1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*67
1. P created T, a trust, for the purpose of developing and selling certain real estate for profit. P was one of three trustees, but he held all the shares of beneficial ownership of T. Under the terms of the trust indenture, T was to continue until 20 years after the death of the original trustees unless terminated sooner by a majority vote of them. The trustees had broad powers to conduct the affairs of T, each having the individual authority to bind T in all matters relating to the trust property. The trust indenture also provided that the liability of the trustees and the beneficiary was limited to the property of T. Before any shares of T could be transferred, the beneficiary had to obtain the unanimous consent of all the trustees. On the Federal income tax returns filed by P and his wife for 1973, 1974, and 1975, they deducted the losses of T.
2. To finance the purchase of the trust property, T took out a mortgage with B. As a condition of granting the mortgage to T, B required P to personally guarantee the note. T defaulted on the mortgage, and B foreclosed on the property and sold it at public auction. The proceeds from such auction were insufficient to satisfy the amount due under the note, and B then sued P for the balance. P and his wife deducted such balance on their income tax return for 1976 as a business loss.
3. At the time B foreclosed on the mortgage, T owed interest and real estate taxes on such mortgage. B included such amounts as part of the total due from P under his personal guarantee of the mortgage. P and his wife deducted such amounts for interest and real estate1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*69 taxes on their Federal income tax return for 1976.
4. P was also employed as a newsman for a television station during the years in issue. He deducted as business expenses amounts for his wardrobe, laundry and dry cleaning, haircuts and makeup, hotels and meals, and automobile use and depreciation.
5. P and his wife deducted in 1976 expenses for the use of a room in their residence as a home office.
6. The Commissioner determined that T failed to report1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*70 the sale of property in 1975 on its income tax return for such year.
74 T.C. 1266">*1268 The Commissioner determined the following deficiencies in the petitioners' Federal income taxes:
Petitioner | Year | Deficiency |
John B. Hynes, Jr., | ||
and Marie T. Hynes | 1973 | $ 4,992.70 |
1974 | 16,259.26 | |
1975 | 12,502.76 | |
1976 | 20,966.51 | |
Wood Song Village Trust | 1975 | 30,571.84 |
1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*74 After concessions by the parties, the issues for decision are: (1) Whether the trust created by the petitioner for the purpose of developing and selling real estate for profit is an association taxable as a corporation; (2) whether the petitioner is entitled to a deduction for a business loss resulting from the foreclosure of a mortgage executed by the trust and guaranteed by him; (3) whether the petitioner may deduct in 1976 the interest and real estate taxes owed by the trust when the bank foreclosed on its mortgage; (4) whether the petitioner is entitled to deduct as business expenses under
1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*75 74 T.C. 1266">*1269 FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated, and those facts are so found.
The petitioners, John B. Hynes, Jr., and Marie T. Hynes, husband and wife, resided in Chatham, Mass., at the time they filed their petitions in this case. They filed their joint Federal income tax returns for 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976 with the Internal Revenue Service Center, Andover, Mass. The petitioner, Wood Song Village Trust (Wood Song or the trust), was organized under the laws of Massachusetts and had its principal office in Boston, Mass., at the time it filed a petition in this case. The trust filed Federal income tax returns (Forms 1041) for 1973, 1974, and 1975 with the Internal Revenue Service Center, Andover, Mass. Mr. Hynes will sometimes be referred to as the petitioner.
During the years in issue, the petitioner was employed as a staff announcer and television newswriter by Boston Broadcasters, Inc., WCVB-TV (the station), in Needham Mass. His contract with the station required him to appear 5 days a week, 48 weeks during the year, on the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. During such years, such contract also required that he maintain "a physical appearance suitable1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*76 for services as a television announcer." The petitioner wore regular business clothing on his television appearances, but his selection of such attire was limited to colors and patterns which would televise well. He often changed his shirt between the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts, and he had his hair cut once every 4 weeks to maintain a neat appearance. The petitioner was not reimbursed by the station for the costs of his wardrobe, dry cleaning and laundry, or haircut and makeup during the years in issue. The petitioner's employment contract with the station for 1978 does provide him with a clothing allowance.
It was approximately 90 miles between the petitioner's home and the station, and therefore, during the years in issue, he lived in hotels near the station during the work week. He drove to his home in Chatham on weekends and often once during the workweek. The rooms in which he stayed were ordinary hotel rooms and did not have kitchen or office facilities. The station provided a large workroom with desks and typewriters for the use of all newsroom employees, and the petitioner worked wherever there was an empty desk. However, since the petitioner 74 T.C. 1266">*1270 did not1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*77 have his own office or telephone at the station, he sometimes had business meetings with various people at his hotels. He made telephone calls from the hotel rooms, and he kept a small filing box and his briefcase with personal papers in such rooms.
