Minton v. Comm'r , 94 T.C.M. 606 ( 2007 )


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  •                   T.C. Memo. 2007-372
    UNITED STATES TAX COURT
    LINDA K. MINTON, Petitioner v.
    COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
    Docket No. 6641-03.              Filed December 26, 2007.
    P was a 50-percent shareholder in LPP, which had
    claimed S corporation status since it elected that
    status in 1975. By 1986, P’s father and founder of the
    business had sharply reduced his participation in the
    conduct of LPP’s business affairs, which were then run
    by P’s brother and P. In that year, P, her brother,
    father, and mother (the directors and shareholders of
    LPP) agreed that LPP would begin to make fixed, monthly
    distributions to P’s father. Prior to filing her 1998
    return, P was advised that that agreement had created a
    second class of LPP stock, which negated LPP’s S
    corporation status in 1986 and for all subsequent
    years. See sec. 1361(b)(1)(D), I.R.C. On that basis,
    P failed to report on her 1998 return the LPP income
    listed on the 1998 Schedule K-1, Shareholder’s Share of
    Income, Credits, Deductions, etc., issued to her by
    LPP. The issue for decision is whether the 1986
    agreement caused LPP to lose its S corporation status.
    Held: P has failed to prove that the 1986
    agreement constituted a “binding” agreement “relating
    to distribution * * * proceeds” within the meaning of
    sec. 1.1361-1(l)(2)(i), Income Tax Regs., and,
    therefore, that that agreement created a second class
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    of stock, which caused LPP to lose its S corporation
    status.
    William A. Pesnell, for petitioner.
    Daniel N. Price, for respondent.
    MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
    HALPERN, Judge:   Respondent has determined a deficiency of
    $165,366 in petitioner’s 1998 Federal income tax liability and an
    addition to tax of $16,484 for that year on account of
    petitioner’s failure to file her 1998 return on time.    Petitioner
    concedes the addition to tax and two of respondent’s adjustments
    resulting in his determination of a deficiency.   Putting aside a
    computational adjustment that requires no decision by us, there
    remain two issues for decision:   (1) Whether, before 1998, by
    creating a second class of stock, Long’s Preferred Products, Inc.
    (LPP), lost its status as a pass-through entity (an S
    corporation), thereby eliminating the requirement that petitioner
    include her allocable share of LPP’s 1998 income in her 1998
    income, and (2) whether the duty of consistency bars petitioner
    from asserting that LPP lost its S corporation status before
    1998.   Because we decide the first issue in respondent’s favor,
    we need not (and do not) address the second issue.
    Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to
    the Internal Revenue Code in effect for 1998, and all Rule
    references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
    - 3 -
    All dollar amounts have been rounded to the nearest dollar.
    FINDINGS OF FACT1
    Some facts have been stipulated and are so found.   The
    stipulation of facts, with attached exhibits, is incorporated by
    this reference.2
    1
    In part, Rule 151 provides as follows:
    RULE 151. BRIEFS
    * * * * * * *
    (e) Form and Content: * * *
    * * * * * * *
    (3) * * * In an answering or reply brief, the
    party shall set forth any objections, together with the
    reasons therefor, to any proposed findings of any other
    party, showing the numbers of the statements to which
    the objections are directed; in addition, the party may
    set forth alternative proposed findings of fact.
    Petitioner has filed an answering brief, but she has failed
    therein to set forth objections to the proposed findings of fact
    made by respondent. Accordingly, we must conclude that
    petitioner has conceded respondent’s proposed findings of fact as
    correct except to the extent that respondent has failed to direct
    us to any evidence in the record supporting those proposed
    findings or those findings are clearly inconsistent with either
    evidence in the record or petitioner’s proposed findings of fact.
    See, e.g., Jonson v. Commissioner, 
    118 T.C. 106
    , 108 n.4 (2002),
    affd. 
    353 F.3d 1181
    (10th Cir. 2003).
