Court Opinion

ID: 4620283
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-21 02:42:19.384833+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:59:58.349715
License: Public Domain

George Peck Caulkins, Petitioner, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, RespondentCaulkins v. CommissionerDocket No. 108422United States Tax Court1 T.C. 656; 1943 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 223; February 25, 1943, Promulgated *223 Decision will be entered under Rule 50.  Petitioner, in 1928, acquired an "Accumulative Investment Certificate" under the terms of which the issuing company agreed to pay him, at the expiration of ten years if the payments provided for therein were made, an amount substantially greater than the aggregate of the payments made.  The certificate was in registered form.  During the taxable year it was retired by payment.  Held that the amount received in excess of the amount paid is taxable as a capital gain under section 117 (f) of the Revenue Act of 1938.  Hugh W. Allin, Esq., Arthur T. Iverson, Esq., and J. K. Starr, Esq., for the petitioner.Lawrence R. Bloomenthal, Esq., for the respondent.  Mellott, Judge.  MELLOTT*657  The Commissioner made several adjustments to the net income shown in petitioner's return for the calendar year 1939 and determined a deficiency in income tax in the amount of $ 1,505.59.  The sole issue raised by the pleadings is whether the excess of the amount received by petitioner, pursuant to a contract with Investors Syndicate, over the aggregate payments made by him constituted ordinary income or capital gain.FINDINGS OF FACT.Petitioner, *224  a resident of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, filed his income tax return for the year 1939 with the collector of internal revenue for the Michigan district.On December 19, 1928, Investors Syndicate of Minneapolis, Minnesota, delivered to petitioner an "Accumulative Installment Certificate." It was in registered form, was signed by the company, and stated:This is to certify that in consideration of the payment of *One Thousand Five Hundred Twelve Dollars annually in advance during the period of ten years from date hereof, the Investors Syndicate, first party, hereinafter referred to as the Company, hereby promises to pay to *George Peck Caulkins of *Grosse Pointe, Michigan, hereinafter referred to as the second party, at the expiration of said period, upon presentation and surrender of this certificate to the company at its office in the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the sum of *Twenty Thousand Dollars.This certificate is subject to the privileges, terms and conditions on the second, third, and fourth pages hereof which are hereby referred to and made a part hereof, as fully as if set forth in the face of this certificate.*225  Paragraph 1 provided that the company would keep and maintain at all times first mortgages on improved real estate, cash, and Government bonds in an amount equal to at least $ 110 for each $ 100 of its liability under the certificate and other certificates issued by it, its liability being the cash value as shown in paragraph 3, less the amount of any loans made thereon.  Under paragraph 2 petitioner was given the option to make monthly, quarterly, or semiannual payments and most of the payments were made by him at the rate of $ 126 per month ($ 6.30 for each $ 1,000).  Payments aggregating $ 15,043.33 were made by petitioner on or before November 7, 1938, minor adjustments being made for payments made in advance.  On April 11, 1939, the certificate was surrendered, at which time Investors Syndicate paid him the sum of $ 20,000.  In the information return filed by Investors Syndicate for the year 1939 it reported the payment to petitioner of interest in the amount of $ 4,956.67 ($ 20,000 less $ 15,043.33).Other provisions of the contract were as follows:3. Cash and Loan Value. After this Certificate has been in force for any of the periods shown in the following schedule exclusive*226  of any period or periods of *658  default, and at the end of the periods shown, it shall upon surrender of this Certificate, have a cash value for such period for each $ 1,000 face amount according to such schedule, or the company will upon deposit of this certificate as collateral, lend the second party for each $ 1,000 face amount the loan value according to such schedule:18 months2 yrs.3 yrs.4 yrs.5 yrs.6 yrs.7 yrs.8 yrs.9 yrs.10 yrs.$ 38.50$ 78$ 160$ 247$ 339$ 450$ 567$ 690$ 818$ 1,0004. Death and Permanent Total Disability. In the event of the death of the second party, this certificate being in force and uncancelled on the books of the company, his legal representatives may elect (a) to continue this Certificate by making payments thereon, or (b) to surrender the same and accept the full amount paid hereon with interest at the rate of 4% per annum compounded annually, computed on sums from dates paid to date of death, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 10 hereof.  Should the second party, as a result of sickness or injury, become totally and permanently disabled before he attains the age of sixty years, and unable*227  to engage in any gainful occupation for the balance of his life, he shall be entitled to the benefits stated in the preceding sentence of this paragraph, interest being computed on sums from dates paid to date when second party first becomes so totally and permanently disabled.  