Norwest Corporation and Subsidiaries, Successor in Interest to United Banks of Colorado, Inc., and Subsidiaries v. Commissioner

111 T.C. No. 5

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

NORWEST CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO
UNITED BANKS OF COLORADO, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES, ET AL.,1
Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket Nos. 26499-93, 3723-95, Filed August 10, 1998.
3724-95, 3725-95.

I.

P is the successor in interest to an affiliated
group of corporations whose parent corporation is
United Banks of Colorado, Inc. (the UBC affiliated
group and UBC, respectively). UBC and certain other
members of the UBC affiliated group (collectively, the
Bank) built a structure called the Atrium. P seeks to
allocate the cost of constructing the Atrium to the
bases of adjoining properties that were held by the
Bank. Alternatively, P seeks to deduct the cost of

1
The cases of the following petitioners are consolidated
herewith: Norwest Corp., Successor in Interest to United Banks
of Colorado, Inc., and Subs., docket No. 3723-95; Norwest Corp.,
Successor in Interest to Intrawest Financial Corp. and Subs.,
docket No. 3724-95; Norwest Corp., Successor in Interest to Lorin
Investment Co., Inc. and Subs., docket No. 3725-95.
 - 2 -

constructing the Atrium under sec. 165(a), I.R.C.
Held: P may not allocate the cost of constructing the
Atrium to the bases of the adjoining properties because
the basic purpose of the Atrium was not the enhancement
of the adjoining properties so as to induce sales of
those properties. The basic purpose test enunciated in
Estate of Collins v. Commissioner, 31 T.C. 238 (1958),
and subsequent cases, is applicable, but the Atrium
does not qualify under that test. Held, further, P has
failed to establish a loss equal to the cost of
constructing the Atrium pursuant to sec. 1.165-1(b) and
(d)(1), Income Tax Regs., and, therefore, is not
entitled to a deduction under sec. 165(a), I.R.C.

II.

Pursuant to various agreements (the 1988 Atrium
Transaction), a member of the UBC affiliated group
(LBC) sold an undivided 48-percent interest in the
Atrium and certain related property, and another member
of the UBC affiliated group (UBD) agreed to lease the
Atrium and certain related property from LBC and
another party. The UBC affiliated group reported the
1988 Atrium Transaction as a sale and leaseback for
Federal income tax purposes. Held: P may not disavow
the form of the 1988 Atrium Transaction.

III.

P claims that it is entitled to calculate the
corporate minimum tax for the UBC affiliated group's
1977, 1980, 1984, and 1985 taxable years on a separate
return basis and claims refunds for those years on that
basis. Held: The regular tax deduction under sec.
56(c), I.R.C., for an affiliated group of corporations
is limited to the amount of tax imposed on the group
under chapter one of subtitle A (without regard to the
corporate minimum tax and certain other provisions and
reduced by the sum of certain credits) and, therefore,
P's refund claim is denied.

IV.

P claims that certain furniture and fixtures
placed in service by various members of the UBC
affiliated group during the group’s 1987 through 1989
taxable years, which are described in both asset
guideline classes 57.0 (Distributive Trades and
Services) and 00.11 (Office Furniture, Fixtures, and
 - 3 -

Equipment) of Rev. Proc. 87-56, 1987-2 C.B. 674, should
be classified as class 57.0 property. Held: Rev.
Proc. 87-56 carries forward the pattern established in
Rev. Proc. 62-21, 1962-2 C.B. 418; the priority rule of
Rev. Proc. 62-21 is implicit in Rev. Proc. 87-56:
Asset guideline class 00.11 takes precedence over asset
guideline class 57.0.

V.

P claims that, in determining the portion of the
UBC affiliated group’s consolidated net operating loss
(NOL) that is attributable to bad debt deductions of
bank members, and is, thus, subject to the special
10-year carryback rule of sec. 172(b)(1)(L), I.R.C., it
can apply the special loss ordering rule of sec.
172(l)(1), I.R.C., to the consolidated NOL of both bank
and nonbank members. Held: The consolidated return
regulations contemplate that the consolidated NOL is
comprised of the separate taxable income, including
separate NOL, of each member, and the special ordering
rules of sec. 172(l)(1), I.R.C., apply to a bank not
between a bank member and a nonbank member of an
affiliated group.

Walter A. Pickhardt, Mark Hager, and Scott G. Husaby for

petitioners.

Jack Forsberg, Tracy Martinez, Robert M. Ratchford, and

David L. Zoss, for respondent.

OPINION

HALPERN, Judge: Norwest Corp. (Norwest), a Delaware

corporation, is the petitioner in each of these consolidated

cases. Norwest is the petitioner by virtue of being the

successor in interest to various other corporations. When

necessary for clarity, we shall refer by name to Norwest or one

or the other of those predecessor corporations. Otherwise, we
 - 4 -

shall use the term “petitioner” to refer without distinction to

Norwest or one or more of the predecessor corporations.

These consolidated cases involve determinations by

respondent of deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income taxes

and claims by petitioner of overpayments, as follows:

Norwest Corp. & Subs., Successor in Interest
Docket No. 26499-93 to United Banks of Colorado Inc., & Subs.

Taxable
Year Ending Deficiency Overpayment

Dec. 31, 1988 $1,375,108 $1,655,377
Dec. 31, 1989 1,220,465 1,073,562
Dec. 31, 1990 11,709 641,481
Apr. 19, 1991 20,390 200,417

Norwest Corp., Successor in Interest to
Docket No. 3723-95 United Banks of Colorado, Inc., and Subs.

Taxable
Year Ending Deficiency Overpayment

Dec. 31, 1977 $169,807 $2,266,944
Dec. 31, 1978 390,485 3,625,304
Dec. 31, 1979 123,996 5,931,559
Dec. 31, 1980 2,778 467,598
Dec. 31, 1984 648,163 3,374,964
Dec. 31, 1985 4,637,602 1,596,738

Norwest Corp., Successor in Interest to
Docket No. 3724-95 Intrawest Financial Corp. and Subs.

Taxable
Year Ending Deficiency

Dec. 31, 1980 $34,413
Apr. 30, 1987 1,010

Norwest Corp., Successor in Interest in
Docket No. 3725-95 Lorin Investment Co., Inc., and Subs.

Taxable
Year Ending Deficiency

Dec. 31, 1980 $20,491
Dec. 31, 1981 10,371
 - 5 -

After concessions by the parties, the issues remaining for

decision are (1) whether petitioner may allocate the cost of

certain property to the bases of other properties, (2) whether

petitioner is entitled to a loss deduction under section 165(a)

for the cost of certain property, (3) whether petitioner may

disavow the form of a transaction relating to certain property,

(4) whether petitioner is entitled to refunds of tax paid

pursuant to section 56(a), (5) the applicable recovery period for

determining depreciation deductions with respect to certain

furniture and fixtures, and (6) the appropriate method for

determining that portion of a consolidated net operating loss

attributable to the bad debt deductions of the bank members of an

affiliated group. Some of the facts have been stipulated and are

so found. The stipulations of facts filed by the parties, with

accompanying exhibits, are incorporated herein by this reference.

The parties have made 150 separate stipulations of fact,

occupying more than 40 pages, and there are 174 accompanying

exhibits. We shall set forth only those stipulated facts that

are necessary to understand our report, along with other facts

that we find.

Unless otherwise noted, all section 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.
 - 6 -

CONTENTS

I. Background ...............................................7
II. Atrium Issues..............................................8
A. Findings of Fact......................................8
1. Background........................................8
2. Events Preceding the 1981 Transactions. ...........11
a. Introduction................................11
b. The Committee Meeting of August 24, 1979....12
c. The Harrison Price Report...................13
d. The Planning Dynamics Report................14
e. The Committee Meeting of August 25, 1980....15
f. Approval of the Facilities Master Plan......16
3. The 1981 Transactions............................16
a. The 1700 Partnership........................16
b. The Ground Lease............................16
c. The Atrium Project Agreement................17
d. The Skyway Agreement, the 1981 Easement
Agreement, and the Space Lease..............18
4. The Ross and Eastdil Reports.....................19
5. The Committee Meeting of October 24, 1984........22
6. Construction and Operation of the Atrium.........22
7. The Atrium Assets: Cost Bases and Depreciation...24
8. The 2UBC Transaction.............................26
a. The Various Agreements......................26
b. Tax Treatment of the 2UBC Transaction.......27
9. The 3UBC Transaction.............................28
a. The Various Agreements......................28
b. Tax Treatment of the 3UBC Transaction.......30
10. The 1UBC Land Transaction........................30
11. The 1988 Atrium Transaction......................31
a. Background..................................31
b. The Atrium Sale Agreement...................31
c. Tax Treatment by UBC of the
1988 Atrium Transaction.....................33
d. UBC's Financial Statements..................34
e. Petitioner's Responses to Information
Document Requests Regarding the Atrium......34
B. The Atrium Assets: Allocation of the Costs...........35
1. Issue............................................35
2. Arguments of the Parties.........................36
3. Analysis.........................................38
a. Developer Line of Cases......................38
b. The Principles of the Developer
Line of Cases................................42
c. Application of the Basic Purpose Test........44
4. Conclusion.......................................49
 - 7 -

C. The Atrium Assets: Loss Deduction
Under Section 165(a).................................51
D. The 1988 Atrium Transaction: Disavowal of Form.......52
1. Issue............................................52
2. Arguments of the Parties.........................52
3. Analysis.........................................53
a. Introduction.................................53
b. The Danielson Rule Does Not Apply............54
c. Respondent’s Weinert Rule....................55
d. Estate of Durkin v. Commissioner.............58
e. Petitioner May Not Disavow the Form of the
1988 Atrium Transaction......................59
4. Conclusion.......................................62

III. Corporate Minimum Tax Issue...............................62
A. Introduction.........................................62
B. The Corporate Minimum Tax Provisions.................63
C. The Two Methods......................................64
1. UBC's Method.....................................64
2. Petitioner's Method..............................64
D. Analysis.............................................67
1. Issue............................................67
2. Arguments of the Parties.........................67
3. Discussion.......................................69
E. Conclusion...........................................75
IV. Furniture and Fixtures Recovery Period Issue.............75
A. Introduction.........................................75
B. Applicable Recovery Period; Class Life...............78
C. Arguments of the Parties.............................80
D. Discussion...........................................81
E. Conclusion...........................................87
V. Net Operating Loss Issue.................................87
A. Introduction.........................................87
B. Facts................................................89
C. Petitioner’s Position................................93
D. Discussion...........................................94
E. Conclusion...........................................97

I. Background

On the date that the petition in each of these cases was

filed, Norwest’s principal place of business was in Minneapolis,

Minnesota. Norwest is a bank holding company whose affiliates

provide banking and other financial services.
 - 8 -

On April 19, 1991, United Banks of Colorado, Inc. (UBC), a

Colorado corporation, was merged with and into Norwest pursuant

to section 368(a)(1)(A). At all relevant times prior to its

merger with Norwest, UBC was the common parent corporation of an

affiliated group of corporations making a consolidated return of

income (the UBC affiliated group). UBC was a calendar-year

taxpayer. Petitioner is the successor in interest to the UBC

affiliated group as it existed during the years in issue.

On May 1, 1987, Intrawest Financial Corp. (Intrawest), a

Colorado corporation, was merged with and into UBC pursuant to

section 368(a)(1)(A). At all relevant times prior to its merger

with UBC, Intrawest was the common parent corporation of an

affiliated group of corporations making a consolidated return of

income (the Intrawest affiliated group). Petitioner is the

successor in interest to the Intrawest affiliated group for its

taxable year 1980 and its short taxable year ended April 30,

1987.

On April 1, 1982, UBC purchased for cash the stock of Lorin

Investment Co., Inc. (Lorin), a Colorado corporation. At all

relevant times prior to being acquired by UBC, Lorin was the

common parent corporation of an affiliated group of corporations

making a consolidated return of income (the Lorin affiliated

group). Petitioner is the successor in interest to the Lorin

consolidated group for its taxable years 1980 and 1981.
 - 9 -

II. Atrium Issues

A. Findings of Fact

1. Background

During the years in issue, UBC owned in excess of 99 percent

of the stock of United Bank of Denver (UBD), a national bank with

its principal place of business in Denver, Colorado. UBD was the

sole shareholder of Lincoln Building Corp. (LBC), a Colorado

corporation. LBC was the real estate holding company for UBD.

(In the papers filed in this case, the convention of the parties

has been to use the term “the Bank” to refer to UBC, UBD, or LBC,

individually or collectively, in cases where those corporations

acted in concert or where separate identification would not be

material. We shall adopt that convention.)

During the 1970s, LBC owned a portion of a block in downtown

Denver, Colorado, which is bounded by 17th Avenue to the south,

by 18th Avenue to the north, by Broadway to the west, and by

Lincoln Street to the east (the Broadway-Lincoln block). During

the 1970s and throughout some of the years in issue, LBC owned

two buildings located on the Broadway-Lincoln block, namely, Two

United Bank Center Building, located at 1700 Broadway (2UBC) and

Three United Bank Center Building, located at 1740 Broadway

(3UBC). A sketch of the Broadway-Lincoln block, the two

buildings, and certain other features is attached hereto as an

appendix.
 - 10 -

2UBC is a 22-story office building, which was constructed in

1954 and has approximately 390,000 square feet of rentable space.

2UBC is considered a notable building in Denver because it was

the first modern highrise built in the city and was the first

highrise designed by I.M. Pei. 3UBC is a four-story office

building, which was constructed in 1958 and has approximately

115,000 square feet of rentable space. Throughout the 1970s,

2UBC was primarily leased to non-Bank tenants, and 3UBC was

wholly occupied by the Bank. 3UBC served as the Bank's

headquarters prior to completion in 1983 of One United Bank

Center Building (1UBC). See infra sec. II.A.3.b.

During the 1970s, LBC also owned land on the Broadway-

Lincoln block between 2UBC and 3UBC and east of 2UBC extending to

Lincoln Street. There were improvements on that land

constituting an enclosed courtyard. On the corner of Lincoln

Street and 17th Avenue of the Broadway-Lincoln block were a

glass-enclosed restaurant and a small office building, both of

which were owned by LBC.

During the 1970s, LBC owned a portion of a block in downtown

Denver, Colorado, that is bounded by 17th Avenue to the south, by

18th Avenue to the north, by Lincoln Street to the west, and by

Sherman Street to the east (the Lincoln-Sherman block). That

block is directly to the east of and across Lincoln Street from

the Broadway-Lincoln block. During the 1970s and throughout some
 - 11 -

of the years in issue, LBC owned land and improvements on the

Lincoln-Sherman block directly across from 3UBC, including a

structure named Motorbank I. That structure consisted of three

underground levels, two of which contained office space and one

of which contained mechanicals, a ground level that contained

office space, and 10 floors of above-ground parking space.

Motorbank I had approximately 1,000 square feet of office space

and approximately 103,000 square feet of parking space. 3UBC was

connected to the Motorbank I parking garage by an elevated,

enclosed pedestrian walkway and was connected to the Motorbank I

office space by a passage under Lincoln Street. Motorbank I also

had facilities to accommodate drive-up banking through about

1987.

During the 1970s, LBC owned a portion of a block in downtown

Denver, Colorado, that is bounded by 17th Avenue to the south, by

18th Avenue to the north, by Sherman Street to the west, and

Grant Street to the east (the Sherman-Grant block). That block

is directly to the east of and across Sherman Street from the

Lincoln-Sherman block. In the late 1970s, LBC purchased property

on the Sherman-Grant block.

2. Events Preceding the 1981 Transactions

a. Introduction

In the late 1970s, the Bank was in need of additional office

space and was planning the development of a new office tower.
 - 12 -

Unable to acquire a site on Broadway (the intersection of

Broadway and 17th Avenue, where 2UBC was located, was considered

the “100 percent corner” in the central business district of

Denver), the Bank decided to pursue the development of an office

tower on the Lincoln-Sherman block. At that time, the Lincoln-

Sherman block was on the fringe of the central business district

and was considered to be a substantially less preferable location

than the Broadway-Lincoln block. In the late 1970s, LBC acquired

land on the Lincoln-Sherman block adjacent to Motorbank I and

fronting on the corner of Lincoln Street and 17th Avenue in

contemplation of the construction of a new headquarters building

on the site.

The Board of Directors of UBD had a working committee called

the Directors' Facility Planning Committee (the Committee), which

initiated or approved all major decisions regarding the Bank's

real estate holdings. The Committee was closely involved in the

planning of the new office tower project (the Project).

In the late 1970s, Planning Dynamics Corp. (Planning

Dynamics), was retained by the Bank as a consultant for the

Project and was closely involved in the Project through 1986.

In 1979, the Gerald D. Hines Interests (the Developer) was

selected by the Bank as the developer for the Project.

In 1979, the Bank and the Developer selected the firm of

Johnson-Burgee (the Architects) to be the architects for the

Project.
 - 13 -

b. The Committee Meeting of August 24, 1979

Architectural plans for the Project prepared by the

Architects were presented to the Committee on August 24, 1979.

The Architects proposed that a glass atrium be constructed on the

Broadway-Lincoln block enclosing the area between 2UBC and 3UBC

(and east of 2UBC) and that the atrium be connected to the new

office tower on the Lincoln-Sherman block by an elevated,

enclosed pedestrian walkway across Lincoln Street. The minutes

of the Committee meeting on August 24, 1979, in part, provide:

Mr. Hershner presented an architectural scale
model of the project as designed by Philip Johnson &
John Burgee for review by the Committee, and explained
the impact to the existing bank block. The
architectural scheme as shown resolves two major design
issues: how to tie the new tower to 17th Avenue and
Broadway and how to achieve identity of the new tower
and existing bank facilities as a “center” even though
the properties are separated by Lincoln Street.

