Filed: Aug. 21, 2001
Latest Update: Nov. 14, 2018
Summary: 117 T.C. No. 7 UNITED STATES TAX COURT TEXTRON INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent Docket No. 20643-98. Filed August 21, 2001. P, a domestic corporation, acquired substantially all of the stock of A, a foreign corporation. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) contemporaneously filed a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking to enjoin P’s acquisition and control of A pending resolution of potential restraint of trade issues. Pursuant to the cou
Summary: 117 T.C. No. 7 UNITED STATES TAX COURT TEXTRON INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent Docket No. 20643-98. Filed August 21, 2001. P, a domestic corporation, acquired substantially all of the stock of A, a foreign corporation. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) contemporaneously filed a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking to enjoin P’s acquisition and control of A pending resolution of potential restraint of trade issues. Pursuant to the cour..
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117 T.C. No. 7
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
TEXTRON INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 20643-98. Filed August 21, 2001.
P, a domestic corporation, acquired substantially
all of the stock of A, a foreign corporation. The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) contemporaneously filed
a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking to enjoin
P’s acquisition and control of A pending resolution of
potential restraint of trade issues. Pursuant to the
court’s order, P transferred its A stock to a voting
trust pending the FTC’s consideration of the issues.
The trust had an independent trustee who held and voted
the stock without influence by P. The trustee was
directed to, and did, operate A independently of P and
as an active competitor of P. P was the trust’s only
beneficiary.
Held: Sec. 951(a), I.R.C., does not include A’s
subpt. F income in P’s income because P did not own the
A shares after the transfer.
Held, further, sec. 951(a), I.R.C., includes A’s
subpt. F income in the trust’s income which, under
secs. 671 and 677(a), I.R.C., must be recognized by P.
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James P. Fuller, Kenneth B. Clark, and David L. Forst, for
petitioner.
Nancy B. Herbert, Ruth M. Spadaro, and Jeffrey L. Bassin,
for respondent.
OPINION
LARO, Judge: This matter is before the Court on cross-
motions for partial summary judgment. See Rule 121.1 Petitioner
petitioned the Court to redetermine respondent’s determination of
deficiencies of $5,083,201, $1,783,938, $244,211, $1,152,171,
$14,011,513, and $68,811 in its Federal income tax for its
taxable years ended January 2, 1988, December 31, 1988, December
30, 1989, December 29, 1990, December 28, 1991, and January 2,
1993, respectively.
Following our disposition of the other issue in this case,
see Textron Inc. & Sub. Cos. v. Commissioner,
115 T.C. 104
(2000), we must decide whether petitioner’s 1989 through 1992
income includes the “subpart F income” (defined infra p. 12) of
Avdel PLC (Avdel), a controlled foreign corporation (CFC). We
hold it does.
1
Unless otherwise indicated, section references are to the
Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue. Rule
references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
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Background
Textron, Inc. (Textron), is a corporation whose principal
place of business was in Providence, Rhode Island, when the
petition was filed. In early 1989, Textron acquired
substantially all of the stock of Avdel, a public limited company
organized under the laws of the United Kingdom. Avdel’s shares
were traded on the London Stock Exchange. By February 21, 1989,
Textron had acquired more than 95 percent of Avdel’s stock.
On February 21, 1989, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of
Columbia (the District Court). The complaint sought to enjoin
Textron’s acquisition and control of Avdel and its assets until
potential restraint of trade issues could be resolved. One day
later, the District Court issued a temporary restraining order
(the TRO) providing that Textron was “temporarily restrained and
enjoined from * * * assuming or exercising any form of direction
or control over the assets or operations of Avdel”. The District
Court issued the TRO for the purposes
of assuring that Avdel will remain viable and
competitive with Textron; of maintaining the businesses
of Textron and Avdel separate from and independent of
one another; [and] of continuing the state of
competition between Textron and Avdel * * * to the same
extent as if Textron and Avdel were in all respects
separate and independent business entities.
The TRO stated, at section IV, that “All rights to exercise
voting power with respect to the Avdel shares held by Textron
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shall be vested in a trustee, who shall be appointed by the Court
and who shall act in accordance with the Voting Trust Agreement”.
The TRO specifically barred Textron from exercising any voting
rights with respect to the Avdel shares.
