William E. Bailey v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue, 756 F.2d 44 (6th Cir. 1985). · Go Syfert
William E. Bailey v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue, 756 F.2d 44 (6th Cir. 1985). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
63 citation events (18 in the last 25 years) across 11 distinct courts.
Treatment trajectory · 1986 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1986 2006 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 22 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Schortmann v. United States (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
Fed. Cl. · 2008 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
section 1341, in effect, gives a taxpayer benefits that would approximate a deduction in the year of receipt of the amount later restored when doing so results in a lower tax.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Cinergy Corp. v. United States (4×) also: Cited "see", Cited "see, e.g."
Fed. Cl. · 2003 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
section 1341, in effect, gives a taxpayer benefits that would approximate a deduction in the year of receipt of the amount later restored when doing so results in a lower tax.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Jess Kraft and Barbara Kraft v. United States (8×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
6th Cir. · 1993 · signal: see · quote attribution · 2 verbatim quotes · confidence high
bailey, therefore, forfeited the 1,036,000 as punishment for his violations of the federal trade commission act, and the payment was thus a fine imposed for purposes of enforcing the law and as punishment for a violation thereof.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Edwin L. Gage & Elaine R. Gage
Tax Ct. · 2023 · confidence medium
Waldman v. Commissioner, 88 T.C. 1384, 1389 (1987) (first citing Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir. 1985); and then citing Middle Atl.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Clement Ziroli & Dawn M. Ziroli
Tax Ct. · 2022 · confidence medium
See Nacchio, 824 F.3d at 1381 ; Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir. 1985).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Nacchio v. United States
Fed. Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
Instead, “[t]he characterization of a payment for purposes of § 162(f) turns on the origin of the liability giving rise to it.” Bailey v. Comm’r, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir. 1985) (citing Middle Atl.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pennzoil-Quaker State Co. v. United States (2×)
Fed. Cir. · 2008 · confidence medium
First, “the taxpayer’s obligation to repay must arise out of the specific ‘circumstances, terms and conditions’ of the transaction whereby the amount was originally included in ... income.” Bailey v. Comm’r, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir.1985) (quoting Paid v. Comm’r, 67 T.C. 286, 289-91 , 1976 WL 3655 (1976)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Reynolds Metals Co. v. United States
E.D. Va. · 2005 · confidence medium
Applying this "same circumstances” rule, the Court cited an example of a corporate officer who was not allowed to use § 1341 "when, years after earning dividends, salary, and bonuses, he incurred a civil penalty for violations of an FTC order.” Id. at 368 (citing Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir.1985)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Larry J. CULLEY Plaintiff-Appellant, v. UNITED STATES, Defendant-Appellee
Fed. Cir. · 2000 · confidence medium
Reg. § 1341 -l(a)(l); Shelly Oil, 394 U.S. at 683 , 89 S.Ct. 1379 ; Kraft v. United States, 991 F.2d 292, 298 (6th Cir.1993); Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir.1985).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Dominion Resources v. United States (2×) also: Cited "see"
4th Cir. · 2000 · confidence medium
Virtually ignored by the IRS, however, is the tax court's formulation of a rule that provides appropriate, workable limits on § 1341: "the requisite lack of an unrestricted right to an income item permitting deduction must arise out of the circumstances, terms, and conditions of the orig- inal payment of such item to the taxpayer." Pahl, 67 T.C. at 290 (quoting Blanton, 46 T.C. at 530 ); see also Kraft v. United States, 991 F.2d 292, 295 (6th Cir. 1993); Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir. 1985).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Dominion Resources, Incorporated v. United States (2×) also: Cited "see"
4th Cir. · 2000 · confidence medium
Virtually ignored by the IRS, however, is the tax court’s formulation of a rule that provides appropriate, workable limits on § 1341: “the requisite lack of an unrestricted right to an income item permitting deduction must arise out of the circumstances, terms, and conditions of the original payment of such item to the taxpayer.” Pahl, 67 T.C. at 290 (quoting Blanton, 46 T.C. at 530 ); see also Kraft v. United States, 991 F.2d 292, 295 (6th Cir.1993); Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir.1985).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) MidAmerican Energy Co. v. Commissioner
