Robin Haft Trust v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 510 F.2d 43, 1st Cir. (1975)

510 F.
2d 43
75-1 USTC P 9209
Robin HAFT TRUST et al., Petitioners-Appellants,

v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RespondentAppellee.
No. 74--1302.
United States Court of Appeals,

First Circuit.
Argued Dec. 2, 1974.
Decided Jan. 31, 1975.
Lewis H. Weinstein, Boston, Mass., with whom Norman H. Wolfe,

Washington, D.C., Louis P. Georgantas, and Foley, Hoag & Eliot, Boston,
Mass., were on brief for petitioners-appellants.
Carolyn R. Just, Atty., Tax Div., Dept. of Justice, with whom Scott P.
Crampton, Asst. Atty. Gen., Gilbert E. Andrews and Leonard J. Henzke,
Jr., Attys., Tax Div., Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C., were on brief,
for respondent-appellee.
Before COFFIN, Chief Judge, McENTEE and CAMPBELL, Circuit
Judges.
McENTEE, Circuit Judge.
In their federal income tax returns for the year 1967 the taxpayer trusts reported
gains from the redemption of certain stock they owned as longterm capital
gains. The Commissioner determined that the gains were ordinary income and
asserted deficiencies of $17,445.49 for each trust. The Tax Court found for the
Commissioner and the taxpayers appeal. The issue before us is the relevance,
after United States v. Davis, 397 U.S. 301, 90 S.Ct. 1041, 25 L.Ed.2d 323
(1970), of family hostility in mitigation of the constructive ownership rules of
Code section 318 in determining dividend equivalence under section 302(b)
(1).1
On October 28, 1956, Marcia Foster married Burt Haft. Two children were born
of this marriage, and Burt Haft adopted his wife's two children by her deceased
previous husband. After the marriage Marcia's father, Joseph C. Foster, loaned
$200,000 to the Haft-Gaines Company, of which Burt Haft was an officer and
stockholder, and purchased 100,000 shares of the company's common stock. In
January of 1962 he created the four identical taxpayer trusts, one for each
grandchild, and transferred 25,000 shares of Haft-Gaines stock to each without
consideration.
In November 1966 Marcia Haft commenced divorce proceedings against Burt

