T.C. Memo. 1995-493
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
WILLIAM H. ADAIR AND PATRICIA ADAIR, Petitioners v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 5731-93. Filed October 12, 1995.
Pursuant to the U.S. Code, U.S. employees may be
either detailed or transferred to international
organizations for foreign service. P was transferred
from the U.S. Army to NATO. For years after 1981, sec.
911, I.R.C., was amended to exclude from the definition
of foreign earned income amounts "paid by the United
States or an agency thereof to an employee of the
United States or an agency thereof". Held: P was an
employee of NATO, and not an employee of the United
States.
Daniel Harvey FitzGibbon, for petitioners.
Brian M. Harrington, for respondent.
2
MEMORANDUM OPINION
KÖRNER, Judge: Respondent determined deficiencies in
petitioners' Federal income tax for the years 1988, 1989, and
1990 in the respective amounts of $22,641, $14,864, and $12,568.
Petitioners timely filed their 1988, 1989 and 1990 U.S.
Individual Income Tax Returns, Forms 1040, as married filing
jointly. Pursuant to an extension of time agreed to by
petitioners and respondent for the year 1988, the statutory
notice of deficiency with respect to the taxable years 1988, 1989
and 1990 was timely mailed to petitioners on November 16, 1992.
This case was submitted under Rule 122. The stipulation of
facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this
reference. All statutory references are to the Internal Revenue
Code in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references
are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, except as
otherwise noted.
Petitioners were residents of Brussels, Belgium, when they
filed their petition. Patricia Adair is a party to this
proceeding solely by virtue of having filed joint income tax
returns with her husband; consequently, all references to
petitioner hereinafter will be to William H. Adair. The
controversy for decision is whether section 911 exempted
petitioner from taxation as to a portion of his income during the
years in issue while performing services for the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) as a transferee from the U.S. Army.
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1. NATO
NATO is an organization of sovereign states created by the
North Atlantic Treaty (treaty). 63 Stat. 2241 (1949), T.I.A.S.
1964, 34 U.N.T.S. 243. The original signatory states included
the United States of America, the Kingdom of Belgium, Canada, the
Kingdom of Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of
Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland.
NATO was organized in order to promote stability and well-
being in the North Atlantic region. The parties to the treaty
seek to preserve peace and security and to unite efforts for
their collective defense. Treaty Art. 2, 63 Stat. 2243.
Article 9 of the treaty created the North Atlantic Council
(council), a body on which each of the parties would be
represented. This council is the highest decision-making body in
NATO and is composed of permanent representatives appointed by
each of the NATO member states. The Council created various
committees which were supported by an international staff drawn
from all member states.
Member states entered into an additional agreement entitled
the Agreement on the Status of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, National Representatives and International Staff.
This agreement was signed in Ottawa, Canada, on September 29,
1951, and is referred to herein as the Ottawa Agreement. 5
4
U.S.T. 1087, T.I.A.S. 2992. Part IV of the Ottawa Agreement
applies to officials of NATO's international staff. Article 17
therein provides that such officials will be agreed upon by the
Chairman of the Council of Deputies and the member state
concerned. Article 19 provides:
Officials * * * [so agreed upon] shall be exempt from
taxation on the salaries and emoluments paid to them by * *
* [NATO] in their capacity as such officials. Any Member
State may, however, conclude an arrangement with the Council
acting on behalf of * * * [NATO] whereby such Member State
will employ and assign to * * * [NATO] all of its nationals
(except, if such Member State so desires, any not ordinarily
resident within its territory) who are to serve on the
international staff of * * * [NATO] and pay the salaries and
emoluments of such persons from its own funds at a scale
fixed by it. The salaries and emoluments so paid may be
taxed by such Member State but shall be exempt from taxation
by any other Member State. * * * [5 U.S.T. at 1098.]
Article 22 of the Ottawa Agreement states that the
privileges and immunities provided to such officials were so
granted in the interests of NATO and not for the personal benefit
of the individuals themselves.
The United States and the Council also concluded an
arrangement in London, England, on September 29, 1951 (London
Agreement), as allowed by the second sentence of Article 19 of
the Ottawa Agreement. 5 U.S.T. at 1112. The London Agreement
essentially provides:
A. Whenever NATO desires the services of a U.S. national,
it will notify the deputy U.S. Council Representative of the
nature of the position to be filled, the qualifications required,
and the salary such individual would receive if employed by NATO;
B. the Government of the United States may assign to NATO a
U.S. national from its Government service who is acceptable to
5
NATO, and the U.S. Government will provide security clearances
for the individual concerned;
C. the Government of the United States will pay any and all
salaries and emoluments of U.S. nationals, who are employed by it
and assigned to NATO, from its own funds at rates determined by
the U.S. Government;
D. NATO agrees that it will not pay salaries and emoluments
to any citizen of the United States; and
E. NATO will credit to the United States the amounts of
salaries and emoluments which would otherwise have been paid by
NATO to U.S. nationals and will deduct the total of such credits
for each fiscal year from the amount assessed the Government of
the United States by NATO, in respect of the annual contribution
of the United States Government for the subsequent fiscal year.
