1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*35
In 1968, two trusts sold shares of common stock for 5 1/2-percent convertible subordinate debentures of the purchaser-corporation. The trusts properly elected to report the resulting gains on the installment method under
73 T.C. 118">*119 Respondent determined the following deficiencies in the Federal income tax of two trusts:
*2*Ernestine M. Carmichael Trust No. 21-35 | |
1972 | $ 54,388.83 |
1973 | 329.97 |
*2*Irrevocable Living Trust Created by Ella L. Morris | |
*2*for Ernestine M. Carmichael No. 21-32 | |
1972 | $ 1,041.36 |
The sole issue for decision is whether the long-term capital gain reported by each trust on its tax return for taxable year 1972 qualifies as "subsection (d) gain" within the meaning of
FINDINGS OF FACT
The facts have been fully stipulated pursuant to
Petitioners are Marshall County Bank & Trust Co., the trustee of the Ernestine M. Carmichael Trust No. 21-35, and Bremen State Bank, the trustee of the Irrevocable Living Trust created by Ella L. Morris for Ernestine M. Carmichael No. 21-32. At the time the petitioners filed their joint petition in this case, Marshall County Bank & Trust Co. and Bremen State Bank had their principal offices at 315 North Michigan Street, Plymouth, Ind., and 104 West Plymouth, Bremen, Ind., respectively. Petitioners timely filed separate Federal fiduciary income tax returns (Forms 1041) for each trust for calendar year 1972 with 73 T.C. 118">*120 the District Director, Internal Revenue Service, in Memphis, Tenn.
In July 1968, the Ernestine M. Carmichael Trust No. 1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*40 21-35 (hereinafter Trust No. 35) and the Irrevocable Living Trust created by Ella L. Morris for Ernestine M. Carmichael No. 21-32 (hereinafter Trust No. 32) transferred shares of Associated Investment Co. common stock owned by them in exchange for Gulf & Western Industries, Inc., 5 1/2-percent convertible subordinate debentures. Such exchanges were taxable transactions from which Trust No. 35 realized long-term capital gains of $ 8,020,870.79 and Trust No. 32 realized long-term capital gains of $ 692,476.02. Each trust properly elected to report its gain under the installment method pursuant to
In 1972, each trust sold some of its Gulf & Western installment obligations on the open market. As a result of these sales, petitioners reported a $ 727,673.83 long-term capital gain for Trust No. 35 and a $ 150,648.29 long-term capital gain for Trust No. 32 on the Forms 1041 filed for taxable year 1972. Petitioners1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*41 calculated the alternative tax under
OPINION
The issue presented for our decision is whether long-term capital gain reported by two trusts following sales in 1972 of corporate debentures they had received in a 1968 "installment sale" of stock qualifies as "subsection (d) gain," as defined by
Prior to modification by the Tax Reform Act of 1969, Pub. L. 91-172, 83 Stat. 487, 635, the alternative tax, where applicable, 73 T.C. 118">*121 taxed all long-term capital gains of noncorporate taxpayers at the rate of 25 percent. In order to remedy the perceived dilution of the progressive tax rate structure caused by the flat-rate alternative tax, 3Congress1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*42 enacted section 511(b) of the Tax Reform Act of 1969, 83 Stat. 635, which increased the rates at which some capital gains were to be taxed. Applicable to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1969 (sec. 511(c), 83 Stat. 638), the new provisions basically retained the 25-percent rate only with respect to the first $ 50,000 of a noncorporate taxpayer's long-term capital gain. However, Congress specifically provided that certain long-term capital gains which arose from pre-October 9, 1969, transactions would continue to be taxed at the 25-percent rate, even if they exceeded $ 50,000. This tax regime was effected, in general, by the retention of the 25-percent rate of tax on "subsection (d) gain," statutorily defined by subsection 1201(d) 4 as follows:
(d) Subsection (D) Gain Defined. -- For purposes of this section, the term "subsection (d) gain" means the sum of long-term capital gains for the taxable year arising -- (1) in the case of amounts received before January 1, 1975, from sales or other dispositions pursuant to binding contracts (other than any gain from a transaction described in (2) in respect of distributions from a corporation made prior to October 10, 1970, which are pursuant to a plan of complete liquidation adopted on or before October 9, 1969, and (3) in the case of a taxpayer other than a corporation, from any other source, but the amount taken into account from such other sources for the purpose of this paragraph shall be limited to an amount equal to the excess (if any) of $ 50,000 ($ 25,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return) over the sum of the gains to which paragraphs (1) and (2) apply.
1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*44 Trust No. 35 and Trust No. 32 reported as components of their long-term capital gains for taxable year 1972, gains of $ 727,673.83 and $ 150,648.29, respectively, from sales during 1972 of Gulf & Western installment obligations they received as part of the consideration in a 1968 sale of stock. Since these gains 73 T.C. 118">*122 were properly reported after 1969, the gain in excess of $ 50,000 per trust 5 is subject to the higher rate of tax unless it qualifies as "subsection (d) gain."
