- 16 - supra; Sparks Nugget, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1970-74, affd. 458 F.2d 631 (9th Cir. 1972). Here, J&J made a capital contribution rather than a loan to TLC. When petitioner J&J advanced the funds to TLC, Mr. Shedd, as president and sole shareholder of TLC, then had indirect control over those funds. The advance by J&J to TLC is sufficient to meet the objective test. The second test is designed to differentiate between normal business transactions of related corporations and those designed primarily to benefit a common shareholder. The primary or dominant motivation for a distribution must be examined. See Sammons v. Commissioner, supra at 451-452. The Shedds must show a legitimate corporate or business justification which is the primary cause for the advance and which is sufficient to overcome the conclusion that Mr. Shedd, as the shareholder, primarily benefited from the advance of funds. A legitimate corporate justification is demonstrated by showing that the distribution would be in the best interest of the transferring corporation. If justifiable business reasons exist that account for the transfer, such reasons will suffice to override any incidental or derivative benefit to a common shareholder. See Wilkof v. Commissioner, supra. However, where a corporation's distribution serves no legitimate corporate purpose, it must be treated as a constructive dividend to the benefited shareholder. SeePage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011