The solution proposed by Johnson/Burgee shows a
strong skyline identity and unique visual image created
by the curvilinear roof line of the new tower.

Identity of the project as a “center” from a
pedestrian scale at the street level is achieved by the
skylight enclosure bridging Lincoln Street, then
wrapping around the existing Tower Building and
connecting with the Main Bank.

Circulation patterns to the new tower through the
proposed enclosed mall in the existing bank block
effectively places the “front door” of the new tower on
17th and Broadway. * * *

c. The Harrison Price Report

In 1980, the Bank retained the Harrison Price Co. (Harrison

Price) as an outside consultant to address a number of issues
 - 14 -

regarding the Project, including whether the proposed atrium

should remain a part of the Project. Harrison Price prepared a

report dated August 20, 1980, entitled “Economic Contribution of

the Glass Pavilion to the United Bank of Denver”, setting forth

its opinion regarding the proposed atrium (the Harrison Price

Report). The Harrison Price Report assumed that the proposed

atrium would cost $16 million and estimated that it would

generate a net operating deficit of $100,000 a year, based on

revenues and operating expenses of $500,000 and $600,000,

respectively. The Harrison Price Report concluded that the

proposed atrium “is a rational and constructive commitment which

will return a positive benefit to the stockholders” of the Bank.

That opinion was based on three factors: (1) the proposed atrium

would increase the rental rates for 2UBC and 3UBC to generate a

value addition of $9 million, (2) the proposed atrium “provides a

means to counteract any adverse perception of Number 1 United

Bank Center associated with an off-Broadway location”, and

(3) the proposed atrium “will in all liklihood [sic] add power,

presence, and image to the Bank's operation which will be

reflected in greater market share.”

d. The Planning Dynamics Report

In a letter dated August 25, 1980, Richard R. Holtz,

president of Planning Dynamics, addressed the economics,

aesthetics, and functionality of the proposed atrium (the
 - 15 -

Planning Dynamics report). Planning Dynamics estimated the

incremental cost of building the proposed atrium to be

approximately $9 million. Planning Dynamics estimated that

constructing the proposed atrium would increase the rental rate

for 2UBC by $2 a square foot, thereby increasing the value of

2UBC by approximately $7 million. Planning Dynamics estimated an

increased rental rate for the new office tower of $1 a square

foot, thereby increasing its value by approximately

$12.3 million, $3.5 million of which would inure to the benefit

of the Bank. Although Mr. Holtz believed that the proposed

atrium would enhance the value of 3UBC, he did not project any

increase in value to 3UBC in the Planning Dynamics report because

3UBC was wholly occupied by the Bank and was not considered as a

sale property for the Bank. Planning Dynamics calculated a value

over cost figure for constructing the proposed atrium of

approximately $1.5 million. Planning Dynamics also estimated a

net annual operating deficit of $100,000 a year, based on

projected revenues and expenses of $500,000 and $600,000,

respectively. In addition, the Planning Dynamics report stated:

As you know the design problem from the beginning
has been to “bring” the Lincoln Street site to
Broadway. This will allow the One United Bank Center
building to gain the benefits of a 100% corner location
in lieu of a secondary location. The main benefit is
higher rents as previously mentioned.

The unique architectural design of the Atrium
sensitively embraces Two United Bank Center and
continues to present this fine building to the 17th and
Broadway location. At the same time the Atrium creates
 - 16 -

a powerful “memory shape” impression which gives unity
to four different buildings and creates the “Center”.
In seeing this shape again at the top of One United
Bank Center viewers will visually identify with the
“Center” from vantage points all over Denver. When one
sees the top ones [sic] mind will automatically recall
the shape at the Atrium level.

This design will give the Bank great visual and
location identity as did the designs for Pennzoil in
Houston and Transamerica in San Francisco and should be
very helpful in marketing and staying unique among
tough competitors.

e. The Committee Meeting of August 25, 1980

On August 25, 1980, the Committee considered the issue of

whether the proposed atrium should be retained as part of the

Project. The Committee reviewed the Harrison Price Report, the

Planning Dynamics report, and financial projections showing the

impact that construction of the proposed atrium could have on

earnings by increasing the Bank's market share. The minutes of

the Committee meeting on August 25, 1980, in part, provide:

Bank management feels very positive about the project.
The general feeling of the Bank is in favor of the
enclosed atrium to allow the Bank to achieve a larger
market share. The atrium should create a major center,
making United Bank Center a nationally notable building
complex.

f. Approval of the Facilities Master Plan

On September 8, 1980, the Committee approved the Facilities

Master Plan, which included construction of the proposed atrium.

On September 10, 1980, that plan was approved at a joint meeting

of the boards of directors of UBC and UBD.
 - 17 -

3. The 1981 Transactions

a. The 1700 Partnership

1700 Lincoln Limited (the 1700 Partnership) was a Colorado

limited partnership. Hines Colorado Ltd. (Hines Colorado), a

Colorado limited partnership, was the sole general partner of the

1700 Partnership, and ARICO America Realestate Investment Co.

(ARICO), a Nevada corporation operating as a real estate

investment trust, was the sole limited partner of the 1700

Partnership.

b. The Ground Lease

By a lease agreement dated February 5, 1981, LBC leased to

the 1700 Partnership for a term of 70 years (1) land on the south

end of the Lincoln-Sherman block (between Motorbank I and 17th

Avenue) and (2) land on the south end of the Sherman-Grant block

(together, the 1UBC land) (the Ground Lease). The Ground Lease

provided that the 1700 Partnership would, at its own expense,

construct an office tower on the Lincoln-Sherman block (1UBC) and

a parking garage on the Sherman-Grant block (the Parking Garage),

according to the plans and specifications appended to the Ground

Lease. The Ground Lease provided for the payment to LBC of both

a fixed rent and a rent based on the net cash flow generated by

1UBC and the Parking Garage.

Following the execution of the Ground Lease and related

documents, the 1700 Partnership commenced construction of 1UBC,
 - 18 -

which is a 52-story office tower with approximately 1,174,200

square feet of rentable space, and of the Parking Garage;

construction was completed in the second half of 1983.

c. The Atrium Project Agreement

Concurrently with the execution of the Ground Lease, the

Bank and the 1700 Partnership entered into an agreement dated

February 5, 1981, whereby the Bank, at its sole expense, would

construct a glass atrium (the Atrium) on the Broadway-Lincoln

block, enclosing the area between 2UBC and 3UBC (and east of

2UBC) (the Atrium Project Agreement). The Atrium Project

Agreement stated that the Atrium and the Skyway, see infra sec.

II.A.3.d., were being constructed “in order to accomplish the

appropriate integration of the New Project [1UBC] with the

Principal Bank Property [2UBC and 3UBC].” The Developer and the

1700 Partnership would not have made the commitment to build 1UBC

had the Bank not made a commitment to build the Atrium. In 1984,

at the request of the Bank, the architectural plans for the

Atrium were modified to reduce the scale of the Atrium and to

address certain safety concerns.

d. The Skyway Agreement, The 1981 Easement Agreement,
and The Space Lease

Concurrently with the execution of the Ground Lease and the

Atrium Project Agreement, the Bank and the 1700 Partnership

entered into an agreement dated February 5, 1981, whereby the
 - 19 -

1700 Partnership would construct an elevated, enclosed pedestrian

walkway (the Skyway) connecting 1UBC with the Atrium, and the

costs of construction and maintenance of the Skyway would be

shared equally by the 1700 Partnership and the Bank (the Skyway

Agreement).

Concurrently with the execution of the Ground Lease, the

Atrium Project Agreement, and the Skyway Agreement, the Bank and

the 1700 Partnership entered into an agreement dated February 5,

1981, whereby the Bank granted to the 1700 Partnership, its

successors and assigns, and to the current and future fee owners

of the 1UBC land and improvements thereon, an easement for

pedestrian access in, on, over, and through the common areas of

the Bank's property on the Broadway-Lincoln and Lincoln-Sherman

blocks, including the Atrium (the 1981 Easement Agreement). In

addition, under the 1981 Easement Agreement, the 1700 Partnership

granted to the Bank an easement for pedestrian access in, on,

over, and through the common areas of 1UBC.

Concurrently with the execution of the Ground Lease, the

Atrium Project Agreement, the Skyway Agreement, and the 1981

Easement Agreement, the Bank and the 1700 Partnership entered

into an agreement dated February 5, 1981, whereby the Bank agreed

to lease (approximately 500,000 square feet of) space in 1UBC.

4. The Ross and Eastdil Reports

In 1984, prior to construction of the Atrium, the Bank

retained two real estate consulting firms, Ross Consulting and
 - 20 -

Eastdil Realty, Inc. (Eastdil Realty), to evaluate the Bank's

real estate holdings and to make recommendations regarding the

possible sale of properties held by the Bank. Ross Consulting

prepared a report dated February 6, 1984, entitled “Working

Outline--Real Estate Sale Considerations” (the Ross report),

which was reviewed by the Committee at its meeting of

February 17, 1984. The Ross report's recommendations regarding

the Atrium were, in part, as follows:

Our recommendations flow from the assumption that
UBC will construct the Atrium. Examination of benefits
therefrom (either higher rents or higher purchase
price) suggest that UBC should build only if legally or
“morally” bound to.

Ross presumes that the proposed Atrium will be
more valuable, or will add more value to adjacent
properties, once completed. Our analysis has proceeded
from the standpoint of weighing cost of waiting for
completion versus benefit to be gained thereby.
Therefore, wait to sell Atrium until constructed, if
economically possible. Although Atrium adds to Bank
image, it does not yield 1:1 dollars to third party
investor return. Guarantees for construction will
complicate the deal.

To “cleanly” justify Atrium construction, cash
flow must be increased by 2.5 million a year
($25 million cost capitalized by 10%). This amount is
a 100% increase over current annual UBC II rental
income. Whether current leases in UBC II can be
renegotiated and UBC will pay higher rents in III on a
leaseback due to Atrium's presence remains to be seen.
Higher rents are more likely to be negotiated during a
possibly healthier downtown real estate market in 1986-
1988, especially with the new Atrium serving to
“refurbish” the UBD complex, as opposed to
renegotiation of rents in the current “tenant's
market,” pointing at architectural plans for the
Atrium.

Presume that maximum value of Atrium would be
realized by sale of UBC II and III together (to same
 - 21 -

investor).

Eastdil Realty prepared a report dated July 16, 1984,

entitled “Report to the United Banks of Colorado on One, Two and

Three United Bank Centers and the Atrium Commitment” (the Eastdil

report), which was reviewed by the Committee at its meeting of

September 24, 1984. An observation made in the Eastdil report

provides:

Construction of the atrium will inhibit the Bank
from selling its Broadway-Lincoln property as one unit.
This may reduce the proceeds from the sale of the
Bank's property on the block. In the discussion of the
Broadway-Lincoln block below, we conclude the Bank may
be able to get more for its Broadway-Lincoln property
if it is sold as one package rather than if Two and
Three United Bank Center are sold separately. If the
entire block is sold as a package, the purchaser can
keep the existing buildings, or replace them with a new
52-story office tower at some future date. This
assumes, however, that the atrium is not built.

If the atrium is built, the remaining ground area
on the Bank's portion of the block is not sufficient to
support a 52-story building. As a result, the block is
no longer as attractive a development site, and as such
will probably not command as high a sales price.

In addition, the Eastdil report estimated that the present

value of the net cash flow that would be generated by the retail

operations planned for the Atrium was $2.7 million. The report

noted that, although optimistic, the present value of the net

cash flow that could be generated from adding 39,000 square feet

of additional retail space “by opening the second and third

floors of Three United Bank Center to retail and building Two

United Bank Center out at the ground level to the sidewalk on all

sides and on the second floor” could be as high as $6.9 million.
 - 22 -

The Eastdil report concluded that, under the most likely

scenario, the net present value of the additional income to be

generated by the Atrium, both directly from retail space in the

Atrium and indirectly from increased rents from 1UBC and 2UBC,

was $6.2 million and could not alone justify the $25 million cost

of constructing the Atrium. The Eastdil Report, however,

qualified that conclusion as follows:

Notwithstanding the significant construction risk
associated with building the atrium, there may be
reasons why the Bank should consider proceeding with
the project. Successful completion of the atrium will
enhance the Bank's image in the community and give it
greater recognition in the region. It is not realistic
for us to place a dollar value on these benefits.
Undoubtedly they are substantial and could produce a
direct and positive impact on the Bank's business.
More significantly, if the Bank does not complete
construction of the atrium, its image in the community
may be tarnished. It is clear that the Bank has an
obligation to its partners and to the tenants in One
United Bank Center to complete construction of the
atrium facility, or, if possible substitute another
amenity to be completed at a later date. If the atrium
is not built, the building owners run the substantial
risk that at least some tenants will sue to reduce
their rents or get out of their leases altogether. The
cost of securing a release from the atrium obligation
could tip the balance in favor of completing the atrium
facility.

The Eastdil report recommended “against building the atrium if

the Bank can obtain release from its commitment for less than

$22 million less whatever `recognition value' the Bank believes

the atrium would produce.”

5. The Committee Meeting of October 24, 1984

At the meeting of the Committee on October 24, 1984, Bank

management proposed to offer 2UBC and the Ground Lease for sale
 - 23 -

at an asking price in the range of $33 million each. In its

presentation to the Committee, management cited several reasons

for selling 2UBC at that time, but acknowledged that “[a] sale

now may not fully reflect the value to be added by the Atrium

when it is completed.” The committee approved the proposal to

offer 2UBC and the Ground Lease for sale. In addition,

management recommended that construction of the Atrium proceed.

Considerations for completing the Atrium that were noted in the

presentation to the Committee were as follows:

A. The Atrium retains a great deal of appeal;
architecturally, as an enhancement to the Bank's image,
and in value added to the properties.

B. We think our minimum cost not to build would
be about $16,000,000. It makes more sense to build it
for $25,000,000 than to not build it at a cost of
$16,000,000.

At the meeting, the Committee approved the budget for the Atrium.

6. Construction and Operation of the Atrium

Construction of the Atrium commenced in April 1985 and was

completed in late 1987; however, portions of the Atrium were open

to the public in 1986. The Atrium sits on an irregularly shaped,

30,510 square-foot parcel of land on the Broadway-Lincoln block

and has frontage of 96.40 feet along Broadway, 198.75 feet along

Lincoln Street, and 113.32 feet along 17th Avenue. The Atrium

covers a 24,333 square-foot area, encompasses approximately

4.6 million cubic feet of space, and, at its highest point, is

14 stories tall. The Atrium is constructed of glass, steel, and

stone. The Atrium is physically attached to both 2UBC and 3UBC
 - 24 -

and is connected to 1UBC by the Skyway. There are pedestrian

entrances to the Atrium in 2UBC, 3UBC, and the Skyway, and on

Broadway, Lincoln Street, and 17th Avenue.

The Atrium shares its mechanical systems with 2UBC; those

systems are located below ground within 2UBC. The basement area

of the Atrium is used for storage and houses a backup power

generator. The Atrium contains space for one restaurant and

retail space for one tenant.

Beginning about 1988, UBD owned and operated The Atrium

Cafe, which seated approximately 135 people, and UBD paid a fee

to a contractor to manage the restaurant's operations. Beginning

in 1994, UBD discontinued operating The Atrium Cafe and leased

the space for the operation of another restaurant. UBD also

leased space for the operation of “expresso carts”.

Beginning on October 12, 1987, for a 10-year term, the

retail space in the Atrium had been leased for the operation of a

Russell's convenience store (the Russell's lease).

From the time of the Atrium's opening in 1986, the only

operating revenues generated by the Atrium have been derived from

the Russell's lease and from the operations of The Atrium Cafe

and other food operations. Those operating revenues have been

less than overhead expenses (maintenance, utilities, taxes,

etc.), resulting in net operating losses during the period 1989

through 1995, as follows:
 - 25 -

Income Overhead Total Atrium
Year (Loss) Expense Loss

1989 ($13,781) $478,890 $492,671
1990 (21,026) 533,198 554,224
1991 (22,728) 564,120 586,848
1992 992 525,548 524,556
1993 (46,294) 731,558 777,852
1994 24,216 745,909 721,693
1995 98,899 788,724 689,825

The Bank has never maintained teller windows or other

banking facilities in the Atrium and has never solicited new

customers from within the Atrium. The Bank has never held

business meetings in the Atrium and has never leased the Atrium

for events. The Bank, however, allows the use of the Atrium by

community groups an average of once a month.

7. The Atrium Assets: Cost Bases and Depreciation

LBC constructed the Atrium Cafe and installed equipment,

furniture, and fixtures therein.

During the years in issue, LBC installed a security system

and signage in the Atrium (the Atrium Security System and

Signage).

During the years in issue, LBC incurred costs to construct,

equip, and install the Skyway, The Atrium Cafe, the Atrium

Security System and Signage, and the remaining components of the

Atrium (the Atrium Structure) (collectively, the Atrium Assets).