    2
    At trial, the Court reserved judgment with respect to
    respondent’s objection to two, and petitioner’s objection to one,
    of the exhibits (Exs. 17-P, 22-P, and 35-R) attached to the
    stipulation of facts. Before the conclusion of the trial, the
    Court sustained respondent’s objection (hearsay) to Ex. 17-P.
    The Court directed the parties to address on brief the
    admissibility of the two other exhibits. Assuming arguendo that
    we were to resolve the two remaining disputes in petitioner’s
    favor, we would nonetheless find for respondent in this case.
    Therefore, our findings of fact (and opinion) take into account
    petitioner’s Ex. 22-P and exclude from consideration respondent’s
    Ex. 35-R.
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    At the time the petition was filed, petitioner resided in
    Pineville, Louisiana.
    Background
    Petitioner’s parents, Julian E. Long (Julian E.) and Alma
    Kathryn Long (Alma), both of whom are now deceased (Alma in 1990,
    Julian E. in 2005), operated LPP as a sole proprietorship in the
    early 1950s.    Initially, no one else worked in the business.    LPP
    sells janitorial and paper supplies.
    LPP was incorporated under Louisiana law on December 31,
    1975.    From its inception through 1998, LPP had 100 shares of
    stock issued and outstanding.    Pursuant to its articles of
    incorporation, those 100 shares constituted its total authorized
    capital stock.3   Julian E. and Alma were the initial shareholders
    of LPP.    Shortly after its incorporation, LPP filed an election
    with respondent to be treated as an S corporation.    Respondent
    accepted that election.
    In 1964, petitioner’s brother, Julian W. Long (Julian W.),
    began working on a full-time basis for LPP as a janitor.    He
    later worked as a delivery driver, a salesman, and, finally, a
    manager.    In early 1985, he became president of LPP.
    3
    The articles of incorporation do not specifically state
    that those 100 shares of stock (the 100 shares) represent a
    single class of stock with identical rights as to dividends or
    distributions. The articles, however, do not state the contrary.
    Also, petitioner’s argument that the allegedly disproportionate
    distributions to Julian E. beginning in 1986 evidence the
    creation of a second class of stock indicates her belief that the
    100 shares constituted a single class of stock prior to 1986. We
    think it a fair inference that the 100 shares constituted a
    single class, at least until then, and we so find.
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    In 1977, petitioner began working on a full-time basis for
    LPP.    She worked in outside sales for approximately 7 years.
    Thereafter, until the early 1990s, she was involved in the
    management of LPP and was appointed vice president and
    secretary/treasurer on February 24, 1992.
    Prior to 1977, Julian E. carried on the business of LPP.    By
    the mid-1980s, however, he had ceased to be actively involved in
    day-to-day operations and, essentially, had became a consultant.
    LPP never paid him anything for his services that it labeled a
    salary.    He did, however, draw money out of the corporation to
    pay his and his wife’s living expenses as they needed it.
    LPP’s Distributions to Julian E. Long Beginning in 1986
    During 1986, Julian E., Alma, Julian W., and petitioner
    agreed (the 1986 agreement) that, from then on, Julian E. and
    Alma would receive a monthly distribution from LPP, initially
    fixed at $4,000, but which amount fluctuated thereafter.
    During 1993-95 (the last three full years in which Julian E.
    was a shareholder in LPP), with the exception of two $5,000
    payments in 1995, one to Julian W. and one to petitioner, and one
    payment of $14,786 in 1995 on behalf of Julian W. for the
    purchase of a boat, the only distributions from LPP to its
    shareholders, other than in the form of payments (on their
    behalf) of income taxes to either the Internal Revenue Service or
    the Louisiana Department of Revenue, were made to Julian E.      In
    each of 1993 and 1994, Julian E. received twelve $2,000
    distributions.    In 1995, he received eleven $2,000 distributions
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    and, like Julian W. and petitioner, one $5,000 distribution.
