G. Douglas Barkett & Rita M. Barkett v. Commissioner , 143 T.C. No. 6 ( 2014 )

143 T.C. No. 6
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
G. DOUGLAS BARKETT AND RITA M. BARKETT, Petitioners v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 28223-12. Filed August 28, 2014.
R issued a notice of deficiency concerning Ps’ Federal income
tax for taxable years 2006 to 2009. R sent the notice more than three
years but less than six years after Ps filed their 2006 and 2007 returns.
Ps argue under I.R.C. sec. 6501(a) that the notice is invalid as it
relates to 2006 and 2007 because R sent it more than three years after
they filed their returns for those years. R contends that the six-year
limitations period under I.R.C. sec. 6501(e) applies because Ps’
omitted gross income exceeded 25% of the gross income they stated
in their returns.
On their 2006 and 2007 returns Ps reported amounts realized
from the sale of investments of more than $7 million and $4 million,
respectively, and total gains from such sales of approximately
$123,000 and $314,000, respectively. Ps argue that the amounts they
realized, not their gains, should be included in “gross income they
stated in their return” for purposes of I.R.C. sec. 6501(e). R contends
that only their gains should be included. Our resolution of this
dispute will determine the appropriate limitations period.
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We have held in other cases that gross income includes only a
taxpayer’s gains from the sale of investment property, not the
taxpayer’s entire amounts realized from such sales. Ps argue that
those cases are inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s recent decision
in United States v. Home Concrete & Supply, LLC, 566 U.S. ___,
___, 132 S. Ct. 1836, 1842 (2012). We must decide whether the
Home Concrete decision affects our prior cases.
Held: The Home Concrete decision does not affect our prior
cases holding that “gross income” includes only gains from the sale
of investments, not amounts realized from such sales.
Held, further, the gross income Ps omitted from their 2006 and
2007 returns exceeds 25% of the gross income they stated in those
returns, and therefore the six-year limitations period applies.
Ernest S. Ryder, Richard V. Vermazen, and Lauren A. Rinsky, for
petitioners.
Mistala M. Cullen and Monica D. Polo, for respondent.
OPINION
GOEKE, Judge: This matter is before us on petitioners’ motion for partial
summary judgment under Rule 121(a).1
1
Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal
Revenue Code in effect for the years at issue, and all Rule references are to the
Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
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Respondent issued a notice of deficiency concerning petitioners’ Federal
income tax for the taxable years 2006 to 2009. Petitioners contend that the notice
is invalid as it relates to 2006 and 2007 because respondent did not send it within
the three-year limitations period provided by section 6501(a). Respondent argues
that a six-year limitations period applies under section 6501(e) because petitioners
omitted from their returns gross income exceeding 25% of the gross income they
reported. We must determine the appropriate limitations period; we hold that a
six-year limitations period applies.
Background
Petitioners resided in California when they filed their petition.
Petitioners filed their 2006 and 2007 Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income
Tax Return, on September 17, 2007, and October 2, 2008, respectively.
Respondent sent petitioners a notice of deficiency on September 26, 2012,
determining income tax deficiencies for taxable years 2006 to 2009.
In the notice of deficiency, respondent alleged that petitioners had omitted
from their 2006 and 2007 returns gross income of $629,850 and $431,957,
respectively.2 On those returns petitioners reported gross income totaling
2
These omissions are unrelated to the investment activities we discuss
below. Respondent determined that petitioners omitted compensation they
(continued...)
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$271,440 and $340,591, respectively, excluding their shares of the passthrough
entity activity we describe below.
During the years at issue petitioners were 80.04% partners in Barkett Family
Partners, a limited partnership. They were also 100% shareholders of Unicorn
Investments, Inc., an S corporation. These entities reported extensive investment
activity on their 2006 and 2007 returns. Combined, they reported capital gains
from the sale of investments of approximately $123,000 for 2006 and $314,000 for
2007.3 They reported amounts realized from the sale of investments of more than
$7 million for 2006 and more than $4 million for 2007.4 On their 2006 and 2007
returns petitioners reported their shares of the entities’ gains and losses. For
simplicity’s sake, we will refer to the investment activities as if petitioners had
engaged in them directly, i.e., not via the passthrough entities.
2
(...continued)
received for dental services they provided to Barkett Dental Corporation, a C
corporation they wholly owned.
3
Respondent concedes that these amounts represent gross income petitioners
stated in their return.
4
These amounts include proceeds petitioners reported from sales that
generated losses.
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Discussion
I. Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is intended to expedite litigation and avoid unnecessary
and expensive trials. Fla. Peach Corp. v. Commissioner, 90 T.C. 678, 681 (1988).
The Court may grant summary judgment when there is no genuine dispute of
material fact and a decision may be rendered as a matter of law. Rule 121(a) and
(b); Sundstrand Corp. v. Commissioner, 98 T.C. 518, 520 (1992), aff’d,17 F.3d
965 (7th Cir. 1994). The moving party bears the burden of proving that there is no
genuine dispute of material fact, and the Court will draw any factual inferences in
the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Dahlstrom v. Commissioner, 85
T.C. 812, 821 (1985).