Tax Ct. · 2000 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Kraft v. United States, 991 F.2d 292, 299 (6th Cir. 1993); Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir. 1985); Van Cleave v. United States, 718 F.2d 193, 196-197 (6th Cir. 1983); Prince v. United States, 610 F.2d 350, 352 (5th Cir. 1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) MidAmerican Energy Company v. Commissioner
Tax Ct. · 2000 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Kraft v. United States, 991 F.2d 292, 299 (6th Cir. 1993); Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir. 1985); Van Cleave v. United States, 718 F.2d 193, 196-197 (6th Cir. 1983); Prince v. United States, 610 F.2d 350, 352 (5th Cir. 1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Dominion Resources, Inc. v. United States
E.D. Va. · 1999 · confidence medium
And, Section 1341(b)(2) makes clear that Section 1341(a) was to be available to regulated utilities when they were required to make refunds of amounts previously collected in rates to their customers. 3 To satisfy the “unrestricted right” requirement in Section 1341, the taxpayer must prove that it reported an item of income in a prior year because it “appeared” that it had an “unrestricted right to such item,” and that it was later established that the claim of right was defective so that, at the time of receipt, it did not, in fact, “have an unrestricted right to such an item.�…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Talley Industries Inc. Consolidated Subsidiaries v. Commissioner Internal Revenue Service
9th Cir. · 1997 · confidence medium
Southern Pac., 75 T.C. at 652 ; see also Waldman v. Commissioner, 88 T.C. 1384, 1987 WL 49332 (1987), aff'd, 850 F.2d 611 (9th Cir.1988); Huff v. Commissioner, 80 T.C. 804, 824 , 1983 WL 14824 (1983); Stephens v. Commissioner, 905 F.2d 667, 673 (2d Cir.1990); True v. United States, 894 F.2d 1197, 1203-04 (10th Cir.1990); Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 46-47 (6th Cir.1985).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Hawronsky v. Commissioner
Tax Ct. · 1995 · confidence medium
Cir. 1989); Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 46-47 (6th Cir. 1985).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jon T. Stephens and Susanne Stephens v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
2d Cir. · 1990 · confidence medium
In Waldman , noting that “[t]he character *674 ization of a payment for purposes of section 162(f) depends on the origin of the liability giving rise to it,” 88 T.C. at 1389 (citing Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir.1985)), the Tax Court disallowed a deduction for restitution payments made as a condition of probation because the “payments ... were ... in satisfaction of ... criminal liability to the State.” Waldman, 88 T.C. at 1389 .
cited Cited as authority (rule) Waldman v. Commissioner
unknown court · 1987 · confidence medium
Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir. 1985), affg. an unpublished order of this Court; Middle Atlantic Distributors v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 1136, 1144-1145 (1979).
discussed Cited "see" Stephens v. Commissioner (2×)
Tax Ct. · 1989 · signal: see · confidence high
Cf. Murphree v. United States, 867 F.2d 883 (5th Cir. 1989); see Bailey v. Commissioner, 756 F.2d 44, 47 (6th Cir. 1985).
discussed Cited "see" Cal-Farm Insurance v. United States
E.D. Cal. · 1986 · signal: see · confidence high
See Bailey v. C.I.R., 756 F.2d 44, 46 (6th Cir.1985) (Federal Trade Commission fined taxpayer; taxpayer attempted to deduct the $1,036,000 fine as restoration of an amount previously included in gross income; court held that taxpayer failed to meet the prerequisites of a section 1341 deduction because section 162(f) of the Internal Revenue Code specifically precludes the deductibility of any fine or similar penalty); National Life and Accident Ins.
cited Cited "see, e.g." Pennzoil-quaker State Co. & Subsidiaries v. United States
Fed. Cl. · 2004 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., Bailey v. Comm’r, 756 F.2d 44, 46 (6th Cir.1985). .
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Allied-Signal v. Commissioner
Tax Ct. · 1992 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See, e.g., Bailey v. Commissioner , 756 F.2d 44 , 46 (6th Cir. 1985) , affg. an order of this Court (state court allowed the taxpayer's civil fine to be applied as settlement in class action); Stephens v. Commissioner , 93 T.C. 108 , 109 (1989) , revd. 905 F.2d 667 (2d Cir. 1990) (taxpayer placed on probation on condition that he make restitution payment); Waldman v. Commissioner , 88 T.C. at 1386 (execution of sentence stayed on condition that the taxpayer pay restitution to his victims).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
William E. BAILEY, Petitioner-Appellant,
v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent-Appellee
84-1134.
Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Mar 5, 1985.
756 F.2d 44
Harry J. Kaplan (argued), San Jose, Cal., for petitioner-appellant., Robert B. Miscavich (argued), Fred T. Goldberg, Jr. — Lead Counsel, Chief Counsel, Glenn L. Archer, Jr. — Lead Counsel, Michael L. Paup, Tax Div., Dept, of Justice, Farley P. Katz, Ann B. Durney, Washington, D.C., for respondent-appellee.
Krupansky, Keith, Jones, Krupan-Sky.
Cited by 34 opinions  |  Published
KRUPANSKY, Circuit Judge.

