Callahan v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue

• Decision Date: 18 March 1992
• Docket Number: 1904-87,1927-87,1855-87,1471-87,4598-87,5116-87.,Docket Nos. 48374-86,4736-87,1390-87,1380-87,4227-87,4607-87
• Parties: JOHN E. AND ELLEN G. CALLAHAN, ET AL., Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
• Court: U.S. Tax Court

98 T.C. 276

98 T.C. No. 22

JOHN E. AND ELLEN G. CALLAHAN, ET AL., Petitioners

v.COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket Nos. 48374-86

1380-87

1390-87

1471-87

1855-87

1904-87

1927-87

4227-87

4598-87

4607-87

4736-87

5116-87.

United States Tax Court

Filed March 18, 1992.

Ps are limited partners who were required, if called upon by the general partners, to pay three times the amount of cash contributions. The limited partners had the discretion, by written notice, to elect out of the overcall provision. Ps argue, under Pritchett v. Commissioner, 827 F.2d 644 (9th Cir. 1987), revg. and remanding 85 T.C. 580 (1985), that the limited partners are at risk for three times their capital contributions. R argues that the nature of Ps' contractual rights and obligations is distinguishable from that in Pritchett. R contends that Ps' obligation is contingent and illusory. Held, the facts of this case are distinguishable from Pritchett and Ps are not at risk for amounts in excess of their cash contributions. J. David Sanner, for petitioner.

James R. McCann, for respondent.

OPINION

GERBER, JUDGE:

This case is before the Court on the parties' cross-motions for partial summary judgment pursuant to Rule 121 ² on the issue of whether petitioners, as limited partners, were at risk within the meaning of section 465 for amounts in excess of their actual cash contributions to the partnership for tax years 1980, 1981, and 1982.

Respondent determined deficiencies in income tax against petitioners resulting from respondent's disallowance of reported losses from option straddle transactions. Respondent also determined that petitioners are liable for increased interest under section 6621(c), formerly section 6621(d), relating to substantial underpayments attributable to tax-motivated transactions.

The issue for our consideration is whether petitioners, as limited partners, were at risk within the meaning of section 465 for amounts in excess of their actual cash contributions pursuant to an overcall provision of the partnership agreement. If petitioners are not at risk for amounts greater than their actual cash contributions, then deductions for their distributive share of partnership losses are limited to the amounts of their actual cash contributions to the partnership.

Summary judgment under Rule 121 is derived from Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. It is intended to expedite litigation and avoid unnecessary and expensive trials of phantom factual questions. Cox v. American Fidelity & Casualty Co., 249 F.2d 616, 618 (9th Cir. 1957); Shiosaki v. Commissioner, 61 T.C. 861, 862 (1974). Under Rule 121(b), a motion for summary judgment is granted when it is shown “that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that a decision may be rendered as a matter of law.” Either party may move for summary judgment in its favor on all or part of the issues in controversy. Rule 121(a). The party moving for summary judgment has the burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Jacklin v. Commissioner, 79 T.C. 340, 344 (1982); Espinoza v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 412, 416 (1982). In considering a motion for summary judgment, we construe the facts in a manner most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Naftel v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 527, 529 (1985).

It is respondent's position that even if petitioners as limited partners had sufficient basis to absorb the losses from option straddle transactions, they were not, as a matter of law, at risk for any amount in excess of their capital contributions. Petitioners on the other hand contend that the limited partners were at risk for three times their capital contributions pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement.

BACKGROUND

Petitioners were partners in JEC Options (JEC), a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of Illinois. JEC was organized by a limited partnership agreement dated September 2, 1980. The agreement (first agreement) and certificate of limited partnership were filed with the Illinois secretary of state on or about December 19, 1980. The first agreement was amended three times, and the amended agreements ³ with accompanying certificates of limited partnership were filed with the Illinois secretary of state. The general partners of JEC were petitioners John and Ellen Callahan (the Callahans). JEC was formed for the purpose of engaging in the trading of investment securities, including put and call options and commodity future contracts (long and short) ⁴ with partnership funds and funds which might be borrowed. Under the partnership agreements, JEC was prohibited from engaging in any other business.

