US-CT-APP-5, [51-2 USTC ¶9483], Morris Nachman, Petitioner v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent  , Deductions: Business expenses: Unexpired portion of official cost of liquor license: Cost of renewal privilege as capital expenditure: Nondeductible.--, (Nov. 02, 1951)
[51-2 USTC ¶9483]Morris Nachman, Petitioner v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent   William L. Tobias, Petitioner v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent  

(CA-5), In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, No. 13083, 191 F2d 934, November 2, 1951

Petitions for review of decisions of the Tax Court of the United States (District of Florida).

Deductions: Business expenses: Unexpired portion of official cost of liquor license: Cost of renewal privilege as capital expenditure: Nondeductible.--Desiring to enter the retail liquor business as partners, taxpayers on April 25, 1944, purchased from one Bryan for $8,000 an existing liquor license, good until September 30, 1944, issued to Bryan by the City of Jacksonville for $750, the fee fixed by ordinance therefor.  The difference between the official fee and the purchase price was a premium paid to secure the license in view of the fact that the number issued in the City was restricted to 76 and all were issued.  Of the $8,000 paid for the license, the official cost of issuance, $750, was an ordinary and necessary business expense, deductible as such in its entirety.  The remaining $7,250 was the expenditure of capital in the acquisition of a capital asset reasonably expected to serve petitioners through future years, the cost of which is not deductible as an ordinary expense.  BACK REFERENCES: Sec. 29.23(c)-2 at 511 CCH ¶181.48 and Sec. 29.24-2 at 512 CCH ¶345.3097.

Deductions: Business expenses: Depreciation allowance for liquor license renewal privilege.--Taxpayers in 1944 purchased a $750 liquor license for $8,000, the $7,250 difference in the two figures representing a premium for the purchase of the otherwise unattainable license.  That sum also represented the renewal privilege of the license which would stand the taxpayers in good stead in future years.  However, they are not entitled to a depreciation allowance on such renewal privilege, which is deemed by the Court to be a capital asset, because depreciation allowances on intangible property are confined to those definitely limited in duration.  The privilege in this instance extends beyond the taxable year in question and may continue as long as the taxpayers desire to exercise it.  BACK REFERENCES: Sec. 29.23(1)-3 at 511 CCH ¶217.147.  Affirming a decision of the Tax Court, 12 TC 1204, CCH Dec. 17,072, reported at 495 CCH ¶7472.

Chester Bedell, Malvern B. Fink, and Joseph M. Glickstein, all of Jacksonville, Fla., for appellant.  Theron Lamar Caudle, Assistant Attorney General, Irving I. Axelrad, Ellis N. Slack, A. F. Prescott, and Francis W. Sams, Special Assistants to the Attorney General, Charles Oliphant, Chief Counsel, John M. Morawski, Special Attorney, both of Bureau of Internal Revenue, all of Washington, D. C., for appellee.

Before Hutcheson, Chief Judge, and Holmes and Strum, Circuit Judges.

Strum, Circuit Judge:

These are two consolidated petitions to review decisions of the Tax Court which modified as to amount, but otherwise sustained, deficiency assessments in income taxes entered by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue against petitioners Nachman and Tobias for their fiscal tax year 1944-45.

[Facts]

Desiring to enter the retail liquor business as partners in Jacksonville, Florida, petitioners on April 25, 1944, purchased from one Baker Bryan for $8,000 an existing liquor license, good until September 30, 1944, issued to Bryan by the City of Jacksonville for $750, the fee fixed by ordinance therefor.  The difference between the official fee of $750 and the purchase price of $8,000 was a premium which Bryan was enabled to exact from petitioners because these licenses were restricted by law to approximately 76 for the entire City of Jacksonville, all of which were then issued.  Many more persons desired them than could obtain them directly from the city, so they were in great demand, even at a premium.  These licenses were assignable, and carried with them valuable renewal privileges, as it was the established practice in issuing renewal licenses from year to year to prefer the holders of existing licenses over other applicants.  Because of this known practice, and the limited number of licenses available, persons wishing to enter the liquor business in Jacksonville were willing to pay a substantial premium in order to acquire a license from an existing licensee.

