*167 The Tax Court having ruled that it has jurisdiction, held petitioner has failed to carry its burden of showing that its war contracts were not subject to renegotiation by reason of being an organization exempt from tax within the purview of
*412 OPINION.
After various preliminary maneuvers these consolidated proceedings are here for a determination on the merits. They involve the redetermination of excessive profits of the petitioner for its fiscal period June 1, 1944, through December 31, 1944, and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1945.
The primary question presented relates to the jurisdiction of this Court under the Renegotiation Act of 1943 to determine the status of the petitioner within the purview of
The stipulated facts are incorporated herein by reference.
The petitioner was incorporated under the laws of the State of Michigan in December 1942 as a nonprofit corporation.
The purposes of the corporation, as set forth in article II of its charter, are as follows:
To use the capital and income of the corporation for such benevolent, charitable, educational, scientific, religious and public purposes as in the judgment of the trustees will promote the health, welfare, happiness, education, training and development of men, women and children, particularly the sick, young, erring, poor, crippled, helpless, handicapped, unfortunate and underprivileged, regardless of race, color, religion or station, primarily in the United States and elsewhere in the world. To give the capital and income of same to other charitable or other nonprofit organizations organized for same or similar purposes in the United States or elsewhere in the world.
On May 1, 1944, the petitioner filed a certificate of amendment to the articles of incorporation. The amendment added to article II the following paragraph:
To own and hold title to real estate, securities, and other*169 properties and chattels, including businesses and enterprises; the income of which and/or profit *413 from the conduct of which, shall be used for the purposes hereinbefore enumerated.
The petitioner, sometimes hereinafter referred to as the Fund, was to be financed by "gift, donation, bequest and devise."
Under date of June 1, 1944, a deed of trust was entered into between Marie Tatian (Manoogian), Dickran Boyajian, and the Fund. By the terms of this instrument Boyajian agreed to accept, as trustee, certain chattels, including cash, and the use of the trade name, "Metal Parts Manufacturing Company." Among other things, Boyajian was permitted to either liquidate or continue the operation of Metal Parts Manufacturing Company. By the trust deed the Fund became the beneficial owner of the machinery and plant equipment, etc., used by the Company. On June 16, 1944, Dickran Boyajian, as trustee for the Fund, filed a certificate for the conducting of business under the assumed name of Metal Parts Manufacturing Company, hereinafter referred to as the Company. Dickran Boyajian operated the Company from June 1, 1944, to October 31, 1945. The operation involved the manufacture and *170 processing of various types and/or parts of antiaircraft shells.
During its fiscal period ended December 31, 1944, the Company had renegotiable sales of $ 2,156,480.76, from which it realized a profit of $ 283,827.27. During the fiscal period ended December 31, 1945, the Company had renegotiable sales of $ 916,761.86, from which it realized a profit of $ 90,887.16.
On August 6, 1948, the War Contracts Price Adjustment Board advised petitioner by letters and orders that during its fiscal period ended December 31, 1944, it had excessive profits in the principal amount of $ 175,000, and that during its fiscal year ended December 31, 1945, it had realized excessive profits in the principal amount of $ 50,000. On October 27, 1948, petitions were filed with this Court putting in issue the determinations of the Board that the petitioner had excessive profits for its fiscal periods in question.
On June 19, 1944, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue addressed a letter to the Fund, advising that the admendment to its articles of incorporation would not affect the Bureau's ruling, dated August 26, 1943, that the Fund was exempt from Federal income tax under
On June 15, 1948, *171 the Commissioner again sent a letter to the Fund. After referring to its ruling of August 26, 1943, the letter set forth various facts. The opinion was expressed that on the basis of the evidence on file and the facts outlined, it had not been established that in 1943, and subsequent years, the Fund was organized and operated exclusively for the purposes specified in
*414 The ruling of June 15, 1948, was in effect at the time the War Contracts Price Adjustment Board made its determinations of petitioner's excessive profits for the fiscal periods involved and at the time the petitions were filed with this Court.
On December 6, 1948, the Commissioner wrote to the Fund stating that the ruling of June 15, 1948, was revoked and the ruling of August 26, 1943, reinstated. The letter did not set forth any facts upon which the opinion expressed was predicated.
During its fiscal period June 1, 1944, to December 31, 1944, petitioner realized excessive profits in the amount of $ 175,000.
During its fiscal year ended December *172 31, 1945, the petitioner realized excessive profits in the amount of $ 50,000.
The petitioner has failed to establish that during the fiscal periods in question it was exempt from renegotiation within the purview of section 403 (i) (1) (D) of the Renegotiation Act of 1943.
Petitioner concedes that if it is subject to renegotiation during the fiscal periods involved it realized excessive profits in the respective amounts determined by the Board.
Petitioner contends that the last ruling of the Commissioner under date of December 6, 1948, that it was exempt under
*173 In our opinion, the conclusion which the petitioner advances is without logic and an improper interpretation of the Congressional intent as shown by the legislative history of the Renegotiation Act.
The petitioner argues further that this Court has no greater power or authority than the Board to determine the exempt status of an organization under the Renegotiation Act. We are not impressed with the soundness of the argument. Section 403 (e) (1) of the Act provides in part that --
A proceeding before the Tax Court to finally determine the amount, if any, of excessive profits shall not be treated as a proceeding to review the determination of the Board, but shall be treated as a proceeding de novo. * * *
The question of the power of this Court under the Renegotiation Act has been passed upon by the Supreme Court, thus obviating the need for any extended discussion here. In
The legislative history of the Renegotiation Act, moreover, shows that Congress intended the Tax Court to have exclusive jurisdiction to decide questions of fact and law, which latter include the issue raised here*175 of whether the contracts in question are subject to the Act. * * *
In
An organization to be entitled to exemption from tax under
This Court, in denying the petitioner's motion for a summary judgment in these proceedings, held that it had jurisdiction to determine whether or not petitioner was exempt from renegotiation. 2 Nevertheless, the petitioner has offered no evidence covering its operations during the fiscal periods involved. Petitioner is a nonprofit corporation organized for the purpose of devoting its income and capital to the use of organizations specified in
Orders will issue in accordance herewith.
Footnotes
1. Section 403 (i) (1) (D) and (i) (2), pertinent here, read as follows:
Sec. 403 (i). (1) The provisions of this section shall not apply to --
* * * *
(D) any contract or subcontract with an organization exempt from taxation under
section 101 (6) of the Internal Revenue Code ; or* * * *
(2) The Board is authorized by regulation to interpret and apply the exemptions provided for in paragraph (1) (A), (B), (C), (E), and (F) and interpret and apply the definition contained in subsection (a) (7).↩
2. See Memorandum and Order dated July 17, 1950.↩