    Also, in 1993, LPP made four $522 payments to a bank on behalf of
    Julian E.   In 1996, there were distributions to Julian E. in the
    form of tax payments on his behalf.4
    For 1993-95, LPP’s total distributions to shareholders
    closely approximated the 42-29-29-percent ownership interests of
    Julian E., Julian W., and petitioner, respectively, as reflected
    on LPP’s 1993-95 returns as filed.5
    Petitioner’s 1998 and Amended 1996 and 1997 Returns and LPP’s
    1997 and 1998 Returns
    During the course of litigation in the Louisiana State
    courts instituted by petitioner against LPP, Julian E., Julian
    W., and others with respect to the number of LPP shares owned by
    4
    The record contains no evidence as to the actual amounts
    of the monthly payments to Julian E. from 1986 to 1992, and only
    petitioner’s testimony that they, in fact, were made.
    5
    We make no findings of fact regarding ownership of the
    100 shares between 1990, after Alma died, and 1996 when Julian W.
    and petitioner each became the owner of 50 of the 100 shares. In
    2001, LPP’s accountant represented to respondent that LPP’s
    1986-95 returns show that Julian E. held 42 percent of its shares
    and Julian W. and petitioner, 29 percent each, and that,
    effective January 1996, Julian E. conveyed all of his LPP shares
    to Julian W. and petitioner, one-half to each. That
    representation is corroborated by trial testimony given in an
    earlier Louisiana State court proceeding by LPP’s prior
    accountant. There is, however, contradictory evidence in the
    record indicating that (1) at the time of her death in 1990, Alma
    owned a one-half community interest with Julian E. in 42 shares
    of LPP stock, (2) she bequeathed the shares represented by that
    interest (21 shares) to Julian W. and petitioner, 10.5 shares to
    each, thereby giving each 39.5 shares or a 39.5-percent interest
    in LPP as of 1990, and (3) in 1996, Julian E. transferred 21
    shares to his children, not 42 shares.
    - 7 -
    her (the first Louisiana litigation),6 petitioner discovered an
    audio tape of a purported 1986 LPP shareholders/directors meeting
    attended by Julian E., Julian W., and Alma.   Her attorney, who is
    also her counsel in this case, after listening to the tape and
    having it transcribed, advised her that the participants at the
    meeting, by providing for a fixed level of distributions to
    Julian E., had created a second class of stock in LPP, thereby
    negating LPP’s S corporation status.   Consistent with that
    position, petitioner, on her 1998 Form 1040, U.S. Individual
    Income Tax Return, which she filed on or about November 15, 1999,
    omitted $229,292 of ordinary income and other pass-through items
    reported on the Schedule K-1, Shareholder’s Share of Income,
    Credits, Deductions, etc., issued by LPP to her for 1998.7    Along
    with her 1998 return, petitioner submitted a Form 8082, Notice of
    Inconsistent Treatment or Administrative Adjustment Request
    (AAR), which purported to justify that omission on the basis that
    the 1986 agreement created a second class of stock in LPP,
    6
    In an unpublished opinion, Minton v. Long’s Preferred
    Prods., Inc., 
    829 So. 2d 669
    (La. Ct. App. 2002), the court of
    appeal held in petitioner’s favor in that litigation and
    confirmed that she (1) purchased 19 shares of LPP stock in 1986
    and (2) owned 50 shares (or 50 percent) of that stock as of 1996,
    not 40.5 shares (or 40.5 percent) as had been alleged by Julian
    E. and Julian W. and reported on the 1998 Schedule K-1,
    Shareholder’s Share of Income, Credits, Deductions, etc., issued
    to her by LPP.
    7
    Respondent’s adjustment for petitioner’s alleged omission
    of LPP income is $283,077, based upon her ownership of 50 shares
    of LPP stock, whereas the 1998 Schedule K-1 issued to her by LPP
    reflects her ownership of only 40.5 shares, a position that was
    subsequently rejected by the Louisiana Court of Appeal. See
    supra note 6.
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    thereby causing it to lose its S corporation status in 1986.