The cost bases of the Atrium Assets placed in service during the

years in issue, as adjusted pursuant to section 48(q) for the

investment tax credits claimed with respect to such assets, were

as follows:
 - 26 -
Cost Bases
Taxable Atrium
Year Placed Atrium Atrium Security System
in Service Structure Skyway Cafe and Signage

1986 $31,805,978 -- -- --
1987 -- $26,195 $1,676,090 $246,453
1989 -- -- 2,058 699
1990 144,261 -- 21,917 10,800

On its Federal income tax returns for the taxable years 1986

through 1991, the UBC affiliated group claimed depreciation

deductions with respect to the Atrium Assets as follows:

Depreciation Claimed
Atrium
Taxable Atrium Atrium Security System
Year Structure Skyway Cafe and Signage

1986 $234,121 -- -- --
1987 2,458,735 $2,009 $134,960 --
1988 2,104,223 938 266,895 $60,381
1989 1,190,409 930 190,190 43,211
1990 1,191,171 930 148,151 31,505
1991 344,402 295 39,458 8,955

The depreciation deductions claimed on the Atrium Assets were

computed on 100 percent of the cost bases of the assets as set

forth above, except that, after 1988, the depreciation deductions

claimed with respect to the Skyway and that portion of the Atrium

Structure placed in service prior to 1989 were computed on

51.5152 percent of the assets' cost bases.

8. The 2UBC Transaction

a. The Various Agreements

Den-Cal Co. (Den-Cal) was a California limited partnership

whose managing general partner was Emerik Properties Corp.

(Emerik).

By a purchase and sale agreement dated July 16, 1985, LBC

sold 2UBC and the land thereunder and an undivided 50-percent
 - 27 -

interest in Motorbank I and the land thereunder to Den-Cal for

$35,500,000 (the 2UBC Sale Agreement).

Concurrently with the execution of the 2UBC Sale Agreement

and other agreements, LBC and Den-Cal entered into an agreement

that required LBC to construct the Atrium and the Skyway and to

make certain improvements to 2UBC (the 2UBC Construction

Agreement). Pursuant to the 2UBC Construction Agreement, LBC and

Den-Cal granted to each other certain reciprocal easements

pertaining to the ingress and egress of pedestrians through

common areas, including the Atrium. In addition, LBC agreed to

maintain its improvements on the Broadway-Lincoln block,

including the Atrium, at its sole cost and expense.

LBC agreed to operate the Atrium in an attractive and

orderly manner and to refrain from substantially modifying the

exterior design of the Atrium for a 35-year period commencing on

November 1, 1986, and running through October 31, 2021, and

thereafter until LBC provides at least 6 months' notice to Den-

Cal of its election to terminate (the Atrium Operating

Covenants). The 2UBC Construction Agreement, however, allowed

LBC to terminate its obligations relating to the Atrium after

June 30, 2001, upon payment to Den-Cal of a termination fee and

the occurrence of certain other conditions. LBC and Den-Cal

acknowledged that LBC's election to terminate the Atrium

Operating Covenants “would result in the diminution in value of

Two United Bank Center in an amount at least as large as the
 - 28 -

termination fee”, and, accordingly, LBC granted to Den-Cal a lien

to secure performance under the Atrium Operating Covenants in the

event that the Atrium were razed prior to expiration of the

obligations.

The 2UBC Sale Agreement, the 2UBC Construction Agreement,

and related agreements shall be referred to collectively as the

2UBC Transaction.

b. Tax Treatment of the 2UBC Transaction

As a result of the 2UBC Transaction, LBC realized the

following amounts from the sale of its properties:

Property Amount Realized

2UBC improvements $22,847,841

2UBC land 4,219,181

50-percent interest in
Motorbank I improvements 9,795,022

50-percent interest in
Motorbank I land 2,038,506

On January 26, 1988, the UBC affiliated group filed an

amended corporate income tax return for its 1985 taxable year, on

which the UBC affiliated group reported adjusted bases for

determining gain or loss from the sale of its properties in the

2UBC Transaction as follows:

Property Adjusted Basis

2UBC improvements $15,533,317

2UBC land 664,559

50-percent interest in
Motorbank I improvements 1,816,730
 - 29 -

50-percent interest in
Motorbank I land 321,083

The parties agree that those adjusted bases are correct, except

to the extent, if any, that the cost of the Atrium Assets, see

supra sec. II.A.7., is allocable to the bases of the properties

sold in the 2UBC transaction.

9. The 3UBC Transaction

a. The Various Agreements

By purchase and sale agreement dated December 31, 1987, LBC

sold 3UBC, but not the land underlying 3UBC (the 3UBC land), to

Holme, Roberts & Owen (HRO), a partnership that was engaged in

the practice of law and that served as the Bank's legal counsel

during the years in issue (the 3UBC Sale Agreement). The

purchase price of $15,957,648 was paid by a note that was

nonrecourse to the partners of HRO; however, the note was secured

by a deed of trust to 3UBC and an irrevocable letter of credit in

the amount of $2.4 million.

By an agreement dated December 31, 1987, LBC leased the 3UBC

land to HRO for a term commencing on December 31, 1987, and

running for 34 years and 9 months (the 3UBC Ground Lease). For

the period through September 30, 2012, the annual rent was

$25,000 plus 30 percent of any net rental income generated by

3UBC in excess of $2.5 million. After September 30, 2012, the

rent was to be at fair market value. Pursuant to the 3UBC Ground

Lease, LBC and HRO granted to each other certain reciprocal

easements pertaining to the ingress and egress of pedestrians
 - 30 -

through common areas, including the Atrium. Also, LBC agreed to

operate the Atrium in an attractive and orderly manner and to

refrain from substantially modifying the exterior design of the

Atrium. In the event that the Atrium was materially damaged,

destroyed by fire or other casualty, or taken by condemnation,

LBC had the option to rebuild, replace, repair, or raze the

Atrium. If LBC elected to raze the Atrium, LBC was required to

cover the area with an attractive surface until rebuilding (if

any) and to grant HRO a 40-foot setback easement on the south

side of the 3UBC land.

By an agreement dated December 31, 1987, UBD leased back the

entirety of 3UBC from HRO (the 3UBC Space Lease). The 3UBC Space

Lease had an initial term of 9 years and 6 months and

automatically renewed for a second term running until

September 30, 2012, unless UBD elected otherwise. The rent was

$2,070,000 a year during the initial term and $2,333,452 a year

during the second term. The 3UBC Space Lease required that UBD

pay all expenses and taxes, maintain and repair the building,

insure the building, and replace the building if destroyed.

On December 31, 1987, LBC assumed HRO's lease of

approximately 122,000 square feet of space in 2UBC and subleased

to HRO approximately 130,000 square feet of space in 1UBC.

The 3UBC Sale Agreement, the 3UBC Ground Lease, the 3UBC

Space Lease, the agreements relating to HRO's lease in 2UBC and

sublease in 1UBC, and related agreements shall be referred to
 - 31 -

collectively as the 3UBC Transaction.

b. Tax Treatment of the 3UBC Transaction

On its Federal income tax return filed for 1988, the UBC

affiliated group reported gain on the installment basis using an

amount realized of $14,201,933 from the sale of 3UBC. The

parties agree that the reported amount is the correct amount

realized for purposes of determining gain or loss from the sale

of 3UBC.

On its Federal income tax return filed for 1988, the UBC

affiliated group reported gain on the installment basis using an

adjusted basis of $5,321,361 for purposes of determining gain or

loss on the sale of 3UBC. The parties agree that the reported

adjusted basis is correct, except to the extent, if any, that the

cost of the Atrium Assets, see supra sec. II.A.7., is allocable

to the basis of 3UBC.

10. The 1UBC Land Transaction

By a purchase and sale agreement dated December 30, 1988,

LBC sold the 1UBC land (together with LBC's interest in the

Ground Lease relating to the 1UBC land) to ARICO (the 1UBC land

transaction). LBC realized $2,900,000 as a result of that

transaction. On its Federal income tax return filed for 1988,

the UBC affiliated group reported the sale of the 1UBC land as a

long-term capital loss using an adjusted basis of $2,953,980.

The parties agree that the reported adjusted basis is correct,
 - 32 -

except to the extent, if any, that the cost of the Atrium Assets,

see supra sec. II.A.7., is allocable to the basis of 3UBC.

11. The 1988 Atrium Transaction

a. Background

On December 29, 1988, LBC and Broadway Atrium Limited (BAL),

a Colorado limited partnership consisting of ARICO and Hines

Colorado, formed Lincoln Atrium Limited (LAL), a Colorado limited

partnership. LBC was the general partner of LAL, with a

1-percent “sharing ratio” based on an initial contribution of a

0.4848-percent undivided interest in the “Atrium” (as described

in the LAL partnership agreement). BAL was the sole limited

partner of LAL, with a 99-percent “sharing ratio” based on an

initial contribution of a 48-percent undivided interest in the

“Atrium”, contributed to BAL by ARICO upon acquisition from LBC,

see infra sec. II.A.11.b.

On December 30, 1988, UBC, UBD, LBC, LAL, BAL, ARICO, the

1700 Partnership, and Hines Colorado entered into a number of

transactions (the 1988 transactions).

b. The Atrium Sale Agreement

The 1988 transactions included an agreement titled “Atrium

Purchase, Sale and Lease Agreement”, dated December 30, 1988,

between UBD, LBC, and ARICO (the Atrium Sale Agreement).

Pursuant to the Atrium Sale Agreement, LBC sold to ARICO an

undivided 48-percent interest in the land underlying the Atrium,
 - 33 -

all improvements on that land, all rights and interests

appurtenant to that land (collectively, the Atrium Land), and

certain other property (together, the Atrium Property). In

consideration of LBC's conveyance of the Atrium Property, ARICO

agreed to pay a purchase price of $17,100,000 by means of a

promissory note.

The Atrium Sale Agreement contained a recital stating as

follows: “Seller [LBC] desires to sell the [Atrium] Property to

Purchaser [ARICO] and Purchaser desires to purchase the Property

from Seller on the terms and conditions set forth in the

Agreement.”

Section 8.13 of the Atrium Sale Agreement states as follows:

The parties hereto hereby acknowledge and agree that
the transaction relating to the Property contemplated
by this Agreement is, for tax purposes, a purchase,
sale, and lease transaction. Furthermore, the parties
hereby agree that following the Closing, each party
shall report the transaction as a purchase, sale, and
lease on their respective income tax returns; and
specifically, that (a) Seller shall report the
transaction as a sale on its income tax return and
shall recognize the gain or loss therefrom either
currently or on an installment basis, and (b) Purchaser
shall report the transaction as a purchase on its
income tax return.

The Atrium Sale Agreement also provided that certain other

agreements would be executed by the parties and related entities

(the Atrium Sale Agreement and related agreements shall hereafter

be referred to collectively as the 1988 Atrium Transaction). One

of those agreements was an agreement titled “Atrium Lease”, dated

December 30, 1988, between LBC and LAL, as landlords, and UBD, as
 - 34 -

tenant. Pursuant to the Atrium Lease, UBD agreed to lease the

Atrium Land for a period of 30-1/2 years, commencing December 30,

1988, and ending June 30, 2019. The Atrium Lease provided that

UBD would pay rent to LBC in the amount of $1 a year and to LAL

in the following amounts: $1,893,939.39 annually from January 1,

1989, through December 31, 1998; $1,489,898.99 annually from

January 1, 1999, through June 30, 2009; and $303,030.30 annually

from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2019.

The Atrium Lease contained a recital stating as follows:

“LBC and LAL desire to lease their undivided interests in the

Atrium to Tenant [UBD] in order to provide unified operation of

the Atrium and Tenant desires to lease such interest from

Landlord for the same purpose.”

c. Tax Treatment by UBC of the 1988 Atrium Transaction

On its Federal income tax return for the taxable year 1988,

the UBC affiliated group reported a gain on the sale of a 48-

percent interest in the Atrium Structure and the Skyway of

$3,803,496, based on an amount realized of $16,964,800, a cost

basis of $15,345,273, and accumulated depreciation of $2,183,969.

The reported amount realized was based on a total sales price for

a 48-percent interest in the Atrium Structure, the Skyway, and

the land underlying the Atrium of $17,100,000 less $135,200

allocated to the underlying land ($17,100,000 - $135,200 =

$16,964,800). The reported cost basis equaled 48 percent of the

cost bases of the Skyway and that part of the Atrium Structure
 - 35 -

placed in service prior to 1989, as adjusted under former section

48(q) for the investment credits claimed and investment credits

recaptured with respect to those assets. The reported

accumulated depreciation equaled 48 percent of the depreciation

claimed on the Atrium Structure and the Skyway to the date of the

reported sale. No gain or loss was reported as realized on the

sale of the underlying land because the reported amount realized

($135,000) equaled the cost basis of the land.

On its Federal income tax returns for the taxable years 1989

through 1991, the UBC affiliated group took deductions for rental

expenses on account of the Atrium Lease.

d. UBC's Financial Statements

In the notes to UBC's affiliated financial statements for

1988 and 1989, UBC made disclosures of the Atrium Sale Agreement

and the Atrium Lease as a sale and leaseback.

e. Petitioner's Responses to Information Document
Requests Regarding the Atrium

In a letter dated August 11, 1992, to the St. Paul office of

the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Appeals Division (Appeals

Division), petitioner first claimed that the cost of the Atrium

Assets should be allocated to the bases of adjoining properties.

The Appeals Division referred petitioner's claim for cost

allocation to the IRS Examination Division.

On January 11, 1993, the IRS agent assigned to review

petitioner's claim (the IRS agent) issued an information document
 - 36 -

request (IDR) to petitioner. Question four of that IDR states:

“Who is the owner of the Atrium now? History of the Atrium

ownership from 1985 till 1992?” In response to that question,

petitioner stated, in part:

On December 30, 1988, Lincoln Building Corporation sold
an undivided 48% interest in the Atrium to ARICO
America Real Estate Investment Company (ARICO). ARICO
contributed its undivided 48% interest in the Atrium to
Broadway Atrium Limited (Broadway). Broadway
subsequently contributed the 48% undivided interest in
the Atrium to Lincoln Atrium Limited. Lincoln Building
Corporation contributed an additional .48% undivided
interest in the Atrium to Lincoln Atrium Limited as its
general partner. Consequently, ownership of the Atrium
after the sale on December 30, 1988 was as follows:

51.52% - Lincoln Building Corporation
48.48% - Lincoln Atrium Limited, whose ownership
is:

99% - Broadway Atrium Limited
1% - Lincoln Building Corporation

The ownership of the Atrium did not change during the
period between December 30, 1988 and December 31, 1992.

On April 22, 1993, the IRS agent issued another IDR to

petitioner requesting documentation pertaining to the sale of an

interest in the Atrium referred to in petitioner's response to

the first IDR. Petitioner's response to the second IDR referred

to the transaction as a “sale of the 48% interest in the Atrium”.

B. The Atrium Assets: Allocation of the Costs

1. Issue

The issue is whether petitioner may allocate the cost of the

Atrium Assets to the bases of other properties that were held by

the Bank. If we decide that issue for petitioner, we must decide
 - 37 -

the nature and extent of the proper allocation.

2. Arguments of the Parties

Relying on a line of cases that includes Estate of Collins

v. Commissioner, 31 T.C. 238 (1958), and Willow Terrace Dev. Co.

v. Commissioner, 40 T.C. 689 (1963), affd. 345 F.2d 933 (5th Cir.

1965) (the developer line of cases), petitioner argues that it is

entitled under section 1016(a)(1)2 to allocate the cost of the

Atrium Assets to the bases of properties that benefited from the

Atrium. Petitioner claims that “[t]he Bank constructed the

Atrium for the purpose of creating an office building complex

with the expectation that the buildings within the complex would

increase in value” and that the Atrium, as a stand-alone asset,

has negative value. Petitioner asserts that an allocation of the

costs of “the Atrium Assets in proportion to the relative fair

market values of the benefited properties as of December 31,

1987, the close of the year in which the Atrium was completed”,

is “equitable” and would result in a “proper adjustment” under

section 1016(a)(1). Petitioner proposes the following

allocation:

2
As pertinent to this case, sec. 1011 provides that the
adjusted basis for determining gain or loss from the sale or
other disposition of property is the cost of such property, see
sec. 1012, adjusted as provided in sec. 1016. Sec. 1016(a)(1),
in part, provides that proper adjustment is to be made for
expenditures, receipts, losses, or other items, properly
chargeable to capital account. Sec. 1.1016-2(a), Income Tax
Regs., in part, states: “The cost or other basis shall be
properly adjusted for any expenditure, receipt, loss, or other
item, properly chargeable to capital account, including the cost
of improvements and betterments made to the property.”
 - 38 -

Property Cost Allocation

1UBC Land $2,161,625
2UBC 18,579,112
3UBC 11,900,811
3UBC Land 1,292,903

Respondent argues that section 1012 provides that the basis

of property is the cost of such property and that “the amount

paid for a given asset becomes the asset's cost basis and cannot

be added to or combined with the basis of other assets.”

Respondent, however, acknowledges the developer line of cases,

but asserts that those cases recognize a narrow exception to the

general rule. Respondent claims that the present case is

factually distinguishable from the developer line of cases and

that the principles of those cases “have never been applied

outside the narrow factual context in which those cases arose.”

In the alternative, respondent argues that, if the developer line

of cases “have relevance beyond their unique facts”, the present

case fails to meet the requirements set forth in those cases.