The District Court terminated the TRO and superseded it by a
preliminary injunction order dated March 2, 1989 (the order). As
relevant herein, the order stated, at section II, that it was
entered for the purposes:
of maintaining the status quo ante pendente lite by
allowing Textron to retain, subject to the terms of
this Order, any Avdel shares it may have acquired prior
to the entry of this Order, and any Avdel shares it may
henceforth acquire, pending consideration on the merits
by the Federal Trade Commission; of assuring that Avdel
will remain viable and competitive with Textron; of
maintaining the businesses of Textron and Avdel
separate from and independent of one another; [and] of
continuing the state of competition between Textron and
Avdel * * * to the same extent as if Textron and Avdel
were in all respects separate and independent entities
* * *.
The order specifically enjoined Textron “from assuming or
exercising any form of direction or control over Avdel PLC,
except as provided by this Order.” The order stated, at section
IV, that
For the term of this Order Textron shall not exercise
any voting power, influence, or control, directly or
indirectly, with respect to the conduct of Avdel or the
shares of Avdel held by it. All rights to exercise
voting power with respect to the Avdel shares held by
Textron shall be vested in a trustee, who shall be
appointed by the Court and who shall act in accordance
with the Voting Trust Agreement * * * [and] use his
best business judgment in exercising such voting trust
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power * * * in a manner consistent with the purpose and
requirements of this Order.
The order also stated, at section V, that,
Textron shall not exercise nor attempt to exercise
direction or control over, or influence or attempt to
influence directly or indirectly, the conduct of
Avdel’s business during the term of this Order. Avdel
shall be maintained as a separate corporate entity with
an independent Board of Directors. In no event shall
any director, officer, employee, agent or
representative of Textron become or remain a member of
Avdel’s Board of Directors or become or remain an
officer of Avdel. Nor may any director, officer,
employee, agent or representative of Avdel become or
remain a member of Textron’s Board of Directors or
become or remain an officer of Textron.
On March 13, 1989, Textron and Patricia P. Bailey (Ms.
Bailey) entered into an agreement (the voting trust agreement)
which created a voting trust (voting trust) with respect to the
Avdel shares, pursuant to the requirements of the order. The
voting trust agreement named Ms. Bailey, an attorney from
Washington, D.C., as trustee. Before serving as trustee, Ms.
Bailey had been a Commissioner of the FTC from October 1979
through May 1988.
Ms. Bailey understood that, in general, her role as trustee
was to ensure that Avdel remained financially healthy and
functioned independently of any control of Textron and as a
vigorous competitor of Textron. The voting trust agreement, at
section 3, directed Ms. Bailey to hold, personally or through an
agent, the certificates representing all shares of Avdel stock
acquired by Textron. She did so in her capacity as trustee and
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was precluded by section 4(c) from having any beneficial interest
in those shares. The voting trust agreement, at section 4(c),
stated that, other than the trustee, “No * * * person shall have
any voting right in respect of the [Avdel] Stock so long as this
Agreement is in effect.” Throughout the term of the voting trust
agreement, Ms. Bailey held all Avdel stock certificates.
The voting trust agreement, at section 4(a), stated that the
trustee would “in his [sic] sole discretion, subject to the
provisions of this section * * * have the duty to exercise all
voting rights of the [Avdel] Stock, including the right to vote
the Stock on all matters upon which the holders of the Stock are
entitled to vote.” The voting trust agreement barred Textron
from exercising any voting rights with respect to the Avdel
shares and from having any control over the Avdel board of
directors. Moreover, the voting trust agreement, at section
4(f), stated that “The Trustee shall take all steps to ensure
that Avdel competes as vigorously with Textron as it would should
there be no relationship between Textron and Avdel.”
The voting trust agreement, at section 8(a), further
provided that
Textron shall be entitled to receive from time to time
payments equal to the amount of any cash dividends if
the trustee, in his [sic] sole discretion, believes
payment of such dividends would be prudent. Such
payments shall be made by the Trustee as soon as
practicable after the receipt of the dividends. In
lieu of receiving cash dividends and paying them to
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Textron, the Trustee may instruct Avdel in writing to
pay the cash dividends directly to Textron.
