Court Opinion

ID: 4624665
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-21 02:55:37.744916+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:56:33.880190
License: Public Domain

DAVID A. REED, PETITIONER, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RESPONDENT.Reed v. CommissionerDocket No. 12499.United States Board of Tax Appeals13 B.T.A. 513; 1928 BTA LEXIS 3229; September 25, 1928, Promulgated *3229  1.  During December, 1920, petitioner was designated by the Attorney General of Pennsylvania as special counsel to represent said Commonwealth in the matter of inheritance taxes due by the Frick and Oliver Estates.  In 1921, petitioner received the amount of $2,500 from said Commonwealth as compensation for legal services rendered to that date.  Held, that, under the circumstances disclosed, petitioner was not an employee of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and that the compensation paid to him for said legal services is subject to the Federal income tax.  2.  Amounts paid to campaign committees by a candidate for public office are not deductible from gross income as ordinary and necessary business expenses, under section 214(a)(1) of the Revenue Act of 1921.  Maynard Teall, Esq., for the petitioner.  P. S. Crewe, Esq., for the respondent.  TRAMMELL*513  This proceeding is for the redetermination of deficiencies in income tax for the years 1921 and 1922 in the amounts of $1,215.56 and $3,106.05, respectively.  The issues are: (1) Whether respondent erred in adding to taxable income the amount of $2,500 received by the petitioner from the*3230  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1921 as compensation for legal services, claimed by him to be nontaxable *514  and (2) whether respondent erred in disallowing deductions claimed by the petitioner as business expenses for 1922 in the amounts of $5,000 and $250, representing payments made by him in that year to the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania and the Republication Committee of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, respectively.  FINDINGS OF FACT.  The petitioner is an individual, having an office at 747 Union Trust Building, Pittsburgh, Pa., and during the years involved was an attorney and counselor at law actively engaged in the practice of his profession, being a member of the law firm of Reed, Smith, Shaw and Beal.  On the 20th day of June, 1919, the Governor of Pennsylvania approved a statute providing for a transfer inheritance tax upon direct and collateral inheritances, which statute is printed in Pennsylvania Pamphlet Laws, 1919, p. 521.  Almost immediately, questions arose as to the constitutional validity of provisions of that statute and as to the construction of the same or other provisions, which questions were of great importance to the Commonwealth*3231  of Pennsylvania from the standpoint of revenue for the maintenance of the State government.  Judicial decisions involved, from the standpoint of said Commonwealth, much larger sums of money than were involved in particular cases in which such decisions were rendered, for the reason that in all probability such decisions would control cases and situations so long as said statute should remain in effect.  Among the earliest and most important cases involving said statute were ; , and . On the first day of December, 1920, the petitioner, who was then and is now an attorney at law, was appointed Special Attorney for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and assigned to represent said Commonwealth in Fricks' Estate, which cause was then in the court of first instance, to wit, the Orphan's Court of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and had not yet been tried.  On the 9th day of December, 1920, the petitioner was assigned the further duty of representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Oliver's Estate, which cause was then in*3232  said Orphan's Court of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and had not yet been tried.  Said appointment or designation of petitioner as Special Attorney for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Frick's Estate was made by William I. Schaffer, then Attorney General of said Commonwealth by telegram dated December 1, 1920, reading as follows: *515  HARRISBURG, PA., December 1.Major DAVID A. REED, Union Arc Pgh Pa.  I have designated you as special counsel to represent the Commonwealth in the matter of the inheritance taxes due by the estate of Henry C. Frick.  WM. I. SCHAFFER, Atty. General.On the same date, December 1, 1920, the petitioner sent the following telegram to said Attorney General: Very glad to represent Commonwealth in inheritance tax matter against Frick estate and I appreciate the compliment of being selected by you.  Under date of December 9, 1920, the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, sent a letter to the petitioner reading as follows: MY DEAR MAJOR REED: It gives me much pleasure to designate you as the Attorney to represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the matter of the taxes due the Commonwealth from the Estate of Edith Ann*3233  Oliver.  Yours sincerely, (Signed) W. I. SCHAFFER, Attorney General.In 1921 George E. Alter succeeded William I. Schaffer as Attorney General of Pennsylvania, and thereupon petitioner tendered his resignation as Special Attorney, which resignation the new Attorney General declined to accept, and continued the petitioner's appointment as Special Attorney and his assignment to represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Frick's Estate and Oliver's Estate.Oliver's Estate was finally decided by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1922 and Frick's Estate by the Supreme Court of the United States in June, 1925.  The petitioner acted as attorney for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania until final disposition of both cases, in each instance representing said Commonwealth from the court of first instance to and through the court of final decision.  Kirkpatrick's Estate came on for argument in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania prior to Frick's Estate, and involved one or more questions raised in the latter cause.  