Opinion
Docket No. 16762-85.
1986-10-30
LAURENCE R. AND MARGARET E. ZIRKER, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Rex C. Bush, for the petitioners. James B. Ausenbaugh, for the respondent.
P's claimed Schedule F losses on their 1981 and 1982 Federal income tax returns from an investment in dairy cattle. The losses were comprised of investment credit and depreciation deductions as well as other claimed operating expenses. R disallowed the claimed losses. HELD, that no sale of the cattle occurred for tax purposes. Accordingly, P's are not entitled to the claimed losses. HELD FURTHER, that a valuation overstatement exists within the meaning of sec. 6659, since petitioners reported an adjusted basis in the cattle of $41,500 and the correct adjusted basis in the cattle is zero. HELD FURTHER, that the portion of the underpayment resulting from the disallowed depreciation deductions and disallowed investment credit is attributable to the valuation overstatement. Held further, P's are liable for additional interest under sec. 6621(d) with respect to the portion of the underpayment attributable to the valuation ovrstatement under sec. 6621(d)(3)(A)(i). Rex C. Bush, for the petitioners. James B. Ausenbaugh, for the respondent.
, JUDGE:
This case was assigned to and heard by Special Trial Judge Peter J. Panuthos pursuant to the provisions of section 7456 of the Code and Rules 180 and 181. The Court agrees with and adopts the Special Trial Judge's opinion, which is set forth below.
OPINION OF THE SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE
PANUTHOS, SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE:
Respondent determined the following deficiencies in petitioners' Federal income tax:
+----------------+ ¦Year¦Deficiency ¦ +----+-----------¦ ¦1981¦ $9,412 ¦ +----+-----------¦ ¦1982¦5,915 ¦ +----------------+ In his notice of deficiency respondent disallowed claimed losses incurred by petitioners resulting from an investment in dairy cattle. Respondent also disallowed an investment credit claimed for 1981. By his answer respondent seeks additions to tax under section 6659 for valuation overstatements and further seeks additional interest under section 6621(d) on the grounds that the underpayments for 1981 and 1982 are attributable to a tax motivated transaction.
The issues for decision are whether petitioners are entitled to the claimed loss in connection with their investment in Holstein dairy ca tle and whether petitioners are subject to the additions to tax under section 6659 and to additional interest under section 6621(d).
FINDINGS OF FACT
At the time they filed their petition, petitioners resided in Columbus, Ohio. Some of the facts have been stipulated and are incorporated herein by this reference.
During 1981, petitioner Larry Zirker (petitioner) worked as a welder.
Roy Tolson (Tolson), promoter of the investment and owner of Financial Futures, contacted petitioner and encouraged petitioner to invest in cattle. Petitioner had known Tolson for many years, and it was through Tolson that petitioner had previously invested in cattle in 1980. Tolson provided petitioner with a prospectus of expected income and expenses. According to the prospectus, petitioner could expect a return on his investment of $119,437 in 1981 and $126,795 in 1982. Tolson presented the investment as a cattle breeding program; however, the cows were also to be milked and the milk sold for profit.
Before investing in the cattle, petitioner consulted with his friend Wayne Asay, a county extension agent in Wyoming. (A county extension agent is a governmental advisor to those involved in agricultural activity in the county.) Asay had no particular expertise in cattle or dairy farming. Nevertheless, Asay agreed that the cattle in which petitioner was interested were Holstein pedigrees and opined that they would be a good investment.
On June 24, 1981, petitioner entered into a purchase agreement whereby he agreed to purchase five registered Holstein dairy cattle. According to schedule A attached to the agreement, the total purchase price of the five cattle was $41,500. It is not clear from the record what the purchase price of each separate animal was. The terms of the purchase were $2,500 in cash down; $2,500 due on a promissory note to be paid on closing; a second promissory note for $18,056; and a third promissory note for $18,444. The terms of the promissory note for $18,056 required payment in seven annual installments of $3,956. The promissory note for $18,444 required petitioner to pay that amount on January 1, 1988 together with interest at the rate of 9 percent per year on the unpaid principal.
The three notes given on June 24, 1981, were secured by cattle in the herd and were nonrecourse notes. In late 1981, Tolson sent petitioner new agreements to sign which altered the security on the notes. Petitioner signed notes which indicated that he was personally liable for their repayment. These notes were dated June 24, 1981, although they were sent to petitioner in November 1981. The notes purported to change petitioner's liability from nonrecourse to recourse. Petitioner received no consideration from Tolson in exchange for petitioner's promise to be personally liable on the notes.
The original purchase agreement also contained a covenant by petitioner that he had a net worth in excess of $100,000 (exclusive of home, automobile, and furnishings) and that some portion of his 1981 income would be subject to a Federal or state tax of 50 percent. In addition, the original purchase agreement contained a clause in which petitioner acknowledged that anticipated tax benefits may not be realized as a result of changes in Federal tax laws.