    Thereafter, petitioner filed amended 1996 and 1997 returns in
    which she took a position, vis-a-vis LPP’s earnings, consistent
    with that taken in her 1998 return.
    LPP’s 1997 Form 1120S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S
    Corporation, reports $160,562 of ordinary income from trade or
    business activities, total distributions to shareholders of
    $91,460, retained earnings at the start of the year of $582,933,
    and yearend retained earnings of $649,035.   LPP’s 1998 Form 1120S
    reports $566,153 of ordinary income from trade or business
    activities, total distributions to shareholders of $32,946, and
    yearend retained earnings of $1,182,242.   The 1998 Schedule K-1
    issued to Julian W. and petitioner do not list any amount as
    having been distributed to them.8
    LPP filed Forms 1120S for tax years 1976-98.   Except for her
    amended 1996 and 1997 Federal returns, for all tax years prior to
    1998 during which she was a shareholder in LPP, petitioner
    included in income all LPP pass-through items in conformance with
    the Schedule K-1 issued to her by LPP.
    Petitioner’s 1999 Transfer of One Share of LPP
    On June 7, 1999, petitioner contributed one share of her LPP
    stock to H.C. Chemicals, Inc. (HCC), which had been incorporated
    by her daughter, Heather Minton Fuller (Heather), on June 4,
    1999.    Heather became the president and sole shareholder of HCC,
    8
    LPP’s financial records for 1998, however, do reflect
    1998 distributions to Julian W. and petitioner in the sum of
    $32,946.
    - 9 -
    the sole function of which has been to hold shares of LPP.   LPP
    utilized June 7, 1999, as the date of termination of its S
    corporation status.
    Louisiana Court of Appeal Decision
    The first Louisiana litigation ended with an unpublished
    opinion by the Louisiana Court of Appeal,9 affirming the decision
    of the Louisiana (Rapides Parish) District Court that petitioner
    did, in fact, purchase 19 shares of LPP stock from Julian E. in
    1986.    The Court of Appeal stated:
    Linda could not remember what each document was
    entitled nor the terms of the [1986] sale [of 19 shares
    of LPP stock to her and 19 shares to Julian W.], other
    than to say that the consideration for the sale would
    come in the form of payments to Julian E. from the
    corporation.
    Petitioner’s October 2, 2000, Affidavit
    In connection with the first Louisiana litigation,
    petitioner executed an affidavit in which she made the following
    representations:
    On September 23, 1986, Julian Edward Long sold 38
    shares of stock, in equal amounts, to affiant and
    Julian W. Long. They signed an Act of Sale, promissory
    notes and stock certificates to this effect.
    *   *   *    *      *   *   *
    Thereafter, consideration for the sale of the stock was
    paid to Julian Edward Long monthly out of the profits
    of the corporation in the form of cash, house payments,
    car payments, payments on all monthly expenses and
    credit card bills, and other payments. * * *
    9
    Minton v. Long’s Preferred Prods., Inc., supra.
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    Petitioner’s April 21, 2004, Deposition
    In connection with additional litigation in the Louisiana
    courts, this time in a suit to rescind the 1986 sale of LPP stock
    by Julian E. to petitioner (together with the first Louisiana
    litigation, the Louisiana litigation), petitioner was deposed on
    April 21, 2004, by plaintiffs’ counsel.           During the deposition,
    petitioner testified that she executed a promissory note to
    Julian E. in consideration for 19 shares of LPP stock.           In
    testifying as to the manner in which she made payments on that
    note, the following exchanges occurred between petitioner and
    plaintiffs’ counsel:
    A [Petitioner]:           Okay, the payments to my father
    were made on my behalf through
    Long’s Preferred Products.
    Q [Counsel]:              In other words, you are saying that
    the corporation paid your note, is
    that correct, that was owed to your
    father?
    A [Petitioner]:           He -- the stock that I purchased
    from my father was paid on my
    behalf through the corporation, and
    that was the way that my father and
    my brother and myself talked about
    having it done.