Lastly, respondent rejects petitioner's proposed allocation of

the cost of the Atrium Assets based on the fair market values of

the adjoining properties because those “values bear no necessary

correlation to the economic benefits” that were anticipated by

the Bank from the construction of the Atrium. According to

respondent, an allocation, if any, “must be based on the bank's

purpose for building the Atrium as of February of 1981 when it

made the initial commitment to build the Atrium, or at the
 - 39 -

latest, October of 1984 when it made the final decision to

proceed with the Atrium's construction.”

3. Analysis

a. The Developer Line of Cases

In Country Club Estates, Inc. v. Commissioner, 22 T.C. 1283

(1954), the taxpayer transferred approximately 300 acres of land

and certain improvements located thereon to the Tuscon Country

Club (the Club). With the proceeds of a loan from the taxpayer,

the Club agreed to construct on the transferred property a first-

class country club that included an 18-hole golf course, club

house, and recreational facilities. The taxpayer anticipated

that the construction of the country club would enhance the value

of the surrounding property, which the taxpayer subdivided into

lots for sale. Relying on Commissioner v. Laguna Land & Water

Co., 118 F.2d 112, 117 (9th Cir. 1941), affg. in part and revg.

in part a Memorandum Opinion of the Board,3 the taxpayer argued

that the cost of the land transferred to the Club should be added

to the cost of the lots sold. The Court distinguished Biscayne

Bay Islands Co. v. Commissioner, 23 B.T.A. 731 (1931),4 despite

3
In that case, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
affirmed the Board of Tax Appeals' determination that a taxpayer
should be allowed to deduct from the sales proceeds of certain
lots expenditures made for streets, drives, curves, and other
improvements, which benefited those lots.
4
In that case, the Board of Tax Appeals rejected the
taxpayer's contention that no part of the cost of construction
and development of an island subdivision should be allocated to a
(continued...)
 - 40 -

the possibility that the transferred land could revert to the

taxpayer upon the occurrence of certain contingencies. The

Court, citing Kentucky Land, Gas & Oil Co. v. Commissioner,

2 B.T.A. 838 (1925),5 held that the basis of the lots included

the cost of the property transferred to the Club because “the

basic purpose of petitioner in transferring the land was to bring

about the construction of a country club so as to induce people

to buy nearby lots.” Country Club Estates, Inc. v. Commissioner,

supra at 1293.

In Colony, Inc. v. Commissioner, 26 T.C. 30 (1956), affd.

per curiam 244 F.2d 75 (6th Cir. 1957), a taxpayer in the

business of developing and selling real estate argued that the

cost of a water supply pumping system that provided water service

4
(...continued)
large interior area of the island that was reserved for 10 years
(later extended an additional 3 years) as a playground and
recreational center for the use of lot purchasers:

[The interior] area was not permanently and irrevocably
dedicated to the public, but may later be sold by
petitioner. The possibility of gain has only been
postponed. It is unlike the area used for public
streets, which is permanently beyond the possibility of
sale and gain, the cost of which must be absorbed in
the salable lots. * * * [Biscayne Bay Islands Co. v.
Commissioner, 23 B.T.A. 731, 735 (1931).]
5
In Kentucky Land, Gas & Oil Co. v. Commissioner, 2 B.T.A.
838 (1925), the taxpayer acquired a tract of oil land, which the
taxpayer subdivided into lots. The taxpayer drilled four wells
on the subdivision. The Board of Tax Appeals (the Board) held
that the cost of drilling one well only was an additional cost of
the lots and “a proper charge against the sale price of the lots
sold” because the taxpayer was “bound to drill but one well”
under the covenants in the deeds of conveyance. Id. at 840.
 - 41 -

to a subdivision should be added to the cost of the lots in the

subdivision. This Court stated as follows:

The difficulty with petitioner's contention is
that, unlike the taxpayer in Country Club Estates,
Inc., supra, the petitioner has not given up any
property in order to sell its lots. For the funds it
expended, the petitioner acquired a water supply system
which it owned and operated during the taxable years
and thereafter. It is true that the system has not
been operated at a profit, due, perhaps, to the small
number of houses which have been constructed at The
Colony. And it also may be true, as petitioner
contends, that the pumping station may be abandoned at
some time in the future, when the facilities of the
Lexington Water Company reach the subdivision. These
circumstances, however, do not alter the fact that the
petitioner retained full ownership and control of the
water supply system during the taxable years, and that
it did not part with the property for the benefit of
the subdivision lots. Because of this retention of
ownership, Country Club Estates, Inc., supra, is
distinguishable. * * * [Id. at 46.]

This Court in Estate of Collins v. Commissioner, 31 T.C. at

256 (1958), distilled the decisions in Country Club Estates, Inc.

v. Commissioner, supra, and Colony, Inc. v. Commissioner, supra,

and announced the following test:

A careful consideration of the cases above cited
indicates that if a person engaged in the business of
developing and exploiting a real estate subdivision
constructs a facility thereon for the basic purpose of
inducing people to buy lots therein, the cost of such
construction is properly a part of the cost basis of
the lots, even though the subdivider retains tenuous
rights without practical value to the facility
constructed (such as a contingent reversion), but if
the subdivider retains “full ownership and control” of
the facility and does “not part with the property
[i.e., the facility constructed] for the benefit of the
subdivision lots,” then the cost of such facility is
not properly a part of the cost basis of the lots.
The rule of Estate of Collins has been applied in subsequent
 - 42 -

cases. In Willow Terrace Dev. Co. v. Commissioner, 40 T.C. at

701,6 this Court stated:

As we read the Collins case, the pivotal consideration
is whether the basic purpose for constructing such
utilities systems in real estate subdivisions is to
induce people to buy lots in such subdivisions. It is
a question of fact, and in resolving it the profit and
loss record of the operating company must, of course,
be considered. But this does not mean that the
presence of some profit will always be fatal to the
taxpayers's case. * * *

In addition, this Court in Noell v. Commissioner, 66 T.C. 718,

725 (1976), stated as follows:

The critical question is whether petitioner
intended to hold the facilities to realize a return on
his capital from business operations, to recover his
capital from a future sale, or some combination of the

6
The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit stated as
follows:

The problem presented by these cases is whether
deduction or capitalization of such costs will more
accurately reflect the economic realities of the
situation from the standpoint of the subdivider. We
cannot accept the rule advocated by the Commissioner,
which in effect allows deduction only when the costs
can be recovered in no other manner. Some relevant
factors to be considered in determining the proper tax
treatment of the costs of such facilities are whether
they were essential to the sale of the lots or houses,
whether the purpose or intent of the subdivider in
constructing them was to sell lots or to make an
independent investment in activity ancillary to the
sale of lots or houses, whether and the extent to which
the facilities are dedicated to the homeowners, what
rights and of what value are retained by the
subdivider, and the likelihood of recovery of the costs
through subsequent sale. These factors were considered
in Collins, and the holding centered on the basic
purpose test as modified by ownership. * * * [Willow
Terrace Dev. Co. v. Commissioner, 345 F.2d 933, 938
(5th Cir. 1965).]
 - 43 -

two; or whether, on the other hand, he so encumbered
his property with rights running to the property owners
(regardless of who retained nominal title) that he in
substance disposed of these facilities, intending to
recover his capital, and derive a return of his
investment through the sale of the lots.10 * * *
10
Actually, in most of the cases, the asset
involved is encumbered with rights running to the
property owners which significantly diminish the value
of an asset which nevertheless retains substantial
value. This diminution, resulting from restrictions
benefiting the adjacent lots, represents a pro tanto
disposal with each lot. However, there is no basis in
the decided cases, and certainly none in the record
before us, for making an allocation based on the rights
disposed of and the property retained.

See also Derby Heights, Inc. v. Commissioner, 48 T.C. 900 (1967);

Dahling v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1988-430; Bryce's Mountain

Resort, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1985-293; Montclair Dev.

Co. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1966-200.

b. The Principles of the Developer Line of Cases

The developer line of cases all involve real estate

developers that seek to allocate the cost of certain common

improvements to the bases of residential lots held for sale.

Respondent suggests that the principles of the developer line of

cases are applicable only in that context because, “[i]n that

context, both the purpose for incurring the costs and the

properties benefitted thereby are readily identifiable.” An

examination of the principles underlying the developer line of

cases, however, does not suggest that those principles are

restricted to any particular factual context or that difficulty

in application justifies nonadherence. We need not decide
 - 44 -

whether those principles apply in every case; it is sufficient

that we decide today that no rule of law proscribes their

application to the case at bar.

The developer line of cases addresses the basic problem of

what constitutes a proper adjustment to the basis of property in

the context of a common improvement that benefits lots in a

residential subdivision. Those cases focus on the common

improvement and not directly on the lots held for sale. If an

analysis of the common improvement indicates that (1) the basic

purpose of the taxpayer in constructing the common improvement is

to induce sales of the lots and (2) the taxpayer does not retain

too much ownership and control of the common improvement, then

the lots held for sale are deemed to include the allocable share

of the cost of the common improvement. The rationale of the

developer line of cases is that, when the basic purpose of

property is the enhancement of other properties to induce their

sale and such property does not have, in substance, an

independent existence, total cost recovery for such property

should be dependent on sale of the benefited properties. There

is no principled basis here to distinguish between residential

lots and the office buildings in question in the application of

that logic. In sum, we believe that the logic underlying the

developer line of cases is applicable outside the narrow context

of allocating the cost of common improvements to the bases of

residential lots held for sale, and, therefore, we shall
 - 45 -

determine whether petitioner has satisfied the requirements set

forth in those cases.

c. Application of the Basic Purpose Test

The requirement that the basic purpose of a taxpayer in

constructing a common improvement be to induce sales of benefited

properties serves the purpose of justifying total cost recovery

of the common improvement based on sales of the benefited

properties. Cf. Noell v. Commissioner, supra at 725 n.10

(1976).7 Petitioner apparently acknowledges that a pivotal

question is whether the basic purpose of the Bank in constructing

the Atrium was to induce sales of the Bank's adjoining

properties. That question is one of fact, which we shall answer

upon consideration of all the facts and circumstances. See

Willow Terrace Dev. Co. v. Commissioner, 40 T.C. 689, 701 (1963).

Petitioner asserts: “The Bank constructed the Atrium for

the purpose of creating an office building complex with the

expectation that the buildings within the complex would increase

in value.” That purpose alone, however, without an intention to

7
Such total basis recovery is a decided advantage not
generally enjoyed by a taxpayer who disposes of less than his
complete interest in property. See, e.g., sec. 1.61-6(a), Income
Tax Regs. (“When a part of a larger property is sold, the cost or
other basis of the entire property shall be equitably apportioned
among the several parts, and the gain realized or loss sustained
on the part of the entire property sold is the difference between
the selling price and the cost or other basis allocated to such
part.”). Consider that a lessor of income producing property
must take advance rentals into gross income in the year of
receipt, sec. 1.61-8(b), Income Tax Regs., without any increased
depreciation deduction in that year.
 - 46 -

induce sales of the benefited properties, is insufficient under

the developer line of cases. Although the record indicates that

the Bank was aware that construction of the Atrium would enhance

the value of the Bank's adjoining properties, we believe that the

basic purpose of the Bank in constructing the Atrium was not the

enhancement of the adjoining properties so as to induce sales of

those properties, but rather the resolution of certain design

issues and the enhancement of the Bank's image. Value

enhancement of the Bank's adjoining properties was simply a

beneficial consequence of that basic purpose.8

On August 24, 1979, when architectural plans for the Project

were presented to the Committee for the first time, construction

of the Atrium was proposed as a means of resolving two major

design issues: (1) counteracting the off-Broadway location of the

proposed tower and (2) creating a center consisting of the

proposed tower and the existing bank facilities. By September

1980, when construction of the proposed atrium was approved, the

Bank had the benefit of both the Harrison Price and Planning

Dynamics reports. Both reports recommended construction of the

proposed atrium based on three factors: (1) increased rental

8
It appears that petitioner would likely not dispute that
assertion; in its brief, petitioner states: “[A]lthough the
impetus for building the Atrium came from the construction of
1UBC (including the need for a `front door on Broadway'), the
Bank expected that 2UBC - the largest building to which the
Atrium is physically attached - would be the beneficiary of the
largest value increase.”
 - 47 -

rates of adjoining properties, (2) ability to counteract the off-

Broadway location of the proposed tower, and (3) enhancement of

the Bank's image, which would be reflected in a greater market

share. Reflective of those reports, the minutes of the Committee

meeting on August 25, 1980, in part, provide:

Bank management feels very positive about the project.
The general feeling of the Bank is in favor of the
enclosed atrium to allow the Bank to achieve a larger
market share. The atrium should create a major center,
making United Bank Center a nationally notable building
complex.

At that time, however, there were no immediate plans to sell any

of the adjoining properties, and, thus, there is simply no basis

to find that the Bank approved construction of the proposed

atrium so as to induce sales of those properties.9

9
Petitioner proposes the following finding of fact:

During 1978-1979, while the Bank was negotiating and
planning the construction of 1UBC and the Atrium, the
Bank gave consideration to selling some of its
properties in United Bank Center. * * *

Petitioner apparently supports that finding only with the
following testimony of Mr. Richard A. Kirk, president of UBD in
1979:

[Counsel for petitioner]: In the time frame
1978-9 to 1984, before the construction of the Atrium
commenced, did LBC consider selling any of its
properties in United Bank Center?
[Mr. Kirk]: Yes.
[Counsel]: Do you know which properties were
under consideration for sale?
[Mr. Kirk]: We would--we had a lot of real
estate, as is evidenced here, and I think in those days
we were coming to a conclusion that that wasn't
necessarily the best place for us to have our monies.
(continued...)
 - 48 -

In addition, when the budget for construction of the

proposed atrium was approved in 1984, the Bank was advised by

both Ross Consulting and Eastdil Realty that the cost of

construction would far exceed any increase in values to the

adjoining properties. Indeed, the Eastdil report noted that

“[c]onstruction of the atrium will inhibit the Bank from selling

its Broadway-Lincoln property as one unit. This may reduce the

proceeds from the sale of the Bank's property on the block."

(Emphasis omitted.) Ross Consulting recommended that “UBC should

build only if legally or `morally' bound to”, and Eastdil Realty

recommended “against building the atrium if the Bank can obtain

release from its commitment for less than $22 million less

whatever `recognition value' the Bank believes the atrium would

9
(...continued)
You know, we could put our money to work in lots of
different ways.
And so I think that it is fair to say that around
that time, we started--we were dealing more and more
with real estate, and we were thinking more and more
about it is it logical, do we need it all, should we
move some parcel.

I can't remember exactly which we were talking
about at the time, but it is definitely my recollection
that we were, you know, considering the validity of
holding all of this real estate.

The minutes of the Committee meeting on Sept. 10, 1981,
provide the earliest documentary evidence that the Bank
considered sales of its real estate:

It is the Bank's intention to investigate the
possibility of selling various elements of our real
property as a means of generating additional capital.
* * *
 - 49 -

produce.” At the Committee meeting of October 24, 1984, when the

budget for the Atrium was approved, considerations for completing

the Atrium that were noted in the presentation to the Committee

were as follows:

A. The Atrium retains a great deal of appeal;
architecturally, as an enhancement to the Bank's image,
and in value added to the properties.

B. We think our minimum cost not to build would
be about $16,000,000. It makes more sense to build it
for $25,000,000 than to not build it at a cost of
$16,000,000.

We believe that the Bank initially approved construction of

the proposed atrium in 1980 and entered into the commitment to

build in 1981 to address certain design issues and to enhance the

Bank's image; enhancement of value in the adjoining properties

was an ancillary consideration, and we so find. We believe that

the Bank's motivation derived, in significant part, from the fact

that the Developer and the 1700 Partnership would not have made a

commitment to build 1UBC had the Bank not made a commitment to

build the Atrium. When the budget for the Atrium was approved in

1984, enhancement of value of the adjoining properties was simply

one of many considerations that led to the budget's approval.

Lastly, the Bank was aware that any value to be added to the

property by the construction of the Atrium would not be fully

realized in a sale prior to completion of the Atrium;

nevertheless, the Bank sold 2UBC in 1985. In sum, upon

consideration of all the facts and circumstances, we believe that
 - 50 -

the basic purpose of the Atrium was not the enhancement of the

adjoining properties so as to induce sales of those properties,

and we so find.10

4. Conclusion

Our finding with respect to the Bank's basic purpose renders

an analysis of the extent of the Bank's retained interest in the

Atrium unnecessary. In any event, we believe that such an

analysis would support our conclusion that cost recovery for the

Atrium should be independent of sales of the adjoining

properties. Although both the easements allowing ingress and

egress of pedestrians and the Bank's obligation to maintain and

operate the Atrium at its sole cost and expense for a period of

years restricted the Bank's ownership and control of the Atrium,

such restrictions did not prevent the Bank from entering into a

10
The fact that the Atrium has consistently generated net
operating losses does not change our conclusion. If the presence
of some profit is not always fatal to a taxpayer's case, we
believe then that the absence of profit is also not dispositive.
See Willow Terrace Dev. Co. v. Commissioner, 40 T.C. 689, 701
(1963), affd. 345 F.2d 933 (5th Cir. 1965); Colony, Inc. v.
Commissioner, 26 T.C. 30, 46 (1956), affd. per curiam 244 F.2d
75 (6th Cir. 1957); Bryce's Mountain Resort, Inc. v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1985-293; Montclair Dev. Co. v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1966-200. But more importantly, the
Atrium's operating loss figures do not consider the benefits (if
any) derived by the Bank when it entered into the commitment to
build the Atrium in 1981 as part of an integrated series of
agreements. We are unclear whether any possible benefits derived
by the Bank as part of those agreements, e.g., a favorable lease
agreement in 1UBC or enhanced Bank image derived from a prominent
complex bearing the Bank's name, would skew the significance of
those loss figures. Therefore, we have little confidence in the
import of those figures.
 - 51 -

series of transactions that included the sale of an undivided

48-percent interest in the Atrium to ARICO for $17.1 million in

December 1988. Petitioner now challenges the form of that

transaction and claims that the substance of the transaction

constituted a financing arrangement. See infra sec. II.D.