II. Limitations Periods
Under the general rule set forth in section 6501(a), the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) must assess tax or send a notice of deficiency within three years
after a return is filed. The limitations period extends to six years under section
6501(e)(1) “[i]f the taxpayer omits from gross income an amount properly
includible therein and * * * such amount is in excess of 25 percent of the amount
of gross income stated in the return”.
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Respondent issued the notice of deficiency here more than three years but
less than six years after petitioners filed their 2006 and 2007 returns. Thus, the
notice is timely with respect to those returns only if the six-year limitations period
applies.
III. Analysis
To determine the appropriate limitations period, we must divide the amount
of gross income petitioners omitted from their return by the amount of gross
income they stated in their return. If the omitted amount is more than 25% of the
included amount, the six-year limitations period applies. The parties agree that for
the purpose of this calculation, the omitted amounts are $629,850 and $431,957
for taxable years 2006 and 2007, respectively. They disagree over the amounts of
gross income petitioners stated in their returns. Petitioners argue that the gross
income they stated in their returns should include the amounts realized they
reported from the sale of investment assets; respondent argues that it should
include only the gain they reported from those sales, i.e., amounts realized less
bases of assets sold.
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We have considered this issue before and have held that “capital gains, and
not the gross proceeds,5 are to be treated as the ‘amount of gross income stated in
the return’ for purposes of section 6501(e).” Insulglass Corp. v. Commissioner, 84
T.C. 203, 203 (1985); see also Schneider v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1985-139.
We decided those cases on the basis of section 61(a), which defines gross income
as “all income from whatever source derived”, including “[g]ains derived from
dealings in property”. (Emphasis added.)
In 2010 the Secretary promulgated section 301.6501(e)-1, Proced. &
Admin. Regs., which provides instructions consistent with our jurisprudence. T.D.
9511, 2011-6 I.R.B. 455. The regulation also explains how to determine whether
gross income has been omitted from a taxpayer’s return. The Supreme Court
addressed the validity of the regulation in United States v. Home Concrete &
Supply, LLC, 566 U.S. ___, ___, 132 S. Ct. 1836, 1842 (2012), and determined
that the portion concerning omitted gross income was invalid. Petitioners argue
that the Home Concrete decision also invalidated the regulation’s instructions
concerning the calculation of gross income and consequently our cases on the
matter. For the reasons we discuss below, we disagree.
5
Gross proceeds in these cases referred to the amounts the taxpayers realized
and reported on their returns.
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To fully explain the import of the Home Concrete decision, we must first
discuss the Supreme Court’s decision in Colony, Inc. v. Commissioner, 357 U.S.
28 (1958). In Colony the taxpayer had overstated its basis in property it had sold
and had consequently underreported its gain on the sale. The Commissioner
argued that the underreported gain constituted “omitted gross income” for the
purpose of determining whether the extended limitations period applied. The
Court disagreed, citing the limitations statute’s legislative history. The Court
determined that in enacting the statute, Congress intended to give the
Commissioner additional time to review a taxpayer’s return when the taxpayer had
reported no information about a given transaction. In such cases, the Court said,
the Commissioner is particularly disadvantaged because the return does not alert
him to suspicious activity requiring further investigation. When an
understatement results from misreported information, rather than a complete
omission, the IRS is at no such disadvantage, and the understatement should not
contribute to triggering the limitations period extension.
As we noted above, in 2010 the Secretary promulgated section 301.6501(e)-
1, Proced. & Admin. Regs., which explained when gross income should be
considered omitted for the purpose of triggering the extended limitations period.
The regulation provides that when taxpayers understate their income from a
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property sale because they overstated their basis in the property, the amount of the
understatement shall be considered omitted income. Sec. 301.6501(e)-1(a)(1)(iii),
Proced. & Admin. Regs. The regulation’s guidance directly conflicts with Colony,
which held that such an understatement is not omitted gross income.
The Court resolved the conflict between the regulation and the Colony
holding in Home Concrete. There the taxpayer had overstated its basis in a
partnership it had sold and had consequently underreported its gain on the sale.
The Commissioner again argued, this time under the regulation, that the
underreported gain constituted “omitted gross income”. The Court held, after an
administrative law discussion we will omit here, that the regulation was invalid
because it conflicted with the Colony holding. The Court followed its Colony
analysis and held that the underreported gain was not omitted gross income and
that it did not belong in the numerator of the statute of limitations calculation. The
Home Concrete holding addressed only when gross income is to be considered
omitted. It did not address how to calculate gross income.6
6
In dictum, the Court did note that “the Code itself define[s] ‘gross income’
in this context as the difference between gross revenue (often the amount the
taxpayer received upon selling the property and basis (often the amount the
taxpayer paid for the property).” United States v. Home Concrete & Supply, LLC,
566 U.S. ___, ___, 132 S. Ct. 1836, 1840 (2012).
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Petitioners attempt to use the Home Concrete decision to support their
position that “gross income” includes amounts realized from the sale of investment
property without a corresponding basis adjustment. They state their argument as
follows:
Only when * * * [amounts realized]7 are left out of the computation of
gross income are they omitted for purposes of the six-year statute of
limitations of section 6501(e)(1)(A). If * * * [amounts realized] are
not left out of the computation of gross income, they are not omitted;
when they are not omitted, they are included; when they are included,
they are stated in the return; when they are stated in the return, they
are included in the denominator of the 25% percent omitted
calculation of section 6501(e)(1)(A).
