1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*24
1. Petitioners are husband and wife, domiciled in Texas. On November 14, 1935, each petitioner created a trust having a corporate trustee and an advisory committee of three persons and provided that the net income of each trust was to be paid to the other as the advisory committee might direct for life, with remainder over to others. On June 14, 1935, each petitioner created a trust having a corporate trustee and an advisory committee of three persons and provided that the net income of each trust was to be paid to the other as the advisory committee might direct for life, and upon the death of the life beneficiary the corpus was to become a part of the life beneficiary's estate, distributable in accordance with his or her will or, in case of intestacy, under the Texas law of descent and distribution.
1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*25 2. On June 14, 1935, petitioner Edgar Tobin created three trusts, each having a corporate trustee and an advisory committee of three persons. The net income was payable in the discretion of the advisory committee to the primary beneficiaries, consisting of his mother, daughter, and son, for life, with remainder over to others. On June 14, 1935, petitioner Margaret Batts Tobin created a trust having a corporate trustee and an advisory committee of three persons. The net income of this trust was payable in the discretion of the advisory committee to her son for life, with remainder over to others. All trusts were irrevocable and no part of the corpus or income could revert to the respective grantor. Each petitioner was a member of each advisory committee.
3. Upon the evidence,
4. Petitioners in 1943 deducted as a community business expense certain amounts paid to four trusts for storage of equipment used1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*26 in petitioners' business. The respondent did not disturb the deduction taken, as such, but did include the income of the trusts, including the storage charges paid to the trusts, in petitioners' community income. Under issue 1 we held such inclusion was proper except for one trust. Petitioners have assigned as error the disallowance by respondent of the entire amount paid to the four trusts.
5.
11 T.C. 928">*929 These consolidated proceedings involve deficiencies in income tax for the calendar years 1940 to 1943, inclusive, as follows:
1940 | 1941 | 1943 | |
Margaret Batts Tobin | $ 19,356.25 | $ 26,275.42 | $ 42,883.15 |
Edgar G. Tobin | 19,356.25 | 26,275.42 | 42,879.62 |
The deficiencies are due to numerous adjustments made by the respondent in the net community income as reported by petitioners in their returns, some of which were contested by appropriate assignments of error and some of which were not contested. The noncontested adjustments need not be considered.
The principal adjustment contested by petitioners is a holding by the respondent that the income of three trusts created in 1935 by Margaret Batts Tobin and the income of five trusts created in 1935 by Edgar G. Tobin represented taxable community income to petitioners for the taxable years 1940 to 1943, inclusive, in the total amounts of $ 64,021.28, $ 79,751.86, $ 51,424.37, and $ 89,602.76 (consisting of net income of $ 73,575.37 and capital1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*29 gain of $ 16,027.39), respectively. The other adjustments contested by petitioners consisted of holdings by the respondent that certain amounts claimed as net farm expenses by the community for the taxable years 1940 and 1941 and by four of the trusts to which the farm was transferred during 1943 for the taxable year 1943 did not represent allowable deductions for those years; that an amount of $ 1,840 claimed as storage and care of equipment on the Oakwell farm by the community for the taxable year 1943 did not represent an allowable deduction for that year; and that an amount of $ 8,225 claimed as a loss from storm and flood damage by the community for the taxable year 1942 did not represent an allowable deduction for that year. Petitioners, by appropriate assignments 11 T.C. 928">*930 of error, also allege that they are entitled to a deduction of $ 8,753.98 as net farm expenses by the community for the taxable year 1942 in addition to the amounts disallowed by the respondent for the years 1940, 1941, and 1943.
By a
The issues thus raised in both dockets may be summarized as follows:
1. Is the income of the eight trusts for the taxable years 1940 to 1943, inclusive, taxable to petitioners as community income under the provisions of either
2. Are petitioners entitled to deduct from their community income for the taxable years 1940, 1941, and 1942 certain amounts as farm expenses, and, if taxable on the trust income under issue 1, are they also entitled to deduct from their community income for the taxable year 1943 certain amounts as farm expenses paid by four of the trusts to whom the farm was transferred during 1943?
3. Are petitioners entitled to deduct from their community income for the taxable year 1943 an amount of $ 1,840 claimed as storage and care of certain equipment during that year?
4. If the income of the trusts is held to be taxable to petitioners, are they entitled to a credit against the deficiencies for the tax paid by the trustees for the years 1940 to 1943, inclusive?
5. Are petitioners1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*31 entitled to a loss on account of flood damage in 1942 to the Oakwell farm?
Petitioners in their brief concede the fifth issue, and no further reference will be made to that issue.
FINDINGS OF FACT.
Petitioners are husband and wife and are domiciled in the State of Texas. During the taxable years 1940 to 1943, inclusive, they filed separate returns on the community property basis with the collector at Austin, Texas.
As Tobin's business of aerial photography developed, he organized different corporations to perform different functions, so that in 1935 his business was conducted by himself as an individual and by the Edgar Tobin Aero Co., the Tobin Map Co., and Tobin Aerial Surveys, Inc.
