Lead Opinion
Respondent determined deficiencies and additions to tax follows: in petitioners’ Federal income tax as
Year Deficiency 1983 $ 3,640.88
1984 10,341.56
1985 10,594.00
Year Deficiency
1986 $17,666.90
Additions to tax
Sec. 6653(a)(1)1 $182.04
517.08
Sec. 6653(a)(2) 50 percent of the interest due on $3,640.88 50 percent of the interest due on $10,341.56
Additions to tax
Sec. 6653(a)(1)(A) Sec. 6653(a)(1)(B)
Sec. 6661
$2,585.39
2,649.00
Sec. 6661 $4,417
Following concessions, the issues for decision are: (1) Whether petitioners may deduct amounts paid to a county Democratic Party as business expenses in 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986; (2) whether petitioners received unreported income of $4,135 during 1984; (3) whether petitioners are liable for additions to tax under section 6653(a)(1) and (2) for negligence or intentional disregard of rules and regulations for 1983 and 1984; and (4) whether petitioners are liable for additions to tax under section 6661 for substantial understatement of income tax for 1984, 1985, and 1986.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts, supplemental stipulation of facts, and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference.
Petitioners were husband and wife. They filed joint Federal income tax returns for 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986. Petitioners resided in Fairfield, Ohio, at the time they filed their petitions in this case. References to petitioner in the singular are to Douglas Cloud.
Petitioner works as a representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He is also an active
In 1983, the chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, James Ruvolo, met with the chairpeople of all the county Democratic Parties in the State. At that time, David L. Smith was chairman of the Butler County Democratic Party. At this meeting, Mr. Ruvolo told the county chairpeople that the State party would be requesting recommendations for the positions of deputy registrar of the State Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The State party would, in turn, recommend to the State of Ohio that these people be appointed as deputy registrars.
The deputy registrars were responsible for establishing and operating the State’s license bureaus. These bureaus processed applications for motor vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses. They also sold license plates, license plate renewal tabs, and laminated driver’s licenses. Each of the services was provided at a charge of $1.50.
It was the prаctice of previous administrations in Ohio that the deputy registrars would make contributions to the political party in power that had recommended their appointment. That practice consisted of the deputy registrars’ contributing 10 percent of their receipts or $.15 for each transaction conducted at the respective license bureaus.
At the time Mr. Ruvolo met with the county chairpeople in 1983, it was made known that each person appointed as a deputy registrar would “donate” to the county party 10 percent of receipts ($.15) on each transaction conducted at his license bureau. The deputy registrar was to make payment directly to the county party. The county party was then to forward $.05 of each $.15 to the Ohio Democratic Party. The bylaws of the State party provided for assessment of the county parties to helр fund the State party’s expenses. Transactions of the deputy registrar’s office had
Mr. Smith relayed information to the rest of the Butler County Democratic Party that four deputy registrar positions were available in their county. As there were many more interested individuals than available positions, the Butler County Democratic Party formed a committee consisting of seven party members to screen the applicants. Petitioner applied to the committee seeking recommendation for the position.
The requirements for recommendation were determined by the executive committee. Some of the qualities sought in an applicant were good business sense, a reputation for trustworthiness, past service to the party, and willingness to pay 10 percent of receipts to the party. Consеquently, as part of the screening process it was made clear to all the applicants that a condition of being appointed was the applicant’s willingness to pay a $.15 fee per transaction. All applicants understood that a commitment to make these payments was a prerequisite to recommendation. It was generally believed that failure to pay the transaction fee would result in loss of the appointment or nonrenewal of a registrar’s contract the following year.
The screening committee ultimately decided on four individuals, petitioner and three other members of the executive committee, Mr. David L. Smith, Mr. Joe Schwartz, and Mr. Phillip Morrical, Jr., to fill the available positions in Butler County. This decision was ratified by the executive committee, and the names forwarded to the chairman of the State party, Mr. Ruvolo. The recommendatiоn was followed, and all four were appointed deputy registrars.