Section 8(b) required the trustee to hold for the benefit of
Textron any shares of Avdel stock received as dividends.
Section 8(c) provided that the trustee would receive all proceeds
of a sale or exchange of Avdel’s assets or stock and, after
deducting the associated expenses, pay the amounts to Textron.
Section 8(d) provided that any other distributions with respect
to Avdel’s stock would be distributed to Textron.
The order and voting trust agreement were in force from
their effective dates throughout the end of the period at issue
(the last day of petitioner’s 1992 taxable year). The order and
voting trust agreement terminated pursuant to a decision and
order issued by the FTC on May 6, 1994.
During the period that the order and the voting trust
agreement were in effect, Ms. Bailey, Textron, and Avdel complied
with the provisions of the order and the voting trust agreement.
In accordance with the voting trust agreement, the trustee
surrendered to Avdel the Avdel stock received from Textron, and
Avdel issued new stock certificates registered in the name of Ms.
Bailey. Ms. Bailey exercised the voting rights of the shares of
Avdel stock in accordance with the order and the voting trust
agreement. Throughout the period at issue, Avdel had four
directors, one of whom was Ms. Bailey.
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No director, officer, employee, agent, or representative of
Textron was a member of Avdel’s board of directors or an officer
of Avdel at any time during the period at issue. No director,
officer, employee, agent, or representative of Avdel was a member
of Textron’s board of directors or an officer of Textron at any
time during the period at issue. Throughout the period at issue,
Avdel’s board of directors and officers ran the Avdel business.
Textron had no influence or control over the running of the Avdel
business. During that time, Avdel’s board of directors
determined Avdel’s dividend policy, and Textron had no influence
or control over that policy.
Throughout the period at issue, Avdel’s board of directors
and officers had complete control over the reorganization,
consolidation, and liquidation of companies in the Avdel group.
Textron had no influence or control over these types of
restructuring. There was no contact of any kind between any
officer or director of Textron and any officer or director of
Avdel that was not supervised personally by Ms. Bailey. Few such
contacts occurred, and business matters were not discussed.
While the order was in effect, Avdel’s board of directors had
complete control over the compensation of Avdel’s officers. In
this regard, Avdel hired a third-party consultant to advise on
matters of compensation. Textron had no influence or control
over the compensation of Avdel’s officers.
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Textron did not acquire Avdel to serve as a “tax haven
device”.
Discussion
The current issue, before the Court on cross-motions for
partial summary judgment, is one of first impression. It
involves the interaction of the rules relating to CFCs contained
in subpart F (subpart F) of subchapter N (i.e., sections 951
through 963) and the rules relating to grantor trusts contained
in subpart E (subpart E) of subchapter J (i.e., sections 671
through 679). The relevant provisions of subpart F are sections
951(a) and (b) and 958(b). The relevant provisions of subpart E
are sections 671, 672(a) and (b), and 677(a). We set forth the
relevant text of these provisions in an appendix.
Each party asserts that it is entitled to partial summary
judgment on the subject issue. Respondent argues that Textron is
considered the owner of the Avdel shares under subpart E and,
hence, a United States shareholder (U.S. shareholder) under
subpart F whose income includes Avdel’s subpart F income.
Petitioner argues that Textron is not a U.S. shareholder under
subpart F. Petitioner asserts that a taxpayer is a U.S.
shareholder for that purpose only if the taxpayer can vote the
shares of the CFC. Petitioner points out that Textron could not
vote Avdel’s shares and concludes that Textron was not required
to include in its income Avdel’s subpart F income.
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Respondent argues alternatively that the voting trust was
both a grantor trust under subpart E and a U.S. shareholder under
subpart F. Respondent asserts that Textron is the voting trust’s
grantor and, in accordance with subpart E, must include in its
income any Avdel subpart F income realized by the trust.
Petitioner replies that subpart E was not intended to be applied
in the manner suggested by respondent.
A. Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is intended to expedite litigation and
avoid unnecessary and expensive trials of phantom factual issues.
P & X Mkts., Inc. v. Commissioner,
106 T.C. 441, 443 (1996),
affd. without published opinion
139 F.3d 907 (9th Cir. 1998).
Summary judgment is appropriate where there is no genuine issue
as to any material fact and a decision may be rendered as a
matter of law. Rule 121(b); P & X Mkts., Inc. v. Commissioner,
supra at 443. In deciding whether to grant summary judgment, the
Court must consider the factual materials and inferences drawn
from them in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.