The petitioner also used a room at his home in Chatham as his office and library. The room had a desk, filing cabinet, typewriter, and a telephone. He kept his personal papers in the room as well as his trade journals and some of the materials that he used as sources for his stories. Mrs. Hynes was a licensed real estate broker and had an office in Chatham, but she also used the room in the residence to deal with clients on the telephone and kept some of her records there.
The station provided transportation when the petitioner left from the station with a news crew to cover a story. However, on some occasions, he used his personal automobile in the course of his employment with the station. At times, he drove his car to the scene of a news story to meet a film crew, or he used his car to meet with some of his news sources. He was not reimbursed by the station for such travel. The petitioner also used his car to drive to work each1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*78 day and to drive to Chatham during the week and on weekends.
The petitioner is also a licensed real estate broker. On August 11, 1973, he entered into an agreement with the trustees of the Nauset Realty Trust (Nauset Trust) under which he agreed to purchase from the trust 67 lots of real estate located in Brewster, Mass. (Brewster property). The purchase and sale agreement was subsequently modified on September 7, 1973, and the purchase price for the land was set at $ 335,000 plus various amounts which were to be paid to Frank Ireland of Orleans, Mass., who was designated as the broker for the land. On August 14, 1973, the petitioner applied to the Bass River Savings Band (Bass River Bank) for a mortgage loan of $ 497,000 to finance the purchase of the Brewster property. The Bass River Bank sent a commitment letter to the petitioner on September 7, 1973, approving his request for a $ 500,000 mortgage, but as a condition of such mortgage, the bank required that the petitioner personally guarantee the note. The petitioner accepted the bank's terms for such mortgage on September 8, 1973.
On September 7, 1973, the Wood Song Village Trust was 74 T.C. 1266">*1271 formed by an agreement1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*79 and declaration of trust executed by and among the petitioner, C. Frederick Bent III, and Richard W. Hynes as trustees. Such declaration was recorded in the Barnstable Registry of Deeds, and in such trust agreement, the petitioner conveyed the rights that he had acquired to the Brewster property under the agreement with the Nauset Trust. All 6,000 shares of beneficial interest in the trust were issued to the petitioner, who held them during the years in issue. He did not plan to sell any shares or portions thereof to anyone at any time. One of the objectives of the Wood Song trust was to sell the Brewster property for profit, and after all the property had been sold, the petitioner intended to apportion the profits among his four children.
As to the continuity of the trust, article 14 of the Wood Song trust agreement states in part:
This Trust shall terminate upon the expiration of twenty (20) years after the death of all of the original Trustees, and may be sooner terminated by vote of, or by an instrument or instruments in writing signed by a majority of the Trustees and by the holders of a majority of each class and series of the voting shares outstanding * * *
Article1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*80 2 of such agreement provides that "The death [,] resignation or incapacity of any of the Trustees shall not terminate the Trust or in any way affect its continuity"; such article also provides for the replacement of trustees by the remaining trustees. Article 9, paragraph II, of such agreement provides in part:
II The death, insolvency, or incompetency of one or more of the beneficiaries, or the transfer of shares shall not terminate the Trust. * * *
With respect to the management of the trust, article 3 of the Wood Song trust agreement provides that a majority vote of the trustees is required for "the validity of any action taken by them." Article 5 of such agreement provides in part:
The Trustees shall have full and absolute power, control and authority over the Trust property held by them at any time hereunder and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of such property and business in their own right, exercisable without the consent of the Beneficiaries * * *
In connection with the personal liability of the trustees and shareholders, articles 7, 8, and 10 of the Wood Song trust agreement provide in part:
74 T.C. 1266">*1272 1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*81 ARTICLE SEVEN: Rights of Third Persons.
I Every act or thing done or omitted, and every power exercised or obligation incurred by the Trustees or any of them in the administration of the Trust or in connection with any business, property or concerns of the Trust and the Trust estate, whether ostensibly in their own names or in their capacity as Trustees hereunder, shall be done, omitted, exercised or incurred by them as Trustees, and not as individuals; and every person contracting or dealing with the Trustees, or any agent or representative of the Trustees acting within the scope of this authority, or any person having any claim against the Trustees, their authorized agent and representatives, whether founded in contract, replevin or tort shall look only to the Trust estate for the payment or satisfaction of the same; and no shareholder or Trustee, and no agent or representative of the Trustees acting within the scope of his authority, shall ever be personally liable for or on account of any contract, debt, tort, claim, damage, judgment or decree arising out of or connected with the administration or preservation of the Trust estate or the conduct of the business of the Trust. A1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*82 stipulation or notice to this effect shall be inserted in every contract, order or other instrument signed by the Trustees or their duly authorized agent and representatives, but the omission thereof shall not constitute a waiver of the foregoing provisions and shall not render the Trustees, their authorized agent or representatives, or any shareholder, personally liable.
