37 T.C. 1013">*1014 OPINION.

The Commissioner determined an overassessment of $ 171.17 for the taxable year ended December 31, 1953, and a deficiency of $ 471,029.11 for the period1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*184 January 1, 1954, to November 30, 1954.

The sole question is whether the gain from the sale of certain property by J. C. Penney Building and Realty Corporation is to be recognized in view of its election to have section 392(b) of the 1954 Code apply.

All of the facts have been stipulated and are hereby found as stipulated.

The petitioner, J. C. Penney Company (hereinafter sometimes referred to as J. C. Penney), is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal offices at 330 W. 34th Street, New York City, New York.

J. C. Penney Building and Realty Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Penney Building and Realty) was organized January 13, 1925, under the laws of the State of New York. Penney Building and Realty filed a Federal income tax return for the taxable period January 1, 1954, to November 30, 1954, with the district director of internal revenue for the Lower Manhattan District of New York. From the date of its incorporation to the date of its dissolution, Penney Building and Realty was a wholly owned subsidiary of J. C. Penney.

On February 2, 1954, Penney Building and Realty entered into a contract with Sommer Bros. Construction1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*185 Co., Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Sommer Bros.), for the sale of its property located at 45 W. 18th Street, New York City, New York. The contract was assigned by Sommer Bros. to Eleanor Estates, Inc., which acquired title to the property by transfer of deed from Penney Building and Realty on August 3, 1954. The gross sales price of the property was $ 3,304,555, and the expenses of the sale were $ 52,242. The adjusted cost basis of the property at the date of the sale was $ 1,443,680.95.

On November 24, 1954, the board of directors of J. C. Penney adopted a plan for the complete liquidation of Penney Building and Realty. This plan of complete liquidation was adopted by Penney Building and Realty on November 24, 1954, pursuant to a resolution of its board of directors. On November 30, 1954, all the assets of Penney Building and Realty were distributed in complete liquidation to the petitioner. The distribution by Penney Building and Realty of its assets was made in exchange for the complete cancellation or redemption of all of its stock and in satisfaction of all its indebtedness 37 T.C. 1013">*1015 to petitioner. Penney Building and Realty was dissolved on December 9, 1954.

In its1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*186 Federal income tax return filed on February 10, 1955, for the taxable period January 1, 1954, to November 30, 1954, an election was made by Penney Building and Realty to have section 392(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 apply to the aforesaid sale of property consummated on August 3, 1954.

On May 9, 1958, a statutory notice of deficiency was mailed to petitioner advising it that the election made by Penney Building and Realty under section 392(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 was inapplicable to the sale of the property on August 3, 1954; that Penney Building and Realty realized a taxable gain in the amount of $ 1,808,632.05 on the sale; that the income tax liability of Penney Building and Realty disclosed an overassessment of $ 171.17 for the taxable year ended December 31, 1953, and a deficiency in income tax in the amount of $ 471,029.11 for the taxable period January 1, 1954, to November 30, 1954; and that the petitioner as transferee of the assets of Penney Building and Realty was liable for payment of the deficiency, plus interest. Petitioner concedes that if it is held that section 392(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 is not applicable to the sale of property1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*187 on August 3, 1954, that Penney Building and Realty realized a taxable gain in the amount of $ 1,808,632.05 on the sale; that the deficiency in income tax of $ 471,029.11 determined by respondent to be due from Penney Building and Realty for the taxable period January 1, 1954, to November 30, 1954, is correct; and that the petitioner, J. C. Penney, is liable for payment of the deficiency in income tax, plus interest, as transferee of the assets of Penney Building and Realty.

The petitioner contends that there can be no question as to the nontaxability of the proceeds received by Penney Building and Realty as a result of the sale of its property. Petitioner argues that all the requirements of section 392(b)(1)¹1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*189 were satisfied; namely, the sale occurred in 1954, all the assets of the company were distributed before January 1, 1955, in complete liquidation of the corporation, and the corporation elected to have the nonrecognition provisions of section 392(b)(1) apply. Petitioner also contends that the provision of section 37 T.C. 1013">*1016 392(b)(2)(B), ² namely, the limitation of section 337(c)(2)(A), ³ is not applicable. Petitioner points out that the sale occurred before the plan1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*188 of complete liquidation was adopted. Petitioner contends that the limitation of section 337(c)(2)(A) only applies if there is a liquidation to which section 332 applies, the basis of the property in the hands of the distributee is determined under section 334(b)(1), and the sale or exchange occurred following the adoption of the plan of complete liquidation. Petitioner contends that the language of the statute is clear and unambiguous. Petitioner also relies on Diversified Services, Inc. v. United States, 192 F. Supp. 571">192 F. Supp. 571 (S.D. Fla. 1961), on appeal (C.A. 5).