Petitioners contend that the gain reported for taxable year 1972 from the disposition of the Gulf & Western installment obligations satisfies the requirements for "subsection (d) gain" status because, by virtue of
This appears to be a case of first impression. The parties have presented both cogent technical arguments and arguments founded on congressional intent in support of their respective positions. While the matter is not completely free from doubt, we believe that petitioners properly calculated the alternative tax for 1972 by treating the entire1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*46 gain from the sales of the Gulf & Western installment obligations as "subsection (d) gain."
Respondent contends that the gain reported by the trusts from the 1972 sales of the Gulf & Western installment obligations does not qualify as "subsection (d) gain" as that term is defined in
Respondent's contention appears to be based on an erroneous 73 T.C. 118">*123 construction of
* * * long-term capital gains for the taxable year arising:
(1) in the case of amounts received before January 1, 1975, from sales or other dispositions pursuant to binding contracts1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*47 * * * entered into on or before October 9, 1969. * * *
The phrase "pursuant to binding contracts" modifies the words "sales or other dispositions," not, as respondent posits, the words "amounts received." Consequently, the fact that the trusts did not receive the contested amounts "pursuant to" pre-October 10, 1969, binding contracts is immaterial so long as the gain arose from a sale completed prior to that date.
Respondent also contends that the gain does not qualify as "subsection (d) gain" because it was not returned "on the basis and in the manner" prescribed by
1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*48 Petitioners, on the other hand, argue that
We agree with petitioners that the language of
Both parties speculate about the absence of any reference to
Respondent points out that in 1969, Congress enacted1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*50
1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*51 The most we can say about the absence of any mention of
The Senate Committee on Finance substantially modified the 73 T.C. 118">*126 House provision. The Senate provision introduced the concept of "subsection (d) gain." 9The committee report accompanying the Senate proposals explains1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*52 the concept in part as a transitional rule which exempts from the general repeal of the alternative tax "sales or dispositions under binding contracts that were in effect on October 9, 1969," even though the sales were consummated after that date and "installment sale payments received after the effective date of the change on sales on or before October 9, 1969, or pursuant to binding contracts in effect on that date." S. Rept. 91-552 (1969),
Subsection (d) contains new provisions of law to prevent evasion of taxes in connection with the transmission of installment obligations upon death, their distribution by way of liquidating or other dividends, or their disposition by way of gift, or in connection with similar transactions. The situations above specified ordinarily do not give rise to gain and yet at the same time it is urged that they permit the recipient to obtain a greatly increased basis in his hands for the property received, except in the case of gifts. It therefore seems desirable to clarify the matter. The installment basis accords the taxpayer the privilege of deferring the reporting at the time of sale of the gain realized, until such time as the deferred cash payments are made. To prevent the evasion the subsection terminates the privilege of longer deferring
Whether or not the gain or loss realized under the section is recognized for tax purposes, depends upon general principles of law embodied in the income 73 T.C. 118">*128 tax provisions, the exchange of installment obligations in connection with tax-free exchanges, for instance, being cared for by section 112.
[Emphasis added.]
1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*57 Section 44(d), Revenue Act of 1934, ch. 277, 48 Stat. (Part 1) 680, 695, 11 carried over substantially the same language as that of section 44(d) of the 1928 Act, with the following pertinent addition:1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*58
Any gain or loss so resulting [from the disposition of an installment obligation] shall be considered as resulting from the sale or exchange of the property in respect of which the installment obligation was received.
This language has been preserved, unchanged, in the flush language of
Although respondent states that "the purpose of
Applying these principles to the facts of this case, it is apparent that the gain "resulting" from the sales of the Gulf & Western installment obligations was the gain that had been realized upon the sales of the Associated Investment Co. stock. The stock sales occurred in 1968. Accordingly, the gain from the sales of the Gulf & Western installment obligations was gain "arising * * * from sales * * * entered into on or before October 9, 1969," and, therefore, qualifies as "subsection (d) gain."
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended and in effect for the taxable year 1972. In 1969, subject to certain transitional rules, Congress eliminated the alternative tax on capital gains in excess of $ 50,000 in any tax year. The alternative tax imposed a flat rate of 25 percent on a long-term capital gain and was more advantageous to an individual in a tax bracket above 50 percent than the standard method of simply deducting one-half of the gain. However, "subsection (d) gain," provided for in
2. Petitioners have not alleged any error with respect to the deficiency asserted against the Ernestine M. Carmichael Trust No. 21-35 for taxable year 1973.↩
3. H. Rept. 91-413 (Part 1) (1969),
4. Sec. 1901(a)(135)(C)(i), Tax Reform Act of 1976, 90 Stat. 1787, amended
5. The notices of deficiency show that respondent has allowed $ 50,000 of each trust's gain to be treated as "subsection (d) gain" under
6.