2. Federal Employees International Organization Service Act
The U.S. Senate deemed it appropriate and advantageous for
the United States to take an active interest in the number and
caliber of Americans serving with international organizations.
It was determined that the increasing difficulties such
organizations were experiencing in recruiting American
specialists were due principally to the following: (1) Reduced
salary scales; (2) a lack of protection of Federal employment
rights and benefits; and (3) a lack of authority to detail
Federal employees to international organizations. The
appointment of Federal personnel to international organizations
was deemed to have the advantage of providing a means of
increasing the experience of Government employees. To remedy
recruitment difficulties, the Senate proposed legislation
(S.4004) providing Federal agency heads with the authority to
6
detail employees to international organizations, and protecting
the Federal employment rights of such employees.
On August 28, 1958, Congress enacted the Federal Employees
International Organization Service Act (FEIOSA), Pub. L. 85-795,
72 Stat. 959, to encourage and authorize details and transfers of
Federal employees for service with international organizations.
This act is now codified at 5 U.S.C. secs. 3343, 3581-3584
(1994). Section 3584 of Title 5 provided the President with the
authorization to prescribe regulations necessary to carry out the
provisions governing the detail and transfer of employees to
international organizations. In 1970, the President delegated to
the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) the authority granted
him by 5 U.S.C. sec. 3584.
3. Details and Transfers to International Organizations
Section 3343 of Title 5 addresses details, and 5 U.S.C.
secs. 3581-3584 address transfers to international organizations.
An international organization is defined as a public
international organization in which the Government of the United
States participates. An agency may detail or transfer an
employee without prior approval of OPM if an organization is
already designated as a qualifying international organization.
NATO is listed as one such qualifying international organization.
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a. Details
A detail is defined as the assignment or loan of an employee
to an international organization without a change of position
from the agency by which he is employed. 5 U.S.C. sec.
3343(a)(2). The status of an employee detailed to an
international organization remains that of an employee of his
agency for all purposes. A detailed employee is deemed an
employee of the agency from which detailed for the purpose of
preserving his allowances, privileges, rights, seniority, and
other benefits, and he is entitled to pay, allowances, and
benefits from funds available to that agency. 5 U.S.C. sec.
3343(c) and (d). A detailed employee continues to earn leave
under his agency's system. The head of an agency may detail an
employee from his agency to an international organization that
requests services. 5 U.S.C. sec. 3343(b). Details may be made
with or without reimbursement by the international organization
to the United States. 5 U.S.C. sec. 3343(d).
b. Transfers
A transfer is defined as a change of position by an employee
from an agency to an international organization. 5 U.S.C. sec.
3581(4).
An employee who transfers to an international organization
is entitled to retain coverage, rights, and benefits under any
system established by law for the retirement of employees of the
United States; to continue to participate in the Federal
8
Employees Group Life Insurance Program under chapter 87 of Title
5 U.S.C.; and to continue enrollment in the Federal Employees
Health Benefits Program under chapter 89 of Title 5 U.S.C. 5
U.S.C. sec. 3582(a)(1) and (2). To retain the above coverage,
rights, and benefits during a period of transfer, all necessary
employee payments and agency contributions must be currently
deposited in the respective trust funds for these programs. 5
U.S.C. sec. 3582(a)(1) and (2). The agency must continue its
contributions so long as employee payments are made. 5 U.S.C.
sec. 3582(a)(1) and (2), (d). Consequently, a transferred
employee who makes such contributions and retains such coverage,
rights, and benefits remains an employee of the agency from which
transferred for retirement, health benefits, and group life
insurance purposes. 5 C.F.R. sec. 352.309(b) (1995). The period
during which such coverage is retained is deemed creditable
service under any retirement system and service as an employee
for health and life insurance purposes. 5 U.S.C. sec. 3582(a)(1)
and (2).
A transferee is also entitled to retain coverage, rights,
and benefits for work-related injuries pursuant to chapter 81
(subchapter I) of Title 5 U.S.C. For this purpose, a
transferee's employment with an international organization is
deemed employment by the United States. However, any payments
made by an international organization due to injury or death are
9
creditable against any benefits payable under subchapter I of
chapter 81 of Title 5. 5 U.S.C. sec. 3582(a)(3).