Haft, and each made serious and bitter charges and countercharges against the
other. To separate the parties' financial interests and to provide for their future
relationship, there were negotiations in which both were represented by lawyers
or accountants, and Joseph Foster, Burt Haft, and Burt's brother-in-law Jack
Gaines also participated at times. Disputes characterized the discussions that
led to the property settlement between Mr. and Mrs. Haft. When Mrs. Haft
initiated the divorce, Burt Haft moved his residence from the house they had
been occupying in Bay Harbor, Miami Beach, Florida, and had no contact with
the children until six or seven months later, although he had obtained extensive
visitation rights and was still residing in Florida during this period. Sometime
after her divorce and before 1970, Marcia Haft remarried. Thereafter, she and
her new husband moved to New York, taking the children with them. After the
divorce was granted on June 26, 1967, Burt Haft was indifferent to the children;
he did not see them at all from the time of the divorce until 1971. After 1971
they visited him in Florida; he saw them at Christmas of 1972. After November
1966 he did not pay support for the children until a court decree ordered him to
do so, and he ceased paying support entirely in the middle of 1970, although his
income during the period was quite high.
While the divorce proceedings were taking place, Mr. Foster and the trusts
terminated their financial involvement in the corporation. There were
negotiations concerning retirement of the debt owed by the corporation to Mr.
Foster, and it was finally paid in March 1967. There were also negotiations
respecting the termination of the trusts' stock interests. The corporation
originally offered $183,000 for all the trusts' shares, but in a subsequent
meeting the offer was raised. On June 17, 1967, it was agreed that the trusts'
shares would be redeemed for $250,000 plus 6 percent interest, if the
corporation chose to pay the purchase price in installments over a period of
years, and $200,000 plus 6 percent interest, if the entire purchase price was
paid on or before February 1, 1968. The corporation agreed that while this
obligation was outstanding, it would not pay dividends, would not pay
compensation in excess of $200,000 to its shareholder-employees, would not
recapitalize, and would not dispose of most or all of its assets. The corporation
elected to complete payment for the stock in 1967.
5
Immediately before the redemption of the stock on June 17, 1967, the stock of
the corporation was owned as follows:
Shares
Burt Haft ................................... 100,000
Richard Haft (Burt's brother) ............... 100,000
Jack Gaines ................................. 100,000
Abraham Haft Trust for the benefit of Burt
Haft, Richard Haft, and Norma Gaines
(Burt's sister) ........................... 100,000
Robin Haft Trust ............................. 25,000
Wendy Laura Haft Trust ....................... 25,000
Lisa Ann Haft Trust .......................... 25,000
Daniel Foster Haft Trust ..................... 25,000
------Total ................................ 500,000
After the redemption of the stock of the last four trusts listed above, only
400,000 shares of the stock of the corporation were outstanding.
In form a redemption is a sale of stock like any other sale of stock and would as
such be entitled to capital gains treatment like other such sales. However,
redemption could be used as a device to bail out dividends at capital gains rates
if a corporation could redeem its shares proportionately and thus pay cash to
the shareholders just as a dividend would without the shift in control that
characterizes true sale transactions. Moreover, even a redemption
disproportionate on its face may not in reality result in any shift in control if the
shareholders comprise an economic unit like a family, in which the usual
community of interest makes insignificant the precise location of title to shares.
The Code handles these problems by treating redemptions as sales only if they
meet one of the tests of section 302(b), subsection (1) of which provides for
such treatment provided the distribution is 'not essentially equivalent to a
dividend.' Dividend equivalence under this test results whenever the practical
result of the transaction is to distribute accumulated earnings essentially pro
rata while leaving ownership basically unchanged. Bradbury v. Commissioner,
298 F.2d 111, 115--116 (1st Cir. 1962). Section 302(c)(1) calls for the
application under these tests of the complex rules of section 318 attributing
constructive ownership between family members and between entities and their
beneficiaries.
Although the taxpayers here were divested of all their shares in the Haft-
Gaines Company, the redemption actually resulted in a slight increase in their

proportional interests under the attribution rules from 31 2/3% to 33 1/3%,
indicating no significant shift in control under the principle of Bradbury, supra.2
However, in Estate of Squier v. Commissioner, 35 T.C. 950 (1961), the Tax
Court embraced the principle that family discord could belie the community-ofinterest rationale of the attribution rules and was thus a relevant circumstance in
determining dividend equivalency under (b)(1);
10 after applying the attribution rules . . . the record herein reveals a sharp
'Even
cleavage between the executor and members of the Squier family, and in spite of the
attribution rules as to stock 'ownership' the redemptions herein in fact resulted in a
crucial reduction of the estate's control. Accordingly, notwithstanding the attribution
rules, the redemptions in this case did result in a substantial dislocation of relative
stockholding in the corporation and also in fact brought about a significant change in
control.' 35 T.C. at 956--957.
11
We endorsed this principle in dictum the following year in Bradbury v.