* * * *
ARTICLE EIGHT: Protection of Trustees and Shareholders.
* * * *
II No shareholder shall be personally liable for any obligation or liability incurred by this Trust or by the Trustees, and the Trustees shall have no right of indemnity or exoneration against the shareholders in respect thereof.
III Subject to Paragraph V of this Article, no Trustee shall be personally liable for any obligation or liability incurred by this Trust or by the Trustees, and each Trustee shall be entitled to reimbursement and exoneration out of the Trust estate according to law.
IV The Trust estate alone shall be liable for the payment or satisfaction of all obligations and liabilities incurred in carrying on the affairs of this Trust.
V Proceedings against this Trust may be brought against the Trustees as Trustees hereunder1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*83 but not personally. The Trustees shall be parties thereto only insofar as necessary to enable such obligation or liability to be enforced against the trust estate.
VI No trustee shall be liable to this Trust or the shareholders except for his own acts, neglects and defaults in bad faith.
* * * *
ARTICLE TEN: Personal Liability of the Beneficiaries.
The Trustees shall have no power to bind the Beneficiaries personally. All persons dealing with the Trustees or with any agent of the Trustees shall look only to the Trust property for the payment of any sum due as a result of such dealing. In every instrument executed by the Trustees and creating an obligation of any kind, the Trustees shall in substance provide that no Beneficiary shall be held to any personal liability under such instrument.
74 T.C. 1266">*1273 As to the transfer of the shares of beneficial ownership, article 9, paragraph III, of the Wood Song trust agreement provides:
III A certificate of beneficial interest may not be transferred by the holder thereof except upon the unanimous decision of the Trustees. The acceptance by the transferee of a certificate transferred to him, or of any certificate issued in place thereof1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*84 shall constitute such transferee a party to this Agreement and shall bind him to the provisions thereof. No such transfer shall be binding upon the Trustees until it has been recorded on the transfer books of the Trust.
In addition to the powers conferred on the Wood Song trustees under the articles of the trust, the trustees unanimously voted on September 30, 1973, that any one trustee could execute documents which would bind the trust on all matters regarding the sale of the Brewster property.
On September 7, 1973, the Wood Song trust entered into an exclusive agreement with Frank Ireland Real Estate Co. of Orleans, Mass., for brokerage services for the sale of the Brewster property. Under such agreement, Mr. Ireland would receive a 10-percent commission on the sale of each lot, but such agreement did not give him the authority to bind the trust. The trust also entered into an agreement with Richard W. Hynes which provided that he would act as its conveyancing attorney. Such agreement provided that he would receive $ 200 plus expenses for his assistance in the sale of each lot. Wood Song also contracted with Boston Personal Resources, Inc. (Boston Resources), for investment1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*85 planning, accounting, and other management services. Under its agreement with the trust, Boston Resources would receive 20 percent of the net contract price on a sale of land as defined in such agreement.
On September 12, 1973, the Wood Song trust purchased the Brewster property from the Nauset Trust for approximately $ 357,000. On the same day, the trustees of Wood Song signed a $ 500,000 mortgage note with the Bass River Bank. Such note was personally guaranteed by the petitioner who waived demand and notice, and such note was secured by a mortgage on the Brewster property.
During the years 1973 through 1975, the Wood Song trust engaged in the development of the Brewster property for resale. During such time, the petitioner worked with various contractors to construct roads on the property and to install utilities; he assisted the broker in the promotion of sales; he had prepared a brochure for the sale of the lots in the property; and he placed 74 T.C. 1266">*1274 advertisements for the lots in magazines. He spent most of his weekends and one weekday morning on the development and sale of the Brewster property. The trust sold two lots in 1973, three lots in 1974, and five lots1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*86 in 1975.
On August 2, 1974, the trust signed an agreement with David A. Bourne for his purchase of five lots of the Brewster property for $ 48,195, but the trust agreed to reduce the purchase price by approximately 10 percent if roads were not constructed on the property within a specified period of time. There is no evidence as to when the property was transferred to Mr. Bourne. However, on January 28, 1975, he executed a mortgage securing his note to the trust; later the amount of such mortgage was reduced because the roads were not built. The sale to Mr. Bourne was not reported by Wood Song on its Federal income tax returns for 1974 or 1975.