At the time of transfer, a transferee may elect to retain
all accumulations and accruals of annual leave to his credit
which would otherwise be liquidated by a lump-sum payment. A
transferee may also request payment of all retained leave at any
time prior to reemployment; however, if a transferee elects a
lump-sum payment and is reemployed within 6 months of a transfer,
such transferee must refund the lump-sum payment to the agency.
5 U.S.C. sec. 3582(a)(4).
A transferee has an absolute right to reemployment with the
agency from which he was transferred, at his former position or a
position of like seniority, status, and pay, within 30 days of
application if he meets two conditions. The transferee must
separate from the international organization within his term of
employment with the international organization, that is, within
the agreed-upon time and any extensions thereof, and the
transferee must make such application to his former agency no
later than 90 days after separation. If application is made 30
days or more prior to separation, such applicant is entitled to
reemployment upon separation. 5 U.S.C. sec. 3582(b); 5 C.F.R.
sec. 352.311-312.
Upon reemployment, a transferee is entitled to the same rate
of pay to which he would have been entitled had he continuously
remained in Federal Civil Service. 5 U.S.C. sec. 3582(b). Also,
10
a transferee's sick leave account will be restored to its status
at the time of transfer. 5 U.S.C. sec. 3582(b). Additionally,
the period of separation caused by a transfer to an international
organization, as well as the period necessary to effectuate
reemployment, is deemed creditable service for all appropriate
Civil Service purposes. For example, the service is counted for
retirement purposes if a transferee retains retirement coverage.
5 U.S.C. sec. 3582(b).
An employee may be detailed or transferred pursuant to a
written request by an international organization for the services
of a U.S. employee only upon the consent and at the discretion of
the head of a U.S. agency. An agency may authorize the detail or
transfer of an employee to the organization for a period not to
exceed 5 years. The period of employment may be extended for an
additional 3 years with the consent of the head of the agency,
only when the Secretary of State determines such extension to be
in the national interest. 5 U.S.C. secs. 3343, 3582(a); 5 C.F.R.
sec. 352.308.
Refusal to authorize a transfer or an extension to transfer
is not reviewable or appealable. An agency and an international
organization shall by mutual agreement establish the effective
date of detail or transfer. 5 C.F.R. sec. 352.308. Upon
separation, an agency shall furnish a transferee with a statement
of his leave account and shall include on the personnel action
form effecting the employee's separation for transfer: (1) The
11
identity of the international organization to which he transfers;
and (2) a clear statement of the period during which he retains
reemployment rights in the agency. Id.
4. NATO Vacancy
On August 20, 1985, NATO posted a notice that a position on
its international staff would become vacant in May 1986.
Secretaries of Delegations were invited to submit names of
qualified candidates. The notice stated that the successful
candidate would be offered a definite duration contract not
exceeding 3 years, but that such term could be renewed by mutual
consent for an additional 3 years. The record herein does not
include such a contract. At the time petitioner applied for the
post advertised, he was in the U.S. Department of the Army (DOA),
as a program analyst in the Office of the Comptroller of the
Department of Defense (DOD) of the U.S. Government. Petitioner
was interviewed by NATO personnel at NATO headquarters in
Brussels, Belgium, sometime in March 1986. NATO paid all
expenses relating to petitioner's interview.
By letter dated March 25, 1986, NATO's Deputy Director of
Management informed the Administrative Adviser of the U.S.
Mission to NATO that the Secretary General of NATO had decided to
appoint petitioner, subject to a valid security clearance, to the
grade A.4 post of senior statistician. This letter also inquired
whether petitioner should be recruited on a reimbursable or
direct hire basis. In April, the U.S. Mission to NATO notified
12
the U.S. Secretary of Defense of petitioner's proposed
appointment. The notification requested the Defense Secretary
to: (1) Confirm petitioner's acceptance of the offer; (2)
provide an estimated reporting date; (3) certify petitioner's
security clearance status and the date of his last background
investigation; and (4) confirm whether petitioner's appointment
would be on a reimbursable basis.
5. NATO's International Staff Position
As a result of his interview, petitioner was offered the
NATO position. He accepted the offer. Upon acceptance, a Form
50-B, Notification of Personnel Action, was prepared by the DOA,
reflecting petitioner's transfer from his position with the DOD
to his new position with NATO for a 3-year term, effective June
22, 1986. While the United States initially paid the expenses of
moving petitioner and his family to Belgium, NATO reimbursed the
United States for these costs.
At the time NATO extended the offer, it was explained to
petitioner that because he was a U.S. Government employee, he had
the option of being recruited on a "reimbursable" or a "direct
hire" basis. Petitioner was notified that if he elected to be
recruited on a direct hire basis, he would lose his Civil Service
retirement and other benefits, as well as any right to be
reemployed by the United States following his term with NATO.