No sums will be payable until the company has received legal proof of death or the proof of permanent total disability required by it.  If this Certificate is issued in the name of one person for the benefit of another, the second option (b) herein shall apply only in the event of the death or such permanent total disability of the first person but the proceeds shall belong to the beneficiary.5. Paid Up Certificate. After this Certificate has been in force for any of the periods shown in the following schedule exclusive of any period or periods of default, the second party shall for such period, upon written request and surrender of this Certificate, receive a Paid Up Certificate due at the then maturity date of this Certificate, in the amount for each $ 1,000 face amount, according to the following schedule:18 months2 yrs.3 yrs.4 yrs.5 yrs.6 yrs.7 yrs.8 yrs.9 yrs.$ 60$ 119$ 232$ 340$ 443$ 557$ 665$ 768$ 863*228  After this Certificate has attained a cash value, and the second party has failed for a period of two years to make a payment due, the company will, upon written request of the second party or at its own option, cancel this Certificate and issue in lieu thereof a Paid Up Certificate After Default in an amount equal to the then cash value of this Certificate plus interest at 5 1/2% per annum for ten years compounded annually, due ten years from date written request is received, or the option exercised.* * * *8. Advance Payments.  Advance payments in excess of the current year's requirements shall increase the cash and loan value as shown in Paragraph 3 hereof by the amount of such excess plus interest at 5 1/2% compounded annually; whenever the advance payments with interest, and the installment with interest, shall equal the maturity value of the Certificate, then the company will pay semiannually, interest in cash at 5 1/2% per annum to second party, his heirs or assigns, until maturity. Excess payments shall be applied by the company on annual payments when they become due.9. Assignment.  This certificate if in force and uncancelled on the books of the company may be assigned, *229  but the assignment or transfer hereof shall not be valid without the consent in writing endorsed hereon by the company and a transfer fee of $ 1.00 paid to the company; provided that in case of assignment the permanent *659  total disability benefits shall apply only if such permanent total disability occurs to the assignee wholly after the assignment is endorsed by the company hereon.10. Miscellaneous.  No agent or other person has authority to alter or change the terms of this Certificate, or bind the Company by any statement, written or oral not herein contained.  Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors of the Company, a sum not to exceed 50% of the total cash receipts received during the current calendar month may be used for paying the cash, death and disability values, optional settlements, and for making loans under this and like Certificates. It is agreed that any such payments shall be paid by the Company in the order of application therefor.The Company shall have the right at all times to call in this Certificate and cancel the same by paying the second party the full amount paid hereon together with interest at 5 1/2% compounded annually for the time the*230  company has had the use of the money, less any indebtedness due the company, and shall have a like right to call in and pay off any Certificate issued in lieu hereof or the optional settlements herein by paying the then present worth computed on the basis of 5 1/2% compounded annually, less any loans made thereon.11. Cash in Full Guaranteed at Maturity. Anything in this Certificate to the contrary notwithstanding, the second party shall at the time of maturity be entitled to receive, and the company guarantees then to pay in cash the face amount hereof less any indebtedness due the company.Petitioner filed his income tax return for 1939 on the cash receipts and disbursements basis.  He reported therein the amount of $ 4,956.67 as a long term capital gain but took into account in computing his taxable income only 50 percent thereof, or $ 2,478.34.  Respondent determined that the entire amount is income within the purview of section 22 of the Revenue Act of 1938.OPINION.A single question is presented: Is the profit of $ 4,956.67 includible in toto in petitioner's taxable income, or did he correctly include but 50 percent?  The answer depends upon whether the amount was ordinary*231  income or capital gain. The applicable provisions of the Revenue Act of 1938 are shown in the margin.  1*232 *660   Respondent attempts to support his determination by pointing out that the difference between the amount paid by petitioner and the amount received by him represented a price paid for the use of money.  He therefore characterizes it as interest.  In the alternative he contends that the gain, if not interest, represents income arising out of a transaction entered into for profit and in either event is taxable as ordinary income under section 22, supra.As we view it the question can not be resolved by determining merely whether the gain is within section 22.  