Although the fact that a taxpayer retains a salable interest in a

common improvement is not dispositive of the analysis in the

developer line of cases, see, e.g., Willow Terrace Dev. Co. v.

Commissioner, 40 T.C. 689 (1963), the December 1988 transaction

strongly indicates that the Bank did not intend to recover its

investment in the Atrium through a sale of the adjoining

properties.

Lastly, we note that petitioner's reliance on the developer

line of cases is the sole reason that the basic purpose test was

applied in this case. Nothing in those cases precluded

petitioner from arguing that interests in the Atrium were

conveyed in conjunction with sales of its adjoining properties

and that an equitable allocation of the cost of the Atrium

Assets, pursuant to section 1.61-6(a), Income Tax Regs., should

be made to those interests to properly calculate gain or loss on

the conveyance of those interests. See, e.g., Fasken v.

Commissioner, 71 T.C. 650, 655-656 (1979) (when parts of a larger

property are sold, an equitable apportionment of basis among the

several parts is required for a proper calculation of gain,

section 1.61-6(a), Income Tax Regs., but that principle is not
 - 52 -

limited to the severance of realty into two or more parcels, but

applies with respect to parts of the bundle of rights comprising

property, including easements). That argument, however, was not

made by petitioner, and we need not address it any further.

C. The Atrium Assets: Loss Deduction Under Section 165(a)

In a footnote in petitioner's brief, petitioner, relying on

Echols v. Commissioner, 950 F.2d 209 (5th Cir. 1991), argues that

it is entitled to a loss deduction under section 165(a) for 1987

equal to the cost of the Atrium Assets because, although the

Atrium was not abandoned in 1987, it was worthless. Petitioner

asserts:

The Atrium was completed during 1987; and an
independent appraisal has concluded that the Atrium had
a negative value (i.e., was worthless) as of
December 31, 1987. The proper year of deduction under
I.R.C. § 165(a) is 1987, as that is the year in which
the Atrium was completed (i.e., became a closed
transaction).

In response, respondent argues that petitioner's interpretation

of Echols v. Commissioner, supra, is inconsistent with authority

of this Court, and, in any event, the Atrium's worthlessness has

not been established.

Section 165(a) allows a deduction for any loss sustained

during the taxable year and not compensated for by insurance or

otherwise. To be allowable, a loss must be evidenced by closed

and completed transactions, fixed by identifiable events, and

actually sustained during the taxable year. Sec. 1.165-1(b),

(d)(1), Income Tax Regs. In Echols v. Commissioner, supra at
 - 53 -

213, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit stated:

the test for worthlessness is a combination of
subjective and objective indicia: a subjective
determination by the taxpayer of the fact and the year
of worthlessness to him, and the existence of objective
factors reflecting completed transaction(s) and
identifiable event(s) in the year in question--not
limited, however, to transactions and events that rise
to the level of divestiture of title or legal
abandonment.

Nothing in that opinion, however, supports petitioner's apparent

assertion that completion of construction of the Atrium alone

provides sufficient objective evidence of the Atrium's

worthlessness. More importantly, petitioner has failed to

establish a loss equal to the cost of the Atrium Assets pursuant

to section 1.165-1(b) and (d)(1), Income Tax Regs., and we so

find. Therefore, petitioner is not entitled to a deduction under

section 165(a).

D. The 1988 Atrium Transaction: Disavowal of Form

1. Issue

The issue is whether petitioner may disavow the form of the

1988 Atrium Transaction. If we decide that issue for petitioner,

we must determine the substance of the 1988 Atrium Transaction.

2. Arguments of the Parties

Relying primarily on Helvering v. F. & R. Lazarus & Co., 308

U.S. 252 (1939), and Frank Lyon Co. v. Commissioner, 435 U.S. 561

(1978), petitioner argues that the substance of the 1988 Atrium

Transaction, not its form, should govern for Federal income tax

purposes. Petitioner concedes that the 1988 Atrium Transaction
 - 54 -

was in form a sale by LBC of a 48-percent interest in the Atrium

Property to ARICO for $17,100,000 and a lease of the Atrium Land

by UBD from LBC and LAL (following various transfers of interests

in the Atrium Property to LAL). Petitioner argues, however,

that, “as a matter of economic substance, the 1988 Atrium

Transaction was a loan from ARICO to the Bank.” In addition,

petitioner argues that, in cases where a taxpayer challenges the

form of a sale-leaseback transaction, no higher burden of proof

applies, and, therefore, petitioner need only persuade the Court

of the substance of the 1988 Atrium Transaction by the usual

preponderance of the evidence.

In respondent's brief, respondent presents the issue as

follows:

the petitioner has taken the position that the costs of
constructing the Atrium should have been allocated
among the adjoining properties rather than to the
Atrium itself. Accordingly, the notice of deficiency,
as a protective measure, reduced the adjusted basis of
the 48-percent interest in the Atrium sold by LBC to
zero, thereby increasing LBC's gain on the sale by
$13 million. The petitioner now claims that no gain or
loss should have been recognized on the Atrium
sale/leaseback because the transaction was merely a
financing arrangement. * * * it is the respondent's
position that the transaction was a sale/leaseback in
substance as well as form. It is also the respondent's
position, however, that the petitioner is precluded
from disavowing the form of the transaction.

In making the latter argument, respondent relies primarily on

Commissioner v. Danielson, 378 F.2d 771 (3d Cir. 1967), vacating

and remanding 44 T.C. 549 (1965); Estate of Weinert v.

Commissioner, 294 F.2d 750 (5th Cir. 1961), revg. and remanding
 - 55 -

31 T.C. 918 (1959); Estate of Durkin v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 561

(1992), supplementing T.C. Memo. 1992-325; Illinois Power Co. v.

Commissioner, 87 T.C. 1417 (1986).

3. Analysis

a. Introduction

The terms of the various agreements that constitute the 1988

Atrium Transaction are unambiguous, and we so find. Indeed,

petitioner does not argue to the contrary. Rather, petitioner

contends that “[t]he issue in this case is the characterization,

for Federal income tax purposes, of a transaction that is cast in

form as a sale-leaseback, but in which the rights created are

those of a borrower and a lender.” This Court must determine as

a threshold matter, however, whether petitioner may disavow the

form of the 1988 Atrium Transaction.

b. The Danielson Rule Does Not Apply

In Commissioner v. Danielson, supra, the Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit held that certain taxpayers were precluded

from challenging for tax purposes the terms of certain agreements

that made purchase price allocations to covenants not to compete.

The court enunciated the so-called Danielson rule:

a party can challenge the tax consequences of his
agreement as construed by the Commissioner only by
adducing proof which in an action between the parties
to the agreement would be admissible to alter that
construction or to show its unenforceability because of
mistake, undue influence, fraud, duress, etc. * * *
[Id. at 775.]

Even assuming, arguendo, that the Danielson rule applies in cases
 - 56 -

where a taxpayer attempts to disavow the form of a sale-leaseback

transaction, this Court would not apply the rule in this

particular case. This Court has declined to adopt the Danielson

rule, see, e.g., Coleman v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 178, 202 n.17

(1986); Elrod v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 1046, 1065 (1986),11 affd.

without published opinion 833 F.2d 303 (3d Cir. 1987), and does

not apply the rule unless appeal in the particular case lies to a

Court of Appeals that has explicitly adopted the rule, see

Meredith Corp. & Subs. v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 406, 439-440

(1994). The parties agree that appeal in this case will lie to

the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The position of

that court with respect to the Danielson rule is unclear, see id.

at 440 (discussing Molasky v. Commissioner, 897 F.2d 334 (8th

Cir. 1990), affg. in part, revg. in part and remanding T.C. Memo.

1988-173), and, therefore, we shall not apply the Danielson rule

in this case.

c. Respondent’s Weinert Rule

Respondent argues that, apart from the Danielson rule, a

rule that originated in Estate of Weinert v. Commissioner, 294

F.2d 750 (5th Cir. 1961), revg. and remanding 31 T.C. 918 (1959),

precludes petitioner “from disavowing the form of the Atrium

sale/leaseback because the taxpayer's actions do not reflect an

honest and consistent respect for the transaction's putative

11
We decline respondent's invitation to reconsider our
position and to adopt the rule.
 - 57 -

substance.” In Estate of Weinert, the Court of Appeals for the

Fifth Circuit (the Fifth Circuit) stated:

Resort to substance is not a right reserved for
the Commissioner's exclusive benefit, to use or not to
use--depending on the amount of the tax to be realized.
The taxpayer too has a right to assert the priority of
substance--at least in a case where his tax reporting
and actions show an honest and consistent respect for
the substance of a transaction. * * * [Id. at 755.]

Respondent principally cites Illinois Power Co. v. Commissioner,

87 T.C. 1417 (1986), as demonstrating the circumstances in which

this Court shall apply what respondent calls the “Weinert rule”

(respondent's Weinert rule). Petitioner argues that respondent's

Weinert rule is a “misrepresentation of the holding in Weinert.”

We believe that respondent's Weinert rule is an offshoot of

the Fifth Circuit's statement in Estate of Weinert. The Fifth

Circuit did not state that a taxpayer can argue the priority of

substance only if his tax reporting and other actions show an

honest and consistent respect for the substance of a transaction,

but rather, that a taxpayer can argue substance over form at

least when those conditions are met. In other words, the Fifth

Circuit statement does not make honest and consistent respect for

the substance of a transaction in tax reporting and other actions

the sine qua non of a taxpayer's right to disavow the form of a

transaction.

We note, however, that this Court in Illinois Power Co. v.

Commissioner, supra, applied respondent's Weinert rule and did

not allow a taxpayer to disavow the form of a gift transaction
 - 58 -

because “for tax reporting and other purposes, * * * [the

taxpayer] consistently treated the transfer as a gift.” Id. at

1431. This Court, pursuant to the doctrine enunciated in Golsen

v. Commissioner, 54 T.C. 742, 756-757 (1970), affd. 445 F.2d 985

(10th Cir. 1971), followed what it perceived to be the principles

established in Comdisco, Inc. v. United States, 756 F.2d 569, 578

(7th Cir. 1985). Nothing in Comdisco, however, makes honest and

consistent respect for the substance of a transaction in tax

reporting and other actions a condition precedent to a taxpayer’s

right to disavow the form of a transaction. Indeed, the Court of

Appeals for the Seventh Circuit quoted Estate of Weinert v.

Commissioner, supra at 755, and applied the reasoning and rule

expressed in that case, without expanding or altering the Fifth

Circuit's statement. Comdisco, Inc. v. United States, supra at

578. If honest and consistent respect for the substance of a

transaction were a precondition to a taxpayer’s disavowing the

form of a transaction, the Danielson rule or our own “strong

proof” standard, see, e.g., Meredith Corp. & Subs. v.

Commissioner, supra at 438 (“strong proof” required to show that

an allocation of consideration is other than that specified in a

contract), would be beside the point in any case where such

condition was not met. We have not, however, gone that far, but

have listed the taxpayer’s honest and consistent respect for the

substance of a transaction in tax reporting and other actions as

but one of at least four factors to be considered in determining
 - 59 -

whether a taxpayer may disavow the form he has chosen. Estate of

Durkin v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. at 574-575 (explaining

application of Danielson rule and strong proof standard to facts

of that case). In any case in which the taxpayer fails to show

an honest and consistent respect for the substance of a

transaction, it may be difficult (if not impossible) for the

taxpayer to convince a court that he should be allowed to disavow

his chosen form, but we cannot say that, as a rule of law, he is

precluded from trying.12 Respondent’s Weinert rule is too broad;

the taxpayer’s lack of an honest and consistent respect for the

substance of a transaction may be an important (indeed, even

decisive) factor in determining that the taxpayer cannot disavow

his chosen form; it is not, however, a sufficient factor. See

infra sec. II.D.3.e.

d. Estate of Durkin v. Commissioner

12
In Federal Natl. Mortgage Association v. Commissioner,
90 T.C. 405, 426-428 (1988), affd. 896 F.2d 580 (D.C. Cir. 1990),
we set forth two grounds for not allowing the taxpayer to disavow
the form of transaction reported on its original income tax
return and financial reports. The first “more procedural” ground
was that the taxpayer’s tax reporting and other actions did not
show an honest and consistent respect for what, at trial, it
claimed to be the substance of the transaction. With respect to
the first ground, we said that we were “disinclined” to
recharacterize the transaction by hindsight. The second ground
“[m]ore importantly” was that the form of the transaction
corresponded to its substance. The Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit affirmed our decision on the basis
of our substantive analysis. Federal Natl. Mortgage Association
v. Commissioner, 896 F.2d at 586. Had the first ground been
sufficient, we would have had no reason to discuss the second
(more important) ground.
 - 60 -

Respondent cites Estate of Durkin v. Commissioner, supra at

571-575, and argues that this Court looked to three factors to

determine whether a taxpayer could disavow the form of its

transaction:

(1) whether the taxpayer seeks to disavow its own
return treatment of the transaction, (2) whether
following the rationale of Weinert, the taxpayer’s tax
reporting and actions show and [sic] honest and
consistent respect for the transaction, (3) whether the
taxpayer is unilaterally attempting to have the
transaction treated differently after it has been
challenged. * * *

We disagree with respondent that the rationale of Estate of

Durkin can be so easily distilled. In any event, we need not

rely on Estate of Durkin because of the peculiar facts of this

case.

e. Petitioner May Not Disavow the Form of the
1988 Atrium Transaction

This Court has previously stated that a “taxpayer may have

less freedom than the Commissioner to ignore the transactional

form that he has adopted.” Bolger v. Commissioner, 59 T.C. 760,

767 n.4 (1973). That freedom is further curtailed if a taxpayer

attempts to abandon its tax return treatment of a transaction.

See, e.g., Halstead v. Commissioner, 296 F.2d 61, 62 (2d Cir.

1961), affg. per curiam T.C. Memo. 1960-106; Maletis v. United

States, 200 F.2d 97, 98 (9th Cir. 1952);13 see also supra secs.

13
In Maletis, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
stated as follows:

(continued...)
 - 61 -

II.D.3.c. and d. (discussing Estate of Weinert v. Commissioner,

294 F.2d 750 (5th Cir. 1961), and Estate of Durkin v.

Commissioner, supra, respectively). Furthermore, when a taxpayer

seeks to disavow its own tax return treatment of a transaction by

asserting the priority of substance only after the Commissioner

raises questions with respect thereto, this Court need not

entertain the taxpayer's assertion of the priority of substance.

See, e.g., Legg v. Commissioner, 57 T.C. 164, 169 (1971), affd.

per curiam 496 F.2d 1179 (9th Cir. 1974).

In Legg, the taxpayers sold an apple orchard for $140,000,

received a downpayment of $20,000 and an installment obligation,

and elected to report the transaction on the installment method.

Id. at 167-168. Contemporaneously with that transaction, the

taxpayers executed an irrevocable trust, funded with the

installment obligation. Id. at 168. The Commissioner asserted

that the transfer of the installment obligation to the trust was

a disposition giving rise to gain. Id. The taxpayers argued to

(...continued)
The Bureau of Internal Revenue, with the
tremendous load it carries, must necessarily rely in
the vast majority of cases on what the taxpayer asserts
to be fact. The burden is on the taxpayer to see to it
that the form of business he has created for tax
purposes, and has asserted in his returns to be valid,
is in fact not a sham or unreal. If in fact it is
unreal, then it is not he but the Commissioner who
should have the sole power to sustain or disregard the
effect of the fiction since otherwise the opportunities
for manipulation of taxes are practically unchecked.
* * * [Maletis v. United States, 200 F.2d 97, 98 (9th
Cir. 1952).]
 - 62 -

the Court “that since the sale and the creation of the trust

transpired simultaneously, the transaction in substance was a

sale consisting of a $20,000 downpayment and a lifetime

remuneration of $6,000 per year”, which transaction would not

result in gain on the disposition of an installment obligation.

Id. at 169. In response, this Court stated as follows:

The petitioners' first contention has little or no
justification in light of the fact that the form of the
transaction was contemplated and carried out by the
petitioners; it was their decision to report the sale
on the installment basis. A taxpayer cannot elect a
specific course of action and then when finding himself
in an adverse situation extricate himself by applying
the age-old theory of substance over form. [Id.]

Similarly, in this case, petitioner structured the 1988

Atrium Transaction as a sale by LBC of a 48-percent interest in

the Atrium Property to ARICO for $17,100,000 and a lease of the

Atrium Land by UBD from LBC and LAL. On its Federal income tax

return for the taxable year 1988, the UBC affiliated group

reported a gain of $3,803,496 on that sale, and, on its Federal

income tax returns for the taxable years 1989 through 1991, the

UBC affiliated group took deductions for rental expenses on

account of the Atrium Lease. In addition, after 1988, the

depreciation deductions claimed with respect to the Skyway and

that portion of the Atrium Structure placed in service prior to

1989 were computed on 51.5152 percent of the assets' cost bases.