Bond v. Commissioner,
100 T.C. 32, 36 (1993); Naftel v.
Commissioner,
85 T.C. 527, 529 (1985).
The parties agree that for the purpose of deciding these
cross-motions there are no genuine issues of material fact and
that the Court may decide the issue as a matter of law. This
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case is ripe for disposition of that issue by partial summary
judgment.
B. Subpart F
In order to explain the issue before the Court, it is
necessary to set out an overview of the operation of subpart F.
Before 1962, the income of a foreign corporation, even one owned
by a U.S. shareholder, generally was not subject to U.S. tax if
the income was earned outside the United States and not
repatriated as a dividend. Some domestic corporations,
therefore, would keep a foreign subsidiary’s earnings in a “tax
haven” country in order to defer U.S. tax until the money was
repatriated. See Office of Tax Policy, U.S. Dept. of Treasury,
Doc. 2001-492, The Deferral of Income Earned through U.S.
Controlled Foreign Corporations: A Policy Study 13 (2000). To
curtail that practice, Congress added subpart F to the Code by
way of section 12 of the Revenue Act of 1962, Pub. L. 87-834, 76
Stat. 1006. See also H. Rept. 1447, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. (1962),
1962-3 C.B. 405, 461; S. Rept. 1881, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. (1962),
1962-3 C.B. 707, 784. See generally Yoder, 926-2d Tax Mgmt.
(BNA), “Subpart F–General”, at A-3 (2000), for a detailed
discussion of the background to and legislative history of
subpart F. Subpart F generally requires that a U.S. shareholder
include in its gross income its pro rata share of subpart F
income derived by a CFC. Sec. 951(a). Subpart F requires this
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result even if the subpart F income is not actually distributed.
See Vetco, Inc. v. Commissioner,
95 T.C. 579, 586-587 (1990).
The object of subpart F is to tax currently specified
earnings of foreign corporations that are, in the aggregate,
controlled by U.S. shareholders. The scope of subpart F,
however, is limited. It applies primarily to the types of income
described in section 952 (subpart F income). Secs. 951(a) and
952. Moreover, it affects only foreign corporations that are
controlled by certain U.S. shareholders and, in those cases,
applies only to those U.S. shareholders who own a requisite
percentage of a CFC’s voting power. Secs. 951(b), 957(a).
Our analysis of whether a taxpayer who is a shareholder in a
foreign corporation must include subpart F income in the
taxpayer’s income starts with a determination of whether the
foreign corporation is a CFC. A CFC is any foreign corporation
more than 50 percent of whose stock, either by voting power or
value, is owned directly, indirectly, or constructively by U.S.
shareholders. Sec. 957(a). The parties agree that Avdel is a
CFC.
We next address the question of whether the taxpayer is a
U.S. shareholder subject to the inclusion of subpart F income
under section 951(a). The phrase “U.S. shareholder” is a term of
art that finds its meaning in section 951(b). Our reading of
that text in conjunction with our reading of section 951(a)
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reveals that not every U.S. shareholder in a CFC is subject to
section 951(a). Section 951(a) applies only to a taxpayer “who
owns (within the meaning of section 958(a)) stock in such
corporation [the CFC] on the last day, in such year, on which
such corporation is a controlled foreign corporation”. As
opposed to the broadly inclusive text of section 951(b), where
direct, indirect, and constructive ownership is considered,
section 951(a) requires that the shares be directly owned or
indirectly owned within the meaning of section 958(a) for the
inclusion to be required. Section 958(a) attributes only stock
owned through foreign entities to its indirect domestic owner.
Thus, a taxpayer who owns no stock through a foreign entity is
subject to the inclusion of subpart F income under section 951(a)
only if the taxpayer is a U.S. shareholder who directly owns
stock in the CFC.
Here, such is not the case. Textron did not directly own
the Avdel shares. The voting trust did. Ms. Bailey, as trustee
of the voting trust, held all of the Avdel shares that Textron
had purchased and owned them in her capacity as the voting
trust’s trustee. While Textron is considered to own those shares
under section 958(b), which incorporates by reference section 318
(with amendments),2 Textron did not own those shares either
2
Sec. 318 in relevant part provides:
(continued...)