A total of 244 deputy registrars were appointed in 1983 in Ohio’s 88 counties. The registrar of motor vehicles appointed 262 deputy registrars in 1984, 267 in 1985, and 273 in 1986. Once appointed, an individual entered into a contract with the State to act as deputy registrar. These contracts were renewable on a yearly basis.
For the years 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986, petitioner entered into written contracts with the State of Ohio to act as a deputy registrar. He operated two license bureaus in
Once the deputy registrars had been appointed, the Ohio Democratic Party began sending invoices to the Butler County Democratic Party each month. The invoices stated the total number of transactions conducted in each of the county’s license bureaus for the month and assessed the amount due from the county party for the State party’s share of the transaction fee. The treasurer of the Butler County Democratic Party billed each of the deputy registrars based on the number of transactions contained in the State invoice. If the deputy registrar overpaid his bill, the difference was refunded. If he underpaid it, the difference was added to the next bill.
Mr. Morrical, one of the deputy registrars appointed along with petitioner in 1983, operated a bureau in Oxford, a small town near the border of Ohio and Indiana. Due to its location the bureau had a low traffic volume. In 1985, Mr. Morrical, in order to maintain a satisfactory work force, increased the compensation of his bureau manager. As a result, the license bureau could no longer generate sufficient revenue to сover both the overhead and the 10-percent transaction fee. Consequently, Mr. Morrical discontinued paying the transaction fee to the party. Despite Mr. Morrical’s failure to maintain payment of the transaction fee, his contract was renewed for the following 3 years.
Petitioner made payments to the Butler County Democratic Party, in accordance with the invoices, during the entire time he served as deputy registrar. Petitioner paid the following total amounts each year he operated the license bureaus:
Year Amount
1983. $6,260
1984. 16,698
1985. 19,570
1986. 20,037
Petitioners deducted the payments to the Butler County Democratic Party as commissions on Schedule C of their 1983 Federal income tax return. For taxable years 1984, 1985, and 1986, petitioners reduced their reported gross
Petitioner also made additional contributions to State and county political parties and individual political campaigns which were unrelated to his receipts as a deputy registrar. Petitioners claimed no deductions for these additional contributions.
Respondent issued statutory notices of deficiency to petitioners with respect to taxable years 1983 through 1986 disallowing the 1983 deduction and including the payments to the Butler County Democratic Party in 1984, 1985, and 1986 in petitioners’ income for those years.
OPINION
The first issue for decision is whether the amounts petitioner paid to the Butler County Democratic Party with respect to his position as deputy registrar are deductible as a business expense under section 162. Section 162(a) allows a taxpayer to deduct ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred in carrying on a trade or business. Generally speaking, an expense is “ordinary” when the paying thereof is the common and accepted practice in light of the time, place, and circumstance. Welch v. Helvering,
Respondent argues that petitioner’s payments to the Butler County Democratic Party were not “necessary” because his position as a deputy registrar was not dependent
Despite his аrgument that the contributions in issue were not required, respondent’s brief seems to acknowledge the nexus between the contributions being made by deputy registrars and the acquisition and retention of their official positions when he states:
these contributions to the party invoked such significant public outrage that the legislature has since enacted a statute to make these contributions illegal. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. sec. 4503.32 (Baldwin 1989). This section, which became effective on Nov. 28, 1988, is entitled “Solicitation of Political Contributions from Deputy Registrars; Award or Termination of Contract Not to be Affected by Political Contributions.”[2]
The fact that there were some exceptions to this practice does not change our conclusion. “[B]usiness, like everything else, can only be conducted upon prophecies, and prophecies
Respondent’s primary argument is that petitioner’s payments, whether required or not, were “political contributions,” and that political contributions are not deductible under any cirсumstances. Respondent relies solely on section 24
Petitioners argue that the payments were in accordance with a contractual obligation to the Butler County Democratic Party to pay 10 percent of bureau receipts as a condition precedent to appointment Emd renewаl of petitioner’s contract as deputy registrar. Petitioners contend that the payments consequently could not have been political contributions since “By their nature, political contributions are voluntary and, once made, are never the source of future
We perceive nothing within the definition of the term “contribution” that requires that a payment must be made without an expectation of deriving a present or future financial benefit in order to be a “contribution.” Describing a contribution as “political” does nothing to preclude an expectation of financial gain. Section 24 defines a “political contribution” as “a contribution or gift of money to” (emphasis added) certain political organizations including State and local political parties. The Ohiо and Butler County Democratic Parties fall within the organizations enumerated. There are clear instances in the Internal Revenue Code where the term “contribution” is used to describe payments made with an obvious business purpose and for which deductions are allowable. See, for example, section 404, which provides deductions for “contributions” by employers pursuant to certain stock bonus, pension, profit sharing, and other deferred compensation plans. See also section 106, the title of which describes payments by employers to employee accident and health plans as “contributions.” Thus, we do not believe that petitioner’s payments constitute something other than political contributions simply because he made them with the expectation of deriving financial gain.
