Eric B. Benson, et al. - Page 44

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          earnings and profits;42 any excess is nontaxable return of                  
          capital to the extent of the taxpayer’s basis; and any remaining            
          amount received is taxable as capital gain from the sale or                 
          exchange of a capital asset.  Sec. 301(c)(1),(2), and (3);                  
          Truesdell v. Commissioner, 89 T.C. 1280, 1295-1298 (1987);                  
          Barnard v. Commissioner, supra.  The parties have stipulated                
          that, to the extent we find constructive dividends, ERG had                 
          sufficient earnings and profits to deem any distributions as                
          ordinary income.                                                            
               “It is well established that transfers between related                 
          corporations may result in constructive dividends to a common               
          shareholder.”  Speer v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1996-323 (citing           
          Joseph Lupowitz Sons, Inc. v. Commissioner, 497 F.2d 862, 868 (3d           
          Cir. 1974), affg. in part, revg. in part on another ground, and             
          remanding T.C. Memo. 1972-238); see DiLeo v. Commissioner, 96               
          T.C. 858, 883 (1991), affd. 959 F.2d 16 (2d Cir. 1992).  “A                 
          greater potential for constructive dividends * * * exists in                
          closely held corporations where dealing between stockholders and            
          the corporation are commonly characterized by informality.”                 
          Zhadanov v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2002-104.  However, common             
          ownership alone will not support a finding of constructive                  
          dividends.  Sammons v. Commissioner, 472 F.2d 449, 451 (5th Cir.            

               42The determination and calculation of earnings and profits            
          is governed by sec. 316 and the regulations promulgated                     
          thereunder.                                                                 





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