Respondent contends that petitioner's position is inconsistent with the legislative1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*190 intent implicit in sections 337 and 392. It is respondent's position that since no plan of liquidation is required by section 392(b)(1), the introductory language of section 337(c)(2)(A) ("In the case of a sale or exchange following the adoption of a plan of complete liquidation") is necessarily surplusage and should be disregarded where the limitation is considered in connection with an election under section 392(b).

We agree with respondent's determination that the gain from the sale in question should be recognized. From the legislative history of section 337 and section 392 and the interrelation of those sections with sections 332, 333, 334, and 341, it is clear that the interpretation contended for by petitioner is contrary to the intent of Congress.

Petitioner's contention that section 392 is clear and unambiguous is evidently aimed at preventing the Court from looking to the legislative history of that section and those related to it. Petitioner's argument is without merit. Section 392(b)(2) provides that the limitations of 337(c) are applicable to section 392(b)(1). Since a plan 37 T.C. 1013">*1017 of complete liquidation is not required in order to come within the ambit of section1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*191 392(b)(1) but section 337(c)(2)(A) speaks in terms of the existence of such a plan, the ambiguity of the sections when considered together, becomes apparent. It is well settled that resort may be had to legislative history where a statute is ambiguous. Furthermore, it is now established beyond successful challenge that a court may seek out any reliable evidence as to legislative purpose regardless of whether the statutory language appears to be clear. See Max Carasso, 34 T.C. 1139">34 T.C. 1139, 34 T.C. 1139">1142 (1960), affd. 292 F.2d 367 (C.A. 2, 1961); United States v. Amer. Trucking Ass'ns, 310 U.S. 534">310 U.S. 534, 310 U.S. 534">543-544 (1940).

In the interpretation of statutes, the function of the courts is easily stated. It is to construe the language so as to give effect to the intent of Congress. ⁴ There is no invariable rule for the discovery of that intention. 1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*192 We may look to the reason for the enactment and inquire into its antecedent history and give it effect in accordance with its design and purpose, sacrificing, if necessary, the literal meaning in order that the purpose may not fail. ⁵

Since section 392 and section 337 must be construed together and, as will be shown below, section 392(b) was based on the provisions of section 337, we must start with an analysis of the latter section.

Prior to the 1954 Code, it was necessary to determine whether a corporation in the process of complete liquidation made a sale of assets or whether the shareholders receiving the assets made the sale. This determination was important because a sale by the shareholders subsequent to a distribution of property in complete liquidation of a corporation resulted in a single tax -- at the shareholder level. ⁶1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*194 However, 37 T.C. 1013">*1018 where the shareholders did not in fact effect the sale, a tax was imposed at both the corporate and shareholder levels. ⁷ Accordingly, under prior law, the tax consequences arising from sales made in the course 1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*193 of a corporate liquidation depended primarily upon the formal manner in which the transactions were arranged. The possibility that double taxation could occur in such cases created a trap for the unwary. ⁸Section 337 of the 1954 Code was intended to provide a definitive rule which would eliminate these uncertainties. ⁹

Had1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*195 section 337(a)¹⁰1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*196 been applicable to every situation falling within its terms, it is apparent that it would have nullified certain provisions of the Code (sec. 341) or, if used in conjunction with other sections (sec. 332 or sec. 333), it could have led to complete avoidance of all income tax. By limiting the applicability of section 337(a), through section 337(c), Congress expressed an intent to avoid these results. It is equally clear that section 337(c) was intended to limit the applicability of section 337(a) to situations which would achieve its avowed purpose. ¹¹ From the following discussion of the limitations of section 337(c), this congressional intent becomes evident.

Section 337(c)(1)(A) provides that section 337 is not applicable to a sale or exchange by a collapsible corporation (as defined in section 341(b)). Prior to 1950, collapsible corporations were availed of in 37 T.C. 1013">*1019 an attempt to convert ordinary income into long-term capital gain. By section 117(m) of the 1939 Code (the predecessor of section 341 of the 1954 Code), Congress sought to obviate this result. ¹² If section 337 were applicable to collapsible corporations, the provisions of section 341 would be nullified. A corporation could sell its assets, avoiding the recognition of gain under section 337, while the shareholders would escape section 341(a) because the corporation would have realized (though without recognizing) its gain, and hence would not be a collapsible corporation under section 341(b).