We have found no statutory provision that specifically precludes dеductibility under section 162 for political contributions made directly to a political party. However, our search for an answer to the question of whether political contributions can be deducted under section 162 has revealed at least four categories of politically related expenditures that are not deductible as business expenses under section 162. These four categories are: Expenditures for political influence in securing Government contracts; expenditures related to the acquisition of public office; expenditures for general lobbying and campaigning; and certain expenditures inuring to the benefit of a political party or candidate. Based on our analysis of these four categories, we find that petitioner’s payments to the Butler County Democratic Party may not be deducted as ordinary and necessary business exрenses.
It has long been established that “Payments made as the mere purchase price of political influence to obtain or hold public contracts cannot soundly be recognized as constituting ‘ordinary and necessary expenses’ of business operations, within the meaning of, and subject to income tax deduction under, [the predecessor of section 162(a)].” Rugel v. Commissioner,
The taxpayer in Rugel v. Commissioner, supra, was in the business of selling revenue stamps used by States in taxing packaged liquor. In 1934, Missouri contracted to purchase revenue stamps from the taxpayer’s firm. In the following year, the taxpayer learned that the State was buying some of its stamps from a competitor at a higher price. The State supervisor of liquor control had directed that orders for part of its revenue stamps be given to the competing firm.
A representative of the taxpayer’s competitor, in order to secure the contract, had agreed to split his commissions on the contract with a precinct captain who was connected with the political boss of the city in which the State liquor supervisor resided. The taxpayer subsequently struck a deal with the same precinct captain, agreeing to pay him half of all commissions received on the sale of revenue stamps to Missouri in return for switching the rest of the State’s business back to him. It was thesе payments that the taxpayer attempted to deduct and the disallowance of which the court sustained.
As in Rugel, petitioner in the instant case paid a percentage of his receipts in return for the payee’s political influence in getting him a financially lucrative position. Being appointed deputy registrar was tantamount to being awarded a concession with respect to driver and vehicle license renewals in a given geographical area. Petitioner’s
Expenditures to Attain Public Office
The seminal case on this issue is McDonald v. Commissioner,
The Supreme Court stated several reasons for disallowing the claimed expenses. First, the expenses were incurred in becoming a judge rather than being a judge. Second, allowance of a deduction for such “assessments” would require the allowance of deductions for officials who paid such “assessments” out оf party allegiance mixed or unmixed with a lively sense of future favors. Finally, to the extent that deductibility would be determined on a political party’s policy of charging “assessments” to prospective or incumbent officeholders, deductibility would be controlled by the internal arrangements of a particular political party in disregard of the statutory restriction confining deductible expenses solely to outlays in the efforts or services from which the income flows. McDonald v. Commissioner, supra at 61; Estate of Rockefeller v. Commissioner,
The taxpayer’s payment of the assessment in McDonald was no more voluntary, nor made with a lesser expectation
The fact that payments were made after petitioner was an incumbent deputy registrar makes no difference to our conclusion. As stated in McDonald:
To draw a distinction between outlays for reelection and those for election — to allow the former and disallow the latter — is unsupportable in reason. It is even more unsupportable in public policy to derive from what Congress has thus far enacted a handicap against candidates challenging еxisting officeholders. And so we cannot recognize petitioner’s claim on the score that he was a candidate for reelection. [McDonald v. Commissioner,323 U.S. at 63-64 . Fn. ref. omitted.]