Petitioners were married in 1926. They have one son, Robert Batts Tobin, who was born March 12, 1934. Tobin had been married before and had a daughter, Katharine, by his previous marriage. His father had died sometime before 1935, but his mother, Ethel Murphy Tobin, was still living. His parents had always been people of small financial means. Petitioner Margaret Batts Tobin1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*33 was the daughter of Judge Robert L. Batts of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1917-1919) and Harriet Fiquet Batts of Austin, Texas. Batts resigned from the bench in August 1919 and was thereafter the local attorney for the Gulf Oil Corporation and also represented other oil companies. He had been a man of financial means, but during the depression which began in 1929 he had lost his fortune and was left with heavy debts. In 1935 Tobin and his wife, having in mind his former poverty and her family's recent financial reverses, decided each to try to protect, as far as they were able to do so, the persons who were dear to them, respectively, against future financial want. As a result, Tobin and his wife in 1935 created from community property eight trusts, of which five were created by Tobin out of his one-half of the community estate and three by his wife out of her one-half of the community estate. Sawnie R. Aldredge, who was a lawyer and a brother-in-law of Margaret Batts Tobin, did most of the work in preparing the trusts. He submitted the rough drafts of the trusts to Batts, who also assisted in their preparation. Each trust had a corporate1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*34 trustee and an advisory committee of three individuals. The corpus of the respective trusts as originally set up consisted of 11 T.C. 928">*932 stock in various companies and a promissory note, the fair market values of which were as follows:
Ethel M. | Robert | Robert | ||
Tobin and | Katharine | Batts | Batts | |
Corpus | Katharine | Tobin | Tobin | Tobin |
Tobin | Trust | Trust | Trust | |
Trust | No. 1 | No. 1 | No. 2 | |
Edgar Tobin Aero Co. stock | $ 1 300 | $ 130 | $ 130 | $ 2,600 |
Tobin Map Co. stock | 500 | 1,000 | 500 | 4,000 |
Pure Oil Co. stock | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 16,000 |
Humble Oil & Refining Co. stock | 6,000 | |||
Promissory note | 14,500 | |||
Total | 9,800 | 9,130 | 8,630 | 43,100 |
Margaret | Ethel | Harriet | ||
Edgar | Batts | Murphy | Fiquet | |
Corpus | Tobin | Tobin | Tobin | Batts |
Trust | Trust | Trust | Trust | |
Edgar Tobin Aero Co. stock | $ 3,900 | $ 3,900 | ||
Tobin Map Co. stock | 7,000 | 7,000 | ||
Pure Oil Co. stock | 8,000 | 8,000 | ||
Tobin Aerial Surveys, Inc., stock | $ 4,000 | $ 4,000 | ||
Total | 18,900 | 18,900 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
Tobin is the trustor of the Ethel M. Tobin and Katharine Tobin Trust, which was executed on June 14, 1935. The net income of the trust, as directed by the advisory committee, 1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*35 is payable to Ethel M. Tobin (trustor's aged mother) during her lifetime, and in the event of emergency or necessity it is to be supplemented with payments out of the corpus if unanimously directed by the advisory committee. The undistributed income is to be reinvested and become a part of the corpus. Upon the death of Ethel M. Tobin the trust continues for the benefit of the trustor's daughter, Katharine Tobin, to be finally distributed in four installments when she arrives at the ages of 21, 25, 30, and 35 years. Ethel M. Tobin was born about 1872 and Katharine about 1922, so that with reasonable expectancy of life the greater portion of the trust will be distributed to Katharine. The trust, however, provides that if Katharine dies leaving a child or children before the date of distribution, the child or children shall receive the balance; but if she leaves no children, the trustor's son, Robert Batts Tobin, is to be substituted as beneficiary and shall receive the balance of the trust fund upon the final termination of the trust, which is to be 20 years after the death of Katharine or when she would have been 35 years old if she had lived, whichever period is shorter. The1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*36 trust also provides that if Robert dies before Katharine or, having become the beneficiary, dies before receiving all the trust estate, then the trust is to continue for 10 years from the date of the death of the trustor's mother, daughter, or son (whichever may have last occurred) and the trustee shall deliver annually the income and 10 per cent of the corpus 11 T.C. 928">*933 to any child or children of Robert Batts Tobin; but that if Robert dies leaving no child, Margaret Batts Tobin shall be substituted as beneficiary and at the end of the 10-year period the trust estate shall be paid and delivered to her. The trust contains no provision for any distribution to the trustor.
Tobin is the trustor of the Katharine Tobin Trust No. 1, which was executed on June 14, 1935. The net income of the trust is payable to the trustor's daughter, Katharine Tobin, as directed by the advisory committee, to be supplemented in case of emergency or necessity out of the corpus if unanimously directed by the advisory committee. Undistributed income is to be reinvested and become a part of the corpus. The corpus is distributable to Katharine in four equal installments at the ages of 21, 25, 30, and 35 years. 1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*37 In the event Katharine dies before receiving all the trust estate, the trust is to continue for the benefit of her children, if any, and if no children, then the trust is to terminate and the remaining trust estate is to be delivered to the trustee of the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 as a part of the corpus of that trust. The trust contains no provision for any distribution to the trustor.