Petitioner would receive his salary, emoluments, and other
employment benefits directly from NATO, at the NATO salary scale
13
applicable to his position. If, instead, petitioner chose to be
recruited on a reimbursable basis, he would receive his salary
and emoluments directly from the DOA at the salary level
applicable to his former grade as a U.S. employee (GS-14), would
be granted reemployment rights with the U.S. Government for a
limited period following his employment under the NATO
appointment, and would continue to be eligible to participate in
employee benefit programs. Under the reimbursable option, NATO
would provide the United States with a credit against its fiscal
assessment for the amount of salary and emoluments that would
otherwise have been paid by NATO to petitioner pursuant to NATO's
salary scale. Petitioner would continue to be considered for
every promotion he would have been considered for had he remained
with the DOA, and if his former position was upgraded during his
absence, he would be upgraded as if he were still in that
position. Even in the reimbursable status, however, petitioner
would be entitled to certain educational allowances provided and
paid to him directly by NATO in accordance with NATO policy and
regulations.
Petitioner elected to be recruited on the "reimbursable"
basis and was transferred to NATO's international staff in
accordance with the London Agreement. Accordingly, as a then
employee of the U.S. Government who was transferred to an
international organization (NATO), petitioner was entitled to,
and did continue to participate in the U.S. Civil Service
14
Retirement System health and life insurance programs available to
U.S. employees, and was granted the right to be reemployed by the
United States following his tenure with NATO.
During the years in issue, petitioner was paid on a monthly
basis from the U.S. DOA in the United States for the services he
performed for NATO on its international staff. Forms W-2, Wage
and Tax Statements, were issued to petitioner by the DOA for each
of the years in issue. While the general salary level was
determined by NATO, the specific amount of petitioner's salary
was determined and paid in accordance with the internal salary
schedule of the U.S. Government. Although the NATO salary level
of a senior statistician, Systems Analysis and Statistics
Service, Defense Planning and Policy Division, was a grade A-4,
petitioner was paid under the U.S. salary level as a GS-14.
Before beginning work with NATO in June 1986, pursuant to
NATO's regulations, petitioner was required to sign a
"Declaration On Accepting Appointment", which provided:
I solemnly undertake to exercise in all loyalty,
discretion and conscience the functions entrusted to me as a
member of the staff of NATO, and to discharge these
functions with the interests of NATO only in view. I
undertake not to seek or accept instructions in regard to
the performance of my duties from any government or from any
authority other than the Organization.
Petitioner was required to devote substantially full time to
his duties on the international staff. He was required to render
services to NATO personally and performed services solely for
15
NATO during his term of transfer. A continuing relationship
existed between petitioner and NATO during the years in issue.
NATO authorities dictated the results that petitioner was to
accomplish through his work, as well as the means by which he was
to attain those results. NATO retained the right to control the
order and sequence of the tasks that petitioner performed.
NATO's personnel regulations set forth various details concerning
employment, including work hours, holidays, and rights concerning
leave.
NATO's personnel regulations required the organization to
provide insurance coverage to appropriately compensate staff
members and their families for physical injuries suffered as a
result of the performance of NATO duties. As an international
staff member, petitioner was also entitled to, and did receive,
certain educational allowances that were paid directly by NATO.
The stipulated record in this case does not reveal the exact
amounts paid to him.
A staff member could be separated from NATO due to the
expiration of the term of contract, resignation by the member,
age limitation, death, dismissal, or termination by the head of a
NATO body. Termination could result if a staff member did not
perform satisfactorily; became incapacitated; if the country from
which he were a national ceased to be a member of NATO, or
withdrew or failed to renew a security clearance; or due to
disciplinary action.
16
Petitioner's initial term with NATO was for 3 years
beginning June 22, 1986, and ending June 21, 1989. Petitioner
was required to obtain approval from appropriate U.S. authorities
for any and all extensions of his NATO tour. Petitioner's
initial term was extended by U.S. authorities, and twice by the
Secretary General of NATO, through June 21, 1994. In order to
continue his reemployment rights with the U.S. Government,
petitioner was required to obtain an extension of such rights.
Petitioner was granted extensions of his rights to reemployment.