As late as April 22, 1993, petitioner did not disavow its tax

return treatment of the 1988 Atrium Transaction. Indeed,

petitioner apparently does not dispute respondent's assertion
 - 63 -

that petitioner claimed that the substance of the 1988 Atrium

Transaction was something other than its form only after

respondent, as a protective measure in response to the basis

allocation argument set forth in supra section II.B., reduced to

zero the adjusted basis of the 48-percent interest in the Atrium

sold by LBC.14

Under these circumstances, we shall not allow petitioner to

disavow the form and tax treatment of the 1988 Atrium

Transaction. Essentially, the timing of petitioner's

recharacterization of the 1988 Atrium Transaction gives this

Court very little confidence in embarking upon a burdensome

search for the substance of that transaction. Although there

exists the possibility that our approach may forsake the true

substance of the 1988 Atrium Transaction, that is a risk that

this Court can bear in light of petitioner's actions. To allow

petitioner to assert the priority of substance in this case would

only embroil this Court in petitioner's post-transactional tax

planning. We decline that invitation.

4. Conclusion

Petitioner may not disavow the form of the 1988 Atrium

Transaction.

14
Our resolution of the issue presented in supra sec. II.B.
leaves respondent without the need to make any protective
adjustment with respect to the adjusted basis of the 48-percent
interest in the Atrium sold by LBC. We assume, therefore, that
respondent would seek only to maintain the UBC affiliated group's
treatment of the 1988 Atrium Transaction as reported on its tax
returns.
 - 64 -

III. Corporate Minimum Tax Issue

A. Introduction

On its consolidated returns since at least 1976, and

continuing through 1986, the UBC affiliated group computed its

tax under section 56(a), if any, based on a “consolidated”

computation of that tax (UBC's method), see infra sec. III.C.1.

In the notice of deficiency for docket No. 3723-95, respondent

accepted and used UBC's method in computing the tax under section

56(a) (the corporate minimum tax) for the UBC affiliated group's

1977, 1980, 1984, and 1985 taxable years. In the petition filed

in docket No. 3723-95, petitioner claims that it is entitled to

calculate the corporate minimum tax for the UBC affiliated

group's 1977, 1980, 1984, and 1985 taxable years on a separate

return basis (petitioner's method), see infra sec. III.C.2.,15

and claims refunds for those years on that basis.

B. The Corporate Minimum Tax Provisions

The corporate minimum tax provisions, as in effect for the

years in issue, are sections 56, 57, and 58, and the regulations

thereunder. Section 56 provides, in part, as follows:

SEC. 56 ADJUSTMENTS IN COMPUTING ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM
TAXABLE INCOME.

(a) General Rule.--In addition to the other taxes
imposed by * * * [chapter one of subtitle A of the
Code], there is hereby imposed for each taxable year,
with respect to the income of every corporation, a tax

15
It should be noted that, during those years in issue, no
member of the UBC affiliated group actually filed separate tax
returns.
 - 65 -

equal to 15 percent of the amount by which the sum of
the items of tax preference[16] exceeds the greater of--
(1) $10,000, or
(2) the regular tax deduction for the
taxable year (as determined under subsection
(c)).

* * * * * * *

(c) Regular Tax Deduction Defined.--For purposes
of this section, the term “regular tax deduction” means
an amount equal to the taxes imposed by * * * [chapter
one of subtitle A of the Code] for the taxable year
(computed without regard to this part and without
regard to the taxes imposed by sections 531 and 541),
reduced by the sum of the credits allowable under
subparts A, B, and D of part IV. * * *[17]

C. The Two Methods

1. UBC's Method

Under UBC's Method, which respondent contends is correct,

each member of the UBC affiliated group first determines its

separate “items of tax preference” pursuant to section 57. Then,

each member's separate items of tax preference are aggregated to

establish the UBC affiliated group's total for items of tax

preference (UBC's total preferences). That total is reduced by

the UBC affiliated group's regular tax liability (the amount that

should appear on Schedule J of its return) (UBC's consolidated

regular tax) or, if there is no such liability, the minimum tax

exemption.18 The 15 percent minimum tax rate of section 56(a) is

16
Items of tax preference are set forth in sec. 57.
17
The quoted provisions were in effect for the UBC affiliated
group's 1985 taxable year. For purposes of this case, prior
versions of sec. 56, in effect for 1977, 1980, and 1984, were not
materially different from the 1985 version.
18
This sentence reflects a stipulation of the parties. We
(continued...)
 - 66 -

then applied to the excess, if any, of UBC's total preferences

over UBC's consolidated regular tax or the exemption amount. The

resulting figure is the UBC affiliated group's corporate minimum

tax.

2. Petitioner's Method

Under petitioner's method, each member of the UBC affiliated

group first determines its separate items of tax preference

pursuant to section 57. Then, each member's separate regular tax

deduction under section 56(c) (separate regular tax deduction) is

determined by using the method of allocation provided in sections

1552(a)(2) and 1.1502-33(d)(2)(ii), Income Tax Regs. (the 1502-

33(d) allocation).19 The 15-percent minimum tax rate of section

18
(...continued)
believe that the minimum tax exemption amount would be used if
the consolidated regular tax were greater than zero and less than
$10,000.
19
Sec. 1552(a) provides that, pursuant to regulations
prescribed by the Secretary, the earnings and profits of each
member of an affiliated group, see sec. 1504, required to be
included in a consolidated return for such group filed for a
taxable year shall be determined by allocating the tax liability
of the group for such year among the members of the group in
accordance with one of several methods set forth in sec.
1552(a)((1) through (4)), which method must be elected in the
first consolidated return filed by the group. Beginning with its
1967 taxable year, the UBC affiliated group elected to allocate
its consolidated regular tax liability among its members in
accordance with sec. 1552(a)(2) and sec. 1.1502-33(d)(2)(ii),
Income Tax Regs. Sec. 1552(a)(2) provides:

The tax liability of the group shall be allocated to
the several members of the group on the basis of the
percentage of the total tax which the tax of such
member if computed on a separate return would bear to
the total amount of the taxes for all members of the
group so computed.
(continued...)
 - 67 -

56(a) is then applied to the excess of each member's separate

items of tax preference over the amount, if any, determined under

the 1502-33(d) allocation. Each member's resulting minimum tax,

if any, is then aggregated to derive the UBC affiliated group's

corporate minimum tax.

Under petitioner's method, the aggregate of the members'

separate regular tax deductions, which will be utilized by the UBC

affiliated group to reduce items of tax preference subject to the

15-percent minimum tax, will not equal the consolidated regular

tax liability of the group. That lack of equivalence is a result

of the following: (1) Loss companies are not allocated any

portion of the consolidated regular tax liability, which results

(...continued)
Sec. 1.1502-33(d)(2)(ii), Income Tax Regs., provides:

(ii)(a) The tax liability of the group, as
determined under paragraph (b)(1) of §1.1552-1, shall
be allocated to the members in accordance with
paragraph (a)(1), (2) or (3) of §1.1552-1, whichever is
applicable;
(b) An additional amount shall be allocated to
each member equal to a fixed percentage (which does not
exceed 100 percent) of the excess, if any, of (1) the
separate return tax liability of such member for the
taxable year (computed as provided in paragraph
(a)(2)(ii) of §1.1552-1), over (2) the tax liability
allocated to such member in accordance with (a) of this
subdivision (ii); and
(c) The total of any additional amounts allocated
pursuant to (b) of this subdivision (ii) (including
amounts allocated as a result of a carryback) shall be
credited to the earnings and profits of those members
which had items of income, deductions, or credits to
which such total is attributable pursuant to a
consistent method which fairly reflects such items of
income, deductions, or credits, and which is
substantiated by specific records maintained by the
group for such purpose.
 - 68 -

in no separate regular tax deduction for such members with

separately computed items of tax preference; (2) the separately

computed items of tax preference are not aggregated on a

consolidated basis; and (3) the aggregate amount allocated under

the 1502-33(d) allocation to members with positive taxable income

may exceed the consolidated regular tax liability of the group.20

D. Analysis

1. Issue

The issue is whether petitioner is entitled to refunds of

payments made to satisfy the UBC affiliated group's corporate

minimum tax liabilities for the years in issue.

20
That description of the consequence of petitioner’s method
is based on a stipulation of the parties. We find it somewhat
confusing. We believe that the primary reason that the aggregate
of the amounts allocated under the 1502-33(d) allocation may
exceed the consolidated regular tax liability of the group is
sec. 1.1502-33(d)(2)(ii)(b), Income Tax Regs., which allows for
an allocation of additional amounts no greater than the excess of
the separate return tax liability over the amount allocated in
accordance with the ratio of separate return tax liability to the
aggregate thereof for the group. For example, assume the
following: (1) The consolidated group comprises A, B, and C;
(2) A has taxable income of $100, B has taxable income of $100,
and C has a loss of $40; and (3) the regular tax rate is
35 percent. The consolidated regular tax liability would equal
$56 (35 percent of $160 (consolidated regular taxable income)).
Under petitioner's method, both A and B would be allocated
50 percent of that amount because the ratio under sec. 1.1502-
33(d)(2)(ii)(a), Income Tax Regs., for both is $35:$70, see sec.
1.1552-1(a)(2), Income Tax Regs., (we assume that the separate
return tax liability of the loss corporation is zero; if
negative, then A & B's ratios would only increase, resulting in
greater initial allocations to A & B anyway); thus both A and B
are allocated $28. But sec. 1.1502-33(d)(2)(ii)(b), Income Tax
Regs., allows an allocation of an additional amount that is no
greater than $7 ($35 - $28), which could result in a total
allocation to A & B of $70. Seventy dollars is greater than the
consolidated regular tax liability of $56.
 - 69 -

2. Arguments of the Parties

Relying principally on Gottesman & Co. v. Commissioner,

77 T.C. 1149 (1981), petitioner argues that, in the absence of any

contrary guidance in the Code or regulations thereunder, section

56(a) imposes a minimum tax on every corporation and that the UBC

affiliated group must, therefore, compute its corporate minimum

tax by aggregating the tax imposed under section 56(a) on each

member of the group. Petitioner argues that, in calculating each

member's separate corporate minimum tax, it is entitled to adopt

any reasonable method of determining each member's separate

regular tax deduction under section 56(c), in particular the 1502-

33(d) allocation. Petitioner goes so far as to argue that

petitioner is required to use the 1502-33(d) allocation for

determining the separate regular tax deductions of the UBC

affiliated group's members under section 56(c). Petitioner argues

that, for the years in issue, the amount of the UBC affiliated

group's corporate minimum tax under petitioner's method is less

than the tax under UBC's method and, therefore, petitioner is

entitled to a refund for those years.

Respondent acknowledges that the regulations relating to

consolidated returns (the consolidated return regulations)21 do not

directly address the computation of the corporate minimum tax for

groups filing consolidated returns. Respondent argues, however,

that under the general rule of section 1.1502-80, Income Tax Regs.,

21
See secs. 1.1501-1 through 1.1552-1, Income Tax Regs.
 - 70 -

the minimum tax liability of the UBC affiliated group is determined

by the Code or other law otherwise applicable. Thus, respondent

contends that section 56(a)(2) and (c), the legislative history

thereof, and certain case law remain applicable, requiring the

regular tax deduction of the UBC affiliated group under section

56(c) to equal the amount of tax actually imposed on the group under

chapter one of subtitle A of the Code for the taxable year (without

regard to the corporate minimum tax and certain other provisions).

Respondent argues that, under petitioner's method, the aggregate of

the members' separate regular tax deductions will not equal UBC's

consolidated regular tax. Moreover, respondent argues, petitioner's

method reduces the UBC affiliated group's corporate minimum tax only

if the total of the members' separate regular tax deductions exceeds

UBC's consolidated regular tax. Respondent states: “Consequently,

if the Court limits the total `regular tax deduction' to the UBC

group's consolidated regular tax liability, petitioner's overpayment

claims become moot and resolution of the Separate Return Issue

unnecessary.” In other words, we need not determine the proper

method of calculating the corporate minimum tax in the context of

corporations filing consolidated returns if we decide that the

deduction under section 56(c) for an affiliated group of

corporations filing a consolidated return is limited to the tax

actually imposed on such group under chapter one of subtitle A of

the Code for the taxable year (without regard to the corporate

minimum tax and certain other provisions and reduced by the sum of

certain credits) (the actually imposed chapter one tax).
 - 71 -

3. Discussion

Initially, the dispute between the parties seems to involve two

countervailing principles of the law relating to consolidated

returns: (1) “`Each corporation is a separate taxpayer whether it

stands alone or is in an affiliated group and files a consolidated

return'”, Wegman's Properties, Inc. v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 786,

789 (1982) (quoting Electronic Sensing Prods., Inc. v. Commissioner,

69 T.C. 276, 281 (1977)), and (2) “the purpose of the consolidated

return provisions * * * is `to require taxes to be levied according

to the true net income and invested capital resulting from and

employed in a single business enterprise, even though it was

conducted by means of more than one corporation'”, First Natl. Bank

in Little Rock v. Commissioner, 83 T.C. 202, 209 (1984) (quoting

Handy & Harman v. Burnet, 284 U.S. 136, 140 (1931)). The nature of

petitioner's refund claim with respect to the UBC affiliated group's

corporate minimum tax liabilities, however, allows us to restrict

our analysis to the centerpiece of the parties' dispute, i.e., the

amount of the deduction under section 56(c) for an affiliated group

of corporations. In other words, if we decide that the deduction

under section 56(c) for an affiliated group of corporations is

limited to its actually imposed chapter one tax, the parties will

have no material disagreement in their computations pursuant to Rule

155 regarding the UBC affiliated group's corporate minimum tax

liabilities for the years in issue. Therefore, we shall first

address that issue.

Section 1501 provides, in part, as follows:
 - 72 -

An affiliated group of corporations shall * * * have
the privilege of making a consolidated return with respect
to the income tax imposed by chapter 1 for the taxable
year in lieu of separate returns. The making of a
consolidated return shall be upon the condition that all
corporations which at any time during the taxable year
have been members of the affiliated group consent to all
the consolidated return regulations prescribed under
section 1502 prior to the last day prescribed by law for
the filing of such return. * * *

Pursuant to section 1502, Congress has granted to the Secretary of

the Treasury broad authority to prescribe such regulations as he may

deem necessary with respect to the making of consolidated returns.

There are no regulations, however, that directly address the

calculation of the corporate minimum tax for an affiliated group of

corporations that makes a consolidated return.22 In the absence of

consolidated return regulations governing a particular point, this

Court shall look to the Code or other law. See, e.g., Wegman's

Properties, Inc., & Subs. v. Commissioner, supra at 790; sec.

22
On Mar. 19, 1970, the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS)
issued Technical Information Release No. 1032, which stated, in
part, as follows:

The Internal Revenue Service today announced that
amendments will be made to the regulations to reflect
the effect on consolidated returns and partnerships of
the addition by the Tax Reform Act of 1969 of the
minimum tax for tax preferences.

The amendment relating to consolidated returns
will make clear that the election by affiliated groups
of corporations to file a consolidated Federal income
tax return is effective with respect to the computation
of the minimum tax as well as the regular income tax.

Those amendments, however, were never made. On July 31, 1984,
the IRS issued, but never finalized, a proposed amendment to sec.
1.1502-2, Income Tax Regs., which would have added the corporate
minimum tax to the list of taxes to be computed as part of an
affiliated group's consolidated tax liability.
 - 73 -

1.1502-80, Income Tax Regs.

Section 56(a) imposes, with respect to the income of every

corporation, a tax equal to 15 percent of the excess of the sum of

the items of tax preference over the greater of $10,000 or the

regular tax deduction.23 Section 56(c) defines the term “regular tax

deduction” to mean “an amount equal to the taxes imposed” by chapter

one of subtitle A of the Code for the taxable year (computed without

regard to the corporate minimum tax and certain other provisions),

reduced by the sum of certain credits. In Norwest Corp. & Subs. v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1995-600, which involved the same Norwest

Corp. that is the successor in interest to the UBC affiliated group

in this case, this Court held that the amount of the section 56(c)

deduction for an affiliated group of corporations is limited to the

actually imposed chapter one tax of the affiliated group. That

holding was based primarily on the rationale of Sparrow v.

23
One court has stated that the purpose of the corporate
minimum tax “is to make sure that the aggregating of tax-
preference items does not result in the taxpayer's paying a
shockingly low percentage of his income as tax.” First Chicago
Corp. v. Commissioner, 842 F.2d 180, 181 (7th Cir. 1988), affg.
88 T.C. 663 (1987). This Court in First Natl. Bank in Little
Rock v. Commissioner, 83 T.C. 202, 214 (1984), examined the
legislative history of the corporate minimum tax and distilled
two general principles:

First, the tax was intended to limit the tax benefits
and advantages from certain tax exemptions and special
deductions referred to as tax preference items. * * *
Second, Congress did not undertake a revision of the
Code provisions granting the tax preferences or other
substantive provisions such as the consolidated return
regulations. Instead, liability for this additional
tax is generally to be measured by the provisions
imposing it.
 - 74 -

Commissioner, 86 T.C. 929 (1986).

