CCA 1027053: Advice that consistent use does not make an accounting method permissible

Plain-English summary

Chief Counsel Advice collects authorities addressing whether a taxpayer may continue using an accounting method because it has been applied consistently. The cited authorities state that consistency may receive weight, but it does not by itself show that a method clearly reflects income. An erroneous method does not become acceptable merely through long use, and the IRS may require a change when the method does not clearly reflect income. The advice also discusses inventory valuation and the limits of relying on methods authorized by statute or regulation.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Does consistent, long-term use make an accounting method acceptable even if it does not clearly reflect income?
• Outcome: advice given
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 446 and 471; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.446-1(a)(2) and 1.471-2(b); Photo-Sonics, Inc. v. Commissioner; Coors v. Commissioner; Western Casualty & Surety Co. v. Commissioner; J.P. Sheahan Associates, Inc. v. Commissioner

Full text (IRS public release)

ID: CCA-124120-10 Number: 201027053
Release Date: 7/9/2010
Office: ----------------
UILC: 446.03-00

From: -----------------------
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 12:03 PM
To: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cc: ----------------------------
Subject: Further cites and quotes

1. "The company’s argument that its method of treating these overhead costs had been
   long utilized and tacitly approved can be answered by saying that consistency does not
   make it right. A failure to clearly reflect income over many years cannot be justified on the
   grounds of tenure. See Photo-Sonics, Inc. [Dec. 26,931 ], 42 T. C. 926 (1964),
   affirmed 357 F. 2d 656 (C. A. 9, 1966) (“an erroneous method does not become
   acceptable solely upon the consistent use over an extended period of time.”); Dearborn
   Gage Co., 48 T. C. 190 (1967); Sam W. Emerson Co., 37 T. C. 1063 (1962); Geometric
   Stamping Co. [Dec. 21,740 ], 26 T. C. 301 (1956); All-Steel Equipment, Inc. [Dec.
   30,353 ], 54 T. C. 1749 (1970), affirmed on this issue [72-2 ustc ¶9660 ] 467 F. 2d 1184
   (C. A. 7, 1972)." William K. Coors and Phyllis E. Coors, et al.1 v. Commissioner, 60
   T.C. 368 (1973), aff’d 519 F.2d 1280 (10th Cir. 1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1087
   (1976)

2. "The fact that the taxpayer consistently reported its income using the method
   described above does not mean that the method clearly reflects income. A failure to
   clearly reflect income over many years cannot be justified on grounds of tenure. Coors
   v. Commissioner, 60 T.C. 368, 395 (1973), aff’d, 519 F.2d 1280 (10th Cir. 1975), cert.
   denied, 423 U.S. 1087 (1976); Madison Gas and Electric Company v. Commissioner, 72
   T.C. 521, 554 (1979), aff’d on another issue, 633 F.2d 512 (7th Cir. 1980).

"In the present situation, the taxpayer uses the accrual method of accounting in
computing business expenses for all its operations, including expenses relating to the
mortgage and commercial loan operations. In order to clearly reflect its income, the
taxpayer must report interest income from commercial loans and mortgage loans on the
accrual method." Rev. Rul. 86-35, 1986-1 CB 218.

3. "It is well established that the Service is not bound to allow a taxpayer to continue to
   use its method notwithstanding its consistent use. Western Casualty & Surety Co.v.
   Commissioner, 65 T.C. 897, at 911-912 ( 1976), aff'd, 571 F.2d 514 (10th Cir. 1978),
   Coors v. Commissioner, 60 T.C. 368, 395 (1973), aff'd 59 [519] F2d 1280 (10th Cir.
   1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1087 (1976) (argument that a method has been long
   utilized and tacitly approved can be answered that consistency does not make it right;

2

failure to clearly reflect income cannot be justified on grounds of tenure)." PLR
200330009

4. "Petitioner argues that consistency in the area of inventory valuation is of prime
   consideration, citing section 1.471-2(b) , Income Tax Regs. We agree with petitioner
   that consistency should be given greater weight than any particular method of inventory
   valuation provided the method used conforms with the requirement of section 471 . An
   erroneous method does not become acceptable solely upon the consistent use over an
   extended period of time. D. Loveman & Son Export Corporation, supra.< Furthermore,
   we do not feel that the use of a method for a period of two and one-half years before it
   is questioned is a sufficient period of time for the Court to give any weight to the
   element of consistency." Photo-Sonics, Inc. v. Commissioner.