6. Petitioners' Tax Returns
For the years 1988, 1989, and 1990, petitioner reported
gross income of $110,465.59, $83,290.72, and $73,457.92,
respectively. He received compensation for services performed
for NATO from the DOA totaling $67,625.10, $67,625.36 and
$70,082.76, respectively. These amounts were reflected in
petitioners' tax returns, including Form 2555, Foreign Earned
Income. Additionally, in part III of Form 2555, petitioner
reported as part of his foreign earned income, total allowances,
reimbursements, and other expenses paid on his behalf totaling
$28,960.49, $3,616, and $8,545.45, respectively, for the years
1988, 1989, and 1990. Petitioner reported these allowances
inconsistently during the years in issue. The significant
decrease in amounts reported between the years 1988 on the one
hand, and 1989 and 1990 on the other hand, is attributable to the
fact that petitioner in 1989 and 1990 did not include the total
17
allowances he received as part of the total foreign earned income
reflected on the form. Petitioner included a total figure for
the allowances he received in 1989 and 1990 in the space beside
the description for such allowances and described some allowances
as tax exempt; therefore, he did not include these amounts as
part of the total foreign earned income. Petitioner reflected
the home leave allowance as taxable in the only year it was
received. He reported the NATO education allowances as tax-
exempt in 1 year and as part of his foreign earned income in 2
other years. Petitioner consistently determined that the costs
of living, overseas differential, and the quarters allowances
were foreign earned income for all 3 years. Consequently,
petitioner reported foreign earned income for the years 1988,
1989, and 1990 totaling $96,585.59, $71,241.36, and $78,628.21,
respectively, before applying the limitations of section
911(b)(2)(A). On his returns, petitioner claimed exclusions from
income of $83,486.54, $65,100, and $70,000 for the years 1988,
1989, and 1990, respectively. For each year, petitioner
consistently reported that his employer was the "NATO
International Staff."
Respondent's notice of deficiency determined that petitioner
was not entitled to the total amounts claimed as section 911
exclusions because the salary petitioner received from the DOA
was not qualified foreign earned income.
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7. Section 911
At the election of a qualified individual, section 911(a)(1)
provides a limited exclusion for foreign earned income. Such
exclusion is limited to $70,000 annually. Sec. 911(b)(2). A
qualified individual is a U.S. citizen whose tax home is a
foreign country and who meets the bona fide residence test, or
resides in a foreign country for a qualifying period. Sec.
911(d)(1). The parties agree that petitioner was a U.S. citizen
and was a qualifying individual during the years in issue.
Foreign earned income includes amounts received from sources
within a foreign country as earned income for services performed,
but does not include amounts "paid by the United States or an
agency thereof to an employee of the United States or an agency
thereof". Sec. 911(b)(1)(A) and (B)(ii).
a. Petitioner's Employment Status
Respondent essentially contends that although petitioner was
transferred to NATO in accordance with the hiring procedures of
the London Agreement, he remained a U.S. employee for purposes of
section 911, regardless of common law principles of employment;
additionally, that amendments to section 911 made pursuant to the
Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA), Pub. L. 97-34, sec.
111(a), 95 Stat. 172, 190, do not alter this result.
Article 19 of the Ottawa Agreement allowed member states to
conclude an arrangement with NATO whereby a member state would
19
hire its nationals, assign them to NATO's international staff,
and pay their salaries from its own funds at a scale fixed by it.
By entering into such an arrangement, a member state could still
tax the amounts it so paid its nationals. The United States
entered into such an arrangement (the London Agreement). We have
determined that the United States retained the power to subject
its nationals to its taxing jurisdiction by complying with the
mechanism provided in Article 19. We have also found that
Article 19 gave the United States the ability to tax U.S.
nationals, rather than directly imposing the tax itself. Amaral
v. Commissioner, 90 T.C. 802, 815-816 (1988).
Prior to 1981, the relevant language limiting section 911
excludability referred to amounts "paid by the United States or
any agency thereof." In 1981, ERTA broadened the potential
section 911 exclusion by narrowing the definition of amounts
excluded from foreign earned income. Effective for taxable years
beginning after December 31, 1981, ERTA changed "paid by the
United States or an agency thereof" to "paid by the United States
or an agency thereof to an employee of the United States or an
agency thereof". ERTA sec. 111(a), 95 Stat. 190; Matthews v.
Commissioner, 907 F.2d 1173 (D.C. Cir. 1990), affg. 92 T.C. 351
(1989).
Petitioner acknowledges that before the ERTA amendment,
there would have been little doubt that he would not qualify for
20
the benefits of section 911. By making this concession,
petitioner agrees with respondent that he was "paid" by the
United States or an agency thereof, thereby eliminating from
consideration any question regarding who paid petitioner for the
services he performed for NATO. It is clear that before
enactment of ERTA in 1981, the United States retained the power
to tax its nationals by following the hiring procedures set forth
in the London Agreement. Amaral v. Commissioner, supra at 816.