According to the terms of the original purchase agreement and the schedule attached to it, petitioner could not sell, remove, destroy, or otherwise handle any cow without Tolson's written permission. Tolson and petitioner also entered into a management agreement whereby Tolson agreed to be responsible for management of the animals. Petitioner could not and did not operate or supervise the dairy, nor did he make any decisions affecting the cattle's breeding. Petitioner was never consulted on whether to artificially inseminate, which sire would be chosen, or which cattle would be bred. He never asked to exercise any control over these matters and had no say as to which cows would be sold, culled, or left in the breeding stock.
Petitioner spent only a minimal amount of time at the dairy. In the fall of 1984 he spent a few days building a fence at the dairy. Petitioner called Tolson from time to time to inquire about his investment.
Petitioners' gross receipts, total deductions and net farm loss as claimed on a Schedule F for 1981 and 1982 are as follows:
+---------------------------------------+ ¦Item ¦1981 ¦1982 ¦ +---------------------+--------+--------¦ ¦Gross receipts ¦$14,607 ¦$16,478 ¦ +---------------------+--------+--------¦ ¦Total deductions ¦36,155 ¦39,620 ¦ +---------------------+--------+--------¦ ¦Net farm loss claimed¦(21,548)¦(23,142)¦ +---------------------------------------+ The specific Schedule F deductions claimed are as follows:
+---------------------------------------+ ¦Claimed farm deductions ¦1981 ¦1982 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Labor Hired ¦$1,994¦$2,819¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Repairs, maintenance ¦159 ¦247 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Interest ¦5,943 ¦7,130 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Rent of farm, pasture ¦1,989 ¦2,820 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Feed purchased ¦8,846 ¦7,914 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Supplies purchased ¦481 ¦972 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Breeding fees ¦288 ¦544 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Veterinary fees, medicine¦322 ¦334 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Gasoline, fuel, oil ¦--- ¦101 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Storage, warehousing ¦5 ¦--- ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Taxes ¦110 ¦437 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Insurance ¦366 ¦218 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Utilities ¦449 ¦579 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Freight, trucking ¦466 ¦161 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Transportation ¦640 ¦240 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Advertising ¦140 ¦63 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦DHIA ¦557 ¦214 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Registration ¦--- ¦60 ¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Subtotal ¦22,755¦24,853¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Depreciation ¦13,400¦14,767¦ +-------------------------+------+------¦ ¦Total Deductions ¦36,155¦39,620¦ +---------------------------------------+ Petitioners also claimed an investment credit for the taxable year 1981 in the amount of $3,037 reporting an adjusted basis in the cattle of $41,500.
In his notice of deficiency dated April 15, 1985, respondent disallowed the claimed farm losses in full. As a basis for disallowance, respondent's notice stated as follows.:
a) The Schedule F. losses claimed by you in 1981 and 1982, in connection with ‘Financial Futures‘, are disallowed in full because you have not established, in support of your claimed losses, that you acquired any equitable, legal or other interest in dairy cattle. The Schedule F losses reported by you are disallowed in full because none of the losses have been verified, substantiated or demonstrated to be properly reportable and allowable under any provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Additionally, the losses are disallowed for the reason that you have not established that:
1) You were engaged in, or held the property for use in a trade or business or for production of income;
2) The transaction whereby you purportedly acquired the property had economic substance or purpose other than avoidance of tax;
3) you acquired a depreciable interest in the property in 1981;
4) the property was placed in service in 1981;
5) that any expenses claimed on your 1981 and 1982 tax returns, in connection with Financial Futures were paid or incurred; and
6) that amount, if in fact paid or incurred, was an ordinary and necessary expense or was paid for the purpose claimed.
Furthermore, you have not established your basis, if any, in the property. In any event, your basis may not include unpaid portions of the nonrecourse financing which lacks economic substance and does not constitute a bonafide loan. Any losses with respect to the property are limited to the amount at risk as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Neither have you established that any expenses, if paid or incurred, were not capital expenditures and, therefore, not currently deductible. Accordingly, your taxable income for 1981 and 1982 is increased $21,548 and $23,142, respectively. Additionally, your tax liability for 1981 is increased $3,037, the amount of Investment tax credit claimed with respect to the dairy cattle, which is being disallowed for the reasons stated above.
OPINION
We must decide whether petitioner is entitled to the claimed loss and investment credit in connection with his investment in Holstein dairy cattle.
In support of his position, respondent relies on Estate of Franklin v. Commissioner, 544 F.2d 1045 (9th Cir. 1976), affg. 64 T.C. 752 (1975).
Petitioner bears the burden of proof. Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111 (1933). Petitioner maintains that his investment in cattle was a profit motivated investment spurred by his desire to leave the welding profession and lead an easier lifestyle. Therefore, he argues that he is entitled to the deductions claimed in connection with the dairy cattle. For the reasons set forth below, we find for respondent.