5. "Petitioner has raised three additional arguments which we think can be disposed of
   rather quickly. First, petitioner states that it has consistently accrued both deferred
   premium installments and the related commission expenses for many years and,
   therefore, should be entitled to continue this procedure by reason of that portion of
   section 1.446-1(a)(2) , Income Tax Regs., which provides:

A method of accounting which reflects the consistent application of generally accepted
accounting principles in a particular trade or business in accordance with accepted
conditions or practices in that trade or business will ordinarily be regarded as clearly
reflecting income, provided all items of gross income and expense are treated
consistently from year to year.

Petitioner, however, neglects to point out that this very same section of the regulation
provides that no method of accounting is acceptable, “unless, in the opinion of the
Commissioner, it clearly reflects income.” Petitioner has a heavy burden in overcoming
respondent’s broad discretion in determining whether a taxpayer’s method of
accounting clearly reflects income. Commissioner v. Hansen, [59-2 USTC ¶9533 ], 360
U.S. 446 (1959); Fort Howard Paper Co., [Dec. 28,712 ], 49 T.C. 275 (1967). Not only
has petitioner failed to overcome this burden, but we think respondent has affirmatively
proven that petitioner’s method of accounting with respect to this particular item does
not result in a clear reflection of income. Thus, we think that petitioner’s reliance on this
section of the regulations is misplaced." THE WESTERN CASUALTY AND SURETY
COMPANY, PETITIONER v. COMMISSIONER, 65 T.C. 897, at 911-912 ( 1976), affd
571 F.2d 514 (10th Cir. 1978)

6. "In a similar vein, we reject petitioner’s contention that respondent is precluded from
   requiring a change of its method of accounting because the cash method is specifically
   authorized by statute. Such a contention is contradicted by the language of section
   446(c) which specifies that the “permissible methods” are “Subject to the provisions of
   subsections (a) and (b)” and the language of subsection (b) which authorizes
   respondent to require the use of a method which clearly reflects income if the method
   used by the taxpayer does not so do. Petitioner’s reliance on language in Hallmark
   Cards, Inc. v. Commissioner [Dec. 44,502 ], 90 T.C. 26, 31 (1988) (respondent “may not
   reject * * * a method of accounting * * * which is specifically authorized in the Code or
   regulations”) is misplaced. That language as well as similar language in Orange &
   Rockland Utilities v. Commissioner [Dec. 42,884 ], 86 T.C. 199, 215 (1986), was made
   in the context of applying the all-events test of accrual accounting and was not directed
   to a situation where, as is the case herein, use of the inventory method is required.
   Similar reasoning disposes of petitioner’s reliance on Peninsula Steel Products &
   Equipment Co. v. Commissioner [Dec. 39,113 ], 78 T.C. 1029, 1052 (1982), where we
   held that respondent could not deprive a taxpayer of the right to use both the completed
   contract and inventory methods of accounting where no inconsistency appeared and
   such a synthesis of methods was not precluded by the regulations." J.P. Sheahan
   Associates, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1992-239.

7. "Our role, however, is not to weigh and determine the relative merits of systems of
   accounting, United States v. Catto, supra at 114, nor to determine in our own judgment
   whether petitioner’s method clearly reflected income, but to determine whether there is
   an adequate basis in law for respondent’s determination that petitioner’s method did not
   clearly reflect income. RCA Corp. v. United States [81-2 ustc ¶9783 ], 664 F.2d 881,
   886 (2d Cir. 1981), cert. denied 457 U.S. 1133 (1982)." Applied Communications,
   Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1989-469.