The agreements defined the capital contributions of the original limited partners and the general partners as “original capital contributions” and the capital contributions of the additional limited partners as “additional capital contributions”. The agreements contained an overcall provision ⁵ which provided as follows:

Each Partner shall be obligated to make capital contributions in excess of his Original Capital Contribution and Additional Capital Contribution upon the request of the General Partner solely for the purpose of paying or satisfying liabilities or expenses of the Partnership, but only to the extent that such liabilities and expenses cannot be paid out of Partnership assets. Such capital contributions shall be hereinafter referred to as “New Capital Contributions”. Each such call for New Capital Contributions shall be made by written notice to each of the Partners no less than 30 days prior to the due date for such New Capital Contributions and shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their prior capital contributions. Each Partner shall be personally liable for his share of such New Capital Contributions. The maximum amount of a New Capital Contribution for each Partner under this Section 3.5 shall be an amount equal to 300 percent of such Partner's Original Capital Contributions and Additional Capital Contributions. Each Partner hereby agrees that his obligation to make any New Capital Contributions pursuant to this Section 3.5 is made for the benefit of and may be enforced by any person entitled to payment or to require satisfaction of the obligations of the Partnership with respect to which such New Capital Contributions may be required under this Section 3.5. If any Partner shall default in the payment of any New Capital Contribution, the General Partners may, at any time not earlier than ten days after giving written notice of such default, take any action that may be necessary to enforce such obligation and the defaulting Partner shall be responsible and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership from and against any and all damages, costs, liabilities and expenses arising out of such default. SUBJECT TO THE RIGHTS OF CREDITORS OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND PROVIDED THE ASSETS OF THE PARTNERSHIP EXCEED THE EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES FOR WHICH A NEW CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION MAY BE REQUIRED, A PARTNER MAY, AT ANY

TIME, ELECT BY WRITTEN NOTICE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT BY WHICH HE IS REQUIRED TO MAKE NEW CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION. [Emphasis added.]

The agreements limit further each limited partner's liability as follows:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the liability of any Limited Partner for any losses or obligations of the Partnership shall be limited to the extent of his Original Capital Contribution, Additional Capital Contribution and New Capital Contribution.

The general partners never requested new capital contributions from the limited partners in accordance with the overcall provision. No limited partner elected to reduce the amount of his new capital contribution.

DISCUSSION

Generally, a partner may deduct the partner's distributive share of losses of a partnership in which he is a member. Sec. 702(a). However, a partner's distributive share of partnership loss is allowed only to the extent of the partner's adjusted basis in the partnership at the end of the year in which the partnership incurred the loss. Sec. 704(d). A partner's adjusted basis in his partnership interest is the amount of money and the adjusted basis of other property contributed to the partnership, increased or decreased by the partner's distributive share of income, loss, and applicable expenditures. Sec. 705(a)(1) and (2). The basis of an interest in a partnership acquired by a contribution of property, including money, is the amount of money and the adjusted basis of the property to the partner at the time of contribution. Sec. 722. Any increase in a partner's share of the liabilities of a partnership, or any increase in a partner's individual liabilities by reason of the partner's assumption of partnership liabilities, is considered a contribution of money by the partner to the partnership. Sec. 752.

Section 465 imposes additional limitations on a partner's distributive share of partnership losses. Under section 465, losses relating to activities engaged in by a taxpayer in carrying on a trade or business or for the production of income are allowed as deductions only to the extent that the taxpayer is at risk financially with respect to the activities. Sec. 465(a)(1) and (c)(3). ⁶ Investors generally are considered to be at risk financially to the extent they contribute money to the activities. Sec. 465(b)(1)(A). In addition, investors are considered to be at risk financially with respect to third-party debt obligations relating to the activities to the extent they are personally liable for repayment of the debt obligations or to the extent they have pledged property, other than property used in the activities as security for the debt obligations. Sec. 465(b)(1)(B) and (b)(2). ⁷ The determination of whether a taxpayer is to be regarded as at risk on a particular debt obligation is to be made at the end of each taxable year. Sec. 465(a)(1); Levy v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 838, 862...