The fact that petitioner’s office was not an elected position does not sufficiently distinguish the instant case from McDonald to make petitioner’s expenses deductible. In Estate of Rockefeller v. Commissioner,
Expenditures for General Lobbying and Campaigning
Section 162(e) generally allows deductions for business expenses paid or incurred in connection with appearances before or communications with legislative bodies with respect to legislation or proposed legislation related to a taxpayer’s business.
It is the use to which expenditures are put that is relevant under section 162(e) and the accompanying regulatiоns. For example, section 1.162-20(c)(3), Income Tax Regs., prohibits deduction of dues to a labor union or trade association to the extent they are used in connection with attempts to influence the public with respect to legislation or for participation in any political campaign. The motive or expectations of the payor are not relevant to the deductibility of such payments.
Petitioner’s payments to the Butler County Democratic Party, one-third of which were forwarded to the Ohio Democratic Party, were used to fund the activities of both
Certain Expenditures Inuring to Benefit of a Political Party or Candidate
Section 276 disallows certain indirect contributions to political parties.
SEC. 276. CERTAIN INDIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICAL PARTIES.
(a) Disallowance of Deductions — No deduction otherwise allowable under this chapter shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred for—
(1) advertising in a convention program of a political party, or in any other publication if any part of the proceeds of such publication directly or indirectly inures (or is intended to inure) to or for the use of a political party or a political candidate,
(2) admission to any dinner or program, if any part of the proceeds of such dinner or program directly or indirectly inures (or is intended to inure) to or for the use of a political party or a political candidate, or
(3) admission to an inaugural ball, inaugural gala, inaugural parade, or inaugural concert, or to any similar event which is identified with a political party or a political candidate.
(b) Definitions. — For purposes of this section—
(1) Political party. — The term “political party” means—
(A) a political party;
(B) a National, State, or local committee of a political party; or(C) a committee, association, or organization, whether incorporated or not, which directly or indirectly accepts contributions (as defined in section 271(b)(2)) or make[s] expenditures (as defined in section 271(b)(3)) for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the selection, nomination, or election of any individual to any Federal, State, or local elective public office, or the election of presidential and vice-presidential electors, whether or not such individual or electors are selected, nominated, or elected.
(2) Proceeds inuring to or for the use of political candidates. — Proceeds shall be treated аs inuring to or for the use of a political candidate only if—
(A) such proceeds may be used directly or indirectly for the purpose of furthering his candidacy for selection, nomination, or election to any elective public office, and
(B) such proceeds are not received by such candidate in the ordinary course of a trade or business (other than the trade or business of holding elective public office).
The specific transactions which section 276 addresses do not literally include the payments which petitioner made directly to the Butler County Democratic Party. Consequently, section 276 is not strictly applicable. However, allowing petitioner to deduct his payments to the Butler County Democratic Party would be allowing him to do directly what section 276 otherwise prohibits him from doing indirectly.
The legislative history of section 276 demonstrates that its enactment was intended to close the last loophole for allowing deduction of contributions to political organizations as ordinary and necessary business expenses. The Senate report states:
In the case of payments for admissions to dinners or programs held for the purpose of raising funds for a political party or candidate, it appears unlikely that a deduction is available under present law even though the expense is incurred by a business * * *.