Our initial inquiry is whether a sale of the five Holstein cows ever occurred. It is axiomatic that the economic substance of a transaction governs over its form. Gregory v. Helvering, 293 U.S. 465 (1935); Estate of Franklin v. Commissioner, supra. A sale generally occurs for tax purposes when there is a transfer of property for money or a promise to pay money. Commissioner v. Brown, 380 U.S. 563, 570-571 (1965). As we have stated previously, the key to determining whether a sale occurred in factual situations like the one presented here depends on whether the benefits and burdens of ownership passed from the purported seller of the cattle to the taxpayer. See, e.g., Grodt & McKay Realty, Inc. v. Commissioner, 77 T.C. 1221, 1237 (1981). This determination is a factual one based on all of the facts and circumstances. Leahy v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 56 (July 3, 1986); Derr v. Commissioner, 77 T.C. 708 (1981); Grodt & McKay Realty, Inc. v. Commissioner, supra; Haggard v. Commissioner, 24 T.C. 1124, 1129 (1955), affd. 241 F.2d 288 (9th Cir. 1956).
There are several factors to be considered in determining whether what is purported to be a sale in form is also a sale in economic substance. The first is to consider whether the stated price for the property is within a reasonable range of its value. According to the purchase agreement, petitioner was to pay Tolson $41,500 for five cows which petitioner now agrees were worth $9,600. The sale price of the cattle (if purchased for cash) was over four times the fair market value, and their sale price (if purchased on credit) was nearly three times the fair market value.
The next factor to consider is whether the purported purchaser had any control over the property and, if so, to what extent. As we have already found, petitioner could not determine what cows would be inseminated or culled; he could not remove or sell any of the cattle without Tolson's written permission; and he did not know the actual extent of his control over the cattle.
Petitioner could not choose to house and care for the cattle at a facility of which Tolson did not approve. Tolson actually retained control of the cattle. Indeed, the registration certificates of the cows reflect Trydale Dairies as owner of the cattle. Tolson originally bought the cattle from Trydale Dairies.
Next, we must determine whether there was any intent that the stated purchase price of property would ever be paid. Petitioner's evidence on this point is insufficient to prove either the intention to pay, or the actual payment of, the full purchase price required by the agreement. Petitioner provided some services to the dairy in 1984 by helping to build a fence.
Nevertheless, petitioner has not established the value of his services, nor can we make any finding regarding the value based on the record. As to any other amounts, petitioner offered no credible evidence that he had actually made yearly payments. No cancelled checks or contemporaneous documentation was offered. The only evidence submitted to substantiate payment was a list from Tolson itemizing the payments. Based on the entire record, we find that petitioner paid $2,500 on June 24, 1981 and an additional $2,500 in 1982.
Moreover, petitioner claims to be personally liable on the notes given to Tolson. In late 1981, Tolson wrote petitioner and asked him to sign a new set of promissory notes. Tolson explained that because of changes in the law under the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, in order to preserve any anticipated tax benefits, petitioner had to re- sign the notes which were back-dated to June 24, 1981. The record does not support the conclusion that petitioners would have or could have been called upon to pay the notes personally. These back-dated notes which purport to change the character of petitioner's liability from nonrecourse to recourse are merely illusory and have no effect.
Finally, the last criterion is whether the purchaser will receive any benefit from the disposition of the property. Looking at petitioner's involvement in the investment, it is clear that petitioner did not have a profit objective. Despite his assertion that his investment was intended to secure his financial future, petitioner never inquired of Tolson when the investment would become profitable.
SECTION 6659
Respondent made claim in his answer for a valuation overstatement pursuant to section 6659. The burden of proof is on respondent since such claim was not included in the notice of deficiency and, therefore, is a new issue seeking an increased deficiency. Section 6214(a); Rule 142(a).
Section 6659 provides for an addition to tax if a taxpayer has an underpayment of tax which is attributable to a valuation overstatement. The addition to tax is an amount ‘equal to the applicable percentage of the underpayment so attributable.‘ Section 6659(a). Section 6659(c) defines a valuation overstatement as follows:
(c) VALUATION OVERSTATEMENT DEFINED.-For purposes of this section, there is a valuation overstatement if the value of any property, or the adjusted basis of any property, claimed on any return is 150 percent or more of the amount determined to be the correct amount of such valuation or adjusted basis (as the case may be).
The applicable percentage is set forth in section 6659(b) as follows:
(b) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE DEFINED.- For purposes of subsection (a), the applicable percentage shall be determined under the following table:
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ ¦If¦the valuation claimed is the ¦ ¦ +--+---------------------------------------------------+--------------¦ ¦ ¦following percent of the ¦The applicable¦ +--+---------------------------------------------------+--------------¦ ¦ ¦correct valuation—— ¦percentage is:¦ +--+---------------------------------------------------+--------------¦ ¦ ¦150 percent or more but not more than 200 percent ¦10 ¦ +--+---------------------------------------------------+--------------¦ ¦ ¦More than 200 percent but not more than 250 percent¦20 ¦ +--+---------------------------------------------------+--------------¦ ¦ ¦More than 250 percent ¦30 ¦ +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
SECTION 6621(d)
As discussed previously, with respect to section 6659, the applicability of section 6621(d) was first raised by respondent in his answer and thus the burden of proof is on respondent. Section 6214(a) and Rule 142(a).
In his answer, respondent makes a claim for additional interest as follows:
7(e). Because of the valuation overstatement, the depreciation claimed on petitioners 1981 and 1982 Federal income tax returns are tax motivated transactions under the provisions of I.R.C. section 6621(d)(3)(i).