Commissioner, supra.3 Taxpayers argued its applicability in the present case,
but the court below took the view that Squier was overruled sub silentio by the
Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Davis, 397 U.S. 301, 90 S.Ct.
1041, 25 L.Ed.2d 323 (1970). Davis involved no claim of family hostility.
Nevertheless, although he has not withdrawn his acquiescence in Squier, the
Commissioner argues against the leading scholarly commentators4 that Davis'
interpretation of 302(b)(1) necessarily establishes the irrelevance of family
discord. We do not so read that case. In Davis, taxpayer owned 25 percent of
the common stock of the redeeming corporation, and his wife, son, and
daughter owned the remaining 75 percent which was attributed to him under
section 318. Taxpayer also owned all the outstanding preferred, which he had
purchased soon after the corporation was organized in 1945 so that it could
meet the capitalization prerequisites for a Reconstruction Finance Corporation
loan. It was understood that the corporation would redeem the preferred stock
when the loan was repaid. In 1963 the corporation redeemed its preferred in
accordance with this understanding, and taxpayer treated his gain as not
essentially equivalent to a dividend under 302(b)(1). The Commissioner
maintained that taxpayer was to be regarded as the sole shareholder because of
the attribution rules, and that all distributions to such a shareholder were
proportional, hence dividends, regardless of any legitimate business purpose.
12
In arguing before the Supreme Court taxpayer sought to avoid this result by
contending on the basis of minor discrepancies in wording among the
subsections of section 302(b) that the attribution principle was irrelevant in the
application of the 'not essentially equivalent to a dividend' test of 302(b) (1).
The Court gave this argument short shrift. But in holding that the attribution
rules must be 'taken into account' under section 302(b)(1), citing our Bradbury
decision for this proposition, 397 U.S. at 306--307, 90 S.Ct. 1041, the Court did
not require that the inquiry end there. The Commissioner's own regulations,
1.302--2(b), which have not been amended in this respect since Davis, provide
that the application of section 302(b)(1) 'depends upon the facts and
circumstances of each case. One of the facts to be considered in making this
determination is . . . constructive stock ownership . . . under section 318(a)'
(emphasis supplied). And in fact the court in Squier did apply the rules though
it concluded on balance that the redemption before it was not essentially
equivalent to a dividend. Taxpayers here argue not that the rules are
inapplicable, but that they are not in themselves determinative.
13
The Court's rejection of Davis' further argument that the redemption of his
shares was motivated by a legitimate business purpose, hence entitled to sale
treatment, does not imply a rejection of all mitigating factors in the application
of section 302(b)(1). In fact the Court's thorough review of that provision's
legislative history suggests the contrary. The 'essentially equivalent' test was for
many years the sole criterion for establishing the tax treatment of corporate
redemptions. In an effort to eliminate the confusion occasioned by this
indefinite provision and facilitate tax planning, the drafters of the 1954 Code
replaced it with objective tests, the 'safe harbor' rules which now appear as
sections 302(b)(2) and (3). But the Senate considered the elimination of the
'essentially equivalent' test 'unnecessarily restrictive,' S.Rep.No.1622, 83d
Cong., 2d Sess. 44, U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News, 1954, p. 4629, and it was
reenacted along with the 'safe harbor' rules. The Senate Committee stated that
in the future the inquiry would be 'devoted solely to the question whether the
transaction by its nature may properly be characterized as a sale . . ..' Id. at 234,
U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News, 1954, p. 4870. Focusing on this language, the
Court held in Davis that a redemption was not entitled to preferred treatment
absent a 'change in the relative economic interests or rights of the stockholders.'
397 U.S. at 313, 90 S.Ct. at 1048. The effect of the transaction rather than its
motivation is determinative. Section 302(b)(1) requires a 'meaningful reduction
of the shareholder's proportionate interest in the corporation,' id. (emphasis
supplied). This language certainly seems to permit, if it does not mandate, an
examination of the facts and circumstances to determine the effect of the
transaction transcending a mere mechanical application of the attribution rules.
14
The Commissioner urges apart from Davis that the Squier approach is illconceived because the hostility inquiry leads the courts into the uncertain
shifting quagmires of family relationships. The rarity with which the Squier
rationale was invoked before Davis suggests that this will not prove an
insurmountable problem and of course the courts are entitled to view such
claims of hostility with jaundiced eyes. At any rate, though a wooden
subjugation to the attribution rules might have administrative advantages it
could also work injustice in particular cases, and we think that in retaining this
section in the Code alongside the safe harbor rules, Congress showed itself
willing to tolerate some administrative inconvenience for the sake of taxpayer
equity. We are not prepared to hold that Squier was wrong when decided.
15
Since the court below made no findings on the hostility question, we remand to
the Tax Court to reconsider taxpayers' claims in the light of the facts and
circumstances of the case, including the existence of family discord tending to
negate the presumption that taxpayers would exert continuing control over the
corporation despite the redemption. We intimate no opinion as to the validity of
these claims.
16
Vacated and remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Taxpayers also contend that they 'substantially complied' with the requirements
of one of the safe harbor rules, 302(b)(3), providing nondividend treatment
for redemptions completely terminating the shareholder's interest in the
corporation. Under subsection (c)(2) of that section, the attribution rules of
318(a) are waived provided the shareholder files an agreement promising to
notify the Commissioner of the acquisition of any interest in the corporation
within ten years of the redemption. Taxpayers made this contention to the court
below without having filed such agreements, and the court found that this was
not substantial compliance. After the decision had been rendered and the
judgment entered, taxpayers filed the necessary agreements and moved for
vacation or reconsideration. The court did not abuse its discretion in denying
these motions. Traum v. Commissioner, 237 F.2d 277, 281 (7th Cir. 1956).
Whether these late filings could represent substantial compliance with the
statute presented questions of fact and law not fully raised or litigated before the
court at trial. Supplemental Opinion 62 T.C. 145 (1974). Since taxpayers could
properly have put this point in issue by the simple expedient of filing the
agreements before trial, they cannot be heard to raise it now. Cf. Second Carey
Trust, 41 B.T.A. 800, aff'd, 75 U.S.App.D.C. 263, 126 F.2d 526 (1942). The
redemption's failure to qualify under (b)(3) is irrelevant to its treatment under
(b)(1). See 302(b)(5)
The following analysis, drawn substantially from the government's brief,