    *   *     *     *      *   *   *
    Q [Counsel]:              So you, as of this date -- have
    you, yourself, personally, made any
    payment towards the retirement of
    this note?
    A [Petitioner]:           I have through the corporation of
    Long’s Preferred Products.
    *   *     *     *      *   *   *
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    Q [Counsel]:          If Long’s Preferred Products did
    not make any payments on your
    behalf, who else would have made
    the payments?
    A [Petitioner]:       Mr. Lee, I know Long’s Preferred
    Products did. I know I was
    working. I know I had the meeting
    with my father and my brother. I
    know what took place. I know he
    was not working. I know I was not
    -- I mean, I was working, and I
    know he was happy with the
    arrangement. So I don’t know what
    the books would reflect, but I know
    what took place.
    Q [Counsel]:          When did this meeting take place?
    A [Petitioner]:       It would have been in 1986.
    OPINION
    I.    Introduction
    We must determine whether, on account of a second class of
    stock, LPP’s status as an S corporation terminated in 1986.        If
    it did, then petitioner did not have to include in her 1998
    income her allocable share of LPP’s 1998 income except to the
    extent distributed to her.     Petitioner concedes that she bears
    the burden of proof.     See Rule 142(a).
    II.    Discussion
    A.   Internal Revenue Code and Regulations
    With respect to any taxable year, section 1361(a)(1) defines
    an S corporation as “a small business corporation for which an
    election * * * [to be an S corporation] is in effect for such
    year.”      Section 1361(b) defines a “small business corporation” as
    a domestic corporation which must satisfy a number of
    requirements, one of which is that it not have “more than 1 class
    - 12 -
    of stock.”   See sec. 1361(b)(1)(D).
    In pertinent part, and with exceptions not here relevant,
    section 1.1361-1(l)(1), Income Tax Regs., provides that “a
    corporation is treated as having only one class of stock if all
    outstanding shares of stock of the corporation confer identical
    rights to distribution and liquidation proceeds.”   In pertinent
    part, section 1.1361-1(l)(2)(i), Income Tax Regs., provides:
    The determination of whether all outstanding shares of
    stock confer identical rights to distribution and
    liquidation proceeds is made based on the corporate
    charter, articles of incorporation, bylaws, applicable
    state law, and binding agreements relating to
    distribution and liquidation proceeds (collectively,
    the governing provisions).
    Pursuant to section 1362(d)(2), S corporation status
    terminates when the corporation ceases to qualify as an S
    corporation, e.g., upon the creation of a second class of stock.
    B.   Analysis
    1.   Absence of a Binding Agreement
    Petitioner argues that (1) the 1986 agreement constituted a
    “binding agreement”, within the meaning of section 1.1361-
    1(l)(2)(i), Income Tax Regs.,10 to make “guaranteed payments” to
    10
    We note that, pursuant to sec. 1.1361-1(l)(7), Income
    Tax Regs., “sec. 1.1361-1(l) does not apply to: an * * *
    arrangement * * * entered into before May 28, 1992, and not
    materially modified after that date”. Sec. 1.1361-1(l)(7),
    Income Tax Regs., continues, however: “a corporation and its
    shareholders may apply this sec. 1.1361-1(l) to prior taxable
    years.” We consider petitioner’s 1998 return position and her
    reliance upon sec. 1.1361-1(l)(1) and (2)(i), Income Tax Regs.,
    in this case as an election by petitioner, in her capacity as a
    shareholder of LPP, to apply sec. 1.1361-1(l), Income Tax Regs.,
    to the 1986 agreement. Therefore, we shall apply that regulation
    (continued...)
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    Julian E., beginning in 1986, in whatever monthly amounts would
    be necessary to cover his and Alma’s living expenses, (2) those
    payments “were made over time, and accounted for properly as
    state law dividends”, and (3) because “[n]o other shareholder
    received the monthly guaranteed payments that were received by
    Julian E. Long”, LPP ceased to be an S corporation “from the
    moment that the agreement was made”.