Tobin is the trustor of the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1, which was executed on June 14, 1935. Income of the trust is distributable in the discretion of the advisory committee to Robert Batts Tobin or for his benefit. The advisory committee may supplement by unanimous direction such income payment from the corpus in the case of emergency or necessity. Undistributed income is to be reinvested and become a part of the corpus. The corpus is to be distributed to Robert upon his reaching the ages of 21, 25, 30, and 35 years. In the event Robert dies before receiving all of the trust estate, the trust provides for contingent remainders to Robert's children, if any; or to the trustor's wife; or to the trustor's mother and his two sisters, or the survivor or survivors of them, share and share1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*38 alike. The trust contains no provision for any distribution to the trustor.
Margaret Batts Tobin is the trustor of Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 2, which was executed on June 14, 1935. She was joined in the execution of the trust by her husband, Edgar G. Tobin,
Margaret Batts Tobin is the trustor of the Edgar Tobin Trust, which was executed on June 14, 1935. She was joined in the execution of the trust by her husband, Edgar G. Tobin,
Tobin is the trustor of the Ethel Murphy Tobin Trust, which was executed on June 14, 1935. Income of the trust is to be paid to Margaret Batts Tobin or for her benefit as the advisory committee may direct, supplemented in case of emergency and necessity by payment from corpus upon the unanimous direction of the advisory committee. Undistributed income is to be reinvested1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*40 and become a part of the corpus. Upon the death of Margaret Batts Tobin the corpus of the trust is to become a part of her estate, distributable in accordance with her will, or, if she dies intestate, under the Texas law of descent and distribution. The trust contains no provision for any distribution to the trustor.
Tobin is the trustor of the Margaret Batts Tobin Trust, which was executed on November 14, 1935. The income of the trust is to be paid to Margaret Batts Tobin during her life as the advisory committee may direct. Undistributed income is to be added to the corpus. No distribution of the corpus is to be made during the life of Margaret Batts Tobin. If Ethel Murphy Tobin survives Margaret Batts Tobin, then the trust is to continue for 10 years and the trustee is to deliver annually to Ethel Murphy Tobin for a period of 10 years all of the income and 10 per cent of the corpus, computed upon the basis of the value thereof at the time of the death of Margaret Batts Tobin. If the trustor's mother does not survive the trustor's wife, or if she dies before receiving all of the trust estate, then the trust shall continue for the benefit of Robert Batts Tobin and payments1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*41 are to be made to him, after his mother's death, under the conditions named in the trust instrument. If he dies before receiving all of the corpus, the trust estate passes to his children, if any, and if no children, then to Katharine Tobin, if living, and if not living, then to her children, and 11 T.C. 928">*935 if she leaves none, "then this trust shall terminate and the corpus and accumulated net income be paid or delivered in fee simple to my nieces, Anne and Jane Riley, share and share alike, or to the survivor of them." The trust contains no provision for any distribution to the trustor.
Margaret Batts Tobin is the trustor of the Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust, which was executed on November 14, 1935. She was joined in the execution by her husband
All of the trusts are declared to be irrevocable. Each trust contains substantially the following clauses:
The trustee shall have the power under limitations hereinafter provided:
(1) to receive, hold, manage, control, lease, sell, exchange, invest, reinvest, loan, convert, or in anywise dispose of any part of the trust estate;
(2) to borrow for the benefit of such1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*43 trust estate and to pledge the assets thereof as security for such loan;
(3) to make such contracts with reference to the estate or any part thereof as the trustee may consider proper;
(4) to incur such reasonable expenses as may be necessary;
(5) to take out insurance on a life or lives insurable in behalf of beneficiary, or pay premiums on insurance taken out in her favor or both.
In the exercise of the powers given, or in the discharge of any duty concerning the trust, the trustee is given (under limitations herein set forth) full discretion, and shall not be held responsible for any loss unless such loss is directly due to its negligence or bad faith. Without the consent of the Advisory Committee, no sale of any security or other property shall be made for reinvestment, nor any money borrowed.
In all dealings with reference to the property comprising the trust estate, no person dealing with such trustee shall be required to look to the application of the proceeds of such sales, leases, or other dealings.
11 T.C. 928">*936 As compensation for this service, the trustee shall be entitled to retain out of the income derived from such trust estate two hundred dollars ($ 200.00) per annum.
1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*44 In the event of extraordinary services not usually connected with the administration of a trust, the trustee shall be entitled to extra compensation to be agreed upon between the trustee and the Advisory Committee hereinafter created.
