Scoville v. Commissioner

1925 BTA LEXIS 2255 | B.T.A. | 1925

Lead Opinion

OPINION.

Smith:

In his income-tax return for 1919 the taxpayer reported a net profit of $8,283.18 upon the sale of a lease in 1919 for a net consideration of $59,575. In the determination of the net profit the taxpayer added to the depreciated cost of the improvements upon the leased property at January 1, 1919 ($31,291.82), $20,000. The Commissioner has disallowed this addition to the depreciated cost of the improvements upon the leased premises and has computed the profit from the sale of the lease at $28,283.18.

In his appeal the taxpayer alleges errors on the part of the Commissioner in determining a deficiency in tax for 1918 as follows:

(1) The failure to allow the March 1, 1913, value of the leasehold for purposes of determining profit on the sale thereof and for the purpose of determining exhaustion accrued thereon.

(2) Failure to allow good will value as of March 1, 1913.

(3) Failure to allow a discount for notes received in part payment of the consideration for the sale and in valuing these notes at market, and that such market value was equal to the face thereof.

The taxpayer’s books of account have been lost and it is impossible to determine from any records now in the taxpayer’s possession the cost of the improvements to March 1, 1913. The taxpayer had the books of account at the time his return for 1918 was made up, and a schedule attached to that return shows the cost of the improvements at January 1, 1914, as having been $58,146.17. The taxpayer took no exception to the finding of the Commissioner that the cost of the improvements to March 1,1913, was the same amount. At the hearing counsel for the taxpayer contended, however, that the lease on the property expiring December 31, 1923, had a value on March 1, 1913, of more than $58,146.17, and claimed that the value, inclusive of the improvements, was $70,000.

The evidence shows that the taxpayer had a valuable lease. He had made extensive improvements upon the leased premises from the beginning of the term of the lease. Not only were the hotel and bathhouses operated profitably but he derived a large income from subrenting buildings which he had placed upon the property. His income from subrentals by 1912 was approximately $9,000 per year. His net income from the property was from $15,000 to $20,000 per year. By reason of the interest which he had taken in building up the properties the lessor was willing to rent the premises to him at a less amount than he would have rented to any other tenant.

From all of the evidence adduced at the hearing, the Board is of the opinion that the market value of the lease at March 1, 1913, inclusive of the improvements, was $70,000, the ‘amount contended for by the taxpayer.

It is to be noted, however, that the lease is subject to an exhaustion deduction under the Revenue Act of 1918. Appeal of Grosvenor Atterbury, 1 B. T. A. 169. In his income-tax returns prior to 1919 the taxpayer claimed depreciation upon improvements made on the leased premises in the total amount of $26,854.35. This amount does not include anything for exhaustion of the value of the lease in excess of the value of the improvements. The Board finds that the value of the lease was $11,853.83 in excess of March 1, 1913, value of the improvements, and this value is exhaustible over the term of the lease, 10 years and 10 months from March 1, 1913. The remaining value of the improvements and excess value of the lease at January 1, 1919, the date of sale, was $31,291.82 for the improvements and $5,471 for the excess value of the lease, total $36,762.82. The sale price of the lease, including improvements, was $59,575. The taxpayer realized a profit upon the sale of the lease in 1919 of $22,812.18 instead of $8,283.18, the amount shown on taxpayer’s original return.

The only evidence which the taxpayer submitted with respect to a good-will value as at March 1, 1913, was the net income of the taxpayer from his business operations and the fact that the lessor was willing to rent his property to Scoville at a less rental than he would have rented it to any other tenant. A finding of a goodwill value can not be predicated upon such evidence.

In 1919 the taxpayer sold his rights under his lease for $65,000, of which amount $5,425 was commission on the sale. The purchasers paid one-third of the purchase price in cash, the other two-thirds being payable over a period of three years with notes payable semiannually. The notes were paid off at maturity. No evidence was introduced that the notes at the time of receipt had a cash value less than their face value. In the opinion of the Board, the Commissioner made no error in holding that the notes were the equivalent of cash to their face value upon receipt by the taxpayer in 1919.

Arundell not participating.