Helvering v. O'Donnell, 303 U.S. 370 (1938)

U.S. Supreme Court

Helvering v. O'Donnell, 303 U.S. 370 (1938) Helvering v. O'Donnell

No. 406

Argued February 9, 10, 1938

Decided March 7, 1938

303 U.S. 370

CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

A shareholder in a corporation owning oil properties has no interest in the oil and gas in place -- no capital investment -- which will entitle him to an allowance for depletion under Revenue Act of 1926, §§ 204(c)(2), 214(a)(9), nor, upon sale of his shares to one who acquires the wells from the corporation, does he acquire such depletable interest through the vendee's covenant to pay him a portion of the net profits from development and operation of the properties. P. ___.

90 F.2d 907, reversed.

Certiorari, 302 U.S. 676, to review the affirmance of a decision of the Board of Tax Appeals, 32 B.T.A. 1277, which overruled a deficiency income tax assessment.

Page 303 U. S. 371

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE HUGHES delivered the opinion of the Court.

Respondent, Thomas A. O'Donnell, owned one-third of the capital stock of the San Gabriel Petroleum Company. By contract of January 9, 1918, he sold this stock to the Petroleum Midway Company, Limited. As consideration, the Midway Company agreed to pay to respondent one-third of the net profits from the development and operation of the oil and gas properties then owned by the San Gabriel Company and which the Midway Company agreed to acquire. That acquisition was made, the properties thus acquired were developed and operated, and one-third of the net profits thus derived were paid to respondent to August 4, 1926. With respect to such payments in the years 1925 and 1926, respondent claimed deduction for depletion, which the Board of Tax Appeals allowed, overruling the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. 32 B.T.A. 1277. The Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the Board. 90 F.2d 907. We granted certiorari. See Helvering v. Bankline Oil Co., ante, p. 303 U. S. 362.

The question is whether respondent had an interest -- that is, a capital investment -- in the oil and gas in place. Revenue Act 1926, §§ 204(c)(2), 214(a)(9), 44 Stat. 14, 26. Palmer v. Bender, 287 U. S. 551, 287 U. S. 557; Helvering v. Twin Bell Syndicate, 293 U. S. 312, 293 U. S. 321; Thomas v. Perkins, 301 U. S. 655, 301 U. S. 661; Helvering v. Bankline Oil Company, supra. As a mere owner of shares in the San Gabriel Company, respondent had no such interest. Treasury Regulations No. 69, art. 201. The ownership of the oil and gas properties was in the corporation. When the Midway Company acquired these properties from the San Gabriel Company and operated them, the Midway Company became the owner of the oil and gas produced. It was the owner of the gross proceeds or income upon which the statutory allowance for depletion was to be computed.

Page 303 U. S. 372

Helvering v. Twin Bell Syndicate, supra. The agreement to pay respondent one-third of the net profits derived from the development and operation of the properties was a personal covenant, and did not purport to grant respondent an interest in the properties themselves. If there were no net profits, nothing would be payable to him. No trust was declared by which respondent could claim an equitable interest in the res. As consideration for the sale of his stock in the San Gabriel Company, respondent bargained for and obtained an economic advantage from the Midway Company's operations, but that advantage or profit did not constitute a depletable interest in the oil and gas in place. Palmer v. Bender, supra; Helvering v. Bankline Oil Company, supra.

The judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals is reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.

Reversed.

MR. JUSTICE CARDOZO and MR. JUSTICE REED took no part in the consideration and decision of this case.