There is hereby created an Advisory Committee, consisting of * * *. Members of the Advisory Committee shall receive ten dollars per month and expenses. Any member of the Advisory Committee may be employed by the other members and the trustee for professional or other services not included within the ordinary services of the Advisory Committee, and compensation therefor may be agreed upon between such member of the Advisory Committee and the other members and the trustee. The Committee may act by a majority except where by this instrument unanimous action is required. The trustee may consult with the Advisory Committee, or any member thereof, and is hereby authorized to comply with and follow any advice or instructions given to it by the Advisory Committee. In the event the Advisory Committee delivers written instructions to the trustee as to the management of said trust estate, either as to the distribution of a portion of the income or of the corpus1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*45 of the estate or as to investment of any part of either, or with reference to the exercise of rights as a stockholder of stock belonging to the trust, or with reference to any other matter in connection with the corpus or the income, the trustee shall be required to follow instructions of said Advisory Committee unless such instructions may render the trustee liable to other parties. When the trustee has received such instructions of the Advisory Committee and has followed same, the trustee shall be free from all responsibility to any beneficiary hereunder for any action or omission pursuant to such instructions. The trustee may at its discretion follow the instructions of a majority of the Advisory Committee, but shall not be required to act unless given written instructions signed by all members.
A member of the Advisory Committee shall have the right to resign by giving thirty days notice to the trustee and to the other members of the committee. In the event of the death, resignation, refusal, or inability to act, of any original or successor member or members of the Advisory Committee, the remaining member or members may appoint a successor or successors by an instrument filed1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*46 with the trustee. Action by the remaining member or members of the Advisory Committee in accepting such resignation shall make such resignation effective immediately.
The trustee shall have the right to resign by giving written notice to the trustor and the members of the Advisory Committee; the resignation shall become effective thirty days after notice, unless by action of the Advisory Committee within that period the resignation is made effective at an earlier date. Upon the resignation of the trustee or upon the arising of any circumstance making it impossible for the trustee to act, another trustee shall be elected by the Advisory Committee and thereupon all of the estates, duties, powers and privileges of the trustee, as provided by this instrument shall immediately devolve upon and become vested in said new trustee.
* * * *
The trustee shall retain and invest or reinvest any portion of the unexpended income upon instructions from the Advisory Committee and such unexpended income when so invested shall become a portion of the corpus of the trust estate.
A majority of the Advisory Committee may at any time without assigning any reason therefor, appoint a successor trustee in1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*47 place of the then acting trustee 11 T.C. 928">*937 by delivering written notice thereof to said acting trustee; thereupon all of the estates, duties, powers and privileges of the trustee so provided by this instrument shall immediately devolve upon and become vested in the said new trustee. Trustor may not be appointed. The compensation of such new trustee shall be fixed by the Advisory Committee.
Each of the three trusts designated as the Ethel M. Tobin and Katharine Tobin Trust, the Katharine Tobin Trust No. 1, and the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 contained the following clauses:
The Advisory Committee shall have the right to designate from time to time an attorney for the trust estate and shall notify the trustee in writing of such appointment; the trustee shall consult with such attorney in any matter connected with the trust estate in which the trustee or the Advisory Committee feels that it should have legal advice; the trustee is relieved from all responsibility for any action taken pursuant to the advice of such attorney. The compensation of such attorney shall be as agreed upon between the attorney, the Advisory Committee and the trustee.
The trustee shall furnish to the Trustor1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*48 and the members of the Advisory Committee, if they so request, at the end of each three (3) months period a statement of all receipts and disbursements of the trusteeship, covering such periods, together with an itemized list of all assets, investments, and the actions taken with reference to the administration of the trust estate.
Members of the Advisory Committee shall not be responsible to any person for any action taken in that capacity, except for gross negligence, fraud or willfull bad faith.
The advisory committee of each trust as originally appointed and as constituted during the taxable years was as follows:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
The members of the respective advisory committees were all persons of integrity and were selected by the respective trustors because he or she believed these members of the advisory committees would act in the best interests of the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the respective trusts.
One of the purposes of having an advisory committee for each trust was to free the trustee from responsibility in making more liberal investments, providing the trustee acted upon the recommendation of a majority of the committee.
The Alamo National Bank of San Antonio, Texas, was the original trustee in each one of the eight trusts. On June 18, 1937, the advisory committee of four of the trusts (Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1, Edgar Tobin Trust, Margaret Batts Tobin Trust, and Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust) notified the Alamo National Bank that they had appointed the Frost National Bank of San Antonio as successor trustee and requested the Alamo National Bank to transfer immediately all of the estate of each of these four trusts to the new trustee. On February 21, 1944, which is subsequent to the taxable years 1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*51 here involved, the advisory committee of each of the other four trusts notified the Alamo National Bank that they had appointed the San Antonio Loan & Trust Co. as successor trustee and requested the Alamo National Bank to transfer immediately all of the estate of each of these four trusts to the new trustee.
On January 15, 1938, which is prior to the taxable years here involved, the advisory committee of the Edgar Tobin Trust, consisting of Tobin, Hilary Cooper, and George S. Rice, Jr., authorized and instructed the trustee (Frost National Bank) of the Edgar Tobin Trust to lend Tobin the sum of $ 10,000. This sum was repaid by Tobin on April 11, 1939, which was prior to the taxable years here involved.