The petitioner was not assigned duties in Kirkpatrick's Estate from its inception, but when said cause came on for argument in the Supreme*3234  Court of Pennsylvania, and because of the identity of one or more questions as aforesaid, the petitioner filed a brief and made an oral argument to the court, all with the prior approval of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth.  Kirkpatrick's Estate was argued before and finally decided by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1922.  The petitioner acted as Special Attorney for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, representing said Commonwealth continuously in said beforementioned causes from December, 1920, to final decision of Frick's Estate in 1925.  *516  On or about the first day of May, 1921, the Attorney General of Pennsylvania approved payment of the sum of $2,500 as compensation of the petitioner as Special Attorney for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania up to that time, and shortly thereafter and during the year 1921 said sum was paid to the petitioner out of moneys of said Commonwealth.  Payment of said compensation was made pursuant to a statement of account rendered by the petitioner as follows: Original MAY 1st, 1921.  COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA to DAVID A. REED, DR.  On Account: FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, In the cases of Inheritance*3235  Tax claims against Estate of Edith Anne Oliver and Estate of Henry C. Frick --- $2,500 Under date of July 14, 1921, a "Direct Requisition" was made for the settlement and payment of said account as follows: DIRECT REQUISITION HARRISBURG, PA. July 14, 1921.To the AUDITOR GENERAL, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.On account of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Attorney General, please settle and authorize payment of the individual items as listed below, on account of necessary expenditures, as per duly approved accounts payable herewith.  Charge - $2500.00 to appropriation for payment of services and expenses of attorneys to be employed to * * * assist in the prosecution of claims in which the Commonwealth is interested, etc., per Act July 16, 1919, # 42-A.  I certify that the within account is true and correct, that the materials, services and expenses were actually and necessarily purchased, rendered and incurred for the use of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the prices charged therefor are fair and reasonable.  Name (Sgd) GEORGE ROSS HULL, Title Deputy Attorney General.No. of voucherTo whom payableAddressAmountTotaDavid A. Reed. Esq747 Union Arcade,Pittsburgh, Pa $2,500.00*3236  The amount of $2,500, received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1921, was a very small fraction of the petitioner's earnings in that year from the practice of his profession as a member of *517  the partnership of Reed, Smith, Shaw & Beal.  During the period involved in this proceeding, the petitioner did not devote his time exclusively to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  During the time he was performing legal services for said Commonwealth he was also performing legal services for various other clients.  In Oliver's Estate, above mentioned, the brief filed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was approved by and had the name of the Attorney General upon it.  The Attorney General was present but did not participate in the oral argument before the Supreme Court in Kirkpatrick's Estate, which involved at least one question likewise involved in Frick's Estate. After previous consultation with and authority from the Attorney General, the petitioner herein filed a brief as amicus curiae in Kirkpatrick's Estate, apprehending a decision that might be controlling in Frick's Estate. The Attorney General was present when the argument in that case was*3237  made.  In Frick's Estate, the Attorney General participated with the petitioner herein in preparation of the argument, both before the Orphan's Court and the Supreme Court, and also participated with him in the oral argument before both courts.  During the pendency of the litigation in which the petitioner herein was acting in the interest of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, he was in frequent communication with the Attorney General by letter, orally, and by telephone in regard to the several cases, and no important questions of policy were decided without his previous consultation with and authority from said Attorney General.  The responsibility for the proper presentation of the Commonwealth's case under the petitioner's appointment and payment, as hereinabove set out, was a responsibility of the Attorney General's Department.  In his tax return for 1921, the petitioner treated as nontaxable income the above mentioned amount of $2,500 received by him from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as compensation for legal services.  Upon audit of the return, the respondent included said amount as taxable income and computed the deficiency in controversy for said year.  In the*3238  year 1922 the petitioner was a candidate for the public office of United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and was making an active campaign for said office.  In that campaign the petitioner had the support and assistance of the Republican State Committee of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and in Allegheny County, which includes the City of Pittsburgh, the support and assistance of the Republican Committee of that county.  The Republican State Committee was engaged in promoting the success of the Republican state ticket, including the candidacy of the petitioner, and the County Committee was engaged *518  primarily in promoting the success of the Republican ticket of Allegheny County, but gave its support and a large measure of its assistance to the candidacy of the petitioner, who was and is a resident of Allegheny County.  In the year 1922, the petitioner paid into the funds of the Republican State Committee the sum of $5,000, and into the funds of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County the sum of $250, for the purpose of assisting said committees in their work of promoting the success of candidates on the State and county Republican tickets, including*3239  the petitioner.  