7.
(d) Gain or Loss on Disposition of Installment Obligations. -- (1) General rule. -- If an installment obligation is satisfied at other than its face value or distributed, transmitted, sold, or otherwise disposed of, gain or loss shall result to the extent of the difference between the basis of the obligation and -- (A) the amount realized, the case of satisfaction at other than face value or a sale or exchange, or (B) the fair market value of the obligation at the time of distribution, transmission, or disposition, in the case of the distribution, transmission, or disposition otherwise than by sale or exchange. Any gain or loss so resulting shall be considered as resulting from the sale or exchange of the property in respect of which the installment obligation was received.↩
8.
(b) Sales of Realty and Casual Sales of Personalty. -- (1) General rule. -- Income from -- (A) a sale or other disposition of real property, or (B) a casual sale or other casual disposition of personal property (other than property of a kind which would properly be included in the inventory of the taxpayer if on hand at the close of the taxable year) for a price exceeding $ 1,000, may (under regulations prescribed by the Secretary) be returned on the basis and in the manner prescribed in subsection (a). (2) Limitation. -- Paragraph (1) shall apply only if in the taxable year of the sale or other disposition -- (A) there are no payments, or (B) the payments (exclusive of evidences of indebtedness of the purchaser) do not exceed 30 percent of the selling price. (3) Purchaser evidences of indebtedness payable on demand or readily tradable. -- In applying this subsection, a bond or other evidence of indebtedness which is payable on demand, or which is issued by a corporation or a government or political subdivision thereof (A) with interest coupons attached or in registered form (other than one in registered form which the taxpayer establishes will not be readily tradable in an established securities market), or (B) in any other form designed to render such bond or other evidence of indebtedness readily tradable in an established securities market, shall not be treated as an evidence of indebtedness of the purchaser.
9. The Senate revision to H.R 13270, 91st Cong., 1st Sess. (1969), defined "subsection (d) gain" in pertinent part as follows:
(d) Subsection (D) Gain Defined. -- For purposes of this section, the term "subsection (d) gain" means the sum of the long-term capital gains for the taxable year arising -- (1) from sales or other dispositions pursuant to binding contracts (other than any gain from a transaction described in
10. Sec. 44(d), Revenue Act of 1928, provided:
(d) Gain or Loss Upon Disposition of Installment Obligations. -- If an installment obligation is satisfied at other than its face value or distributed, transmitted, sold, or otherwise disposed of, gain or loss shall result to the extent of the difference between the basis of the obligation and (1) in the case of satisfaction at other than face value or a sale or exchange -- the amount realized, or (2) in case of a distribution, transmission, or disposition otherwise than by sale or exchange -- the fair market value of the obligation at the time of such distribution, transmission, or disposition. The basis of the obligation shall be the excess of the face value of the obligation over an amount equal to the income which would be returnable were the obligation satisfied in full.↩
11. Sec. 44(d), Revenue Act of 1934, provided:
(d) Gain or Loss Upon Disposition of Installment Obligations. -- If an installment obligation is satisfied at other than its face value or distributed, transmitted, sold, or otherwise disposed of, gain or loss shall result to the extent of the difference between the basis of the obligation and (1) in the case of satisfaction at other than face value or a sale or exchange -- the amount realized, or (2) in case of a distribution, transmission, or disposition otherwise than by sale or exchange -- the fair market value of the obligation at the time of such distribution, transmission, or disposition. Any gain or loss so resulting shall be considered as resulting from the sale or exchange of the property in respect of which the installment obligation was received. The basis of the obligation shall be the excess of the face value of the obligation over an amount equal to the income which would be returnable were the obligation satisfied in full. This subsection shall not apply to the transmission at death of installment obligations if there is filed with the Commissioner, at such time as he may by regulation prescribe, a bond in such amount and with such sureties as he may deem necessary, conditioned upon the return as income, by the person receiving any payment on such obligations, of the same proportion of such payment as would be returnable as income by the decedent if he had lived and had received such payment.↩
12.
(d) Gain or Loss on Disposition of Installment Obligations. -- (1) General rule. -- If an installment obligation is satisfied at other than its face value or distributed, transmitted, sold, or otherwise disposed of, gain or loss shall result to the extent of the difference between the basis of the obligation and -- (A) the amount realized, in the case of satisfaction at other than face value or a sale or exchange, or (B) the fair market value of the obligation at the time of distribution, transmission, or disposition, in the case of the distribution, transmission, or disposition otherwise than by sale or exchange. Any gain or loss so resulting shall be considered as resulting from the sale or exchange of the property in respect of which the installment obligation was received. (2) Basis of obligation. -- The basis of an installment obligation shall be the excess of the face value of the obligation over an amount equal to the income which would be returnable were the obligation satisfied in full.↩
13. As one commentator has written:
"The statute
14. See sec. 1.453-9(b)(3), example