About 1934 the Tobin Map Co. acquired a building at 502 West Mistletoe in San Antonio for use as a telephone exchange. When the telephone company in San Antonio went on a dial system, this building became surplus. On May 27, 1937, the Edgar Tobin Trust acquired 11 T.C. 928">*939 this building, together with the office furniture and equipment therein, from the Tobin Map Co. for $ 34,168.33 in cash. The trust carried this property on its books as real estate, $ 26,699.73, and miscellaneous1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*52 assets, $ 7,468.60. On August 1, 1942, the advisory committee of the Edgar Tobin Trust, consisting of Tobin, Hilary Cooper, and Ruth Harris, authorized and instructed the trustee (Frost National Bank) to lease the Mistletoe Building to Edgar Tobin Aerial Surveys from August 1, 1942, through July 31, 1943, at a monthly rental of $ 602.50.
On May 1, 1942, the advisory committee of the Edgar Tobin Trust, consisting of Tobin, Hilary Cooper, and Ruth Harris, authorized and instructed the trustee (Frost National Bank) to purchase from Tobin as of June 1, 1942, certain real estate and improvements known as 114 Camp Street in San Antonio for the sum of $ 106,983.49 and to give Tobin a note therefor payable on or before five years from date, with interest payable semiannually at the rate of 4 per cent, and the committee further authorized the trustee to rent the said premises from June 1, 1942, to June 30, 1943, to the United States for a monthly rental of $ 3,625, with the privilege of renewal in one-year periods for not longer than June 30, 1945. The price of $ 106,983.49 was the same price at which Tobin had previously purchased the property. On the same day, May 1, 1942, the advisory1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*53 committee of the Edgar Tobin Trust authorized the trustee of that trust to sell to the Margaret Batts Tobin Trust, Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust, and Ethel Murphy Tobin Trust each a one-fourth interest in the 114 Camp Street property in consideration for the assumption by each trust of a one-fourth obligation in the note given by the Edgar Tobin Trust to Tobin for $ 106,983.49.
On January 18, 1943, the advisory committee of the Edgar Tobin Trust instructed the trustee of the trust not to carry insurance of any kind on the Mistletoe and Camp Street properties, except that it could at its discretion require public liability insurance or war risk insurance, or both. Tobin considered it a waste of money to insure these buildings for fire.
At some time prior to the taxable years in question Tobin purchased, as community property, a farm of approximately 210 acres located in Bexar County beyond the edge of the city of San Antonio, which farm is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Oakwell farm. On February 5, 1943, the Frost National Bank, as trustee for the Margaret Batts Tobin Trust, the Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust, the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1, and the Edgar Tobin Trust, was 1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*54 authorized and instructed by the respective advisory committees to purchase from Tobin as of February 15, 1943, each a one-fourth interest in the Oakwell farm, improvements, and stock. The consideration to be paid 11 T.C. 928">*940 by each trust for its respective one-fourth interest and the terms thereof were as follows:
Trust | Consideration | Terms |
Margaret Batts Tobin Trust | $ 16,465.49 | Cash |
Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust | 16,465.50 | Cash |
Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 | 16,465.50 | 5-year 4% note |
Edgar Tobin Trust | 16,465.50 | Cash |
At the same time the trustee of these four trusts was authorized to set up monthly from each trust, in an account known as the "Oakwell Farm" account, the sum of $ 250, subsequently increased to $ 1,250 per quarter, from which all normal and regular pay roll and maintenance bills would be paid.
The management and operation of the Oakwell farm were left to Hilary Cooper, who set up books to cover the farm operation. Hilary Cooper would make purchases for the farm at the request of the foreman and would deposit into the farm account all farm receipts. At the end of each three months Hilary Cooper would submit a statement to the trustee for its approval, showing1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*55 the farm operations. The trustee never disapproved any expenditures made for the farm.
The Oakwell farm was sold to the above mentioned four trusts at the price paid by Tobin, following his instructions that whatever he paid for a thing it went to the trusts at exactly the same price.
During the taxable years here involved each petitioner filed separate returns and each petitioner reported net income as follows:
Year | Net income | Income tax | Victory tax |
net income | net income | ||
1940 | $ 58,341.90 | ||
1941 | 61,253.33 | ||
1942 | 76,504.23 | ||
1943 | $ 73,988.28 | $ 79,708.21 |
The respondent determined that the net income of each of the eight trusts was taxable to petitioners as community income and that such net income of each of the trusts was as follows:
Trust | 1940 | 1941 |
1. Ethel M. Tobin and Katharine Tobin Trust | $ 4,117.98 | $ 4,874.00 |
2. Katharine Tobin Trust No. 1 | 4,067.98 | 5,235.70 |
3. Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 | 4,045.30 | 5,793.57 |
4. Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 2 | 6,715.29 | 9,408.74 |
5. Edgar Tobin Trust | 13,005.12 | 15,183.41 |
6. Margaret Batts Tobin Trust | 12,409.61 | 16,052.65 |
7. Ethel Murphy Tobin Trust | 10,105.00 | 12,327.50 |
8. Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust | 9,555.00 | 10,876.29 |
Total trust income held taxable to the community by | ||
the respondent | 64,021.28 | 79,751.86 |
Trust | 1942 | 1943 |
1. Ethel M. Tobin and Katharine Tobin Trust | $ 1,930.00 | None |
2. Katharine Tobin Trust No. 1 | 2,615.00 | $ 1,903.62 |
3. Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 | 2,870.00 | 5,324.54 |
4. Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 2 | 5,309.82 | 9,621.37 |
5. Edgar Tobin Trust | 12,371.50 | 21,936.03 |
6. Margaret Batts Tobin Trust | 11,072.16 | 20,436.66 |
7. Ethel Murphy Tobin Trust | 7,450.90 | 15,336.67 |
8. Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust | 7,804.99 | 15,043.87 |
Total trust income held taxable to the community by | ||
the respondent | 51,424.37 | 89,602.76 |
11 T.C. 928">*941 During the taxable years here involved the net income of all of the trusts, except two, was accumulated and added to corpus. The two exceptions were the Ethel M. Tobin and Katharine Tobin Trust and the Katharine Tobin Trust No. 1. In the former trust $ 1,220 of income was distributed to Ethel Tobin in 1943, and in the latter trust $ 1,120 of income was distributed to Katharine Tobin in 1943. Katharine received her support and education from her father's funds. The said $ 1,120 was distributed to Katharine, so that she would have some extra spending money. Katharine became 21 years of age in December 1943, at which time 25 per cent of the1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*57 corpus of the Katharine Tobin Trust No. 1 was delivered to her.