Said amounts were reported by the petitioner to the Pennsylvania state authorities and to the United States Senate as campaign expenditures, and were claimed as deductions for business expenses in his return for 1922.  Upon audit of the return, they were disallowed by the respondent.  OPINION.  TRAMMELL: The issue with respect to the deficiency asserted for the year 1921 involves the question whether the amount of $2,500 received by the petitioner in that year from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as compensation for legal services, under the circumstances set out in our findings of fact, constitutes taxable or nontaxable income.  The petitioner treated said amount in his return as nontaxable income.  Thereafter, upon audit of said return for 1921, the respondent included said amount as taxable income, and on that basis computed the deficiency which we are here called upon to redetermine.  The petitioner contends that said income is not taxable by the Federal Government for the reason that the compensation was paid to him as an employee of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or if it should be held that he was not an employee, said income is not taxable for the*3240  reason that the petitioner was, in any event, an instrumentality or agency through which said Commonwealth exercised an essential governmental function, namely, the collection of revenue necessary to its support and maintenance.  It has not been alleged nor suggested that the petitioner was an "officer" of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and clearly he was not; hence, our consideration of the issue will be confined to the two propositions of the petitioner just stated.  The very nature of our constitutional system of dual sovereign governments is such as impliedly to prohibit the Eederal government from taxing the instrumentalities of a State government, and in a similar manner to limit the power of the States to tax the instrumentalities of the Federal government.  ; 5 Am.Fed. Tax Rep. 5834. *519 Just what instrumentalities of either a State or the Federal government are exempt from tax by the other can not be stated in terms of universal application, and the determination of this question in particular cases often presents a perplexing problem.  However, it is well settled that any agency created*3241  and controlled by the one government exclusively to enable it to perform a governmental function may not be taxed by the other.  . It is equally well settled that an "officer" of either government is such an agency or instrumentality of that government that his salary or emoluments can not be subjected to any sort of tax by the other.  ; . And we have repeatedly held that the salary of an "employee" of a State, or political subdivision thereof, is immune from the Federal income tax.  ; ; ; . Also, Congress has affirmatively expressed its recognition of this principle of taxation by providing in the Revenue Act of 1926 as follows: Sec. 1211.  Any taxes imposed by the Revenue Act of 1924 or prior revenue Acts upon any individual in respect of amounts received by him as compensation for personal services as an officer or employee*3242  of any State or political subdivision thereof (except to the extent that such compensation is paid by the United States Government directly or indirectly), shall subject to the statutory period of limitations properly applicable thereto, be abated, credited or refunded.  It does not follow, however, that every person who renders service to a State or the Federal government, or who uses his property or derives a profit in his dealings with such government, may clothe himself with immunity from taxation by the other on the theory that either he or his property is an instrumentality of government within the meaning of the rule.  ; ; ; ; ; ; *3243 While an "officer" or "employee" of a State government is such an instrumentality of that government that his compensation may not be taxed by the Federal government, an independent Contractor is not necessarily so exempt.  As stated by the Supreme Court in , the exemption is dependent upon the effect of the tax.  If the effect of the tax is not such as to hinder the efficient exercise of power by *520  the instrumentality, or to obstruct an essential governmental function, it may lawfully be laid; otherwise, it may not be.  In rendering the legal services here in question, was the petitioner an employee of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or was he an independent contractor?  The line of demarkation between the status of employee and that of independent contractor, where the facts disclose some of the characteristics of each, is difficult to determine, notwithstanding there have been many court decisions on the subject.  By the weight of authority, it appears that the crucial test lies in the right of control, *3244  or lack of it, which the employer may exercise respecting the manner in which the service is to be performed and the means to be employed in its accomplishment, as well as the result to be attained.  In , the court said: * * * The relation of master and servant exists whenever the employer retains the right to direct the manner in which the business shall be done, as well as the result to be accomplished, or, in other words, "not only what shall be done, but how it shall be done." The rule was stated in ; , as follows: One is an employee of another when he renders service for him and what he agrees to do or is directed to do is subject to the will of that other in the mode and manner in which the service is to be done and in the means to be employed in its accomplishment as well as in the result to be attained.  If one carries on work for another, and in the mode, manner and means is independent of that other's control, he is an independent contractor.  *3245  Cf. ; ; ; ; The duties of the petitioner herein were not expressly prescribed by contract, and the record does not disclose in definite terms the degree of control or right of control which the Attorney General of Pennsylvania might properly have exercised over the petitioner in connection with the manner in which his service was to be performed and the means to be employed in its accomplishment.  