On November 4, 1975, a judgment of foreclosure sale was entered for the Bass River Bank against the trustees of Wood Song for the balance of $ 506,448.34 due on the mortgage note at that time. Such balance included $ 43,668.12 in interest and $ 14,312.10 in real estate taxes owed by the trust on such date. The bank subsequently acquired the Brewster property in 1975 for $ 200,000 at a public auction. The adjusted proceeds of such foreclosure sale were $ 192,491.46. The petitioner received no money when the property was foreclosed upon1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*87 by the Bass River Bank. On February 17, 1976, the bank made demand against the Wood Song trustees for the balance of $ 313,956.88 outstanding on the note after the foreclosure sale, and on March 2, 1976, the bank made demand against the petitioner individually for such balance. The Bass River Bank then brought suit against the petitioner when the balance was not paid by March 16, 1976. As of the date of trial of this case, such suit had not been concluded, and the petitioner had not paid anything to the Bass River Bank on his guarantee.
On their Federal income tax returns for 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976, the petitioners, Mr. and Mrs. Hynes, deducted the following amounts as business expenses which are at issue in this case:
Expense | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 |
Wardrobe | $ 655 | $ 300 | $ 500 | |
Haircuts and makeup | 96 | 110 | 120 | $ 120 |
Laundry, dry cleaning, | ||||
shirt cleaning | $ 252 | $ 295 | $ 305 | $ 175 |
Hotels | 1,835 | 2,200 | 3,150 | |
Home office | 963 | |||
Meals | 4,080 | |||
Automobile | 2,696 | 2,689 | ||
Automobile depreciation | 3,316 | 3,316 |
74 T.C. 1266">*1275 In his notices of deficiency, the Commissioner disallowed in full the petitioners' deductions for1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*88 wardrobe, haircuts and makeup, laundry, dry cleaning, and shirt cleaning, hotels, and a home office on the ground that they were not ordinary and necessary business expenses. He also disallowed a portion of the deductions for automobile expenses, automobile depreciation, and meals, on the ground that the petitioners did not substantiate the claimed deductions beyond the amounts allowed by him.
On its Federal income tax returns for 1973, 1974, and 1975, the Wood Song trust reported gross receipts and losses in the following amounts:
Year | Gross receipts | Losses |
1973 | $ 26,820 | $ 8,497 |
1974 | 35,000 | 40,530 |
1975 | 19,674 |
On their Federal income tax returns for such years, the petitioners, Mr. and Mrs. Hynes, claimed deductions for the losses reported by the trust.
On their Federal income tax return for 1976, the petitioners, Mr. and Mrs. Hynes, deducted $ 313,957 as a business bad debt arising from the bank's foreclosure on the Brewster property. On such return, they also deducted interest of $ 43,668 and real estate taxes of $ 14,312. Such amounts represent the interest and real estate taxes owed by the Wood Song trust when the bank foreclosed on its1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*89 mortgage. On April 15, 1977, such petitioners filed an application requesting tentative refunds of $ 10,894 for 1973, $ 228 for 1974, and $ 2,648 for 1975 based on the carryback of a net operating loss of $ 313,957 in 1976. Such refunds were made to the petitioners. In his notice of deficiency, the Commissioner disallowed such deductions claimed for 1976 and the carryback of the net operating loss.
In his notice of deficiency to the Wood Song trust for 1975, the Commissioner determined that the trust failed to report on its 74 T.C. 1266">*1276 tax return for such year income of $ 48,195 from the sale of real estate. He also determined that the trust realized gain on the foreclosure of the Brewster property by the Bass River Bank, but he now concedes that such determination was improper.
OPINION
The first issue in this case is whether the Wood Song trust is an association taxable as a corporation. The petitioners maintain that the Wood Song trust is not such an association and that under section 671, the petitioner is required to report the income or losses of such a trust.
Ordinarily, a trust1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*90 and its beneficiaries are subject to the provisions of subchapter J of the Code (
In 1924, the Supreme Court ruled once again on the issue and limited its holding in
About a decade later, the Supreme Court elucidated this distinction in
In
74 T.C. 1266">*1278 What, then, are the salient features of a trust -- when created and maintained as a medium for the carrying on of a business enterprise and sharing its gains -- which may be regarded as making it analogous to a corporate organization? A corporation, 1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*94 as an entity, holds the title to the property embarked in the corporate undertaking. Trustees, as a continuing body with provision for succession, may afford a corresponding advantage during the existence of the trust. Corporate organization furnishes the opportunity for a
Centralization of management, continuity of life, transferability of interests, and limited liability were thus established by
There are a number of major characteristics ordinarily found in a pure corporation which, taken together, distinguish it from other organizations. These are: (i) Associates, (ii) an objective to carry on business and divide the gains therefrom, (iii) continuity of life, (iv) centralization of management, 1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*96 (v) liability for corporate debts limited to corporate property, and (vi) free transferability of interests. Whether a particular organization is to be classified as an association must be determined by taking into account the presence or absence of each of these corporate characteristics. The presence or absence of these characteristics will depend upon the facts in each individual case. * * * An organization will be treated as an association if the corporate characteristics are such that the organization more nearly resembles a corporation than a partnership or trust. See
The petitioner argues that the Wood Song trust fails to meet 74 T.C. 1266">*1279 the six criteria established in the regulations. Particularly, he vigorously contends that under
1.