In addition to the above net income which was accumulated and added to corpus, there were other amounts of income and principal from 1935 to 1943, inclusive, that were added to the corpus of each of the trusts. Also during this period certain portions of the corpus of the respective trusts were sold and the proceeds reinvested in other assets, so that by the end of 1943 the net corpus of the respective trusts, as shown by the books of the respective trusts, was as follows:
Ethel M. | ||||
Corpus | Tobin and | Katharine | Robert | Robert |
Katharine | Tobin Trust | Batts Tobin | Batts Tobin | |
Tobin Trust | No. 1 | Trust No. 1 | Trust No. 2 | |
Cash | $ 18,970.54 | $ 9,581.15 | $ 6,015.22 | $ 23,065.17 |
Stocks | 40,840.70 | 40,174.91 | 54,241.55 | 104,412.89 |
Bonds | 370.00 | 370.00 | 370.00 | 370.00 |
Real estate | 12,924.14 | |||
Miscellaneous assets | 3,416.36 | 2,902.02 | ||
Total | 60,181.24 | 50,126.06 | 76,967.27 | 130,750.08 |
Less liabilities | None | None | 13,699.99 | None |
Net corpus | 60,181.24 | 50,126.06 | 63,267.28 | 130,750.08 |
Margaret | Ethel | Harriet | ||
Corpus | Edgar Tobin | Batts Tobin | Murphy | Fiquet |
Trust | Trust | Tobin Trust | Batts Trust | |
Cash | $ 4,171.87 | $ 2,479.81 | $ 12,928.32 | $ 7,442.59 |
Stocks | 114,898.40 | 138,919.09 | 83,382.41 | 77,244.57 |
Bonds | 370.00 | 370.00 | 370.00 | 2,070.00 |
Real estate | 66,369.75 | 39,670.01 | 26,745.87 | 39,670.01 |
Miscellaneous assets | 12,933.63 | 5,465.02 | 2,048.67 | 5,465.04 |
Total | 198,743.65 | 186,903.93 | 125,475.27 | 131,892.21 |
Less liabilities | 16,745.87 | 18,745.87 | 8,745.87 | 23,745.87 |
Net corpus | 181,997.78 | 168,158.06 | 116,729.40 | 108,146.34 |
1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*58 The above mentioned liability of the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 was the balance of the note payable to Tobin for the Oakwell farm. The above mentioned liabilities of the last four trusts were the balances of notes payable to Tobin for the 114 Camp Street property.
Tobin, in his will, left his one-half of the community to his two children, share and share alike, and about $ 20,000 of separate property 11 T.C. 928">*942 to his two nieces. He named Margaret Batts Tobin as executrix of his will and, in the event of her death, Hilary Cooper.
After the creation of the Ethel M. Tobin and Katharine Tobin Trust, the Katharine Tobin Trust No. 1, the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1, and the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 2, the respective grantors of these trusts did not remain the owners of the assets transferred to the trusts for the purposes of
On their returns for 1940 and 1941, petitioners reported as a part of their community income $ 305.24 and $ 618.83, respectively, as proceeds from the sale of sheep wool. They deducted as a part of their community deductions for farm expense the amounts of $ 10,614.75 and $ 10,276.80, respectively, which they itemized in their returns as follows:
Item | 1940 | 1941 |
Wages | $ 7,257.97 | $ 6,164.84 |
Repairs and maintenance | 1,040.62 | 281.95 |
Gas, oil and grease | 463.98 | 656.34 |
Food, seed, etc | 558.22 | 322.60 |
Utilities | 622.95 | 589.26 |
Miscellaneous | 66.40 | |
Insurance | 260.56 | 895.65 |
Hardware and small tools | 77.74 | 62.19 |
Supplies | 358.71 | |
Veterinary and medicine | 59.85 | 180.49 |
Hauling | 23.75 | |
Depreciation on tenant house, sheds, and stables | 120.66 | 328.87 |
Depreciation on farm equipment | 152.20 | 345.75 |
Total | 10,614.75 | 10,276.80 |
1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*60 On their returns for 1942 and 1943 petitioners did not report any income or claim any deduction for expenses of the Oakwell farm.