In Sparrow, the taxpayers argued that the regular tax for

purposes of calculating their alternative minimum tax under section

55 was the tax that would have been imposed under section 1 and not

the lesser amount of tax that was actually imposed with the benefit

of the income averaging provisions of sections 1301-1305. This

Court stated:

section 55(b)(2) (now section 55(f)(2)) defines regular
tax as “the taxes imposed by this chapter for the taxable
year.” (Emphasis added.) “This chapter” is Chapter 1 of
Subtitle A of the Code. It encompasses sections 1 through
1397. Thus, the regular tax includes the taxes imposed by
sections 1 through 1397; in particular, the tax imposed by
section 1. However, section 1301 allows a taxpayer to
reduce the tax on averageable income thereunder. The
amount so determined under section 1301 thus becomes the
tax imposed by section 1. Sec. 1301 * * *. This figure
therefore is the regular tax and must be used in computing
the alternative minimum tax.

* * * Petitioners would have us read section 55(b)(2) (now
section 55(f)(2)) as defining regular tax as the tax
computed under section 1 regardless of the tax actually
imposed thereunder. This we cannot do. The statutory
language is “taxes imposed.” [Sparrow v. Commissioner,
supra at 934-935.]

Similarly, section 1.1502-2, Income Tax Regs., provides that

the tax liability of an affiliated group of corporations is

determined by adding together the taxes imposed under various

sections of chapter one of subtitle A of the Code on the group's

consolidated taxable income for the taxable year; the total of the

taxes so determined is equal to the taxes imposed on an affiliated

group under chapter one of subtitle A of the Code. No other taxes

are imposed on an affiliated group or any of its separate members

under chapter one of subtitle A of the Code. Therefore, the
 - 75 -

deduction under section 56(c) for an affiliated group is limited

initially to an amount equal to the amount determined pursuant to

section 1.1502-2, Income Tax Regs., which regulation provides a

computation of the amount of taxes imposed on an affiliated group

under chapter one of subtitle A of the Code.

The 1502-33(d) allocation advanced by petitioner, however,

would require us to read section 56(c) as defining the term “regular

tax deduction” to mean an amount of tax that is not actually imposed

by chapter one of subtitle A of the Code. That we cannot do. The

statutory language is “taxes imposed”. The 1502-33(d) allocation is

a method of allocating the tax liability determined pursuant to

section 1.1502-2, Income Tax Regs., for purposes of determining the

earnings and profits of each member of an affiliated group. See

sec. 1552; secs. 1.1552-1(a) and (b)(1), 1.1502-33(d)(2), Income Tax

Regs. The amounts allocated to each member of an affiliated group

under the 1502-33(d) allocation are certainly derived from and may

in the aggregate equal the amount of taxes imposed on the

affiliated group pursuant to chapter one of subtitle A of the Code

for the taxable year, but are not, themselves, taxes so imposed.

The fact that section 1.1552-1(b)(2)(ii), Income Tax Regs., treats

the amounts allocated under the 1502-33(d) allocation as a liability

of each member of the affiliated group does not convert such amounts

into taxes imposed by chapter one of subtitle A of the Code for

purposes of section 56(c).24

24
Petitioner's argument that the 1502-33(d) allocation is used
(continued...)
 - 76 -

Petitioner's reliance on Gottesman & Co. v. Commissioner,

77 T.C. 1149 (1981), is misplaced. In Gottesman, this Court held

that, since the consolidated return regulations did not mandate a

consolidated calculation of the accumulated earnings tax under

section 531, the taxpayer was permitted to use a separate company

calculation. In this case, however, petitioner seeks to adopt a

method that is contrary to an express provision of the Code, section

56(c). Gottesman is inapposite.

In light of our analysis, we believe that petitioner's other

arguments do not merit discussion. In conclusion, the deduction

under section 56(c) for an affiliated group of corporations is

limited to the group's actually imposed chapter one tax, and,

therefore, petitioner's claims for refunds must fail.

E. Conclusion

Petitioner is not entitled to refunds of payments made to

satisfy the UBC affiliated group's corporate minimum tax liabilities

for the years in issue.

IV. Furniture and Fixtures Recovery Period Issue

A. Introduction

We must determine the applicable recovery period for certain

furniture and fixtures (the furniture and fixtures) placed in

service by various members of the UBC affiliated group during the

group’s 1987, 1988, and 1989 taxable years. The applicable recovery

24
(...continued)
for other purposes, such as the addition to tax under sec.
6655(a), does not change our conclusion that the amounts derived
from such allocation are not taxes imposed by chapter one of
subtitle A of the Code.
 - 77 -

period is an element in the calculation of the deduction for

depreciation allowed by section 167. The parties disagree as to

whether the recovery period applicable to the furniture and fixtures

is 5 years or 7 years. Petitioner argues that it is 5 years, while

respondent argues that it is 7 years. UBC originally determined

that the recovery period applicable to the furniture and fixtures

was 7 years and applied that period to the furniture and fixtures in

making its consolidated returns for 1987, 1988, and 1989. In the

relevant petitions, petitioner avers that UBC’s original

determination of the applicable recovery period was mistaken, and

that the correct applicable recovery period is 5 years. Petitioner

asks that the Court determine an overpayment in tax on account of

that mistake. The aggregate cost bases for the furniture and

fixtures placed in service in 1987, 1988, and 1989 are $5,710,643,

$1,490,930, and $546,707, respectively.

The parties disagree as to whether a similar question is before

the Court with respect to the UBC affiliated group’s 1990 and

(short) 1991 taxable years. During those years, various members of

the UBC affiliated group placed in service additional furniture and

fixtures (the 1990-91 furniture and fixtures). UBC determined that

the recovery period applicable to the 1990-1991 furniture and

fixtures was 5 years and applied that period to those furniture and

fixtures in making its consolidated returns for 1990 and 1991.

Respondent made no adjustment with respect to that determination.

In the relevant petition, petitioner included the 1990-91 furniture

and fixtures with the furniture and fixtures in its averment that
 - 78 -

UBC had mistakenly used a 7-year recovery period. In the answer,

respondent merely denied petitioner’s averment. In their respective

trial memoranda, neither party identified the discrepancy in

treatment between the furniture and fixtures and the 1990-91

furniture and fixtures. In their stipulations, however, the parties

recognize the discrepancy, and petitioner concedes that it is not

entitled to any additional depreciation with respect to the 1990-91

furniture and fixtures. On brief, petitioner argues that the only

applicable recovery period issue before the Court concerns the

furniture and fixtures. Respondent argues that the Court must also

determine the applicable recovery period with respect to the 1990-91

furniture and fixtures because that issue either (1) was put in

issue by the petition or (2) was tried with consent of the parties.

We do not believe that petitioner intended to put into issue

the applicable recovery period with respect to the 1990-91 furniture

and fixtures, nor do we believe that that issue was tried with

petitioner’s consent. Rule 31(d) requires us to construe all

pleadings to do substantial justice. Substantial justice would not

be done were we to hold petitioner to an unintended construction of

its pleading, especially in light of respondent’s uninformative

response. Clearly, the issue was not tried with petitioner’s

consent in light of the stipulation and the lack of any notice by

respondent that he intended to raise the issue. The parties have

relied only on the stipulated facts in briefing this issue, so we

cannot conclude that petitioner failed to object to evidence that

should have put petitioner on notice that the applicable recovery
 - 79 -

period with respect to the 1990-91 furniture and fixtures had been

put into play by respondent. Section 6214 provides us with

jurisdiction to determine an increased deficiency if a claim

therefor is asserted by the Secretary at or before the hearing.

Respondent has not relied on section 6214, so we assume that

respondent does not argue that he asserted a timely, appropriate

claim. We conclude that the recovery period applicable to the 1990-

91 furniture and fixtures is not before the Court for decision.

B. Applicable Recovery Period; Class Life

Section 168(c) provides that the applicable recovery period of

5-year property is 5 years and the applicable recovery period of

7-year property is 7 years. Section 168(e)(1) generally defines

5-year property as property having a class life of more than 4

years, but less than 10 years, and 7-year property as property

having a class life of 10 years or more, but less than 16 years.

“Class life”, as defined by section 168(i)(1), is determined by

reference to former section 167(m), as in effect prior to its repeal

by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-508,

sec. 11812(a), 104 Stat. 1388, 1388-534. Section 167(m) provided for

a depreciation allowance based upon the class life prescribed by the

Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate. The class lives of

depreciable assets can be found in a series of revenue procedures

issued by the Commissioner. See sec. 1.167(a)-11(b)(4)(ii), Income

Tax Regs. The revenue procedure in effect for the years in issue in

this case is Rev. Proc. 87-56, 1987-2 C.B. 674 (Rev. Proc. 87-56).

Rev. Proc. 87-56 divides assets into two broad categories: (1)
 - 80 -

Asset guideline classes 00.11 through 00.4, consisting of specific

depreciable assets used in all business activities (the asset

category), and (2) asset guideline classes 01.1 through 80.0,

consisting of depreciable assets used in specific business

activities (the activity category). The specific asset guideline

classes in issue are asset guideline classes 00.11 and 57.0 (classes

00.11 and 57.0, respectively). Classes 00.11 and 57.0, and their

headings, are as follows:

SPECIFIC DEPRECIABLE ASSETS USED IN ALL BUSINESS
ACTIVITIES, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

00.11 Office Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment:
Includes furniture and fixtures that are not a
structural component of a building. Includes
such assets as desks, files, safes, and
communications equipment. Does not include
communications equipment that is included in
other classes * * *

* * * * * * *

DEPRECIABLE ASSETS USED IN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:

* * * * * * *

57.0 Distributive Trades and Services:
Includes assets used in wholesale and retail
trade, and personal and professional services.
Includes section 1245 assets used in marketing
petroleum and petroleum products * * *

Rev. Proc. 87-56 at 676, 686. The class lives specified for classes

00.11 and 57.0 are 10 and 9 years, respectively.

If the furniture and fixtures are described in class 00.11,

they have a class life of 10 years and, by virtue of section

168(e)(1), are 7-year property, with an applicable recovery period

of 7 years. See sec. 168(c)(1). If the furniture and fixtures are

described in class 57.0, they have a class life of 9 years and, by
 - 81 -

virtue of section 168(e)(1), are 5-year property, with a applicable

recovery period of 5 years. See id.

C. Arguments of the Parties

The parties agree that the applicable recovery period for the

furniture and fixtures turns on whether the furniture and fixtures

are described in class 00.11 or class 57.0. Class 00.11 is in the

asset category and class 57.0 is in the activity category. It is

clear that, at least in theory, the same item of depreciable

property can be described in both the asset category and the

activity category. See, e.g., Rev. Proc. 87-56 (class 35.0,

excluding assets in class 00.11 through 00.4). Petitioner,

explicitly, and respondent, implicitly, agree that the furniture and

fixtures are described in both class 00.11 and 57.0. They disagree,

however, on the classification that takes priority.

Petitioner argues that (1) logic and precedent require that the

particular (class 57.0) should prevail over the general (class

00.11), (2) legislative and administrative history support that

result, and (3) a recent ruling of the Commissioner’s, Rev. Rul. 95-

52, 1995-2 C.B. 27, amounts to a concession by the Commissioner with

respect to the issue before us. Respondent relies on (1) the “plain

language” of Rev. Proc. 87-56, (2) administrative history, and (3)

our decision in Norwest Corp. & Subs. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.

1995-390.

D. Discussion

In Norwest Corp. & Subs. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1995-390,

we addressed the same issue presented in this case. We held that
 - 82 -

class 00.11 takes priority over class 57.0. Petitioner argues that

that conclusion is wrong. Petitioner argues that, in Norwest Corp.,

we failed adequately to analyze two cases: Walgreen Co. & Subs. v.

Commissioner, 68 F.3d 1006 (7th Cir. 1995), revg. and remanding 103

T.C. 582 (1994), on remand T.C. Memo. 1996-374, and JFM, Inc. &

Subs. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1994-239.

The primary issue in Walgreen Co. was whether certain leasehold

improvements, currently described in class 57.0, were excluded from

class 50.0 (class 50.0) of Rev. Proc. 72-10, 1972-1 C.B. 721, 730

(Rev. Proc. 72-10), by virtue of being described in class 65.0

(class 65.0) of Rev. Proc. 72-10. Class 65.0 is entitled “Building

Services” and includes, among other things, “the structural shells

of buildings and all integral parts thereof”. The Court of Appeals

for the Seventh Circuit (the Seventh Circuit) traced the provenance

of class 65.0 to an asset category, “Buildings”, in Rev. Proc. 62-

21, 1962-2 C.B. 418, 419 (Rev. Proc. 62-21). The Seventh Circuit

summarized the relevant aspects of Rev. Proc. 62-21 as follows:

In 1962 the Internal Revenue Service prescribed useful
lives both for types of asset and types of business. Rev.
Proc. 62-21, 1962-2 Cum. Bull. 418. One type of asset was
“Buildings,” defined as including “the structural shell of
the building and all integral parts thereof.” One type of
business was “Wholesale and Retail Trade.” An asset might
be a building used in wholesale and retail trade, and thus
fall into two useful-lives groups. To take care of such
overlaps, Rev. Proc. 62-21 provided that an asset that
fell within both an asset group and an activity group
would be classified in the asset group.

Walgreen Co. & Subs. v. Commissioner, supra at 1007. The Seventh

Circuit noted that, unlike Rev. Proc. 62-21, Rev. Proc. 72-10 did

not contain a priority rule. Walgreen Co. & Subs. v. Commissioner,
 - 83 -

supra at 1008. The Government had based one of its arguments for

affirmance on the assumption that the old (Rev. Proc. 62-21)

priority rule remained in effect (i.e., that any asset described

both in class 50.0 and class 65.0 would be deemed to be only in

class 65.0, for which a longer useful life coincidentally had been

specified). Walgreen had not challenged that assumption, and,

immediately after reviewing the evolution of the asset

classification system, the Seventh Circuit stated that it would

accept the assumption for purposes of deciding the appeal. (The

Seventh Circuit remanded to the Tax Court to find whether any or all

of the leasehold improvements in question were excluded from class

50.0 by virtue of being described in class 65.0; we found that some

were and some were not.)

Petitioner makes the simplistic argument that, since the

Seventh Circuit stated that class 50.0 (now class 57.0) included all

assets used in wholesale or retail trade except those in class 65.0,

and the furniture and fixtures would not be in class 65.0, they must

be in class 57.0. We do not draw that conclusion. The priority

rule of Rev. Proc. 62-21 provided not only that the asset category

of buildings prevailed over the activity category of wholesale and

retail trade but also that the asset category that included office

furniture and fixtures likewise prevailed. The consideration that

the Seventh Circuit gave to the evolution of the asset

classification system before accepting the assumption of the

Government as to the survival of the Rev. Proc. 62-21 priority rule

with respect to class 65.0 leads us to conclude that the Seventh
 - 84 -

Circuit might have reached a similar conclusion even without the

taxpayer’s concession to the Government’s assumption. We attach

little significance to the language to which petitioner directs our

attention. Walgreen Co. & Subs. v. Commissioner, supra, does not

support petitioner’s argument.

JFM, Inc. & Subs. v. Commissioner, supra, is also inapposite.

In that case, among other things, we had to determine the

classification under Rev. Proc. 87-56 of gasoline pump canopies and

related assets. We determined that class 57.0 (and 57.1)

specifically included gasoline pump canopies. We rejected the

Commissioner’s attempt to classify the assets under the broad

definition of “Land Improvements” in class 00.3, on the basis that

such class was a “catchall” provision, which specifically excluded

assets “explicitly included” in other classes. Petitioner draws our

attention to the following statement in JFM, Inc.: “It is clear

that classes 57.0 and 57.1 were intended to cover all possible types

of real or personal property used in marketing petroleum products”.

We made that statement in the context of rejecting the

Commissioner’s class 00.3 classification, which excludes assets

described in other classes, and we do not read that statement as

establishing any priority between class 57.0 and 00.11.

Petitioner also relies on Rev. Rul. 95-52, 1995-2 C.B. 27,

arguing that it shows that the recovery period of furniture can be 5

years because, under the circumstances in the ruling, furniture is

included in class 57.0. It is true that, in the ruling, the

Commissioner held that some furniture is in class 57.0. The
 - 85 -

furniture in question, however, was furniture described as “consumer

durable property” (described in Rev. Proc. 95-38, 1995-2 C.B. 397,

398) subject to rent-to-own contracts entered into with individuals.

The furniture was generally used in an individual’s home. That

furniture, thus, does not fall within class 00.11, which pertains to

“Office Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment”.

Petitioner’s argument that legislative and administrative

history support its position is basically an argument that policy

goals such as simplification and controversy avoidance would be

served by holding that the activity category includes all

depreciable property used in the named activities. Whether or not

that may be true, but it is not the pattern of the classification

system, which, in specific instances, excludes asset category items

from the activity category. See, e.g., Rev. Proc. 87-56, classes

35.0, 37.11, 80.0. Rev. Proc. 87-56 also excludes from the asset

category items described in the activity category, see, e.g.,

classes 00.12, 00.3, 00.4. We do not discern the absolute position

that petitioner advocates in the history it has cited to us.

Petitioner’s argument that the particular should prevail over

the general is an argument based on common sense and general rules

of construction. See, e.g., Wood v. Commissioner, 95 T.C. 364, 371

(1990) (“when Congress has dealt with a particular classification

with specific language, the classification is removed from the

application of general language”), revd. 955 F.2d 908 (4th Cir.

1992). Petitioner, however, has not persuaded us that, in this

case, class 57.0 is the specific and class 00.11 is the general.
 - 86 -

There are exceptions from the asset category for items classified in

the activity category and vice versa. We are not convinced that the

activity categorization of class 57.0 is more specific than the

asset categorization of class 00.11 in the case of office furniture

and fixtures. Petitioner’s suggested rule of construction is of no

help to it here.