(2) Since associates and an objective to carry on business for joint profit are essential characteristics of all organizations engaged in business for profit (
A careful reading of such regulation shows that it does not support the petitioner's position. In referring to the plural "associates" and the division of profits, the provision expressly excepts a one-man corporation from such references. By implication, the regulation recognizes that when there is a single owner, there will not be associates or a sharing of the profits among associates. The requirements of associates and the division of a profit serve to distinguish a taxable association from a coownership of property in which the coowners are entitled to their separate shares of the income from the property. It is clear that 74 T.C. 1266">*1280 when there is a single owner, the regulations are not intended to require multiple associates or a sharing of profits among them.
Whether an organization has associates and an1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*99 objective to carry on business for joint profit are related characteristics. The term "associates" refers to those persons who have a beneficial ownership in a business.
For his own reasons, the petitioner chose not to carry on the business of developing and selling the Brewster property in his own name; instead, he set up the trust, managed the business as one of the trustees, and took all the shares of beneficial ownership. Thus, the trust was not merely protecting property and collecting the income for the beneficiaries; it was engaged in carrying on a business for profit.
74 T.C. 1266">*1281 Such conclusion is wholly consistent with our decision in
1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*102
(b)
* * * *
(3) An agreement establishing an organization may provide that the organization is to continue for a stated period or until the completion of a stated undertaking or such agreement may provide for the termination of the organization at will or otherwise. * * * if the agreement provides that the organization is to continue for a stated period or until the completion of a stated transaction, the organization has continuity of life if the effect of the agreement is that no member has the power to dissolve the organization in contravention of the agreement. * * *
The petitioner contends that the Wood Song trust lacked continuity of life "because the death of any member, namely the last living original trustee, would dissolve the trust at that time." We must disagree, for the petitioner's contention is clearly contrary to the articles establishing the trust.
Article 2 of the trust agreement provides1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*103 that "The death[,] resignation or incapacity of any of the Trustees shall not terminate the Trust or in any way affect its continuity." Article 9, paragraph II, of such agreement provides that the death, insolvency, or incompetancy of one or more of the beneficiaries 74 T.C. 1266">*1282 or the transfer of shares does not terminate the trust. Article 14 of the trust agreement provides that the trust will terminate 20 years after the death of all the original trustees, unless terminated sooner by a majority vote of the trustess.
Under these provisions of the trust agreement, it is clear that the trust is to continue for a stated period, that is, until 20 years after the death of all the original trustees. It is not to terminate on the death of any single trustee, nor can the petitioner dissolve it at will. Accordingly, the Wood Song trust had continuity of life within the meaning of
(c)
* * * *
(3) Centralized management means a concentration of continuing exclusive authority to make independent business decisions on behalf of the organization which do not require ratification by members of such organization. Thus, there is not centralized management when the centralized authority is merely to perform ministerial acts as an agent at the direction of a principal.
The petitioner takes the position that the Wood Song trust lacked centralization of management because the other two trustees served as his agents and merely performed ministerial acts. He relies on
74 T.C. 1266">*1283 Article 5 of the trust agreement clearly provides that "The Trustees shall have full and absolute power, control and authority over the Trust property * * * to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of such property * * * exercisable without the consent of the Beneficiaries." Article 3 merely required that a majority vote of the trustees was necessary to validate any action by them. However, at a trust meeting on September 30, 1973, the trustees voted unanimously that any one trustee could execute documents which would bind the trust on all matters regarding the sale of the Brewster property.
