Opinion

Berenson v. Commissioner

  • 59 T.C. 412
  • 1972 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 10
Court
United States Tax Court
Filed
Dec 18, 1972
Status
Published
Author
Fay
On the bench
Quealy,Fay,Drennen,Hall,Forrester,Fay,Tannenwald,Simpson,Sterrett
Cited by
8 cases
Authority
More cited than 10.3%

The opinion

Fay, J., dissenting: I agree with the substance of Judge Hall’s dissent. I can see no distinction between Clay Brown and the instant case, and would conclude that a sale has occurred and that petitioners are entitled to capital gain or capital loss treatment. However, assuming that the majority is correct in its conclusion that the purchase price is excessive, I cannot agree that all amounts received by petitioners should be taxed as ordinary income. Petitioners have technically disposed of their entire interest in Kitro and Marilyn. The fact that petitioners might potentially recover their proprietary interest due to an ultimate default by the buyer does not negate the existence of a present sale. See Commissioner v. Brown, 325 F.2d 313, 316 (C.A. 9, 1963). Accordingly, I believe that petitioners are entitled to section 1222(3) or section 1222(4) treatment as to that portion of the purchase price which is not deemed to be excessive. In this context, there is analogous authority for characterizing only the “excessive” portion of the purchase price as ordinary income. See Roy J. Champagne, 26 T.C. 634 (1956); see also Goldstein v. Commissioner, 298 F.2d 562 (C.A. 9, 1962), affirming a Memorandum Opinion of this Court.

DreNNEN, J., agrees with this dissent.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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