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directly or indirectly within the meaning of sections 951(a) and
958(a).
Respondent argues that constructive ownership of the Avdel
shares under the grantor trust rules, specifically section
677(a), satisfies the direct or indirect ownership requirement of
section 951(a). We disagree. Our comparison of the language in
2
(...continued)
SEC. 318. CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP OF STOCK.
(a) General Rule.--For purposes of those
provisions of this subchapter to which the rules
contained in this section are expressly made
applicable--
* * * * * * *
(2) Attribution from partnerships,
estates, trusts, and corporations.--
* * * * * * *
(B) From trusts.--
(i) Stock owned, directly
or indirectly, by or for a
trust * * * shall be
considered as owned by its
beneficiaries in proportion to
the actuarial interest of such
beneficiaries in such trust.
(ii) Stock owned,
directly or indirectly, by or
for any portion of a trust of
which a person is considered
the owner under subpart E of
part I of subchapter J
(relating to grantors and
others treated as substantial
owners) shall be considered as
owned by such person.
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section 951(a) and (b) reveals that Congress was acutely aware of
the various ways that a taxpayer could be considered to be an
owner of an asset. By incorporating the constructive ownership
rules into section 951(b) (by reference to section 958(b), which,
in turn, references section 318(a)), and excluding the
constructive ownership rules from section 951(a) (by choosing not
to include a comparable reference), Congress prescribed a
specific meaning for the term “owns” in section 951(a). See also
S. Rept. 1881, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. (1962), 1962-3 C.B. 703, 943-
944 (legislative history helps to make clear how direct and
indirect ownership, on the one hand, are distinguished from
constructive ownership, on the other hand, for purposes of the
gross income inclusion required by subpart F). In a case such as
this, where “a statute limits a thing to be done in a particular
mode, it [the statute] includes the negative of any other mode.”
Botany Worsted Mills v. United States,
278 U.S. 282, 289 (1929).
This principle of statutory construction, which reflects an
ancient maxim “expressio unius est exclusio alterius” (the
expression of one thing is to the exclusion of the other), is
applicable here. See Natl. R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Natl.
Association of R.R. Passengers,
414 U.S. 453, 458 (1974); see
also Natl. Truck Equip. Association v. Natl. Highway Traffic
Safety Admin.,
972 F.2d 669, 674 (6th Cir. 1992) (“In
interpreting silence, we keep in mind the statutory canon
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expressio unius est exclusio alterius”). We decline respondent’s
invitation to extend the operation of section 677(a) to the facts
at hand to treat Textron as the owner of the Avdel shares for the
purpose of section 951(a).
C. Application of Subpart F to the Voting Trust and Subpart
E to Textron
Domestic trusts are generally taxable entities whose taxable
income is computed in the same manner as that of individuals.
Sec. 641. Generally speaking, an arrangement will be treated as
a trust under the Internal Revenue Code if it can be shown that
the purpose of the arrangement is to vest in a trustee
responsibility for the protection and conservation of property
for one or more beneficiaries who cannot share in the discharge
of this responsibility and, therefore, are not associates in a
joint enterprise for the conduct of business for profit. Sec.
301.7701-4, Proced. & Admin. Regs. An arrangement, therefore,
will be classified as a trust for Federal income tax purposes if
it is a bona fide transaction that involves a trustee, a
beneficiary, and trust property (res). See Bibby v.
Commissioner,
44 T.C. 638 (1965); see also Estate of Wedum v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1989-184 (“The elements of a valid
express trust * * * are: (1) a designated trustee subject to
enforceable duties, (2) a designated beneficiary vested with
enforceable rights, and (3) a definite trust res wherein the
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trustee’s title and estate is separated from the vested
beneficial interest of the beneficiary.”).