These provisions of the trust agreement show that the trustees had broad powers to act on behalf of the trust, that their1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*106 authority was not limited to purely ministerial acts, and that their actions did not require ratification by the beneficiary. It is immaterial whether, in reality, the petitioner could make the decisions for all the trustees; the significant fact is that the trustees had the power to act for the trust. See
(d)
It is unclear whether the word "member" in the regulations refers to trustees or beneficiaries of a trust. The general rule of trusts provides that the trustees and not the beneficiaries may be liable for debts incurred in the administration of1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*107 a trust. G. Bogert, Trusts and Trustees, ch. 14, sec. 247G, p. 163 (2d ed. 1977 rev.). However, the Supreme Court, in its opinion in
The petitioner contends that the trustees of Wood Song could not limit their liability under Massachusetts law, despite the 74 T.C. 1266">*1284 trust articles which purport to limit their liability. The cases cited by him do not support his position, and he is clearly wrong. The statement of Massachusetts law on this issue is best summarized by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in
That a trustee can exempt himself from personal liability by stipulation or agreement is well established,
Thus, a trustee in Massachusetts can limit his liability if the trust instrument so provides, if he stipulates to that effect when contracting on the part of the trust, and if the contracting party is aware of such provision.
In addition, we are of the opinion that the petitioner also limited his liability as sole beneficiary under the trust agreement and that such limitation would be recognized under Massachusetts law. In
If the Winthrop Club Associates had been a corporation, no one would contend that the relation of the defendants to it by electing new officers after they became the stockholders would render them personally liable for its debts. Instead of being stockholders in a corporation, they are the cestuis que trust of a valid trust because they held all its shares. Every intendment of the law is toward the protection of cestuis que trust under a valid trust. [
See also
It has been held that where beneficiaries have the power to remove and replace trustees and to modify the terms of the trust agreement, then liability can be imposed upon them in many jurisdictions. G. Bogert, Trusts and Trustees, ch. 14, sec. 247H, p. 167 (2d ed. 1977 rev.); G. Bogert, Trusts and1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*110 Trustees, ch. 33, sec. 74 T.C. 1266">*1285 721, p. 511 (2d ed. 1960). However, under the Wood Song trust agreement, the petitioner as sole beneficiary did not have such powers. We have also considered the possibility "that a creditor of the trust might be able to reach the beneficiary through the trustee, on the theory that the latter has a right to be indemnified by the beneficiary and that the creditor can go through the trustee against the beneficiary." G. Bogert, Trusts and Trustees, ch. 14, sec. 247G, p. 166 (2d ed. 1977 rev.). However, article 8, paragraph II, of the Wood Song trust agreement stated that the trustees have no right of indemnity or exoneration against the shareholders. Therefore, such exceptions to the general rule that trust beneficiaries have limited liability have no application in this case.
Furthermore, the fact that the petitioner is personally liable on the mortgage note to the Bass River Bank does not vitiate his limited liability as a trustee or as the beneficiary of Wood Song. He undertook the guarantee in his individual capacity and not as trustee or beneficiary.1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*111 It is not uncommon for a lender to require a sole shareholder to personally guarantee a corporate loan. Accordingly, we hold that both the trustees and the beneficiary of the Wood Song trust had limited liability under Massachusetts law.
(e)
The Commissioner concedes that the Wood Song trust has only a modified form of transferability of interests since the trust shares1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*112 could only be transferred upon the unanimous decision of the trustees, but he does maintain that the trust does have a modified form of such characteristic since a transfer did not require the approval of other beneficiaries.
We need not decide whether the Wood Song trust has even a 74 T.C. 1266">*1286 modified form of transferable interests since our ultimate conclusion is clear regardless of whether the trust possesses that characteristic.
The second issue for decision is whether the petitioners, Mr. and Mrs. Hynes, are entitled to deduct the $ 313,957 balance outstanding on the mortgage against the Wood Song trust after the foreclosure and sale of the Brewster property by the Bass River Bank. On their tax return for 1976, the petitioners referred to such deduction as both a "business bad debt" and a "business loss." In their brief, they now maintain that such loss is deductible as a business loss under
In
Moreover, for several reasons, the petitioner is not entitled to any deduction under
The third issue for our consideration is whether the petitioners, Mr. and Mrs. Hynes, are entitled to deduct in 1976 the interest and real estate taxes owed by the Wood Song trust on the date of the foreclosure of its property by the Bass River Bank. The bank included $ 43,668.12 for interest and $ 14,312.10 for real estate taxes as part of the total amount due under the mortgage note executed by1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*116 the trust and guaranteed by the petitioner. As such, the amounts for interest and real estate taxes represent a component of the total amount which the bank seeks to collect from the petitioner under his guarantee.
The petitioner relies on the provisions of
Furthermore, there is no evidence that the petitioner ever paid the interest at issue. Such amount was merely part of the total obligation the petitioner owed to the Bass River Bank under his guarantee, and he testified that he had paid nothing to the bank under such guarantee as of the date of trial. Consequently, we must hold that the petitioners, Mr. and Mrs. Hynes, are not entitled to a deduction for the amount of interest due under the mortgage note1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*119 of the trust on the date of foreclosure.
