Legal Opinion

Luckman v. Commissioner

United States Tax Court

Decided July 24, 1968No. Docket No. 3959-65PublishedCited by 18 opinions

Rapid American Corp. had granted restricted stock options under sec. 421, I.R.C. 1954, which were exercised at times when the market value of the stock greatly exceeded the option price. Petitioners contend that this excess is deductible from Rapid's earnings and profits so that dividends paid to petitioners in 1961 were returns of capital rather than dividend income.

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Rapid American Corp. had granted restricted stock options under sec. 421, I.R.C. 1954, which were exercised at times when the market value of the stock greatly exceeded the option price. Petitioners contend that this excess is deductible from Rapid's earnings and profits so that dividends paid to petitioners in 1961 were returns of capital rather than dividend income. Held: Since under sec. 421 (a)(3), I.R.C. 1954, no amount other than the option price may be considered as received by Rapid, it follows that Rapid may not consider that an expense was generated or satisfied by the options.…

1Opinion of the Court

FoRkestek, Judge:

Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioners’ income tax for tbe calendar year 1961 in the amount of $24,475.13.

The only issue is whether petitioners’ receipt of $37,245.75 from Rapid American Corp. in 1961 was a taxable dividend or a return of capital. Respondent in his statutory notice of a deficiency determined the amount received to be $49,666 but has since stipulated that $37,245.75 is the correct figure.

The determination of this issue requires our resolution of the principal question :

Whether the exercise of restricted stock options (which had been granted by Rapid…

2Cases cited12 opinions

  1. Commissioner v. South Texas Lumber Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1948
  2. Commissioner v. LoBueSupreme Court of the United States · 1956
  3. Commissioner v. SmithSupreme Court of the United States · 1945
  4. Stein v. CommissionerUnited States Tax Court · 1956
  5. Lazarus I. Levine and Norman L. Marks, Executors of the Estate of Samuel Stein v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1958

7 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.

3Cited by18 opinions

  1. Speltz v. Comm'rUnited States Tax Court · 2005
  2. Harold S. Divine and Rita K. Divine v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1974
  3. Anderson v. CommissionerUnited States Tax Court · 1976
  4. Sid Luckman and Estelle Luckman v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1969
  5. Divine v. CommissionerUnited States Tax Court · 1972

13 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.

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