For the year 1943 the Margaret Batts Tobin Trust, the Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust, the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1, and the Edgar Tobin Trust each claimed as a deduction one-fourth of $ 6,518.20 as a loss from the operation of the Oakwell farm.
11 T.C. 928">*943 The respondent, in his determination of the deficiencies, eliminated from income the proceeds from the sale of wool and disallowed the deductions claimed for farm expenses, and, in a statement attached to each deficiency notice, he explained his holdings as follows:
Farm expense is disallowed for the reason that the farming operation was not entered into for profit. but with the idea of establishing a country home.
It is held that the amount of $ 10,309.51 claimed as net farm expense by the community for the taxable year 1940 does not represent an allowable deduction for that year.
It is held that the amount of $ 9,657.97 claimed as net farm expense by the community for the taxable year 1941 does not represent an allowable deduction for that year.
It is held that farm losses claimed by various trusts1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*61 for the taxable year 1943 do not represent allowable deductions from the trust income, which income is held to represent taxable income to the community. Such farm losses are as follows:
Trust | Farm Loss |
Edgar Tobin Trust | $ 1,629.55 |
Margaret Batts Tobin Trust | 1,629.55 |
Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 | 1,629.55 |
Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust | 1,629.55 |
It is held that the amount of $ 1,840.00 claimed as storage and care of equipment on the Oakwell farm by the community for the taxable year 1943 does not represent an allowable deduction for that year.
1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*62
1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | |
(1) Ethel M. Tobin and Katharine | ||||
Tobin Trust | $ 201.73 | $ 591.58 | $ 347.70 | None |
(2) Katharine Tobin Trust No. 1 | 197.31 | 653.07 | 493.30 | $ 371.23 |
(3) Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 | 197.14 | 747.90 | 549.40 | 798.68 |
(4) Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 2 | 448.73 | 1,547.19 | 1,134.55 | 2,715.75 |
(5) Edgar Tobin Trust | 1,363.66 | 3,350.03 | 3,494.03 | 7,870.70 |
(6) Margaret Batts Tobin Trust | 1,250.45 | 3,662.96 | 2,989.42 | 7,042.77 |
(7) Ethel Murphy Tobin Trust | 910.35 | 2,375.08 | 1,745.27 | 5,241.58 |
(8) Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust | 827.13 | 1,945.12 | 1,851.48 | 4,298.25 |
11 T.C. 928">*944 OPINION.
We shall consider the issues in the order previously stated.
It is held that the income of various trusts created by either Edgar G. Tobin or Margaret Batts Tobin, represents taxable income to the community as follows: (Then follows a schedule showing the net income of each of the eight trusts for each of the taxable years 1940 to 1943, inclusive.)
The respondent, in his brief, contends (1) that the income of all eight trusts is taxable to petitioners as community income under
Petitioners contend that the income in question is taxable to the trusts, which returned it and paid the tax thereon as separate taxable entities, and that no part of such income is taxable to petitioners.
We shall first consider whether the net income of the Ethel1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*64 Murphy Tobin Trust and the Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust is taxable to petitioners as community income under
It seems clear that if Margaret Batts Tobin had been the trustor of the Ethel Murphy Tobin Trust and if Tobin had been the trustor of the Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust, the net income of these trusts would be taxable to the trustors under
It remains to be determined whether the income of these two trusts is community income. In view of our holdings above, the income of each trust must be regarded as having been received by the respective life beneficiary of each trust. Under the laws of Texas, such income when received falls into the community.
11 T.C. 928">*946 We next consider whether the net income of the Edgar Tobin Trust and the Margaret Batts Tobin Trust1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*68 is taxable to petitioners as community income under
It seems clear that, for the reasons given in our consideration of the Ethel Murphy Tobin Trust and the Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust, Tobin should be regarded as in substance the trustor of the Edgar Tobin Trust and Margaret Batts Tobin should in substance be regarded as the trustor of the Margaret Batts Tobin Trust, and that the same result as to the taxability of the net income of the two trusts now under consideration should be reached as was obtained under our consideration of the first two trusts. The income of these two trusts is taxable to petitioners under
We now consider whether the net income of the Ethel M. Tobin and Katharine Tobin Trust, the Katharine Tobin Trust No. 1, the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1, and the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 2 is taxable to petitioners as community income under
1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*71 The issue under the
* * * the short duration of the trust, the fact that the wife was the beneficiary, and the retention of control over the corpus by respondent all lead irresistibly to the conclusion that respondent continued to be the owner for purposes of
* * * *
The bundle of rights which he retained was so substantial that respondent cannot be heard to complain that he is the "victim of despotic power when for the purpose of taxation he is treated as owner altogether." * * *
In the instant proceedings none of the four trusts now being considered were short term trusts. They were all for long terms and were irrevocable. Tobin was the grantor in three of the trusts and his wife, Margaret Batts Tobin, was the grantor in the Robert Batts Tobin1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*72 Trust No. 2. In no case would any of the trust property ever revert to the grantor or be used for his benefit in any way. In each trust a bank was named as the trustee and a committee of three persons, which was called the advisory committee, was appointed to assist the trustee in the management of the trust property. In no case did the grantor retain for himself or herself alone any of the powers of management enjoyed by Clifford in the Clifford trust. These powers were vested in the advisory committees, of which Tobin and his wife were members, in all four trusts. Originally Aldredge, who was the brother-in-law of Margaret Batts Tobin, was the third member of the committee. He resigned on June 17, 1940, and was succeeded in the first two trusts by Edith W. Harrison, who was the maternal grandmother of Katharine Tobin, and in the second two trusts by Georgia C. McNemer, who was a personal friend of Margaret Batts Tobin.