Respondent argues that following the London Agreement
procedures conclusively determines that petitioner is a U.S
employee pursuant to section 911(b)(1)(B)(ii), as amended by
ERTA, on the theory that the language "employ and assign" of the
Ottawa Agreement is sufficient, in and of itself, to resolve the
employment question without consideration of the facts and
circumstances involved herein. Article 19 of that agreement
contemplates that member states which hire and pay their
nationals may "assign or detail" those persons for duty with
NATO. Such persons are considered "seconded" to NATO. Amaral v.
Commissioner, supra at 806. Respondent contends that both
detailed and transferred employees are "seconded" from the United
States and that, therefore, both are assigned to NATO and both
are U.S. employees, taxable on the salaries they receive from the
United States. While the term "detail" is defined as the
"assignment or loan" of an employee to an international
21
organization, a transfer is defined as a change of position by an
employee from a U.S. agency to an international organization. 5
U.S.C. secs. 3343(a)(2), 3581(4). It is evident that petitioner
was required to be an employee of the U.S. Government in order to
apply for the NATO position; whether he remained a U.S. employee
while performing services for NATO throughout the years in issue
is a threshold issue we are called upon to decide.
We cannot ignore that ERTA modified the relevant language of
section 911, while the language of the Ottawa and London
Agreements has remained unchanged. Although the United States
retained the power to tax its nationals by following the London
hiring procedures, ERTA added a change to the tax law that has
not caused a change in the Ottawa or London Agreements.
Congress can abrogate a treaty provision by subsequent statute.
Reid v. Covert, 354 U.S. 1, 18 (1957). It is equally true,
however, that when a treaty and a statute relate to the same
subject, courts will always attempt to construe them so as to
give effect to both. Whitney v. Robertson, 124 U.S. 190, 194
(1888). The intention to abrogate or modify a treaty is not to
be lightly imputed to Congress. Menominee Tribe v. United
States, 391 U.S. 404, 413 (1968). We agree with petitioner that
respondent fails to distinguish between Congress' power to tax
and its exercise of that power. The Ottawa and London Agreements
are construed as contracts, one among nations and the other
22
between the United States and an international organization.
Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Franklin Mint Corp., 466 U.S. 243,
253 (1984); Sullivan v. Kidd, 254 U.S. 433, 439 (1921). They are
not laws by which a nation imposes a tax on its citizens.
An examination of existing law and the facts herein is
required in light of the ERTA change.
The conference report accompanying ERTA states:
The bill extends the benefits of the exclusion to
individuals who receive compensation from the U.S. or any
agency thereof, but who are not employees of the U.S. or any
agency thereof. Thus, for example, the bill extends the
exclusion to certain overseas independent contractors and
teachers at certain schools for U.S. dependents who are not
employees of the U.S. or any agency thereof. [H. Rept. 97-
215 (1981), 1981-2 C.B. 481, 486.]
Respondent argues that petitioner is not a member of the
protected class carved out by the ERTA amendment as he is not an
independent contractor. Respondent further argues that as
petitioner is an employee, he is not an intended beneficiary of
the amendment and should not be eligible for the section 911
exclusion. The conference explanation does not limit the
exclusion to independent contractors and teachers but merely
provides examples of beneficiaries of the legislation. Although
the most obvious beneficiaries of the amendment may be
independent contractors, the language of the amendment speaks for
itself, and we cannot determine from the legislative history
alone that petitioner was not an intended beneficiary of the
amendment. The legislation clearly extends the benefits of
23
section 911 to individuals who receive compensation from the
United States but who are not employees of the U.S. Government.1
The Ways and Means Committee report accompanying ERTA
explains the change further:
The bill extends the benefits of the exclusion to
individuals who are paid by the United States but who are
not eligible for any exclusion under section 912 or any
other provision of U.S. law. As a general rule, therefore,
employees of the Federal Government will not be eligible for
the exclusion. [H. Rept 97-201 (1981), 1981-2 C.B. 352,
355.]
It is respondent's position that petitioner was eligible
for, and did receive, certain benefits from the U.S. Government,
such as allowances, reimbursements and expenses for cost of
living and overseas differentials, education expenses, and
quarters and housing. Section 912 generally provides that
amounts received by civilian officers and employees of the United
States as foreign area, cost of living, and Peace Corps
allowances are exempt from taxation. To be eligible for these
benefits and this exclusion, a taxpayer must be a civilian
officer or an employee of the U.S. Government, a determination we
have yet to make. Consequently, an analysis of section 912 alone
is not helpful in resolving the issue before us as it presupposes
petitioner is a U.S. employee. As revealed by petitioners' tax
1
Stated more precisely, the 1981 amendment to sec. 911 did
not directly increase the exclusion from income therein; it may
have done so indirectly by narrowing the limitation on that
exclusion.