Capital gains and losses are within this section; for they result from "dealings in property, whether real or personal." Subdivision (f) specifically provides that "in the case of a sale or other disposition of property, the gain shall be computed as provided in section 111." Congress, however, has removed capital gains and losses from the operation of the section by enacting section 117 of the various revenue acts. (Cf. sec. 117, Internal Revenue Code.) If in enacting or amending this section it has included within the category of capital gains or losses a gain such as the one realized by this petitioner, we have*233  no alternative but to tax it accordingly.Prior to the enactment of the Revenue Act of 1934, the payment of a bond by the corporation issuing it was held to be but the fulfillment of a contractual obligation to repay money in accordance with the fixed terms of the obligation and not a sale or exchange of a capital asset. Fairbanks v. United States, 306 U.S. 436">306 U.S. 436; Felin v. Kyle, 102 Fed. (2d) 349; John H. Watson, Jr., 27 B. T. A. 463; Arthur E. Braun, Trustee, 29 B. T. A. 1161; Frank J. Cobbs, 39 B. T. A. 642; petition to review dismissed, 111 Fed. (2d) 644. Section 117 (f), supra, appeared for the first time in the Revenue Act of 1934.  In McClain v. Commissioner, 311 U.S. 527">311 U.S. 527, the Supreme Court said: "It is plain that Congress intended by the new sub-section (f) to take out of the bad debt provision certain transactions and to place them in the category *661  of capital gains and losses." This tribunal has held that by a parity of reasoning Congress also*234  intended to take out of the ordinary income provisions of the revenue act gains realized by a taxpayer in connection with the retirement of the specified obligations. William H. Noll, 43 B. T. A. 496.Was the certificate purchased by petitioner a certificate or other evidence of indebtedness issued by a corporation in registered form?  Respondent at the hearing conceded that the certificate was in registered form "because it does have a definite number and a definite arrangement for assignment." Cf. Gerard v. Helvering, 120 Fed. (2d) 235, affirming Mary D. Gerard, 40 B. T. A. 64. His position both then and now is "that it is not a certificate, bond or debenture or other indebtedness under section 117 (f)." Petitioner answers this by pointing out that the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit specifically held otherwise in a controversy between the Government and the company issuing the certificates when it held that the certificates were subject to the stamp tax prescribed by section 800, Schedule A (1), of the Revenue Act of 1926. Willcuts v. Investors Syndicate, 57 Fed. (2d) 811;*235  certiorari denied, 287 U.S. 618">287 U.S. 618. The act provided for the collection of a tax "on all bonds, debentures, or certificates of indebtedness issued by any corporation with interest coupons or in registered form, known generally as corporate securities." The following is an excerpt from the court's opinion:The words "securities" and "certificates" and "corporate securities" were not technical, but were in common use at the time of the passage of the Revenue Act of 1926, and should be construed in accordance with their ordinary significance.  A corporate security is simply a means adopted by the corporation to secure funds which it can employ in its business; and, by making a larger return on the funds so secured, it is enabled to pay its obligation under the corporate security issued, and also secure an income for itself.The documents issued by the Investors' Syndicate in the case at bar have the earmarks of corporate securities.  They are printed in the form of corporate securities, and on paper used generally for such securities.  The purpose of the issue of the certificates was the same as the purpose ordinarily involved in issuing corporate securities; *236  namely, to secure the money of others for use in the corporate business.  The operations of the plaintiff in selling these certificates were subject to the scrutiny of the state authorities having supervision over the selling of corporate securities.  In re Investor's Syndicate, 147 Minn. 217">147 Minn. 217, 179 N. W. 1001. The certificates in question were issued in large numbers and in large amounts in the period in question, and were sold throughout the United States and foreign countries.  Some $ 30,745,500 of such certificates were issued between January 1 and June 30, 1928; and the initial collections thereon were $ 458,424.  It is true that, according to the terms of these certificates, they had no surrender or cash value so far as the Investors' Syndicate was concerned until eighteen months had elapsed after the issue; but it cannot be doubted that, from the very moment of issue, the certificates had an actual value based upon the amount that was paid as the initial installment.  The time of maturity payment by the Investors' Syndicate is specifically fixed subject to the performance of the conditions named *662  in the certificate. The document*237  is in form registered. It has a number assigned to it.  This number is kept by the Investors' Syndicate to enable it to identify the particular certificate. The certificates are also assignable upon certain conditions.  The syndicate undertakes to keep on hand first mortgages on improved real estate or other security to insure the payment of these certificates. A liability of the company from the moment of issue exists, and it is specifically stated as to amount after the certificate has been issued for eighteen months.Since the similarity between the language of the two acts is so striking the decision in the cited case lends substantial support to petitioner's contention that the certificate owned by him was at the time of its retirement within section 117 (f).  