Summary

Portrait of William O. Douglas William O. Douglas Commissioner of Internal Revenue v…

It is, therefore, the present position of the Bureau that the assignment of any in-oil payment right (not pledged for development) , which extends over a period less than the life of the depletable property interest from which it is carved, is essentially the assignment of expected income from such property interest. Therefore, the assignment for a consideration of any such in-oil payment right results in the receipt of ordinary income by the assignor which is taxable to him when received or accrued, depending upon the method of accounting employed by him.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of William O. Douglas William O. Douglas Commissioner of Internal Revenue v…

The lump sum consideration seems essentially a substitute for what would otherwise be received at a future time as ordinary income. The pay-out of these particular assigned oil payment rights could be ascertained with considerable accuracy. Such are the stipulations, findings, or clear inferences. In the O'Connor case, the pay-out of the assigned oil payment right was so assured that the purchaser obtained a $9,990,350 purchase money loan at 3 1/2 percent interest without any security other than a deed of trust of the $10,000,000 oil payment right, he receiving 4 percent from the taxpayer.
Source: Wikisource

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