American Box Co. v. Commissioner

APPEAL OF AMERICAN BOX CO.
American Box Co. v. Commissioner
Docket No. 5418.
United States Board of Tax Appeals
3 B.T.A. 824; 1926 BTA LEXIS 2557;
February 17, 1926, Decided Submitted December 2, 1925.

*2557 Corporations held affiliated.

Henry J. Richardson, Esq., for the taxpayer.
Percy S. Crewe, Esq., for the Commissioner.

*824 Before GRAUPNER, TRAMMELL, and PHILLIPS.

Taxpayer appeals from the determination of a deficiency of $4,955.93, income and profits tax for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1920, and alleges as error the refusal of the Commissioner to consolidate the net income and invested capital of the taxpayer and the American Veneer Co., claimed to be affiliated corporations.

FINDINGS OF FACT.

The taxpayer is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio, with its principal office at Cleveland. During the year in question it was engaged in the manufacture of wooden packing cases.

The American Veneer Co. is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Alabama in 1916 for the purpose of manufacturing lumber for use in the manufacture of wooden packing cases, and during the year in question was engaged in such business.

It was organized by F. H. Rose, the secretary of the taxpayer, pursuant to a resolution adopted at a meeting of the directors of the taxpayer held May 2, 1916, which resolution*2558 authorized the secretary to incorporate such a company and subscribe for $20,000 of its capital stock on behalf of the taxpayer. The same resolution authorized F. H. Rose to subscribe for $5,000 of the capital stock in his own name.

Upon its organization it issued 250 shares of its capital stock, 198 to the taxpayer, 50 to F. H. Rose, and the remaining two shares to qualify directors.

In 1917, 60 additional shares were issued. During the year in question in this proceeding the outstanding shares of the capital *825 stock of the taxpayer and of the American Veneer Co. were owned as follows:

American Box Co.American Veneer Co.
Shares.Percentages.Shares.Percentages.
F. H. Rose1709.75016.1
F. B. Stevens42524.4103.2
H. A. Fuller10.6103.2
J. G. Jennings1196.8103.3
D. E. Dangler563.2103.3
National Screw & Tack Co20411.8
W. D. B. Alexander10
3.2
J. E. Williams103.2
Upson Nut Co33018.8
D. A. Upson915.2
W. J. Upson915.2
M. Upson Rose905.2
Clara Dangler583.3
Ruth Dangler281.6
David Dangler281.6
R. F. McKenzie Co502.4
American Box Co20064.5
Total1,750100.0310100.0

*2559 F. H. Rose was a director and the secretary and treasurer of both corporations. His wife, Mary Upson Rose, owned 90 shares of stock in the American Box Co. and was the sister of the principal stockholder of the Upson Nut Co. At stockholders' meetings Rose voted the stock of his wife, of the Upson Nut Co., and of D. A. Upson and W. J. Upson. He was also authorized to vote the stock of the American Veneer Co. owned by the American Box Co.

F. B. Stevens was a director and president of the two corporations.

D. E. Dangler was a director and vice president of both corporations, and voted the stock of Clara, Ruth, and David Dangler.

W. D. B. Alexander was president of the National Screw & Tack Co., a stockholder of the American Box Co. J. E. Williams was secretary to Alexander and voted the stock of Alexander and the National Screw & Tack Co. at stockholders' meetings.

The only salaried officer of either corporation was F. H. Rose, whose salary was paid by the American Box Co. Most of the products of the American Veneer Co. were used by the American Box Co. The total assets of the American Veneer Co. as of May 31, 1920, were approximately $50,000, and on that date it owed*2560 the American Box Co. about $30,500 for money advanced it for expenses and operations. No interest was paid on this indebtedness.

The American, box Co., during the fiscal year ended May 31, 1920, owned or controlled, through closely affiliated interests, substantially all the stock of the American Veneer Co.

*826 DECISION.

The deficiency should be computed upon the basis of a consolidated return of the taxpayer and the American Veneer Co. for the year involved. Final determination will be settled on 15 days' notice, under Rule 50.