Crane v. Commissioner

Facts

Petitioner was the sole beneficiary of her husband’s will. He owned an apartment building and lot subject to a mortgage. It was valued at $255,000. Petitioner entered into an agreement with the mortgagee where she continued to operate the property and remit the net rentals to the mortgagee. This continued for seven years, and Petitioner reported the gross rentals as income and claimed deductions for operating expenses paid on the property, for interest paid, and for the physical exhaustion of the building. With the mortgagee threatening foreclosure, Petitioner sold to a third party for $3000 cash, subject to the mortgage and paid $500 in sale expenses. She reported a taxable gain of $1,250. Petitioner believed the property acquired was equity. The equity had a zero value basis and no depreciation could be taken on it. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue determined that Petitioner realized a net taxable gain of $23,767.03. His theory was that the property was not eq uity but was the physical property. The Tax Court held for Petitioner but the Court of Appeals reversed.