With respect to the claimed deduction for real estate taxes,
The facts in this case demonstrate that the Wood Song trust purchased the Brewster property from the Nauset Trust and that the Wood Song trust was the owner of such property. Therefore, under the law of Massachusetts, the petitioner was neither the legal nor equitable owner of the property in his individual capacity. Hence, we must hold that the petitioners, Mr. and Mrs. Hynes, may not deduct the real estate taxes imposed on the trust.
The fourth issue we consider is whether the petitioner is entitled to deduct as business expenses certain expenditures for his wardrobe, laundry and dry cleaning of such attire, haircuts and makeup, hotels and meals, and the operation of his automobile. The resolution of this issue requires us to reconcile the provisions of
In deciding this issue, we first consider the petitioner's 74 T.C. 1266">*1290 deductions for the cost of his wardrobe and its maintenance. Although a business wardrobe is a necessary condition of employment, the cost of such wardrobe has generally been considered a nondeductible personal expense within the meaning of
There are recognized exceptions to the general rule, and this Court has allowed a deduction for the cost of clothes which were useful only in the business environment. For example, a deduction was allowed in
In the present case, the petitioner contends that he is entitled to deduct the expense of his business wardrobe because he was restricted in his selection of colors and patterns of such clothes and because he did not wear the clothes when he was not at the station on camera. We cannot agree with the petitioner. The restriction on the petitioner's selection of his business attire is not significantly different from that applicable to other business people who must limit their selection of business clothes to conservative styles and fashions. The petitioner testified that his clothes were essentially suitable for use in any professional capacity. This case is thus distinguishable from
The petitioner asserts that he is entitled to deduct the cost of maintaining his business wardrobe because he incurred excessive expenses in doing so, but he has failed to establish that his expenses were excessive. The petitioner occasionally may have changed his shirt between the 6 and 11 p.m. news broadcasts, thus resulting in a larger laundry bill than otherwise would have been incurred, but his practice is not different from other professional people who work long hours and prefer to freshen up by changing their shirts and otherwise making themselves comfortable before facing the evening ahead. Accordingly, we sustain the Commissioner's determination that the petitioner may not deduct the cost of his business wardrobe or the cost of cleaning and laundering such attire.
We next consider the petitioner's deductions for the cost of his haircuts and makeup. In
As for the expenses for hotel rooms during 1974, 1975, and 1976, the petitioner appears to maintain that such expenditures are deductible as business expenses because it was more convenient for him to stay in hotels closer to the station, rather than commute the 90 miles from Chatham each day, and because he sometimes used such rooms to meet with people and to keep his filing box and personal papers there. 2 We cannot agree with the petitioner.
1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*128 Again, we must draw a distinction between business expenses deductible under
The facts of the present case clearly demonstrate that the hotel rooms rented by the petitioner were merely to provide him with a place to live which was closer to the station than his home 90 miles away in Chatham. The petitioner undoubtedly1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*130 found it more convenient to be closer to his place of business during the work week, and he chose, as a matter of personal preference, not to commute from Chatham each day. Under such circumstances, his hotel expenses are nondeductible personal expenses. Nor do the facts support his contention that he used such rooms as a business office in which to conduct business meetings. It is clear from the petitioner's testimony that he lived in such rooms during the week and regarded them as his local residence. Furthermore, he presented no evidence regarding how often he used such rooms for business meetings, and thus, he has failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to deduct any portion of the rent as a business expense. Compare
The petitioner maintains that his expenses of $ 4,080 for meals in 1976 were deductible because such expenses were incurred in connection with his work at the station. The Commissioner allowed a deduction of $ 2,640 for such expenses, but1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*131 he disallowed the remainder for lack of substantiation. We must agree with the Commissioner, for such business expenses are subject to the substantiation requirements of
(d) Substantiation Required. -- No deduction shall be allowed -- (1) under (2) for any item with respect to an activity which is of a type generally considered to constitute entertainment, amusement, or recreation, or with respect to a facility used in connection with such an activity, or
* * * *
unless the taxpayer substantiates by
1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*132 Under such provision, the elements of the petitioner's expenditures for meals must be substantiated by either "adequate records" or other "sufficient evidence" (
The petitioner presented no evidence, other than his relatively vague testimony, to support his contention that the full amount claimed by him for meal expenses is deductible under
Next, we consider the amounts deducted by the petitioner for the use and depreciation of his automobile during 1975 and 1976. He maintains that he often used his car to cover a story in connection with his work as a newsman at the station, to travel between his hotel and the station, and to travel between Needham and either Chatham or Brewster in connection with the development of the land for the trust. The Commissioner allowed a portion of the petitioner's expenses for automobile use and depreciation and disallowed the remainder for lack of substantiation.