    We find that the evidence does not support petitioner’s
    position.   She has failed to carry her burden of proving that the
    1986 agreement constituted a “binding agreement” giving Julian E.
    enhanced or disproportionate “rights to [LPP’s] distribution and
    liquidation proceeds”, as required by section 1.1361-1(l)(1) and
    (2)(i), Income Tax Regs.   Such an agreement is necessary in order
    for us to conclude that LPP had a second class of stock.
    To begin with, petitioner has failed to establish that the
    1986 agreement was in any way “binding”.   At best, petitioner
    testified that that agreement was nothing more than an informal,
    oral understanding among the board members/shareholders of LPP to
    have LPP make monthly distributions to Julian E. in whatever
    amounts he (and Alma) needed to cover their living expenses, a
    practice similar to that which prevailed prior to 1986.    There is
    no evidence that the family members, in their capacity as
    directors and/or shareholders of LPP, took any formal corporate
    10
    (...continued)
    in deciding whether the 1986 agreement created a second class of
    LPP stock.
    - 14 -
    action to implement that understanding.11
    Louisiana corporation law specifically addresses the manner
    in which directors or shareholders of a Louisiana corporation
    shall act on behalf of the corporation.     Petitioner has cited no
    provisions of Louisiana corporation law (and, therefore, no
    authority) in support of her position that LPP was bound by the
    1986 agreement with the result that it might be said to
    constitute a “binding agreement” for purposes of section 1.1361-
    1(l)(2)(i), Income Tax Regs.   Our own review of Louisiana
    corporation law leads us to conclude that the procedures required
    to (1) institute a board of directors’ or shareholders’ meeting
    and (2) adopt binding resolutions at such meetings are either
    governed by the articles of incorporation and/or the bylaws or by
    the Louisiana corporation law itself.12
    11
    That absence of corporate action is inconsistent with
    what appears to have been the normal practice of LPP’s
    shareholders/directors to keep written minutes of directors’ and
    shareholders’ meetings and of resolutions adopted at those
    meetings.
    12
    With regard to board of directors’ meetings, see La.
    Rev. Stat. Ann. sec. 12:81C(6)(a) (1994):
    [N]otice of meetings of the board shall be given as
    provided in the articles or bylaws. If not so
    provided:
    (i) Regular meetings of the board may be held
    without notice of the date, time, place, or purpose of
    the meeting, provided that the date, time, and place
    are fixed by the board or are determinable pursuant to
    the articles or bylaws.
    (ii) Special meetings of the board shall be
    preceded by at least two days notice of the date, time,
    and place of the meeting.
    (continued...)
    - 15 -
    LPP’s articles of incorporation do not address the
    procedures for (1) instituting directors’ or shareholders’
    meetings or (2) adopting binding resolutions at such meetings,
    and petitioner has failed to place LPP’s bylaws into evidence.
    Nor has she demonstrated compliance with the provisions of
    Louisiana corporation law that pertain to those procedures in the
    absence of controlling articles or bylaws.
    Without evidence that the 1986 agreement constituted a
    “binding agreement” within the meaning of section 1.1361-
    1(l)(2)(i), Income Tax Regs., the most that can be said of the
    monthly distributions to Julian E. is that they, in effect,
    provided him with a timing benefit vis-a-vis LPP’s distributable
    earnings, which, in total, have not been shown to belong to LPP’s
    12
    (...continued)
    (iii) The notice of a special meeting of the
    board shall describe the purpose of the special
    meeting.
    See also La. Rev. Stat. Ann. sec. 12:81C(9) (1994):
    Any action which may be taken at a meeting of the board
    of directors * * * may be taken by a consent in writing
    signed by all of the directors * * * and filed with the
    records of proceedings of the board * * * .