Taxpayer William E. Bailey (Bailey) appeals from an order of the tax court granting summary judgment in favor of the Commissioner and holding that taxpayer is not entitled to the benefits of the remedial provisions of § 1341 of the Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.).

Bailey was an officer, shareholder and director of Bestline Products, Inc., and Bestline Products Corporation (Bestline), a “pyramid” multi-level direct sales organization. Bailey received salary, dividends and bonuses from Bestline in his capacity as an[*46] officer, shareholder and director and included such items in his gross income during several taxable years.

In 1971, Bailey entered into a consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under which he agreed, in his capacity both as an individual and as a corporate officer, to cease and desist from operating the Bestline business in a deceptive or fraudulent manner or in violation of federal law.

In 1976, the District Court for the Northern District of California determined that Bailey, in his continued operation of Best-line, violated the terms of the consent decree, and pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 45(0, fined Bailey $1,036,000. The California district court then granted Bailey’s request that his payment of the $1,036,000 fine be applied as restitution in a settlement of a multidistrict class action against Bestline and its officers pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The California district court’s order authorizing the transfer of funds expressly stated that, “the ultimate disposition of these funds in no way shall alter their status as civil penalties” imposed under 15 U.S.C. § 45(Z).

In Bailey’s federal income tax return for 1977, he claimed that his payment of the $1,036,000 qualified him for a reduction in tax of $364,343 under I.R.C. § 1341. The Commissioner disallowed that claim and Bailey filed a petition with the United States Tax Court, seeking a redetermination of the deficiency.

On January 26, 1984, after a hearing on cross-motions for summary judgment, the tax court granted the Commissioner’s motion for summary judgment and denied Bailey’s motion. The court held that Bailey failed to meet the prerequisites of I.R.C. § 1341 because (1) the $1,036,000 payment did not arise out of the original salary, dividend and bonus payments to Bailey, and (2) the $1,036,000 payment is a penalty and, thus, not deductible in any event under § 162(f).

Section 1341 provides a special method for computing tax liability in circumstances where a taxpayer has received an item of income under “claim of right,” included that item in income, and in a subsequent taxable year was required to restore that item because it was established that the taxpayer did not in fact have an “unrestricted right to such item.” I.R.C. § 1341; Treas.Reg. § 1.1341-1. Taxpayers who invoke the provision pay the lesser of (1) their normal tax for the year of restoration, computed with a deduction for the restoration, or (2) a tax computed without such deduction, but reduced by the amount the tax in the year of receipt would have been decreased had the amount restored been excluded. I.R.C. § 1341(a). Section 1341, in effect, gives a taxpayer benefits that would approximate a deduction in the year of receipt of the amount later restored when doing so results in a lower tax.

Before invoking § 1341, the taxpayer must be entitled under some provision of the Internal Revenue Code to a deduction for the restoration payment in that year. I.R.C. § 1341(a)(2); Treas.Regs. 1.1341-1(a)(1); United States v. Skelly Oil Co., 394 U.S. 678, 683, 89 S.Ct. 1379, 1382, 22 L.Ed.2d 642 (1969); see also National Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. United States, 244 F.Supp. 135, 139-142 (M.D.Tenn.1965), aff'd in part and rev’d in part on other grounds, 385 F.2d 832 (6th Cir.1967).