indicates how this result is reached. Before the redemption, each taxpayer trust
owned 25,000 shares or 5 percent of the 500,000 outstanding shares of Haft-
Gaines Company stock. Under 318(a)(2)(B)(i), the stock owned by the trust
of which Burt Haft was the beneficiary is attributed to him to the extent of his
1/3 interest therein. Under 318(a)(1)(A), an individual is deemed to own the
stock owned by his parents. Thus each of the four Haft children who were
beneficiaries under the four trusts were deemed to own the 20 percent of the
stock owned directly by Burt Haft, plus the 6 2/3 percent interest of Burt Haft in
the trust of which he was a beneficiary. Before the redemption, each taxpayer
thus owned a total of 31 2/3 percent, after applying the attribution rules. After
the redemption only 400,000 shares remained outstanding, and Burt Haft's
interest accordingly increased to 25 percent from his directly owned stock. His
stock ownership in the trust of which he was a beneficiary became 8 1/3
percent, totaling 33 1/3 percent, which, under the attribution rules, was
attributed to each of the taxpayers, although they no longer actually owned any
stock
3
'While these attribution rules are generally applicable to 302(b)(1) . . . their

imposition is not inflexible and if it can be demonstrated that discord exists in a
family relationship which would make attribution unwarranted, they will not be
applied.' 298 F.2d at 116--117 n. 7 (citing Squier)
Bittker and Eustice, described by the Supreme Court in Davis as 'the leading
commentators,' 397 U.S. at 306, 90 S.Ct. 1041, and cited twice in that opinion,
declare 'the Davis decision . . . weakens, but does not eliminate, the 'family
fight' argument in mitigation of 318 attribution under 302(b)(1),' Federal
Income Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders, 9.24 at 26 n. 43 (3d ed.
1971). Comment, Defining Dividend Equivalency Under Section 302(b)(1), 16
Vill.L.Rev. 88, 105 (1970) states '. . . it is believed that the test of a meaningful
reduction should be applied in the same manner as it was applied in the Squier
and Parker cases. . . .' Both D. Kahn, Basic Corporate Taxation 32--33 n. 80
(1973) and Swennes, 'Not Essentially Equivalent to a Dividend' Exception Still
Viable Despite Davis, 41 J.Tax. 78, 82 (1974) declare that family hostility
'might' serve as a mitigating factor after Davis. But see 23 U.Fla.L.Rev. 188,
192 n. 38 (1970)

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510 F.

Robin HAFT TRUST et al., Petitioners-Appellants,

United States Court of Appeals,

Lewis H. Weinstein, Boston, Mass., with whom Norman H. Wolfe,

In November 1966 Marcia Haft commenced divorce proceedings against Burt

Gaines Company, the redemption actually resulted in a slight increase in their

We endorsed this principle in dictum the following year in Bradbury v.

Vacated and remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

The following analysis, drawn substantially from the government's brief,

'While these attribution rules are generally applicable to 302(b)(1) . . . their

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