11 T.C. 928">*948 Although Tobin was the grantor in the first three trusts and Margaret Batts Tobin was the grantor in the fourth trust, the respondent has in his argument in effect treated each trust as if both petitioners were the grantors of each trust. From this1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*73 he argues that, since both petitioners were members of each of the respective advisory committees, they, as grantors of each trust, retained a sufficient control over the trust property and its distribution among the beneficiaries as would make them continue to be the owners for purposes of
As we analyze the facts and circumstances attendant the creation and operation of the four trusts now under consideration, it seems to us that the analysis narrows down to whether the fact that the grantor of each trust was also
We do not think it would serve any useful purpose to discuss the many cases cited by the parties in their briefs, for the Supreme Court in the
1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*76
The same regulations (sec. 19.23 (e)-5, Regulations 103, and sec. 29.23 (e)-5, Regulations 111) also provide:
Tobin on his returns stated "Aerial Maps" as his principal occupation or profession. A person may have, and frequently does have, more than one business. The evidence as to the operation of this farm during the taxable years which we have before us is very meager. If it was being operated as a livestock farm, we have no information as to how many head of livestock were there or what was being done with them. On their income tax returns for 1940 and 1941, petitioners reported as a part of their community income $ 305.24 and $ 618.83, respectively, as the proceeds from the sale of sheep wool. These amounts the Commissioner has taken out of income in his determination of the deficiencies. That is all the information we have as to the cash receipts from this farm during the taxable years. In the instant proceedings the evidence fails to convince1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*79 us that Tobin or the trusts were operating the farm for profit or that they were carrying on the business of farming within the meaning of the Treasury regulations. In
It is admitted that the expenditures for which petitioner sought deduction were incurred in the maintenance and operation of the Valley Ridge property, but petitioner's obstacle is that it failed to establish before the Board the essential facts: (1) That it carried on farming operations thereon for gain; and (2) that the expenses incurred were both ordinary and necessary in transacting a farming business. * * * We think it is fair to assume that, if plaintiff had devoted the land to agriculture for expected profit, it could and would have shown the fact by pertinent evidence. It failed in this vital particular.
Cf.
Net income | Capital gain | |
Edgar Tobin Trust | $ 19,442.61 | $ 2,493.42 |
Margaret Batts Tobin Trust | 17,055.32 | 3,381.34 |
Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 | 4,061.20 | 1,263.34 |
Harriet Fiquet Batts Trust | 12,021.04 | 3,022.83 |
Total | 52,580.17 | 10,160.93 |
1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*81 By thus including the $ 52,580.17 in petitioners' community income, the respondent has, of course, added back to petitioners' community income the $ 1,840 which petitioners deducted on their returns and which the respondent did not disturb, as such. In his brief on this point the respondent argues as follows:
The Commissioner has shown that the income of the respective trusts is taxable to the community under
Under issue 1 we have held that the income of Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 was not taxable to petitioners, but that the income of the other three trusts was taxable to petitioners. In the recomputation under Rule 50 the present issue will adjust itself by excluding from petitioners' community income as determined by the respondent the1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 24">*82 net income and capital gain of the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 in the respective amounts of $ 4,061.20 and $ 1,263.34. The effect of this will be that petitioners will have the benefit as a community deduction of that part of $ 1,840 (apparently $ 460) which they paid to the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 for storage of the equipment, and this is all they are entitled to under our holding that the incomes of the other three trusts are taxable to them.
We do not understand the respondent to contend that the $ 1,840 would not be allowable as an ordinary and necessary expense of Tobin's business if the respondent had recognized the trusts to which the amount was paid as valid trusts for income tax purposes. In order, however, that there be no doubt as to this point, we hold that the portion of the $ 1,840 (apparently $ 460) paid to the Robert Batts Tobin Trust No. 1 for storage of the equipment in question is allowable to petitioners as an ordinary and necessary business expense under
1.
(a) Where any part of the income of a trust --
* * * *
(2) may, in the discretion of the grantor or of any person not having a substantial adverse interest in the disposition of such part of the income, be distributed to the grantor; * * *
* * * *
then such part of the income of the trust shall be included in computing the net income of the grantor.
(b) As used in this section the term "in the discretion of the grantor" means "in the discretion of the grantor, either alone or in conjunction with any person not having a substantial adverse interest in the disposition of the part of the income in question."↩
2.
(a) General Definition. -- "Gross income" includes gains, profits, and income derived from salaries, wages, or compensation for personal services * * * 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. * * *↩
3.