On this point, our conclusions must be drawn from all the facts before us.  At the time of his employment in 1920, the petitioner was an outstanding member of the Pennsylvania Bar, and the eminence attained by him in his profession was doubtless the moving cause for his employment by the Attorney General to represent the Commonwealth in this important litigation.  The petitioner was a member of the law firm of Reed, Smith, Shaw & Beal, and resided at and had his *521 *3246  office in the City of Pittsburgh.  He was not required under his employment to go to Harrisburg and perform his services at a desk in the Attorney General's office under the direct supervision of that official, nor was he in any manner restricted with respect to his employment by other clients.  He was at liberty to accept such other employment as he saw fit, and he did in fact during that time represent many other clients.  The compensation received by the petitioner from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1921 was only a small fraction of the income received by him in that year from the practice of his profession.  He was not restricted with respect to office hours.  He was free to perform his service for the commonwealth at such times and in such manner as he desired, subject only to the general direction of the Attorney General.  These facts do not indicate the attributes of an "employee" within the generally accepted meaning of that term.  While it is true that the petitioner was in frequent communication with the Attorney General by letter, orally and by telephone in regard to the several cases, and that no important questions of policy were decided without his previous consultation*3247  with and authority from the Attorney General, this, we do not think, constituted that detailed control which an employer commonly exercises over the service of an employee.  So far as disclosed, the relationship between the petitioner and the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, with respect to the manner in which the petitioner's service was to be performed, was not substantially different from the relationship which ordinarily exists between attorney and client.  In , the Supreme Court of the United States said: The terms "officers" and "employees" both, alike, refer to those in regular and continual service.  Within the ordinary acceptation of the terms, one who is engaged to render service in a particular transaction is neither an officer or employe.  They imply continuity of service, and exclude those employed for a special and single transaction.  An attorney of an individual, retained for a single suit, is not his employe.  It is true, he has engaged to render services; but his engagement is rather that of a contractor than that of an employe.  *3248  See also ; ; . In the case of , the question was presented whether the plaintiffs were employees or independent contractors in their relation to State governments.  The plaintiffs were consulting engineers, who, either individually or as copartners, were professionally employed to advise States or subdivisions of States with reference to proposed water supply and sewage disposal systems.  *522  It was claimed that the fees received by them for such services were expressly exempt from the Federal income tax by the Revenue Act of 1917, and it was further contended that in any event Congress had no power under the Constitution to tax said income.  The specific question first considered by the court was whether the plaintiffs were officers or employees of a State or a subdivision of a State, or independent contractors.  After pointing out in its opinion that there was no public office to which either of the plaintiffs was appointed, the court continued: Nor do the facts stated in the bill*3249  of exceptions establish that the plaintiffs were "employees" within the meaning of the statute.  So far as appears, they were in the position of independent contractors.  The record does not reveal to what extent, if at all, their services were subject to the direction or control of the public boards or officers engaging them.  In each instance the performance of their contract involved the use of judgment and discretion on their part and they were required to use their best professional skill to bring about the desired result.  This permitted to them liberty of action which excludes the idea of that control or right of control by the employer which characterizes the relation of employer and employee and differentiates the employee or servant from the independent contractor.  In the case at bar it seems to us obvious that the petitioner was employed by the Attorney General of Pennsylvania primarily in order that the Commonwealth might have the benefit of the petitioner's knowledge, experience and skill in the conduct of litigation which, from the standpoint of the Commonwealth, was of paramount and far-reaching importance.  In these circumstances, the performance of the petitioner's*3250  service required the use of judgment and discretion on his part, and involved the exercise of his best professional skill to bring about the desired result.  As stated by the Supreme Court in its opinion above quoted, this permitted to him liberty of action which excludes the idea of that control or right of control which characterizes the relation of employer and employee.  It is our opinion, therefore, that the petitioner was not an employee of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but that he was in the position of an independent contractor.  This brings us to a consideration of the second contention of the petitioner, namely, that the compensation paid to him by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not taxable by the Federal government for the reason that the petitioner was, in any event, an instrumentality or agency through which said Commonwealth exercised an essential governmental function.  As hereinabove pointed out, the solution of this question is dependent upon the effect of the tax.  The tax upon the petitioner's compensation from the State was in no material respect different from the tax upon his compensation from*3251  other sources.  The State was simply one of his clients.  He *523  was engaged in the particular matters.  