Conclusion to the effect that he reported his income correctly need not be based solely upon that case, however.At the hearing reference was made to the fact that the contract between the syndicate and petitioner, as evidenced by the certificate, was not unlike that between the Government and purchasers of United States Savings Bonds issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act as amended by the Act of February 4, 1935. *238  The increment in the value of each is in the nature of interest, the rate of increase being larger as the time of maturity approaches.  The parties seem to agree that the increment in the value of the U. S. Savings Bonds would be taxable as a capital gain under 117 (f) were it not for the fact that Congress specifically provided that it "shall be considered as interest." (Ch. 5, sec. 6, 49 Stat. 21.) Respondent, upon brief, states that the provision was apparently included "for the express purpose of excluding from the capital gain provisions the increment on these bonds." That seems to be true, which suggests as a corollary that similar obligations are within the capital gains provision unless expressly excluded.Respondent cites several cases in which conclusion was reached that the obligation there under consideration did not come within section 117 (f).  Thus in Norman Buckner, 43 B. T. A. 958, it was held that certificates of proof of claim issued by a national bank receiver were not "certificates or other evidences of indebtedness." The section was therefore found to be inapplicable.  In Frank J. Cobbs, supra, it*239  was held that the term "evidence of indebtedness" excludes insurance and annuity contracts, being limited by the doctrine of noscitur a sociis to such things as bonds, debentures, notes, etc., which are specified in the context.  Cf. Helvering v. William Flaccus Oak Leather Co., 313 U.S. 247">313 U.S. 247; Bodine v. United States, 103 Fed. (2d) 982; certiorari denied, 308 U.S. 576">308 U.S. 576; Avery v. Commissioner, 111 Fed. (2d) 19. In Mary D. Gerard, supra, a bond secured by a mortgage given by a corporation to secure a loan from an individual was held not to come within the provisions of section 117 (f) since neither it nor the mortgage had interest coupons and since neither was "in registered *663  form." The cited cases, though correctly decided, do not support respondent's determination here; for the $ 20,000 was received by petitioner "upon the retirement of * * * [a] certificate * * * of indebtedness issued by * * * [a] corporation * * * in registered form."We are of the opinion and hold that petitioner correctly reported his profit*240  under section 117 (f), supra.Decision will be entered under Rule 50.  Footnotes*. The evidence indicates that the blanks were filled in as shown.  In the exhibit from which copy has been made they were left blank.↩1. Sec. 22. GROSS INCOME.(a) General Definition.  -- "Gross income" includes gains, profits, and income derived from salaries, wages, or compensation for personal service, of whatever kind and in whatever form paid, or from professions, vocations, trades, businesses, commerce, or sales, or dealings in property, whether real or personal, growing out of the ownership or use of or interest in such property; also from interest, rent, dividends, securities, or the transaction of any business carried on for gain or profit, or gains or profits and income derived from any source whatever. * * *Sec. 117. CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES.(a) Definitions.  -- As used in this chapter --(1) Capital Assets. -- The term "capital assets" means property held by the taxpayer (whether or not connected with his trade or business), but does not include stock in trade of the taxpayer or other property of a kind which would properly be included in the inventory of the taxpayer if on hand at the close of the taxable year, or property held by the taxpayer primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of his trade or business, or property, used in the trade or business, of a character which is subject to the allowance for depreciation provided in section 23 (1):* * * *(4) Long-term capital gain. -- The term "long-term capital gain" means gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than 18 months, if and to the extent such gain is taken into account in computing net income;* * * *(b) Percentage Taken Into Account.  -- In the case of a taxpayer, other than a corporation, only the following percentages of the gain or loss recognized upon the sale or exchange of a capital asset shall be taken into account in computing net income: 100 per centum if the capital asset has been held for not more than 18 months;66 2/3 per centum if the capital asset has been held for more than 18 months but not for more than 24 months;50 per centum if the capital asset has been held for more than 24 months.* * * *(f) Retirement of Bonds, Etc.  -- For the purposes of this chapter, amounts received by the holder upon the retirement of bonds, debentures, notes, or certificates or other evidences of indebtedness issued by any corporation (including those issued by a government or political subdivision thereof), with interest coupons or in registered form, shall be considered as amounts received in exchange therefor.↩