Moreover, since direct political contributions are not deductible under present law to individuals not engaged in business, your committee believes that it is undesirable to permit a business to take a trade or business expense deduction with respect to any of these amounts which usually in practice represent ways of making indirect political contributions or costs of participating in political activities.
[S. Rept. 1010, 89th Cong., 2d Sess. (1966), 1966-1 C.B. 476 , 504-505.]
Congress obviously did not intend to allow contributions to political organizations to be deductible as business expenses.
In sum, review of these four categories of nondeductible expenses establishes that whether a payment to a political party was a practical necessity in order to attain or retain a financially lucrative public office is not dispositive of the issue of whether it is a nondeductible “political contribution.” The presence of an immediate or future financial benefit does not remove a payment from the realm of nondeductible political contributions.
The foregoing analysis indicates that the historical basis for not allowing section 162 deductions for political contributions and campaign expenses is, to at least a certain extent, based on public policy considerations. See Nichols v. Commissioner,
The next issue for decision is whether petitioners received unreported income of $4,135 during 1984. Respondent’s determination is presumed correct and petitioners bear the burden of proving otherwise. Rule 142(a); Welch v. Helver-ing,
The next issue for decision is whether petitioners are liable for the additions to tax under section 6653(a)(1) and (2) for negligence or intentional disregard of rules and regulations for the years 1983 and 1984. Section 6653(a)(1) imposes a 5-percent addition to tax if any part of an underpayment of tax is due to negligence or intentional disregard of the rules and regulations. Section 6653(a)(2) provides for a sеparate addition to tax equal to 50 percent of the interest payable on the portion of the underpayment attributable to negligence or intentional disregard of the
With respect to the deficiencies arising from the payments to the Butler County Democratic Party in both the 1983 and 1984 taxable years, we find that those deficiencies were not the result of petitioners’ negligence. Respondent did not argue that the payments were not ordinary, and there was ample evidence in the record that a reasonable person could have considered them to be appropriate and helpful as well. The evidence established that it was generally understood that failure to make the payments would result in termination or lapse of an individual’s appointment. We have found no cases directly on point with respect to petitioners’ situation, and we have rejected respondent’s only legal argument based on section 24. Petitioners did not attempt to deduct their political contributions which were not related to bureau receipts. On the basis of the record, we are satisfied that petitioners’ underpayments which result from the nondeductibility of their payments to the Butler County Democratic Party were not due to negligence or intentional disregard of the rules and regulations. Wofford v. Commissioner,
1984 deficiency arising from the unreported income adjustment.
The final issue for decision is whether petitioners are liable for the additions to tax under section 6661 for
Congress made respondent’s waiver a discretionary act. We should give due deference to respondent’s discretion. We have held, however, that this Court has the authority to review respondent’s failure to grant a waiver pursuant to section 6661(c). The appropriate standard оf review is whether respondent has abused his discretion. Mailman v. Commissioner,
The sum total of respondent’s arguments for disallowance of deductions for amounts paid by petitioner to the Butler County Democratic Party is that (1) the payments were not required in order to obtain and retain petitioner’s position as deputy registrar, and (2) that political contributions are always nondeductible. Respondent’s legal argument for nondeductibility of political contributions was based solely on his analysis of section 24. Both positions have been found to be without merit. Had petitioners been presented with respondent’s arguments at the time of making the returns in issue, they would have been reasonable in rejecting them. Determining the deductibility of expenditures
Decisions will be entered under Rule 155.
Notes
Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code as amended and in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
2Ohio Rev. Code Ann. sec. 4503.32 (Anderson 1990) states:
Sec. 4503.032 Offenses concerning political contributions.
(A) As used in this section, “candidate,” “contribution,” and “campaign committee” have the same meanings as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) No person shall knowingly solicit directly or indirectly, orally or by letter, or be in any mаnner concerned in soliciting any assessment, subscription, or contribution for any political party, for the governor or his campaign committee, or for any candidate for public office or his campaign committee from a person known by the solicitor to be a deputy registrar under contract with the registrar of motor vehicles.
