American Viscose Corporation v. Com'r of Int. Rev., 4579.

CourtUnited States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (3rd Circuit)
Writing for the CourtBUFFINGTON, WOOLLEY, and DAVIS, Circuit
Citation56 F.2d 1033
PartiesAMERICAN VISCOSE CORPORATION v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE.
Docket NumberNo. 4579.,4579.
Decision Date23 March 1932

56 F.2d 1033 (1932)

AMERICAN VISCOSE CORPORATION
v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE.

No. 4579.

Circuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.

February 16, 1932.

Rehearing Denied March 23, 1932.


Robert T. McCracken and C. Russell Phillips, both of Philadelphia, Pa., and Lee I. Park and Charles D. Hamel, both of Washington, D. C., for petitioner.

G. A. Youngquist, Asst. Atty. Gen., and John H. McEvers and J. Louis Monarch, Sp. Assts. to Atty. Gen., for respondent.

Before BUFFINGTON, WOOLLEY, and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.

BUFFINGTON, Circuit Judge.

In 1926 the government refunded to the taxpayer $3,896,663.14 income and profit taxes illegally assessed and collected for the years 1917-1919. This sum, together with $1,409,856.46 interest, was paid to the taxpayer in 1926. Thereupon the question here involved arose, namely, whether interest paid by the United States in 1926, pursuant to section 1116 of the Revenue act of 1926 (26 USCA § 153 note) on money refunded as overpayments of federal income and profits taxes, is interest upon "obligations of the United States," and therefore exempt from tax under section 213 (b) (4) of said act, 26 USCA § 954 (b) (4), which provides: "The term `gross income' does not include the following items, which shall be exempt from taxation under this title: * * * (4) Interest upon (A) the obligations of a State, Territory, or any political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia; or (B) securities issued under the provisions of the Federal Farm Loan Act, or under the provisions of such Act as amended; or (C) the obligations of the United States or its possessions."

The simple question, therefore, is, Was this refund of illegal taxes an "obligation of the United States" and the interest paid thereon exempt from taxation? That the interest was income is apparent, and that it, as such, is taxable, is equally clear, unless the refund was one of the obligations of the United States Congress meant to exempt. The Tax Board, following the principle stated in Kansas City Southern Railway Co. et al. v. Commissioner, 16 B. T. A. 665, held this refund

was not exempt by the act. We agree with that conclusion. The exemptions of Congress were evidently meant to aid in the flotation of government bonds and securities by making them tax free and, therefore, more attractive to investors. We see no reason why the construction of the statute should be so broadened as to cover a transaction which had no relation to the...

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17 practice notes
  • City of Tucson, Ariz. v. C.I.R., No. 82-2187
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (District of Columbia)
    • September 24, 1987
    ...n. 5, 692 F.2d 128, 130 n. 5 (1982) (citing J. Chommie, Federal Income Taxation Sec. 36 (1973)); American Viscose Corp. v. Commissioner, 56 F.2d 1033, 1034 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 287 U.S. 615, 53 S.Ct. 17, 77 L.Ed. 534 (1932); Drew v. United States, 551 F.2d 85, 87 (5th Cir.1977); Fox v. ......
  • Nichols v. Comm'r of Corps. & Taxation
    • United States
    • Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
    • June 30, 1943
    ...233(b), 26 U.S.C.A. Int.Rev.Acts, pages 170, 185. See, also, American Viscose Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 3 Cir., 56 F.2d 1033.Seaside Improvement Co. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 2 Cir., 105 F.2d 990, 994, relied on by the taxpayer in the Nichols cases, is not in con......
  • Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Wodehouse 10 13, 1948, No. 84
    • United States
    • United States Supreme Court
    • June 13, 1949
    ...9 A.L.R. 1570.' Although Congress intended, as the court held in the Viscose case, supra (American Viscose Corp. v. Commissioner, 3 Cir., 56 F.2d 1033), to include interest on a tax refund made to a domestic corporation, we are asked to deny such intention in respect of a competing foreign ......
  • Stewart v. C.I.R., No. 82-7497
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (9th Circuit)
    • September 2, 1983
    ...power." For example, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit applied this principle in American Viscose Corp. v. Commissioner, 56 F.2d 1033 (3rd Cir.), cert. denied, 287 U.S. 615, 53 S.Ct. 17, 77 L.Ed. 534 (1932), holding that interest paid by the United States on taxes illegally collect......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
17 cases
  • City of Tucson, Ariz. v. C.I.R., No. 82-2187
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (District of Columbia)
    • September 24, 1987
    ...n. 5, 692 F.2d 128, 130 n. 5 (1982) (citing J. Chommie, Federal Income Taxation Sec. 36 (1973)); American Viscose Corp. v. Commissioner, 56 F.2d 1033, 1034 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 287 U.S. 615, 53 S.Ct. 17, 77 L.Ed. 534 (1932); Drew v. United States, 551 F.2d 85, 87 (5th Cir.1977); Fox v. ......
  • Nichols v. Comm'r of Corps. & Taxation
    • United States
    • Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
    • June 30, 1943
    ...233(b), 26 U.S.C.A. Int.Rev.Acts, pages 170, 185. See, also, American Viscose Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 3 Cir., 56 F.2d 1033.Seaside Improvement Co. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 2 Cir., 105 F.2d 990, 994, relied on by the taxpayer in the Nichols cases, is not in con......
  • Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Wodehouse 10 13, 1948, No. 84
    • United States
    • United States Supreme Court
    • June 13, 1949
    ...9 A.L.R. 1570.' Although Congress intended, as the court held in the Viscose case, supra (American Viscose Corp. v. Commissioner, 3 Cir., 56 F.2d 1033), to include interest on a tax refund made to a domestic corporation, we are asked to deny such intention in respect of a competing foreign ......
  • Stewart v. C.I.R., No. 82-7497
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (9th Circuit)
    • September 2, 1983
    ...power." For example, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit applied this principle in American Viscose Corp. v. Commissioner, 56 F.2d 1033 (3rd Cir.), cert. denied, 287 U.S. 615, 53 S.Ct. 17, 77 L.Ed. 534 (1932), holding that interest paid by the United States on taxes illegally collect......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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