Atlas Vs CIR
Atlas Vs CIR
Atlas Vs CIR
incurred in carrying in a trade or business. 6 In addition, not only must the taxpayer meet the
business test, he must substantially prove by evidence or records the deductions claimed under
the law, otherwise, the same will be disallowed. The mere allegation of the taxpayer that an item
of expense is ordinary and necessary does not justify its deduction. 7
We sustain the ruling of the tax court that the expenditure of P25,523.14 paid to P.K. Macker &
Co. as compensation for services carrying on the selling campaign in an effort to sell Atlas'
additional capital stock of P3,325,000 is not an ordinary expense in line with the decision of U.S.
Board of Tax Appeals in the case of Harrisburg Hospital Inc. vs. Commissioner of Internal
Revenue. 14 Accordingly, as found by the Court of Tax Appeals, the said expense is not
deductible from Atlas gross income in 1958 because expenses relating to recapitalization and
reorganization of the corporation (Missouri-Kansas Pipe Line vs. Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, 148 F. (2d), 460; Skenandos Rayon Corp. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 122
F. (2d) 268, Cert. denied 314 U.S. 6961), the cost of obtaining stock subscription (Simons Co., 8
BTA 631), promotion expenses (Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp. vs. Handy, 92 F. (2d) 74), and
commission or fees paid for the sale of stock reorganization (Protective Finance Corp., 23 BTA
308) are capital expenditures.
That the expense in question was incurred to create a favorable image of the corporation in
order to gain or maintain the public's and its stockholders' patronage, does not make it
deductible as business expense. As held in the case of Welch vs. Helvering, efforts to establish
reputation are akin to acquisition of capital assets and, therefore, expenses related thereto are
not business expense but capital expenditures.