Following our review of the record before us, including
especially our reading of the voting trust agreement, we conclude
that the voting trust meets each of the requirements necessary to
establish a trust for Federal income tax purposes. The District
Court ordered the creation of the voting trust upon the joint
motion of Textron and the FTC so that Textron could retain
beneficial ownership of Avdel while the FTC reviewed the
potential restraint of trade issues. Textron settled the Avdel
shares into the voting trust, and the trustee assumed ownership
of the shares in accordance with the obligations set forth in the
voting trust agreement. Textron was the voting trust’s sole
beneficiary; i.e., Textron was the only contributor of property
to the voting trust, and Textron was the only holder of a
beneficial interest in the trust property under the voting trust
agreement.
Respondent asserts that the voting trust is a grantor trust
that in each of the subject years realized subpart F income
attributable to its ownership of the Avdel shares. Respondent
also asserts that Textron is the grantor of the trust and, as
such, must recognize the trust’s subpart F income under subpart
E. We agree with both of these assertions. First, we find that
Avdel was a CFC and that the voting trust owned directly (and had
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the ability to vote without restriction) more than 10 percent of
Avdel’s voting power. For the purpose of subpart F, a “United
States person” is defined in section 957(c), and the voting trust
is a domestic trust that is included in that definition.3 Sec.
7701(a)(30). Given the fact that Avdel is a CFC and that the
voting trust is a U.S. person possessing more than 10 percent of
Avdel’s voting power, we conclude that the voting trust is a U.S.
shareholder under section 951(b).
As discussed above, section 951(a) requires that a taxpayer
who is a U.S. shareholder include in its gross income a pro rata
share of the subpart F income attributable to its shareholding in
a CFC. Here, prima facie, the voting trust must include a pro
rata share of Avdel’s subpart F income in its gross income.
Subpart E, however, provides an exception to the general rule
that trusts are taxable on their income. Under these provisions,
“when a grantor who has certain powers in respect of trust
property that are tantamount to dominion and control over such
property, the Code ‘looks through’ the trust form and deems such
grantor or other person to be the owner of the trust property and
attributes the trust income directly to such person.” Estate of
O’Connor v. Commissioner,
69 T.C. 165, 178 (1977).
3
Petitioner does not argue that the voting trust is
properly characterized as a foreign trust.
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Section 677(a) treats as an owner of a trust a grantor who
retains certain rights to income from the trust. Section 671
provides that the deemed owner of the trust, rather than the
trust, is currently taxed on the trust’s income. The grantor is
considered the owner of the trust or of a portion of the trust
“if he has retained any interest which might, without the
approval or consent of an adverse party, enable him to have the
income from that portion distributed to him at some time either
actually or constructively”. Sec. 1.677(a)-1(c), Income Tax
Regs. An “adverse party” is one who has a substantial beneficial
interest in the trust which would be adversely affected by the
exercise or nonexercise of the power that he, she, or it
possesses respecting the trust. Sec. 672(a).
Pursuant to section 677(a), Textron is considered to be the
grantor of a grantor trust; to wit, the voting trust. Textron
was entitled, subject to the exercise of the trustee’s
discretion, to payments of income from the voting trust equal to
the amounts of cash dividends distributed to the trust by Avdel.
Textron also was entitled to payments from the voting trust of
any money or property received through any other distributions by
Avdel to the trust. Textron also was the only holder of a
beneficial interest in either the income or the corpus of the
voting trust. Given the additional fact that the trustee, the
only other person associated with the trust, was not an “adverse
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party” within the meaning of that term (e.g., she had no
beneficial interest in the voting trust), we conclude that
Textron was entitled to income of the trust without the approval
or consent of an adverse party. Accordingly, we hold that the
voting trust is properly classified as a grantor trust.4
The consequence of classifying the voting trust as a grantor
trust is that Textron is considered to be the owner of the trust.
As such, Textron, and not the voting trust, must include the
trust’s Avdel subpart F income in its (Textron’s) gross income.
Sec. 671. We disagree with petitioner that subpart E was not
meant to apply to the facts at hand. We do not find in the text
or policy of the applicable statutes an exception that would
insulate petitioner from taxation.
We hold that the subpart F income attributable to the
ownership of the Avdel shares is properly includable in Textron’s
income by virtue of the combined operation of subpart F (which
requires inclusion of that income in the voting trust’s income)
4
The fact that Textron could not vote the Avdel shares is
of no concern to us for purposes of sec. 677.