We see nothing wrong with petitioners’ logic, but it proves only that “gross
income stated in the return” includes amounts realized stated in the return. That
point is undisputed; one component of gain is amount realized,8 and respondent
concedes that “gross income stated in the return” includes reported gains from the
sale of investment property. The disputed issue, which petitioners’ argument does
not address, is whether “gross income stated in the return” includes only the
excess of the amount realized over the bases of the assets sold. We have
7
Petitioner uses the term “gross receipts”, but we believe petitioners mean
“amounts realized” and will evaluate their argument accordingly.
8
Sec. 1001 provides “[t]he gain from the sale or disposition of property shall
be the excess of the amount realized therefrom over the adjusted basis”.
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consistently held that it does, and the Home Concrete decision does not disturb our
precedents on the matter.
Our Court’s history with the issue the Supreme Court faced in Home
Concrete and Colony demonstrates the difference between that issue and the one
we face in this case. As we mentioned earlier, we have previously resolved the
issue petitioners raise here. In Insulglass and Schneider, we determined that gross
income includes gains from the sale of investment assets, not simply the amounts
realized from such sales. Since we decided those cases, we have addressed the
issue the Supreme Court decided in Home Concrete and Colony at least twice.
See Intermountain Ins. Serv. of Vail, LLC v. Commissioner, 134 T.C. 211 (2010),
rev’d, 650 F.3d 691 (D.C. Cir. 2011); Bakersfield Energy Partners, LP v.
Commissioner, 128 T.C. 207 (2007), aff’d, 568 F.3d 767 (9th Cir. 2009). In
Bakersfield, which we decided before the Secretary promulgated section
301.6501(e)-1, Proced. & Admin. Regs., we held consistently with Colony. In
Intermountain, which we decided after the Secretary promulgated the regulation
but before the Supreme Court decided Home Concrete, we determined that the
regulation was invalid and again held consistently with Colony. We did not
discuss Insulglass or Schneider in either of those cases, because they did not
address the same issue. Insulglass and Schneider addressed how to calculate gross
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income (the issue we face here). Bakersfield and Intermountain addressed when
gross income is omitted from the return (the issue the Supreme Court faced in
Home Concrete and Colony).
Although the Home Concrete holding does not affect the issue in this case,
we find support for our conclusion in dictum. In addressing one of the
Commissioner’s arguments, the Court explained how to calculate income under
the general statutory definition of “gross income”:
the general statutory definition of “gross income” requires subtracting
the cost from the sales price. Under such a definition of “gross
income,” the calculation would take (1) total revenue from sales,
$40,000, minus (2) “the cost of such sales,” say, $25,000. The
$10,000 of revenue would thus amount to 67% of the “gross income”
of $15,000. * * *
Home Concrete & Supply, LLC, 566 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 1842. Our holding
is consistent with this example.
An exception to the general statutory definition appears in section
6501(e)(1)(B)(i), which provides that “[i]n the case of a trade or business, the term
‘gross income’ means the total of the amounts received or accrued from the sale of
goods or services * * * prior to diminution by the cost of such sales or services.
The Court demonstrated the operation of this exception with the following
example: “a merchant who fails to include $10,000 of revenue from sold goods
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has not met the 25% test if total revenue is more than $40,000, regardless of the
cost paid by the merchant to acquire those goods.” Id.
Petitioners essentially argue that we should calculate their gross income
under this exception rather than under the general statutory definition of gross
income. But they have not argued that the amounts realized at issue here resulted
from sales of goods or services. They concede that they sold investment assets.
Accordingly, the exception does not apply, and we calculate the gross income
petitioner’s stated in their return under the general statutory definition of gross
income.
IV. Conclusion
The Home Concrete decision invalidated a portion of a regulation that
coincidentally included instructions for calculating gross income from the sale of
investment assets. The decision treated favorably, however, the regulation’s
instructions for calculating gross income stated in the return, which are consistent
with our caselaw. Accordingly, we see no reason to stray from our precedents; we
hold that “gross income” includes gains from the sale of investment assets, not the
entire amounts realized from such sales. Under this rule, petitioners’ omitted
gross income for 2006 and 2007 exceeds 25% of the gross income they stated in
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their returns for those years. Therefore, the six-year limitations period applies to
those years and respondent’s notice of deficiency is timely with respect to them.
In reaching our holdings herein, we have considered all arguments the
parties made, and, to the extent not mentioned above, we conclude they are moot,
irrelevant, or without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
An appropriate order will be
issued denying petitioners’ motion for
partial summary judgment.