24
returns, petitioner did receive allowances. Contrary to
respondent's assertions, receipt of these benefits by itself is
not determinative of petitioner's status as a U.S. Government
employee. Although petitioner may have received benefits of a
type contemplated by section 912, this fact does not conclusively
determine that petitioner is a U.S. employee, but merely
indicates that someone thought he qualified for such benefits.
Neither in section 911 nor elsewhere does the Code contain
definitions of "employee" or "U.S. employee". Respondent agrees
that precedents adopt the common law test when defining
"employee" for purposes of section 911(b)(1)(B)(ii). Matthews v.
Commissioner, 907 F.2d at 1175. It is clear that absent
indications to the contrary, courts have used the common law test
for defining "employee" in tax cases. Id. at 1178. Courts have
identified several factors to be considered when determining
whether an employment relationship exists. Among them are: (1)
The right to control the manner in which the work is performed;
(2) whether the individual performing the work has an opportunity
for profit or loss; (3) the furnishing of tools and the work
place to the worker; (4) the permanency of the working
relationship; (5) whether the service rendered is an integral
part of the alleged employer's business; (6) whether services are
offered to the general public rather than to one individual; (7)
the right to discharge; and (8) the intent of the parties or the
25
relationship they think they are creating. Juliard v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1991-230. The control factor overlaps
many other factors and is often cited as the fundamental or
"master" test of an employment relationship. Matthews v.
Commissioner, 92 T.C. at 361. Having stipulated virtually every
significant element of the common law test, it seems that
respondent has largely conceded that petitioner was a common law
employee of NATO during the years in issue. Although respondent
states that it cannot be said that petitioner was clearly an
employee of NATO, an examination of the facts and applicable law
demonstrates otherwise.
Respondent asserts that NATO had no authority to hire
petitioner but instead had to seek petitioner's transfer from the
U.S. Government. The London and Ottawa Agreements and the U.S.
Code and the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as the manner
by which petitioner was transferred to NATO, reveal that the
transfer process was a joint endeavor whereby both NATO and the
U.S. Government, respectively, agreed to acceptable hirees and
transferees. The effective date of transfer was likewise
mutually agreed upon. NATO notified the U.S. Government of a
vacancy, the nature of the position, qualifications required, and
the salary, if employed by NATO. We agree that potential NATO
hirees could be accepted only upon the consent and at the
26
discretion of the head of a U.S. agency, as well as the Secretary
General of NATO.
Requests for extensions of tour with NATO were subject to
U.S concurrence, but contrary to respondent's contentions, there
is no authority for the proposition that the United States could
require petitioner's return or terminate petitioner's tour before
expiration of an agreed-upon term. Respondent seeks support for
her contention in language contained in a standard form entitled
Rotation Agreement--Employees Recruited From The United States,
stating that extensions beyond the initial tour will be
authorized should management decide that an extension would be in
the best interests of the DOA. This form further states that
denial of such extension was not contestable. These statements
are consistent with U.S. law. To retain reemployment rights, a
transferee must separate from an international organization
within his agreed term of employment and any agreed extensions
thereof. We find that the United States retained the right to
deny a request for an extension of an agreed term, but could not
require a transferee to return before his agreed term expired.
Further, should a transferee choose to remain beyond his tour
without U.S. approval, he would forfeit any right to
reemployment.
NATO's rights of termination were markedly broader than the
rights of the United States. Significantly, NATO could terminate
27
petitioner not only upon the expiration of his term, but also due
to disciplinary action, unsatisfactory performance, or if the
country from which he was a national ceased to be a NATO member,
withdrew, or failed to renew a security clearance.
While respondent argues that petitioner and the United
States intended to continue their employment relationship
throughout petitioner's tenure with NATO, such intent is not
clear under the facts herein. We do find that the United States
sought not only to encourage transfers, but also sought to
encourage the reemployment of transferees upon the expiration of
their term of transfer. Congress enacted FEIOSA for the purpose
of encouraging details and transfers to international
organizations in which the United States participates. Houchens
v. Office of Personnel Management, 939 F.2d 970, 971 (Fed. Cir.
1991). Increasing the number and caliber of U.S. employees
serving in these international organizations was considered to be
of benefit to the United States as such individuals would gain
valuable international expertise which could be employed to
increase the effectiveness of the participation of the United
States in these international organizations. Congress sought to
encourage such transfers by eliminating deterrents. Transferees
were provided with the ability to protect their employment
benefits and the right to reemployment upon the expiration of a
term of transfer.
28
Respondent argues that petitioner's election to be paid
pursuant to the reimbursable option instead of as a direct hire
reflects his intent to continue his employment relationship with
the United States. The legislation outlined herein specifically
contemplates that transferees could retain such rights and
benefits and further specifies that one of the deterrents to such
transfers was the prospect of reduced salary scales upon
transfer. We note that the London Agreement provided that the
U.S. Government was to pay its nationals assigned to NATO at
rates determined by the former.
