Facts
Taxpayers borrowed $1,851,500 on a non-recourse basis to build an apartment complex.
When their basis in the property was $1,455,740 (after their invested capital of $44,212 and deductions taken in the amount of $439,972), they sold it for no consideration other than the assumption of the non-recourse liability.
The fair market value of the property at the time of sale was $1,400,000, so they claimed a loss of $55,740. The Tax Commissioner insisted instead that they actually realized a gain of $400,000; the difference between the principal amount of the debt and their basis.
Read more about this topic: Commissioner V. Tufts
Famous quotes containing the word facts:
“The construction of life is at present in the power of facts far more than convictions.”
—Walter Benjamin (1892–1940)
“The facts of a person’s life will, like murder, come out.”
—Norman Sherry (b. 1925)
“A radical is one of whom people say “He goes too far.” A conservative, on the other hand, is one who “doesn’t go far enough.” Then there is the reactionary, “one who doesn’t go at all.” All these terms are more or less objectionable, wherefore we have coined the term “progressive.” I should say that a progressive is one who insists upon recognizing new facts as they present themselves—one who adjusts legislation to these new facts.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)