Section 162(f) prohibits a deduction “for any fine or similar penalty paid to a government for the violation of any law.” Section 1.162 — 21 (b)(l)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations provides that this deduction prohibition applies to amounts “paid as a civil penalty imposed by Federal ... law.” Bailey contends, however, that § 162(f) is inapplicable because the $1,036,000 payment was not a penalty paid to a government, but rather constituted restitution made to private litigants.

In Southern Pacific Transportation Co. v. Comm’r, 75 T.C. 497, 646-654 (1980), the tax court held that civil penalties “imposed for purposes of enforcing the law and as punishment for the violation thereof” are[*47] non-deductible payments under § 162(f), while civil penalties “imposed to encourage prompt compliance with a requirement of the law, or as a remedial measure to compensate another party for expenses incurred as a result of the violation” fall outside the scope of the deduction prohibition in § 162(f). Accord Huff v. Comm’r, 80 T.C. 804, 824 (1983); Middle Atlantic Distributors, Inc. v. Comm’r, 72 T.C. 1136 (1979).

Bailey’s obligation to pay the $1,036,000 payment arose out of a judgment in a suit brought against Bailey by the FTC to recover civil penalties under 15 U.S.C. § 45 where the District Court for the Northern District of California found that Bailey “failed or neglected to obey terms of an FTC Consent Order” and ordered that Bailey “shall forfeit and pay to the plaintiff United States of America civil penalties in the amount of [$1,036,000].” Bailey, therefore, forfeited the $1,036,000 as punishment for his violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the payment was thus a fine “imposed for purposes of enforcing the law and as punishment for a violation thereof.” See Southern Pacific, 75 T.C. at 652.

The fact that the California district court, upon Bailey’s application, permitted him to apply the $1,036,000 civil penalty toward the settlement of his potential liabilities in the multidistrict class action does not change the status of the payment as a civil penalty. The characterization of a payment for purposes of § 162(f) turns on the origin of the liability giving rise to it. Middle Atlantic Distributors v. Comm’r, 72 T.C. at 1145; Uhlenbrook v. Comm’r, 67 T.C. 818, 823 (1977).

The tax court correctly concluded, therefore, that taxpayer’s $1,036,000 payment constitutes a non-deductible penalty under § 162(f). Since the $1,036,000 payment is not otherwise deductible under the provisions of the Code, § 1341 treatment of the payment is not appropriate. Treas.Regs. 1.1341-l(a)(l); National Life and Accident Ins. Co. v. United States, 244 F.Supp. at 139-142.

Taxpayer is precluded from invoking § 1341 for another reason. Section 1341 applies where the item was included in a taxpayer’s income because it then “appeared” that the taxpayer “had an unrestricted right to such item,” I.R.C. § 1341(a)(1), but it was later “established” that the taxpayer’s claim of right was defective, such that at the time of receipt the taxpayer did not, in fact, “have an unrestricted right to such item.” I.R.C. § 1341(a)(2). This language requires that the taxpayer’s obligation to repay must arise out of the specific “circumstances, terms and conditions” of the transaction whereby the amount was originally included in his income. Pahl v. Comm’r, 67 T.C. 286, 289-291 (1976); Blanton v. Comm’r, 46 T.C. 527 (1966) aff'd, 379 F.2d 558 (5th Cir.1967); Usher v. Comm’r, 40 T.C.M. (CCH) 385, 392-393 (1980). The $1,036,000 Bailey paid in 1977 was a civil penalty imposed under 15 U.S.C. § 45 for his multiple violations of an FTC consent order. The payment, therefore, arose from the fact that Bailey violated the consent order, and not from the “circumstances, terms, and conditions” of his original receipt of salary and dividend payments from Best-line. Indeed, the amount of the penalty was not computed with reference to the amount of his salary, dividends, and bonuses, and bears no relationship to those amounts. See Uhlenbrock v. Commissioner, 67 T.C. 818, 823 (1977) (taxpayer’s payment of addition to tax penalty is not deductible under § 1341 as a restoration of previously reported executor’s commissions where the amount he received as commissions bore no relationship to the amount he later became obligated to pay).

Since the tax court correctly determined that the taxpayer is not entitled to invoke I.R.C. § 1341, the judgment below is hereby AFFIRMED.