1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*197 Section 337(c)(1)(B) provides that section 337 does not apply to a sale or exchange by a liquidating corporation if section 333 is availed of. The reason for this limitation is not entirely clear, but presumably this was done so that tax will not be avoided at both the corporate and shareholder levels by use of section 337 and section 333 in combination. ¹³

Section 337(c)(2)(A), the limitation which is in controversy here, provides that "In the case of a sale or exchange following the adoption of a plan of complete liquidation, if section 332 ¹⁴1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*199 applies with respect to such liquidation, then * 1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*198 * * if the basis of the property of 37 T.C. 1013">*1020 the * * * distributee is determined under section 334(b)(1), ¹⁵ this section [337] shall not apply * * *." Section 337(c)(2)(B), ¹⁶1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*200 however, provides for a limited application of section 337 where the basis of the property in the hands of the parent is determined by section 334(b)(2). ¹⁷

1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*201 Section 332 had its origin in the Revenue Act of 1935. ¹⁸ Prior to 1935, the liquidation of a subsidiary corporation was a transaction in 37 T.C. 1013">*1021 which gain or loss was recognized just as in other liquidations. ¹⁹ This general rule was followed even where the subsidiary was merged into its parent under a State merger statute. 1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*202 ²⁰ In order to encourage the simplification of corporate structures and allow the tax-free liquidation of a subsidiary, section 112(b)(6) of the Revenue Act of 1935 was passed. ²¹

1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*203 Thus, prior to 1954, by virtue of section 112(b)(6) of the 1939 Code, a wholly owned subsidiary and parent were not faced with the same problem ²² that confronted other corporations and their shareholders. To illustrate this, assume that a subsidiary had negotiated to sell all of its assets, but in fact the transaction was finally consummated by the parent (shareholder). If there were a determination that the subsidiary made the sale, only one tax would be imposed -- on the subsidiary. However, if there were a determination that the parent made the sale, again, only one tax would be imposed -- on the parent. The reason for the single tax is that no gain or loss is recognized on the complete liquidation of a subsidiary. ²³

1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*204 The intent of Congress in enacting section 337 was to eliminate a situation which could lead to double taxation or not, merely because of 37 T.C. 1013">*1022 the formal manner in which the transaction was carried out. Since there was no possibility of double taxation, with regard to a parent and wholly owned subsidiary, it seems clear that Congress intended to leave the tax consequences resulting from the liquidation of a subsidiary in statu quo. That is, if the subsidiary sold its assets, it would be taxed on the realization of gain or loss or, if the property was distributed to the parent, recognition of gain or loss would be deferred until the parent sold or exchanged the property. Further evidence of this congressional intent is shown by the addition of section 337(d)²⁴ to the 1954 Code by the Technical Amendments Act of 1958. In explaining the necessity for this amendment, the Senate Finance Committee stated at page 30:

Section 337 of the 1954 Code, however, was not made applicable to sales or exchanges of property by a corporation where the corporation is owned 80 percent by another corporation and where the liquidation is tax free to the majority shareholder with a carryover to1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*205 the parent corporation of the subsidiary's basis for its assets (sec. 337(c)(2)(A)). Section 337 was apparently made inapplicable to this situation because there is no tax imposed upon the majority shareholder on the liquidation so that, as to the majority shareholder, there is no possibility of the imposition of two taxes with respect to a sale of property by the liquidating corporation. However, if there are any minority shareholders in the case of the liquidation of such a subsidiary, those shareholders will be required to pay a tax if the amount received by them on liquidation exceeds their stock basis. Accordingly, if the subsidiary corporation sells its property before the liquidation, a corporate tax will be payable by the subsidiary, and, in addition, the minority shareholders will be taxed when their share of the proceeds of the sale are distributed to them in complete liquidation. Your committee believes that it is neither necessary nor desirable to deprive minority shareholders in this situation of the benefits of section 337.

The amendment made by section 21 would add a new rule to section 337 applicable only to minority shareholders. The general effect of1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*206 this rule is to reduce the tax payable by the minority shareholders on the liquidation. * * * The new rule is for the sole purpose of insuring that the minority shareholders will be placed in the same position, after taxes, as if there had been no majority corporate shareholder and the subsidiary corporation had been able to utilize section 337. [S. Rept. No. 1983, to accompany H.R. 8381 (Pub. L. 85-866), 85th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 30 (1958).]

[Emphasis supplied.]

1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*207 37 T.C. 1013">*1023 From the history of section 337 and the interrelation of that section with sections 332, 333, 334, and 341, it is apparent that the concern of Congress was to avoid double taxation and not to provide for complete nonrecognition of gain or to change the results called for by the aforementioned sections of the Code. It is equally clear that under section 337 the gain on the sale in question would have been recognized. ²⁵ The question now is whether section 392(b) was intended to provide a different result.