NATO, during petitioner's term of transfer, exclusively
directed petitioner's daily activities including the sequence of
tasks, the desired results to be achieved, and the means by which
such results were to be obtained. Petitioner was accountable
solely to NATO. This is revealed not only by NATO's personnel
regulations but also by the loyalty declaration petitioner signed
upon accepting his appointment to NATO.
Respondent argues that even though petitioner may be an
employee of NATO pursuant to the common law test, petitioner also
remained an employee of the United States for purposes of section
911, by virtue of the benefits and rights he retained as a
transferred employee.
Respondent suggests that the common law test for "employee"
should be construed broadly so as to consider the significant
29
benefits retained by petitioner. Petitioner argues that his
retention of benefits is not conclusive as to the identity of his
employer. We agree with petitioner. The determination of
whether petitioner was an employee of the United States depends
on all the facts and circumstances, including the paramount fact
that NATO, rather than the United States, controlled the manner
in which his work was performed. Matthews v. Commissioner, 92
T.C. at 360.
Other facts also indicate that petitioner was separated from
U.S. Government service during his transfer to NATO. Unlike a
detail, a transfer was considered a change in position.
Additionally, a transferee's right to reemployment with the
United States, in and of itself, indicates that a transferred
employee was no longer considered a U.S. employee. Although a
transferee retained an absolute right to reemployment, he had to
affirmatively apply for such reemployment. Upon transfer,
transferees were entitled to liquidate their accumulated leave
accounts in the same manner as separated employees. If a
transferee chose to retain retirement health and life insurance
coverage, the transferee was considered a U.S. employee for these
limited purposes. While on transfer to an international
organization, transferees were also considered employed by the
United States for purposes of workman's compensation coverage.
It can be inferred from these provisions that transferees were
30
not considered U.S. employees for other purposes. Cf. Matthews
v. Commissioner, supra.
Petitioner's performance was regularly evaluated by his NATO
supervisors. We do not find such arrangement to be contrary to a
transferee's status as a separated employee.
In sum, we find that in the years in issue, petitioner was
an employee of NATO, and not of the United States or an agency
thereof.
b. Petitioner's Income Under Section 911
We have decided that petitioner in the years in question was
the employee of NATO and not of the United States. This means
that the restrictions of section 911(b)(1)(B)(ii) do not apply to
petitioner here because although he was paid by the United
States, as the parties have stipulated, he was not an employee of
the United States. This does not mean that the exemption from
income under section 911 was broadened by the 1981 amendment to
section 911, but rather that the exclusion from that exemption
from income was somewhat narrowed, so that before the benefits of
section 911 could be denied the employee, it had to be shown that
he was both paid by the United States and at that time was also
an employee of the United States. Since we have found that
petitioner was not an employee of the United States, the
restriction on his right to claim section 911 benefits is
removed.
31
The parties have agreed and stipulated:
If Mr. Adair was not, during the taxable years at
issue, "an employee of the United States" within the
meaning of I.R.C. section 911(b)(1)(B)(ii), the
compensation he received for his work for NATO during
those years was "foreign earned income", as that term
is defined in I.R.C. section 911(b)(1)(A).
We treat this stipulation by the parties as a concession by
respondent that since we have found that petitioner was not an
employee of the United States, his compensation, both pay and
allowances, as a member of NATO, are entitled to exemption from
United States income tax under section 911(a)(1), cf. Walker v.
Commissioner, 101 T.C. 537, 550 (1993), subject, of course, to
the other applicable restrictions of section 911, including the
dollar limitations on foreign earned income in section 911(b)(2)
for the years in question. Although petitioners claimed an
exclusion from income for the year 1988 on account of housing,
presumably under section 911(a)(2), and although respondent's
statutory notice of deficiency disallowed this claimed exclusion
as well as the claimed exclusion for salary under section
911(a)(1), petitioners did not allege error on respondent's part
because of the disallowance of this housing exclusion, and
alleged no facts or argument, either in their petition or on
brief, in support of the proposition that such housing exclusion
for 1988 should be allowed. We conclude that petitioners have
abandoned the issue.
32
Accordingly, since the only issue presented in this case was
the right of petitioner to take advantage of the foreign earned
income exclusion of section 911(a)(1) because of his compensation
for serving as a member of NATO, and since respondent has
conceded that issue if we decide, as we have, that petitioner was
an employee of NATO and not of the United States, a recomputation
of petitioners' tax liability for the years 1988, 1989, and 1990
will be necessary, and
Decision will be entered
under Rule 155.