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and subpart E (which requires that the income be included in
Textron’s income). Accordingly,
An order will be issued granting
respondent’s motion for partial summary
judgment and denying petitioner’s motion
for partial summary judgment, and
decision will be entered under Rule 155.
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APPENDIX
SEC. 671. TRUST INCOME, DEDUCTIONS, AND CREDITS
ATTRIBUTABLE TO GRANTORS AND OTHERS AS
SUBSTANTIAL OWNERS.
Where it is specified in this subpart that the
grantor or another person shall be treated as the owner
of any portion of a trust, there shall then be included
in computing the taxable income and credits of the
grantor or the other person those items of income,
deductions, and credits against tax of the trust which
are attributable to that portion of the trust to the
extent that such items would be taken into account
under this chapter in computing taxable income or
credits against the tax of an individual. Any
remaining portion of the trust shall be subject to
subparts A through D. No items of a trust shall be
included in computing the taxable income and credits of
the grantor or of any other person solely on the
grounds of his dominion and control over the trust
under section 61 (relating to definition of gross
income) or any other provision of this title, except as
specified in this subpart.
SEC. 672. DEFINITIONS AND RULES.
(a) Adverse Party.--For purposes of this subpart,
the term “adverse party” means any person having a
substantial beneficial interest in the trust which
would be adversely affected by the exercise or
nonexercise of the power which he possesses respecting
the trust. A person having a general power of
appointment over the trust property shall be deemed to
have a beneficial interest in the trust.
(b) Nonadverse Party.--For purposes of this
subpart, the term “nonadverse party” means any person
who is not an adverse party.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 677. INCOME FOR BENEFIT OF GRANTOR.
(a) General Rule.--The grantor shall be treated as
the owner of any portion of a trust, whether or not he
is treated as such owner under section 674, whose
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income without the approval or consent of any adverse
party is, or, in the discretion of the grantor or a
nonadverse party, or both, may be--
(1) distributed to the grantor or the
grantor’s spouse;
(2) held or accumulated for future
distribution to the grantor or the grantor’s
spouse; or
(3) applied to the payment of premiums
on policies of insurance on the life of the
grantor or the grantor’s spouse (except
policies of insurance irrevocably payable for
a purpose specified in section 170(c)
(relating to definition of charitable
contributions)).
This subsection shall not apply to a power the exercise
of which can only affect the beneficial enjoyment of
the income for a period commencing after the occurrence
of an event such that the grantor would not be treated
as the owner under section 673 if the power were a
reversionary interest; but the grantor may be treated
as the owner after the occurrence of the event unless
the power is relinquished.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 951. AMOUNTS INCLUDED IN GROSS INCOME OF UNITED
STATES SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) Amounts Included.--
(1) In general.--If a foreign
corporation is a controlled foreign
corporation for an uninterrupted period of 30
days or more during any taxable year, every
person who is a United States shareholder (as
defined in subsection (b)) of such
corporation and who owns (within the meaning
of section 958(a)) stock in such corporation
on the last day, in such year, on which such
corporation is a controlled foreign
corporation shall include in his gross
income, for his taxable year in which or with
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which such taxable year of the corporation
ends--
(A) the sum of--
(i) his pro rata
share (determined under
paragraph (2)) of the
corporation’s subpart F
income for such year,
(ii) his pro rata
share (determined under
section 955(a)(3) as in
effect before the
enactment of the Tax
Reduction Act of 1975) of
the corporation’s
previously excluded
subpart F income
withdrawn from investment
in less developed
countries for such year,
and
(iii) his pro rata
share (determined under
section 955(a)(3)) of the
corporation’s previously
excluded subpart F income
withdrawn from foreign
base company shipping
operations for such year;
and
(B) his pro rata share
(determined under section
956(a)(2)) of the corporation’s
increase in earnings invested in
United States property for such
year (but only to the extent not
excluded from gross income under
section 959(a)(2)).
