Court Opinion

ID: 4609075
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-20 19:43:57.576592+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:53:49.033422
License: Public Domain

CHARLES S. HEMPSTEAD, PETITIONER, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RESPONDENT.Hempstead v. CommissionerDocket No. 15306.United States Board of Tax Appeals18 B.T.A. 204; 1929 BTA LEXIS 2107; November 12, 1929, Promulgated *2107  On the record, held that the evidence fails to establish the contentions of the petitioner respecting the gift of certain stock by him to his wife in the year 1920, and the sale of certain other stock by him to his wife in the year 1921.  W. D. McBryar, Esq., for the petitioner.  Hartford Allen, Esq., and Hugh Brewster, Esq., for the respondent.  SMITH *204  This proceeding is for the redetermination of alleged deficiencies in income tax for the calendar years 1920 and 1921 in the amounts of $290.36 and $516.22, respectively.  The petitioner alleges that the respondent erred, (1) in adding to the amount of dividends reported in his return for the calendar year 1920 the sum of $4,650; (2) in adding to the amount of dividends reported in his return for the calendar year 1921 the sum of $2,000; and (3) in refusing to allow as a deduction for the calendar year 1921 the sum of $4,850 as a loss arising from the sale of stocks during that year.  FINDINGS OF FACT.  The petitioner is a resident of New Salem, Pa., and is vice president of the First National Bank of New Salem.  Prior to April 4, 1920, he was the owner of certain stock certificates. *2108  The name of the issuing corporation, the numbers of such certificates, the shares of *205  stock represented thereby, the par values of the stock, and the dates of acquisition are as follows: Name of corporationNumber of Date of Number ofPar valuecertificateacquisitionsharesChampion Connellsville Coke Co.,Uniontown, Pa11Apr. 23, 190710$100Do12July 8, 190710100Do24do10100Do25do10100Genuine Connellsville Coke Co., Uniontown, Pa16Mar. 12, 190710100Do17do10100Do18do10100Prior to April 4, 1921, the petitioner was also the owner of certain other stock certificates as follows: Name of corporationNumber ofDate of Number ofPar valueCostMassontown Brewing Co.,Masontown, Pa187June 12, 190610$100$1,000Do191Aug. 4, 1906101001,000Do258June 18, 191281008802,880Republic Brewing Co.,Republic, Pa121May 27, 19105100500Do124June 13, 1910101001,100Do199Jan. 13, 1912101001,100Do237Apr. 9, 191371007703,470Each of the certificates*2109  of stock as set forth above was issued to the petitioner and each bore his name as holder of record.  The petitioner's accounts and records for the years 1920 and 1921 were examined by a revenue agent in April, 1925.  At that time certificates of stock in the Champion Connellsville Coke Co., numbered 11, 12, 24, and 25 were each endorsed in blank by the petitioner, such endorsement in each case being made on the back of the certificate by filling in certain of the blanks in the printed form of endorsement appearing thereon, and in each case the only things filled in were the signature of the petitioner, Charles S. Hempstead, the signature of the witness to the signature, Myrtle G. Clovis, and the date, which was April 4, 1921.  Subsequent to April, 1925, and prior to the time these stock certificates were introduced as evidence at the hearing in this proceeding, in the case of each certificate, the form of endorsement appearing on the back thereof had been completely filled out, the assignee in each case being Antoinette B. Hempstead, the wife of the petitioner, and in each case the date was changed from April 4, 1921, to April 4, 1920.  Also during this period of time each certificate*2110  had written across its face the word "cancelled" followed by *206  the date "April 4, 1921" which date also in each case was changed to read "April 4, 1920." None of these certificates of stock was ever transferred on the books of the Champion Connellsville Coke Co. and dividends thereon amounting to $4,200 for the year 1920 and $2,000 for the year 1921 were paid to Charles S. Hempstead.  Each of the certificates of stock numbered 16, 17, and 18, issued by the Genuine Connellsville Coke Co., bore on its back a blank endorsement, the endorsement in each case disclosing only the signature of the petitioner, Charles S. Hempstead, the signature of the witness, Myrtle G. Clovis, and the date, December 7, 1922, and in each case the date was written with ink of a color different from that employed in writing the signatures.  These certificates were never canceled nor were they transferred on the books of the Genuine Connellsville Coke Co.  Dividends on the shares of stock represented by these certificates amounting to $450 for the year 1920 were paid to Charles S. Hempstead.  Each of the certificates of stock numbered 187, 191, and 258, issued by the Masontown Brewing Co., bore*2111  on its back a complete endorsement disclosing the name of the assignee, which was A. B. Hempstead, wife of the petitioner, the name of the transfer agent, P. H. Ralston, the date, April 4, 1921, and the signatures of the petitioner, Charles S. Hempstead, and of the witness, Mary V. Mysza.  