Respondent argues that the plain language of Rev. Proc. 87-56

provides that the asset category consists of “Specific Business

Assets Used in All Business Activities” and that the inclusive

adjective, “all”, plainly establishes a priority of asset

categorization over activity categorization, except where a specific

exception applies. We do not agree. The adjective “all” simply

serves to define a class in the category; it does not help solve the

priority question raised by a class in the activity category that,

on its face, also includes the furniture and fixtures. Respondent

also argues that his position is supported by the history of the

asset depreciation guidelines. We have already discussed some of

that history, but, at the risk of repeating ourselves, will set

forth respondent’s argument:

Rev. Proc. 87-56's predecessors all grouped depreciable
assets into the same two broad categories, specific assets
used in all business activities and assets used in
specific business activities. See, Rev. Proc. 83-35,
1983-1 C.B. 745; Rev. Proc. 77-10, 1977-1 C.B. 548; and
Rev. Proc. 72-10, 1972-1 C.B. 721. Those revenue
procedures were patterned after the first depreciation
guideline revenue procedure, Rev. Proc. 62-21, 1962-2 C.B.
418. Rev. Proc. 62-21 provided for four groups of
depreciable assets. The first group, corresponding to the
asset category of Rev. Proc. 87-56, consisted of assets
used by business in general. The second, third, and
fourth groups, corresponding to the activity category of
Rev. Proc. 87-56, consisted of assets used in non-
 - 87 -

manufacturing activities, manufacturing activities, and
transportation, communication, and public utilities,
respectively. Specifically excluded from the second,
third, and fourth groups were any assets coming within the
first group. Although Rev. Proc. 87-56 and its immediate
predecessors do not explicitly exclude from the activity
category assets coming within the asset category, all
continue the same pattern.9
9
The legislative history of ACRS indicates that Congress
understood Rev. Proc. 87-56's predecessors as providing
that assets which are encompassed in classes in both the
asset and activity categories are to be classified in the
asset class. In describing the ADR system which was
incorporated into ACRS, the Conference Committee Report on
the Tax Reform Act of 1986 states: Under the ADR system, a
present class life ("mid-point") was provided for all
assets used in the same activity, other than certain
assets with common characteristics (e.g., automobiles).
H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 99-841, 99th Cong., 2d Sess. 38
(1986), 1986-3 C.B. Vol. 4, 38 (emphasis added)
(automobiles comprised an asset category class (Class
00.22) under Rev. Proc. 83-35, 1983-1 C.B. 745).

We are not interpreting a statutory provision. Although

Congress clearly was concerned with the Commissioner’s

implementation of the class life system, and the system implements

section 167, we are interpreting an administrative creation, and,

thus, we must determine the administrator’s intent. We are

persuaded by respondent that Rev. Proc. 62-21 established a pattern

that was carried over into subsequent revenue procedures, including

Rev. Proc. 87-56. Notwithstanding the failure to continue a

specific priority rule in subsequent revenue procedures, there is

sufficient similarity in style and organization between Rev. Proc.

62-21 and its successors that we think that a similar priority rule

was intended, and we so find.

E. Conclusion

The furniture and fixtures are described in class 00.11.
 - 88 -

Therefore, they have a class life of 10 years and, by virtue of

section 168(e)(1), are 7-year property, with an applicable recovery

period of 7 years. See sec. 168(c)(1).

V. Net Operating Loss Issue

A. Introduction

Section 172(a) allows a “net operating loss deduction” for the

aggregate of net operating loss carrybacks and carryovers to the

taxable year. The term “net operating loss” (NOL) is defined in

section 172(c). Section 172(b) provides the carryback and carryover

periods for NOLs. Section 172(b)(1)(A) and (B) provides that,

generally, the carryback period for a NOL is 3 years and the

carryover period is 15 years. Section 172(b)(1)(L) provides a

special rule with respect to the bad debt losses of commercial

banks: The portion of the NOL of a commercial bank that is

attributable to bad debt losses is prescribed a carryback period of

10 years and carryover period of 5 years. Section 172(l) provides a

rule for determining the portion of a bank’s NOL attributable bad

debt losses:

The portion of the net operating loss for any taxable year
which is attributable to the deduction allowed under
section 166(a) shall be the excess of --

(i) the net operating loss for such taxable
year, over
(ii) the net operating loss for such taxable
year determined without regard to the amount
allowed as a deduction under section 166(a) for
such taxable year.

Section 166 allows a deduction for bad debts. Section 1.1502-11,

Income Tax Regs., prescribes how consolidated taxable income is to

be determined. Among other things, it prescribes that consolidated
 - 89 -

taxable income is to be determined by taking into account the

separate taxable income of each member of the group and “[a]ny

consolidated net operating loss deduction”. Section 1.1502-21(a),

Income Tax Regs., provides that the consolidated NOL deduction is

equal to the aggregate of the consolidated NOL carryovers and

carrybacks to the taxable year. In pertinent part, section 1.1502-

21(b)(1), Income Tax Regs., provides that the consolidated NOL

carryovers and carrybacks to the taxable year shall consist of any

consolidated NOLs of the group that may be carried back or over to

the taxable year under the provisions of section 172(b). Section

1.1502-21(f), Income Tax Regs., provides rules for determining the

consolidated NOL. In pertinent part, it provides that the

consolidated NOL shall be determined by taking into account the

separate taxable income, “as determined under §1.1502-12”, of each

member of the group. Finally, section 1.1502-12, Income Tax Regs.,

provides that the separate taxable income of a member, “including a

case in which deductions exceed gross income”, is determined, with

certain modifications, as if the member were not a member of the

group.

The dispute between the parties concerns the calculation of

that portion of the consolidated NOL of the UBC affiliated group

for 1987 that is attributable to bank bad debt losses (and, thus,

subject to the special carryback and carryforward rules of section

172(b)(1)(L)). For 1987, the UBC affiliated group consisted of both

bank and nonbank members. The parties have no dispute over how to

determine the bad debt portion of the NOL of any bank member. Their
 - 90 -

dispute concerns the determination of the bank bad debt portion of

the consolidated NOL. We agree with respondent’s determination.

B. Facts

All of the facts relevant to this issue have been stipulated.

In abbreviated form, those facts are as follows:

By Form 1139, Corporation Application for Tentative Refund (the

Form 1139), dated November 18, 1988, UBC claimed tentative refunds

for the taxable years 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1984, and 1985 based

on the carryback of a NOL from the UBC affiliated group's 1987

taxable year (the 1987 consolidated NOL).

UBC carried a portion of the consolidated 1987 NOL back to the

UBC affiliated group's taxable years 1977, 1978, and 1981.

On the Form 1139, UBC calculated the portion of the

consolidated 1987 NOL subject to the 10-year carryback provided for

by section 172(b)(1)(L) (the bad debt portion) by (1) determining

the bad debt and nonbad debt portions of each loss bank member's

NOL, (2) allocating the consolidated 1987 NOL among the loss

members and, in the case of loss bank members, between the bad debt

and nonbad debt portions of their NOLs, and (3) aggregating the

portions of the consolidated 1987 NOL allocated to the bad debt

portions of the loss bank members' NOLs.

On the Form 1139, UBC determined the bad debt portion of each

loss bank member's NOL by taking the excess of its NOL over its NOL

less its bad debt deduction (i.e., an amount equal to the lesser of

the bank's NOL or bad debt deduction). Thus, for example, in the

case of United Bank of Aurora-South (Aurora-South), a bank member
 - 91 -

of the affiliated group, which had an NOL of $341,183 and a bad

debt deduction of $136,881, the bad debt portion of the NOL was

determined to be $136,881.

After determining the bad debt portion of each loss bank

member's NOL, UBC allocated the consolidated 1987 NOL among the

group's loss members and, in the case of the loss bank members,

between the bad debt and the nonbad debt portions of their NOLs.

The allocation was made in proportion to the aggregate of the loss

members' NOLs. For example, $41,861 of the consolidated 1987 NOL

was allocated to the bad debt portion of Aurora-South's NOL (The

bad debt portion of Aurora South’s NOL was $136,881; the

consolidated NOL, as adjusted by respondent, was $9,239,383, and

the aggregate of all loss members’ NOLs, as adjusted by respondent

was $38,752,008. So, $32,636 = $136,881 x (9,239,383 ÷

38,752,008).) The sum of $48,710 of the consolidated 1987 NOL, as

adjusted by respondent, was allocated to the nonbad debt portion of

Aurora-South’s NOL. (The nonbad debt portion of Aurora South’s NOL

was $204,302; $48,710 = $204,302 x (9,239,383 ÷ 38,752,008).)

After allocating the consolidated 1987 NOL among the loss

members, UBC determined the bad debt portion of the consolidated

1987 NOL by aggregating the portions of the consolidated 1987 NOL

allocated to the bad debt portions of the loss bank members' NOLs.

The bad debt portion so determined was $8,731,874, of which

$2,152,283 was attributable to separate return limitation year

(SRLY) bank members and $6,579,591 was attributable to non-SRLY

bank members. Based thereon UBC claimed consolidated 1987 NOL
 - 92 -

carrybacks to the UBC consolidated group's taxable years 1977,

1978, and 1981 under the provisions of section 172(b)(1)(L)

totaling $6,924,421 ($6,579,591 (non-SRLY bank members) + $344,830

(SRLY carryback to 1981)).

In respondent’s notice of deficiency issued to petitioner for

the UBC affiliated group's taxable years 1977 through 1980, 1984,

and 1985 (the "notice"), respondent adjusted the consolidated 1987

NOL to take into account various proposed adjustments. As UBC did

on the Form 1139, respondent calculated the bad debt portion of the

consolidated 1987 NOL by (1) determining the bad debt and nonbad

debt portions of each loss bank member's NOL, (2) allocating the

consolidated 1987 NOL among the loss members and, in the case of

loss bank members, between the bad debt and nonbad debt portions of

their NOLs, and (3) aggregating the portions of the consolidated

1987 NOL allocated to the bad debt portions of the loss bank

members' NOLs.

In the notice, respondent, like UBC on the Form 1139,

determined the bad debt portion of each loss bank member's NOL by

taking the excess of its NOL over its NOL less its bad debt

deduction (i.e., an amount equal to the lesser of the bank's NOL or

bad debt deduction). Thus, for example, in the case of Aurora-

South, which had an NOL of $341,183 and a bad debt deduction of

$136,881, the bad debt portion of the NOL was determined to be

$136,881.

After determining the bad debt portion of each loss bank

member's NOL, respondent, like UBC, allocated the consolidated 1987
 - 93 -

NOL among the group's loss members and, in the case of the loss

bank members, between the bad debt and the nonbad debt portions of

their NOLs. The allocation was made in proportion to the aggregate

of the loss members' NOLs. For example, $32,636 of the

consolidated 1987 NOL (as adjusted by respondent) was allocated to

the bad debt portion of Aurora-South's NOL. The bad debt portion

of Aurora-South’s NOL was $136,881; the consolidated NOL, as

adjusted by respondent, was $9,239,383, and the aggregate of all

loss members’ NOLs, as adjusted by respondent was $38,752,008.

Thus, $32,636 = $136,881 x (9,239,383 ÷ 38,752,008). The sum of

$48,710 of the consolidated 1987 NOL, as adjusted by respondent,

was allocated to the nonbad debt portion of Aurora-South’s NOL.

The nonbad debt portion of Aurora-South’s NOL was $204,302;

$48,710 = $204,302 x (9,239,383 ÷ 38,752,008).

After allocating the consolidated 1987 NOL among the loss

members, respondent, in the notice, like UBC on the Form 1139,

determined the bad debt portion of the consolidated 1987 NOL by

aggregating the portions of the consolidated 1987 NOL allocated to

the bad debt portions of the loss bank members' NOLs. The bad debt

portion so determined was $6,263,417, of which $1,677,978 was

attributable to SRLY bank members and $4,585,439 was attributable

to non-SRLY bank members. Based thereon the notice allowed NOL

carrybacks to the UBC affiliated group's taxable year 1977 of

$4,585,439 (non-SRLY bank members) and taxable year 1981 of

$268,839 (SRLY carryback).
 - 94 -

C. Petitioner’s Position

Petitioner contends that the method used both by UBC on the

Form 1139 and respondent in the notice to determine the bad debt

portion of the consolidated 1987 NOL is incorrect. Under the

method asserted by petitioner, the bad debt portion of the

consolidated NOL is equal to the excess of the consolidated 1987

NOL over the consolidated 1987 NOL computed without the bad debt

deductions of the bank members. Under that method, regardless of

whether the consolidated 1987 NOL on the Form 1139 ($12,549,042) or

in the notice ($9,239,383) is used, since the bad debt deductions

of the bank members for 1987 total $61,296,286, elimination of such

bad debt deductions from the consolidated 1987 NOL (i.e., the

"without" calculation) would eliminate the consolidated 1987 NOL

and result in substantial consolidated taxable income for the UBC

consolidated group. Under those circumstances, there would be no

consolidated 1987 NOL to be allocated among the loss members of the

group. Thus, under the method asserted by petitioner, the entire

amount of the consolidated 1987 NOL is attributable to bad debt

deductions of bank members, and the entire portion of the

consolidated 1987 NOL allocated to the loss bank members is subject

to the 10-year carryback provisions of section 172(b)(1)(L).

D. Discussion

Consider a business with $100 of gross income, deductions

other than bad debts of $80, and deductible bad debts of $30. The

business has a NOL of $10. Under the general rule of section

172(b)(1)(A), the NOL may be carried back 3 years and carried over
 - 95 -

15 years, and the constituent parts of the NOL are of no importance

in determining the business’s eligibility for such treatment. If

the corporation were a commercial bank, however, then, because of

section 172(b)(1)(L), the constituent parts of the NOL would be

important, because the special period rules of section 172(l) apply

only to that portion of the NOL attributable to the deduction

allowed by section 166 (the bad debt portion). In theory, the bad

debt portion of the NOL might be determined in a number of ways. A

simple way would be to determine that, since the bad debt deduction

of $30 accounted for approximately 27 percent of the total

deductions of $110, 27 percent of the NOL, i.e., $2.70, is the bad

debt portion. Section 172(l)(1) adopts a different rule, one that

is favorable to the intended recipients, commercial banks. Under

section 172(l)(1), on the facts of our simple example, if the

corporation were a commercial bank, the bad debt portion is $10.

The assumption is that deductions for (losses from) bad debts

constitute the NOL to the extent of such deductions.

Neither party disagrees that section 172(l)(1) works as

described. Their disagreement concerns the composition of the

consolidated NOL. Respondent would allocate the consolidated NOL

among the loss members of the UBC affiliated group in proportion to

each loss member’s share of the aggregate of all loss member’s NOLs

and would further allocate each bank loss member’s share of the

consolidated NOL between the bad debt portion of the bank member’s

NOL and the remainder of the bank loss member’s NOL in proportion

to those relative amounts. Thus, assume that affiliated group ABC,
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making a consolidated return of income, had a consolidated NOL of

$10, and each member had separate taxable incomes as follows:

Member A $100
Member B (80)
Member C (30)

Further assume that Member C is a commercial bank, and is the only

member that is a commercial bank, and that the bad debt portion of

its NOL is $20. Respondent would apportion 73 percent of the

consolidated NOL ($7.30) to Member B and 27 percent ($2.70) to

Member C. Respondent would further determine that the bad debt

portion of the consolidated NOL is $1.82 ($20 x ($10 ÷ $110)).

Under petitioner’s method: "[T]he bad debt portion of the

consolidated NOL is equal to the excess of the consolidated NOL

over the consolidated NOL computed without the bad debt deductions

of the bank members.” Thus, with respect to affiliated group ABC,

petitioner would determine that the bad debt portion of the

consolidated NOL is $20.

The difference between the parties is whether the special

ordering rule of section 172(l)(1) should be applied to a

consolidated NOL. The gist of petitioner’s argument is that the

consolidated return regulations provide that the consolidated NOL

must be determined on a consolidated basis. Petitioner would,

thus, analogize an affiliated group with both bank and nonbank loss

members (and with a consolidated NOL) to a separate corporation

with both bad debt and nonbad debt losses (and an NOL) and apply

section 172(l)(1) to the consolidated NOL.

We find no basis in the consolidated return regulations for
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petitioner’s analogy. Although the consolidated return regulations

do speak in terms of a “consolidated net operating loss”, see sec.

1.1502-21(b)(1), Income Tax Regs., it is quite clear that the

consolidated net operating loss is to be determined by taking into

account the “separate” taxable income, including the separate NOL,

of each member of the group. See secs. 1.1502-12, 1.1502-21(f),

Income Tax Regs. The separately determined losses of each member

of the affiliated group do not lose their distinct character (to

the extent that such distinct character is important) upon

consolidation. Cf. Amtel, Inc. v. United States, 31 Fed. Cl. 598,

600 (1994), (“a member of an affiliated group may have a separate

net operating loss with independent significance for income tax

purposes”) affd. without published opinion 59 F.3d 181 (1995).

Moreover, section 172(l)(1) is a special rule that prioritizes a

bank’s losses. Nothing in that section leads us to believe that

Congress intended to give a priority to a bank member’s bad debt

losses as against a nonbank member’s losses in the context of a

consolidated return.

E. Conclusion

As stated, we agree with respondent’s determination of the

appropriate method to determine the bad debt portion of the

consolidated NOL.

Decisions will be entered

under Rule 155.
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APPENDIX