(2) Pro rata share of subpart F income.--
The pro rata share referred to in paragraph
(1)(A)(i) in the case of any United States
shareholder is the amount--
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(A) which would have been
distributed with respect to the
stock which such shareholder owns
(within the meaning of section
958(a)) in such corporation if on
the last day, in its taxable year,
on which the corporation is a
controlled foreign corporation it
had distributed pro rata to its
shareholders an amount (i) which
bears the same ratio to its subpart
F income for the taxable year, as
(ii) the part of such year during
which the corporation is a
controlled foreign corporation
bears to the entire year, reduced
by
(B) the amount of
distributions received by any other
person during such year as a
dividend with respect to such
stock, but only to the extent of
the dividend which would have been
received if the distribution by the
corporation had been the amount (i)
which bears the same ratio to the
subpart F income of such
corporation for the taxable year,
as (ii) the part of such year
during which such shareholder did
not own (within the meaning of
section 958(a)) such stock bears to
the entire year.
(3) Limitation on pro rata share of
previously excluded subpart F income
withdrawn from investment.--For purposes of
paragraph (1)(A)(iii), the pro rata share of
any United States shareholder of the
previously excluded subpart F income of a
controlled foreign corporation withdrawn from
investment in foreign base company shipping
operations shall not exceed an amount--
(A) which bears the same ratio
to his pro rata share of such
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income withdrawn (as determined
under section 955(a)(3)) for the
taxable year, as
(B) the part of such year
during which the corporation is a
controlled foreign corporation
bears to the entire year.
(4) Limitation on pro rata share of
investment in United States property.- For
purposes of paragraph (1)(B), the pro rata
share of any United States shareholder in the
increase of the earnings of a controlled
foreign corporation invested in United States
property shall not exceed an amount (A) which
bears the same ratio to his pro rata share of
such increase (as determined under section
956(a)(2)) for the taxable year, as (B) the
part of such year during which the
corporation is a controlled foreign
corporation bears to the entire year.
(b) United States Shareholder Defined.--For
purposes of this subpart, the term “United States
shareholder” means, with respect to any foreign
corporation, a United States person (as defined in
section 957(c)) who owns (within the meaning of section
958(a)), or is considered as owning by applying the
rules of ownership of section 958(b), 10 percent or
more of the total combined voting power of all classes
of stock entitled to vote of such foreign corporation.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 958. RULES FOR DETERMINING STOCK OWNERSHIP.
(a) Direct and Indirect Ownership.--
(1) General rule.--For purposes of this
subpart (other than sections 955(b)(1)(A) and
(B), 955(c)(2)(A)(ii), and 960(a)(1)), stock
owned means
(A) stock owned directly, and
(B) stock owned with the
application of paragraph (2).
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(2) Stock ownership through foreign
entities.--For purposes of subparagraph (B)
of paragraph (1), stock owned, directly or
indirectly, by or for a foreign corporation,
foreign partnership, or foreign trust or
foreign estate (within the meaning of section
7701(a)(31)) shall be considered as being
owned proportionately by its shareholders,
partners, or beneficiaries. Stock considered
to be owned by a person by reason of the
application of the preceding sentence shall,
for purposes of applying such sentence, be
treated as actually owned by such person.
* * * * * * *
(b) Constructive Ownership.--For
purposes of sections 951(b), 954(d)(3),
956(b)(2), and 957, section 318(a) (relating
to constructive ownership of stock) shall
apply to the extent that the effect is to
treat any United States person as a United
States shareholder within the meaning of
section 951(b), to treat a person as a
related person within the meaning of section
954(d)(3), to treat the stock of a domestic
corporation as owned by a United States
shareholder of the controlled foreign
corporation for purposes of section
956(b)(2), or to treat a foreign corporation
as a controlled foreign corporation under
section 957, except that--
(1) In applying paragraph
(1)(A) of section 318(a), stock
owned by a nonresident alien
individual (other than a foreign
trust or foreign estate) shall not
be considered as owned by a citizen
or by a resident alien individual.
(2) In applying subparagraphs
(A), (B), and (C) of section
318(a)(2), if a partnership,
estate, trust, or corporation owns,
directly or indirectly, more than
50 percent of the total combined
voting power of all classes of
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stock entitled to vote of a
corporation, it shall be considered
as owning all the stock entitled to
vote.
(3) In applying subparagraph
(C) of section 318(a)(2), the
phrase “10 percent” shall be
substituted for the phrase “50
percent” used in subparagraph (C).
(4) Subparagraphs (A), (B),
and (C) of section 318(a)(3) shall
not be applied so as to consider a
United States person as owning
stock which is owned by a person
who is not a United States person.