    With regard to shareholders’ meetings, see La. Rev. Stat. Ann.
    sec. 12:73D (1994), which, in pertinent part, provides:
    Unless otherwise provided in the articles or by-laws,
    and except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, the
    authorized person or persons calling a shareholders’
    meeting shall cause written notice of the time, place
    and purpose of the meeting to be given to all
    shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, at least
    ten days and not more than sixty days prior to the day
    fixed for the meeting. * * * Notice of any
    shareholders’ meeting may be waived in writing by any
    shareholder at any time * * *
    - 16 -
    shareholders on other than a pro rata basis (in accordance with
    their respective stock ownership percentages).   See sec. 1.1361-
    1(l)(2)(vi), Example (2), Income Tax Regs. (indicating that
    differences in the timing of distributions to shareholders do not
    cause an S corporation to be treated as having more than one
    class of stock).13
    2.   Purpose and Nature of the Fixed Distributions to
    Julian E.
    The only support for petitioner’s argument that, in 1986,
    the directors/shareholders of LPP agreed to make fixed
    distributions to Julian E. in amounts necessary to cover his (and
    Alma’s) living expenses is petitioner’s testimony to that effect.
    But that testimony is contradicted by the Louisiana Court of
    Appeal’s description of petitioner’s trial testimony and by
    petitioner’s affidavit and a deposition given in connection with
    the Louisiana litigation, all of which indicate that all or a
    portion of the fixed distributions to Julian E., commencing in
    1986, were made for the purpose of paying him (through LPP) for
    his 1986 sale of LPP stock to Julian W. and petitioner.   If that
    is so, it follows that some or all of the distributions to Julian
    13
    In this connection, we note the absence of evidence that
    any disproportionate distributions to Julian E. prior to 1996,
    when he ceased to be a shareholder in LPP, would not be offset by
    future remedial distributions to the other shareholders out of
    LPP’s substantial retained earnings, which totaled $582,933 at
    the end of 1996. Moreover, the payment of $14,786 in 1995 on
    behalf of Julian W. for the purchase of a boat indicates that
    remedial payments could occur whenever Julian W. or petitioner
    needed distributions in excess of LPP’s tax payments on their
    behalf. That payment also indicates that all of the shareholders
    were on equal footing vis-a-vis profit distributions from LPP in
    that all were entitled to distributions on an as-needed basis.
    - 17 -
    E. were from LPP profits that belonged, and were taxable, to
    Julian W. and petitioner, not to Julian E.      See, e.g., Bitker v.
    Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2003-209 (partnership’s payments of
    interest on the taxpayer-partner’s personal debt included in his
    taxable distributions from the partnership).      Thus, assuming
    arguendo that the 1986 agreement represented a binding agreement
    on the part of LPP’s directors/shareholders to make
    disproportionate distributions to Julian E., petitioner has
    failed to establish that the payments did, in fact, constitute
    distributions with respect to Julian E.’s shares rather than
    distributions in discharge of Julian W.’s and petitioner’s
    personal debts to Julian E. and, therefore, distributions with
    respect to their shares.      Moreover, the conflicting evidence
    regarding the purpose of the fixed distributions to Julian E.
    raises the possibility that they were intended to achieve both of
    those purposes and, therefore, that they were made, in part, with
    respect to Julian E.’s shares and, in part, with respect to
    Julian W.’s and petitioner’s shares.      In that event, they very
    well may have constituted proportionate distributions, a result
    fully consistent with the continued existence of one class of LPP
    stock.
    3.   Conclusion
    Petitioner has failed to prove that LPP had more than one
    class of stock in 1998.
    III.    Conclusion
    In light of petitioner’s concessions and our disposition of
    - 18 -
    the more than one class of stock issue, we must sustain
    respondent’s determination of a deficiency.
    Decision will be entered
    for respondent.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: No. 6641-03

Citation Numbers: 2007 T.C. Memo. 372, 94 T.C.M. 606, 2007 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 391

Judges: \"Halpern, James S.\"

Filed Date: 12/26/2007

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 4/18/2021