(C) Neither the registrar nor any person shall award a deputy registrar contract to a person, or promise to do so, because that person pays an assessment or subscription to, or makes a contribution to, any political party, the governor or his campaign committee, or any candidate for public office or his campaign committee. Neither the registrar nor any person shall withhold a deputy registrar contract from a person, or threaten to do so, because that person fails to pаy an assessment or subscription to, or fails to make a contribution to, any political party, the governor or his campaign committee, or any candidate for public office or his campaign committee. Neither the registrar nor any person shall terminate a deputy registrar contract awarded to a person, or threaten to do so, because that person fails to pay an assessment or subscription to, or fails to make a contribution to, any political party, the governor or his campaign committee, or any candidate for public office or his campaign committee.
(D) Whoever violates this section shall be fined ten thousand dollars.
Sec. 24, formerly sec. 41, was redesignated by the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98-369, sec. 471(c)(1), 98 Stat. 494, 825. There was no change in the statutory provision. Sec. 24 applies to tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983. Sec. 41 applies to prior years. Sec. 24 was repealed for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986. Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99-514, sec. 112(a), 100 Stat. 2085, 2108.
Sec. 162 states:
SEC. 162(e). Appearances, Etc., with Respect to Legislation.—
(X) In general. — The deduction allowed by subsection (a) shall include all the ordinary and necessary expenses (including, but not limited to, traveling expenses described in subsection (a)(2) and the cost of preparing testimony) paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business—
(A) in direct connection with appearances before, submission of statements to, or sending communications to, the committees, or individual members, of Congress or of any legislative body of a State, a possession of the United States, or a political subdivision of any of the foregoing with respect to legislation or proposed legislation of direct interest to the taxpayer, or
(B) in direct connеction with communication of information between the taxpayer and an organization of which he is a member with respect to legislation or proposed legislation of direct interest to the taxpayer and to such organization,
and that portion of the dues so paid or incurred with respect to any organization of which the taxpayer is a member which is attributable to the expenses of the activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) carried on by such organization.
(2) Limitation — The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not be construed as allowing the deduction of any amount paid or incurred (whether by way of contribution, gift, or otherwise)—
(A) for participation in, or intervention in, any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office, or
(B) in connection with any attempt to influence the general public, or segments thereof, with respect to legislative matters, elections, or referendums.
H. Rept. 1447, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. (1962), 1962-
See also sec. 271, which generally disallows deductions under either secs. 166 or 165 by reason of the worthlessness of any debt owed to a taxpayer by a political party. It is apparent from the discussion on the Senate floor that this section was introduced to preclude deductions of political contributions which had been disguised as loans. 98 Cong. Rec. 8279 (1952).
Respondent makes no argument that the payments in question were in any way illegal.
The explanation of these provisions contained in the Senate Finance Committee report, S. Rept. 91-552 (1970), 1969-
Explanation of provision. — The provision added by the committee amendments denies deductions for four types of expenditures: fines or similar penalties paid to a government for the violation of any law, a portion of treble damage payments under the antitrust laws following a related criminal conviction (or plea of equity or nolo contendere), deductions for bribes paid to public officials (whether or not foreign officials), and other unlawful bribes or “kickbacks.” The provision for the denial of the deduction for payments in these situations which are deemed to violate public policy is intended to be all inclusive. Public policy, in other circumstances, generally is not sufficiently clearly defined to justify the disallowance of deductions. However, this is not, of course, intended to affect the treatment of lobbying expenditures which are already covered by the tax law. [Emphasis added.]
Sec. 6661(c) provides:
SEC. 6661(c). Authority to Waive. — The Secretary may waive all or any part of the addition to tax provided by this section on a showing by the taxpayer that there was reasonable cause for the understatement (or part thereof) and that the taxpayer acted in good faith.