The United States Supreme Court in the case of , had the same question before it, and said: * * * The tax is imposed on the income of one who is neither an officer nor an employee of government and whose only relation to it is that of contract, under which there is an obligation to furnish service, for practical purposes not unlike a contract to sell and deliver a commodity.  The court in that case also said: The tax is imposed without discrimination upon income whether derived from services rendered to the state or services rendered to private individuals.  In such a situation it cannot be said that the tax is imposed upon an agency of government in any technical sense, and the tax itself cannot be deemed to be an interference with government, or an impairment of the efficiency of its agencies in any substantial way.  In conclusion, the court in the case of *3252 , said: But we do decide that one who is not an officer or employee of a state, does not establish exemption from federal income tax merely by showing that his income was received as compensation for services rendered under a contract with a state; and when we take the next step necessary to a complete disposition of the question, and inquire into the effect of a particular tax, on the functioning of the state government, we do not find that it impairs in any substantial manner the ability of plaintiffs in error to discharge there obligations to the state or the ability of a state or its subdivisions to procure the services of private individuals to aid them in their undertakings.  Cf. . We therefore conclude that the tax * * * was properly assessed.  For the reasons indicated the respondent on the first issue is sustained.  The second issue raised in this proceeding involves the correctness of the deficiency asserted for the year 1922.  In that year, the petitioner was a candidate for the office of United States Senator from the Commonwealth*3253  of Pennsylvania, and had the support and assistance of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania and the Republican Committee of Allegheny County.  These committees were engaged in promoting the success of the Republican State ticket and the Republican ticket for Allegheny County, respectively, including the candidacy of the petitioner.  During 1922, the petitioner paid into the funds of the Republican State Committee the sum of $5,000, and into the funds of the county committee the sum of $250, which amounts were reported by him to the State authorities and to the United States Senate as campaign expenditures.  In his return for 1922 the petitioner deducted said amounts from his gross income as business expenses, and upon audit of the return they were disallowed by the respondent.  The Revenue Act of 1921, in section 214(a) provides that in computing net income in the case of individuals, there shall be allowed as *524  deductions "all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business," and in section 215(a) provides that no deduction shall in any case be allowed in respect of "personal, living or family*3254  expenses." The deductions authorized by the statute, above quoted, plainly contemplate necessary items of expense in conducting business, that is, growing out of or incurred solely in the furtherance of the business engaged in.  . The word "business" is a comprehensive term, and is defined in 1 Bouvier's Law Dict., p. 273, as "that which occupies the time, attention and labor of men for the purpose of a livelihood or profit." This definition was given judicial sanction by the Supreme Court in , and again was cited with approval by the Supreme Court in the later case of . So far as we are advised by the record, the activities of the petitioner during the year 1922 were confined to his law business and to his campaign for election to the office of United States Senator.  The expenditures in question had no connection with the petitioner's law practice, and can not be considered as expense paid or incurred in carrying on that business.  The statute authorizes only the deduction of ordinary and necessary expenses*3255  paid or incurred during the taxable year in the actual carrying on of a trade or business.  Can it be said, the, that running for office or conducting a campaign for public office constitutes a business within the definition of that term as hereinabove given?  We think not.  Running for office of and within itself is not a business carried on for the purpose of a livelihood or profit, but is only preparatory to the actual deriving of income from a subsequent holding of the office, if elected.  In , we pointed out that expenditures made preparatory to actual operations for profit were not at all the same as current annual operating expenses, and held that such expenditures were not deductible under the statute as business expenses.  Again, in the case of , we held that amounts expended by the taxpayer in seeking or securing employment were not deductible as business expenses under the same statute which is controlling here.  Even if we should hold that running for office constituted a business, the ordinary and necessary expenses in connection with which are deductible, we are of the opinion*3256  that the contributions here involved were not expenditures which should be so classified.  The expenditures here involved were merely voluntary contributions.  Any benefits flowing or expected to be derived therefrom were indirect and remote.  *525  It may also be noted that the amounts involved were paid by the petitioner into the funds of the State and county committees for the purpose of assisting said committees in their work of promoting the success of the candidates on the State and county Republican tickets, including the petitioner.  Obviously, therefore, these amounts were not expended by the petitioner solely in the furtherance of his own candidacy.  Amounts gratuitously paid by him to promote the success of other candidates certainly could not in any sense by said to constitute ordinary and necessary expenses in carrying on a trade or business, and accordingly are not deductible from gross income as a business expense.  The action of the respondent on the second issue is affirmed.  Reviewed by the Board.  Judgment will be entered for the respondent.GREEN, MILLIKEN, VAN FOSSAN, and SIEFKIN dissent on the first point.