On the face of each of these certificates appears the words "Cancelled 6/3/25 P.H.R." Each of the certificates of stock numbered 121, 124, 199, and 237, issued by the Republic Brewing Co., bore on its back a complete endorsement disclosing the name of the assignee, which was A. B. Hempstead, wife of the petitioner, the name of the transfer agent, J. T. Davies, the date, April 4, 1921, and the signatures of the petitioner, Charles S. Hempstead, and of the witness, Mary V. Mysza.  On the face of each of these certificates appears the word "Cancelled." All of the certificates of stock were delivered by the petitioner to his wife, Antoinette B. Hempstead.  She placed them in an envelope and they were deposited in a safe-deposit box in petitioner's bank.  Both the petitioner and his wife and keys to the safe-deposit box.  The certificates were not in an envelope on April 17, 1925, when they were first*2112  exhibited to a revenue agent two was examining the petitioner's books and records.  Upon a subsequent occasion, namely, on July 6, 1925, the same certificates were again exhibited to the same revenue agent.  At that time they were contained in an envelope having written upon it the name Mrs. A. B. Hempstead in the handwriting of the petitioner.  The bank account of the petitioner was recorded in his name only and his wife had no bank account.  The books and records of the *207  petitioner and of his wife do not reflect any transactions affecting the ownership of the stock in question.  OPINION.  SMITH: The errors alleged in the petition relate to the inclusion of certain dividends in petitioner's taxable income for the years 1920 and 1921 and to the exclusion from taxable income for the year 1921 of a claimed loss on the sale of securities, but the issues before us are (1) whether or not the petitioner made a valid gift to his wife in the year 1920 of certain shares of stock in the Champion Connellsville Coke Co. and in the Genuine Connellsville Coke Co., and (2) whether the petitioner made a bona fide sale in the year 1921 to his wife of certain other shares in Masontown*2113  Brewing Co. and in the Republic Brewing Co.  Although considerable testimony and a number of exhibits were introduced at the hearing, the positive facts established by the record are very meager.  An examinaion of the record discloses that the petitioner testified that he gave certain shares of stock to his wife and sold certain other shares of stock to his wife; that all of the certificates evidencing such shares were delivered to her; that she placed all of the certificates in an envelope and that she deposited them in a safe-deposit box, yet nowhere in the record does any affirmative testimony appear showing the exact date on which these transactions occurred.  On the contrary, it is apparent that the petitioner was very careful to testify generally upon those points and not to state an exact date.  The certificates of stock in the Champion Connellsville Coke Co., numbered 11, 12, 24, and 25, which the petitioner claims he gave to his wife on April 4, 1920, shows discrepancies both with respect to the purported date of assignment and the cancellation thereof, and each of the certificates of stock in the Genuine Connellsville Coke Co., numbered 16, 17, and 18, which the petitioner*2114  claims he gave to his wife on April 4, 1920, also shows certain discrepancies thereon.  Furthermore, it is significant that the shares of stock which the petitioner claims he gave to his wife in 1920 were valuable and during the years 1920 and 1921 paid dividends in the sum of $4,650 and $2,000, respectively, all of which were paid to and received by the petitioner, as none of such shares were transferred upon the books of the issuing corporation.  Also, it is noted that the shares of stock which the petitioner claims he sold to his wife in 1921 were of little or no value and that the consideration which the petitioner claims he received in return therefor, namely, Liberty bonds of the face value of $1,500, was greatly less than the original cost to the petitioner of such shares, the March 1, 1913, value of which is not disclosed.  *208  In numerous cases we have had occasion to refer to the essential elements of a valid gift.  In , we said: For a determination of the question of the validity of a gift inter vivos certain definite and well recognized rules have been formulated.  Presupposing parties legally competent*2115  to act there must be (1) a definite intention on the part of the donor to make an absolute gift; (2) delivery of the subject matter of the gift; and (3) acceptance by the donee.  The rule has been stated by a few of the numerous authorities as follows: * * * Among the indispensable conditions of a valid gift are the intention of the donor to absolutely and irrevocably divest himself of the title, dominion, and control of the subject of the gift in praesenti at the very time he undertakes to make the gift; * * * (.) * * * Gifts inter vivos of personal property, to be effective, must be accompanied by the delivery of the possession, the donor parting with all present and future dominion over it; the donor must be divested of, and the donee invested with, the right of property in the subject of the gift; it must be absolute, irrevocable, without any reference to its taking effect at some future time; and without such proof, clear and explicit, the gift fails.  (*2116 .) But it is the intention of the alleged donor to give away his property, not the intention of the alleged donee, or his hope or belief, that conditions a valid gift.  The clear and certain intention of the donor presently and forever to part with his property is indispensable to such gift.  * * * (.) * * * To constitute a valid gift inter vivos, there must be an intention to give, and a delivery unto the donee, or to some one for him, of the property given.  An intention of the donor to give is not alone sufficient.  The intention must be executed by a complete and unconditional delivery.  Neither will a delivery be sufficient unless made with an intention to give.  The transaction must show a completely executed transfer to the donee of the present right of property and the possession.  The donee must become the owner of the property given.  [Authorities cited.] (; .) The record in the instant proceeding is wholly silent as to acceptance by Antoinette B. Hempstead and the only evidence of delivery*2117  is the testimony of the petitioner, which fails to establish the definite date upon which that act occurred.  While it is undeniably true that if the petitioner made a valid gift to his wife of the shares of stock in question in April, 1920, any dividends received after that date became her property and should not be included in his taxable income, we are convinced from the very confusing record existing here that the petitioner has failed to establish the making of a bona fide gift of the stock to his wife, either in the year 1920 or in any other year prior to the year 1925, when his books were examined by a revenue agent.  Cf. ; ; *209 ; ; ; and . Consequently, the first issue must be resolved in favor of the respondent, who committed no error in including the amounts of $4,650 and $2,000 as dividends in the taxable net income of the petitioner for the years 1920 and 1921, respectively. *2118  With respect to the remaining issue, the record does not disclose that the shares of stock in the Masontown Brewing Co. and in the Republic Brewing Co. were ever transferred on the books of the respective corporations.  The cancellation date appearing on the face of the certificates of stock in the Masontown Brewing Co. is June 3, 1925.  This date is followed by the initials "P.H.R." which appear to be those of the treasurer of the corporation, P. H. Ralston, whose sighature appears on the face of the certificates.  The certificates of stock in the Republic Brewing Co. bear the word "canceled" without date or initials, and the word "cancelled" did not appear on the certificates in April, 1925, when the revenue agent made his first examination.  The books and records of the petitioner and his wife do not disclose any entries relating to the sale of the shares of stock in question during the year 1921.  All of the certificates involved in this proceeding were at all times kept in a single safe-deposit box to which the petitioner had independent access and control and at the time the revenue agent made his first examination they were not segregated in the safe-deposit box, either*2119  by means of a separate envelope or otherwise.  The record is ambiguous with respect to the consideration which the petitioner claims he received for the stock, the evidence showing in one instance that the consideration consisted of cash and in another instance that it consisted of Liberty bonds of a face vlaue of $1,500.  Furthermore, the record fails to disclose positive testimony relating to the specific date on which the sale is claimed to have been made.  Counsel for the respondent submits that there appears to be no reason why a transaction between husband and wife should not be as clearly defined and as fully consummated as transactions involving other persons, especially where the transactions appear to be made for the purpose of reducing taxes.  In , which involved the question of the existence of a bona fide sale of certain securities between husband and wife, we said: While there is no question that husband and wife may contract with each other - may buy from and sell to each other - in all such transactions the close relationship of husband and wife is, nevertheless, to be borne in mind, and such transactions are peculiarly subject*2120  to scrutiny when they involve the rights of third parties.  This applies either to the rights of creditors or to the rights *210  of taxing authorities.  Husband and wife may not play fast and loose with their respective properties to the prejudice of creditors, nor may they do the same thing to the prejudice of taxes which they properly owe to the Government.  In view of the foregoing, we are entirely unconvinced that the petitioner made a bona fide sale of certificates of stock in the Masontown Brewing Co., numbered 187, 191, and 258, and certificates of stock in the Republic Brewing Co., numbered 121, 124, 199, and 237, to his wife on April 4, 1921, or upon any other date in that year.  Furthermore, it is noted that the certificates in question were acquired by the petitioner prior to March 1, 1913, and that the March 1, 1913, value of such certificates remains undisclosed.  Consequently the second issue must also be resolved in favor of the respondent.  Judgment will be entered for the respondent.