor or of any person not having a substantial adverse interest in the disposition of such part of the income may be, applied to the payment of premiums upon policies of insurance on the life of the grantor (except policies of insurance irrevocably payable for the purposes and in the manner specified in section 23(o), relating to the so-called "charitable contribution" deduction); then such part of the income of the trust shall be included in computing the net income of the grantor.  (b) As used in this section, the term "in the discretion of the grantor" means "in the discretion of the grantor, either alone or in conjunction with any person not having a substantial adverse interest in the disposition of the part of the income in question." ↩