[Deduction of License Purchase Price]

In making their income tax returns for the tax year involved, petitioners deducted as an ordinary and necessary business expense, the entire $8,000 paid for the license.  The Commissioner disallowed all except 5/12th of the $750 annual fee, representing the unexpired portion of the license extending from April 25, 1944, the date of purchase, to September 30, 1944, when it expired.  The Commissioner entered a deficiency assessment accordingly.  On appeal, the Tax Court held that petitioners were entitled to deduct as ordinary business expense the entire $750 official fee, but no more, and reduced the deficiency accordingly.  It is the latter determination by the Tax Court that petitioners bring here for review.

Of course it was necessary for petitioners to have a license before they could commence business.  None could be procured directly from the City, as the maximum number allowed by law had already been issued.  Like other scarce commodities, they commanded a premium on a seller’s market.  The license carried with it by established custom, if not by law, a valuable renewal privilege indispensable to petitioners’ continuance in business in subsequent years.  In purchasing the license, petitioners bought not only the operating right for the current year but also renewal privileges for future years.  This privilege, entitling petitioners to preference over non-license holders in the issuance of renewal licenses, was of substantial value, of which the seller and the purchasers of this license were well aware.  No one would pay $8,000 for a $750 license having only five months to run, unless the purchaser was reasonably sure it carried with it appurtenant privileges of substantial future value to the purchaser.  It was these considerations that prompted petitioners to pay $8,000 for a $750 license, of which only 5/12ths remained.

[Official Cost as Ordinary Business Expense]

Of the $8,000 paid for the license in question, the official cost of issuance, $750, was an ordinary and necessary business expense.  The remaining $7,250, was the expenditure of capital in the acquisition of a capital asset reasonably expected to serve petitioners through future years, the cost of which is not deductible as an ordinary expense.  Jones Estate v. Commissioner (CA-5) 127 Fed. (2d) 231 [43-1 ustc ¶9394]; Hotel Kingkade v. Commissioner (CA-10) 180 Fed. (2d) 310 [50-1 ustc ¶9185]; All States Freight v. U. S. (D. C.) 72 Fed. Supp. 673 [47-2 ustc ¶9332]; Elston Co. v. U. S. (Ct. Cls.) 21 Fed. Supp. 267 [37-2 ustc ¶9574]; McAvoy Co. v. Commissioner, 10 B. T. A. 1017 [CCH Dec. 3615]; Zakon v. Commissioner, 7 B. T. A. 687 [CCH Dec. 2625].  The Supreme Court of Florida has recently recognized a liquor license as “property,” often having an actual value far in excess of the official fee charged for it.  House v. Cotton, 52 So. (2d) 340.

[Right to Depreciation Allowance]

Petitioners further contend that if the $7,250 in question be regarded as the purchase price of a capital asset and therefore not deductible as ordinary business expense, they are entitled to an amortized depreciation allowance on such capital asset under 26 U. S. C. A. 23, and Treasury Regulation No. 111, sec. 29.23(1)-3, relating to depreciation of intangible property.  Depreciation allowance on intangibles, however, is confined to those definitely limited in duration, such as patents, franchises, copyrights, licenses for fixed periods, and the like, the partial exhaustion of which may be computed with reasonable certainty.

It is clear that the renewal privilege appurtenant to this license extends beyond, and was actually exercised beyond, the taxable year in question.  Presumably the petitioners may continue to exercise their renewal privileges as long as they desire, as there is no indication that the City will depart from its custom of renewing existing licenses.  How long petitioners may wish to continue exercising their renewal privileges is indeterminable.  It might be for one year, or many.  It was exercised by them at least as late as 1949.  The basis for depreciation of an intangible capital asset is partial exhaustion due to lapse of time.  This renewal privilege being of indefinite duration, dependent upon petitioners’ wishes as well as upon the City’s future course of action, there is no rational basis for prediction as to duration.

Moreover, if petitioners elect to discontinue the exercise of their renewal rights, it is reasonable to assume that they will sell them, just as did their predecessor Bryan, either recouping their investment or sustaining a deductible loss.  We conclude therefore, as did the Tax Court, that the renewal privilege incident to the license is a nondepreciable capital asset.  Clark Thread Co. v. Commissioner, 100 Fed. (2d) 257 [38-2 ustc ¶9440].

We have examined the cases cited by the petitioners in support of their contentions, but consider them inapposite here.

AFFIRMED.