We must uphold the Commissioner's determination on this issue, for the petitioner introduced no evidence to support his claim that the automobile expenses were incurred for business purposes. Indeed, his testimony revealed1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*135 that a portion of the use of the car was for commuting between his hotel and work and for commuting between the station and his home in Chatham. It is well established that expenses incurred by a 74 T.C. 1266">*1296 taxpayer in commuting between his home and his place of business are personal and nondeductible.
The fifth issue for decision is whether the petitioners, Mr. and Mrs. Hynes, are entitled to a deduction under
(a) General Rule. -- Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the case of a taxpayer who is an individual or an electing small business corporation, no deduction otherwise allowable under this chapter shall be allowed with respect to the use of a dwelling unit which is used by the taxpayer during the taxable year as a residence.
74 T.C. 1266">*1297 The pertinent exceptions to this general rule are set forth in
(c) Exceptions for Certain Business or Rental Use; Limitation on Deductions for Such Use. -- (1) Certain business use. -- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any item to the extent such item is allocable to a portion of the dwelling unit which is exclusively used on a regular basis -- (A) as the taxpayer's1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*138 principal place of business, (B) as a place of business which is used by patients, clients, or customers in meeting or dealing with the taxpayer in the normal course of his trade or business, or (C) in the case of a separate structure which is not attached to the dwelling unit, in connection with the taxpayer's trade or business.
The Commissioner urges that Mr. Hynes' principal place of business was at the station where he performed his duties as a newsman, and that the principal place of business of Mrs. Hynes was at her real estate office in Chatham. Therefore, he concludes that the petitioners are not entitled to a deduction under
In our recent decision in
The record in this1980 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 67">*140 case also does not support the petitioners' contention that their home office was the principal place of 74 T.C. 1266">*1298 business for the real estate activities of Mrs. Hynes. Mr. Hynes testified that Mrs. Hynes had a real estate office in Chatham and that she merely used the room in their residence to talk on the telephone with clients and to store some of her personal records. In light of such facts, we cannot conclude that the petitioners' home office was the principal place of business of Mrs. Hynes. Accordingly, we hold that under
The last issue for our decision is whether the Wood Song trust failed to report income in 1975 from the sale of five lots of land to David A. Bourne. The Commissioner determined that Wood Song realized $ 48,195 of income in 1975 from such sale, but he also allowed the trust a deduction, which it had not claimed, of $ 19,252 as the cost of real estate sold. The burden is on the trust to prove that the Commissioner's determination is incorrect.
The Wood Song trust contends that it did not receive the full price stated in the sales contract in 1975 because it had an agreement with Mr. Bourne to reduce the price of the property if it did not construct roads on the land within a specified period of time and because the price was later reduced in accordance with the agreement. The trust also claims that the Commissioner's determination regarding its gain on such sale fails to take into account various costs of transferring the land which totaled approximately $ 8,500. In addition, in its brief, the trust argues for the first time that such sale is entitled to the installment method of reporting gain under
In the first place, it is well settled that this Court will not consider issues raised for the first time on brief when to do so prevents the opposing party from presenting evidence that he might have if the issue had been timely raised.
74 T.C. 1266">*1299 Moreover, the trust has utterly failed to show that it was entitled to use
Finally, the contention that the Commissioner overlooked the costs of selling the real estate in determining the amount of gain on the sale is contradicted by the evidence. It is clear from the deficiency notice issued to the trust that the Commissioner allowed the trust a $ 19,252 deduction for such purpose. On this record, we must hold that the trust has failed to meet its burden of proving that the determination of the Commissioner was incorrect, and therefore, we sustain the Commissioner's determination on this issue.
1. All statutory references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as in effect during the years in issue, unless otherwise indicated.↩
2. The petitioner does not contend that he had his principal place of business in Chatham or Brewster where he conducted his trust activities; therefore, we do not consider whether he could deduct his expenses in Needham in connection with a second place of business.↩
3.
(a) In General. -- There shall be allowed as a deduction all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business, including --
* * * * (2) traveling expenses (including amounts expended for meals and lodging other than amounts which are lavish or extravagant under the circumstances) while away from home in the pursuit of a trade or business; * * *↩
4. Mr. Hynes does not contend that he used the room in connection with his activities for the Wood Song trust. In his testimony at trial and in his argument on brief, he only maintained his entitlement to a home office deduction with relation to his trade or business as a newsman. Therefore, we do not consider his possible use of such room as an office for the trust. See
5.