As section 392²⁶ emerged from1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*208 the Senate Finance Committee, its only provisions were that:

Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, part II shall apply with respect to a plan of liquidation only if the first distribution in pursuance of such plan occurs on or after June 18, 1954. ²⁷ Section 341 shall apply only with respect to sales, exchanges, and distributions on or after June 18, 1954. ²⁸

At this point, section 337 would have been applicable for only part of 1954. Subsequently, as the 1954 Code was being considered by the Senate, Senator Capehart introduced section 392(b)²⁹1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*210 as an amendment to section 392. This amendment was accepted without further hearings or debate. ³⁰ The following excerpt from the Congressional Record ³¹ is the only explanation given for the amendment:

Mr. CAPEHART. Mr. President, the purpose of the amendment is to make the liquidation rules of H.R. 8300 applicable to distributions in liquidation which occur in 1954. In particular, it is intended to have section 337, relating to sales 37 T.C. 1013">*1024 made by corporations in process of liquidation, apply to such distributions. Section 337 eliminates differences which can occur where a liquidating corporation itself1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*209 sells an asset and distributes the proceeds of sale as opposed to the case where the asset is first distributed in kind to the shareholder and then sold by him. In the first case, that is, the sale by the corporation, there is one tax at the corporation level and another tax at the shareholder level. Section 337 eliminates difficult fact determinations as to whether a sale is made by a corporation or a shareholder in such cases. It provides that there shall be only one tax in any event. [Emphasis supplied.]

Section 392 was again amended when the conference committee added section 392(b)(3). ³² The conference committee, at page 36, gave the following explanation of the amendment:

The second change is contained in an amendment to section 392(b) and would add a new paragraph (3) thereto. Under this amendment, a corporation which adopts a plan of liquidation after December 31, 1953, and before June 22, 1954, and which elects the nonrecognition of gain or loss for sales or exchanges of property provided by section 392(b), may make a supplemental election as to the period for nonrecognition. If the supplemental election is not made, the period for nonrecognition will be the calendar year 1954. However, if the supplemental election is made, the period for nonrecognition will be the 12-month period beginning on the date of the adoption of the plan of complete liquidation, and that period will also be the period within which all distributions pursuant to the plan of liquidation must be made. [H. Rept. No. 2543, 83d1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*211 Cong., 2d Sess., p. 36 (1954).]

1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*212 Section 392(b)(1) and (2) provides the same general rules as section 337, with two exceptions. ³³ First, under section 392(b)(1) no plan of complete liquidation is required and secondly, the liquidation must have been completed by January 1, 1955.

The history of section 392 makes it clear that its sole purpose was to make the liquidation rules of section 337 applicable for the entire 37 T.C. 1013">*1025 year 1954. Thus, its purpose1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*213 was to broaden the period of coverage and not to broaden the scope of coverage.

In section 392(b)(2)(B)Congress specifically said, "the limitations of section 337(c) shall apply." (Emphasis supplied.) Section 337(c) was intended to limit the applicability of section 337(a) and section 392(b)(1) and should be construed to achieve that result. ³⁴ By section 337(c), Congress specifically excluded certain transactions from the nonrecognition provisions of section 337. It would have been a drastic change of the entire pattern of congressional purpose to allow these transactions to be accorded nonrecognition under section 392(b)(1). To think that such a change was intended or made without further hearings or debate is untenable, the more so when it is realized that this change would have been applicable only in the year 1954 and depended on when or if a useless act (adoption of a plan of complete liquidation) was performed. If the liquidation was one to which section 332 applied, there was no intention that section 337(c) produce a different result whether section 337, section 392(b)(1), or section 392(b)(3) was availed of. This conclusion is further borne out by 1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*214 the following excerpt from the Conference Committee Report, at page 37, where it is stated that:

Section 392(b)(2)(B) provides that the special rule for sales or exchanges by a corporation being liquidated which is contained in section 392(b)will not be available if the limitations of section 337(c) apply (that is, among other limitations, if the liquidation is one to which sec. 112(b)(6) of the 1939 Code applies, or if the liquidation is one to which sec. 332 of the 1954 Code applies). The limitation of section 392(b)(2)(B) will, of course, apply whether or not the taxpayer, under section 392(b)(3), elects the optional 12-month period. [Emphasis supplied.]

1962 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 181">*215 After having considered the history of sections 337 and 392 and their interrelations with sections 341, 333, 332, and 334, we are convinced that to follow petitioner's interpretation of the Code would lead to a result that is unreasonable and plainly at variance with the intention of the legislation as a whole.

Petitioner relies on 192 F. Supp. 571">Diversified Services, Inc. v. United States, supra, in which the United States District Court held, on facts substantially similar to those in this case, that the gain on the sale should not be recognized. While we have carefully considered the opinion in that case, we do not find its reasoning persuasive.

Decision will be entered for the respondent.