DOTSON v. COMMISSIONER , 2003 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 153 ( 2003 )

JOHNY L. DOTSON, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

DOTSON v. COMMISSIONER

No. 7888-02S

United States Tax Court

T.C. Summary Opinion 2003-151; 2003 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 153;

October 14, 2003, Filed

---

PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.

Johny L. Dotson, pro se.

Rollin G. Thorley, for respondent.

Pajak, John J.

---

Pajak, John J.

PAJAK, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of section 7463 of the Internal Revenue Code in effect at the time the petition was filed. Unless otherwise indicated, section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue. The decision to be entered is not reviewable by any other court, and this opinion should not be cited as authority.

Respondent issued two separate notices of deficiency for taxable years 1998 and 1999, respectively. Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income taxes and additions to tax in the following amounts:

                    Additions to Tax

Year     Deficiency     Sec. 6651(a)(1)     Sec. 6654(a)

____     __________     _______________     ____________

1998      $ 1,530        $ 382.50          -

1999        2,122         530.50       $ 102.70

[3] This Court must decide: (1) Whether petitioner has unreported taxable income for 1998 and 1999; (2) whether petitioner is liable for section 6651(a)(1) additions to tax for failure to file Federal income tax returns for 1998 and 1999; and (3) whether petitioner is liable for the section 6654(a) addition to tax for failure to pay estimated income tax for 1999.

Some of the facts in this case have been stipulated and are so found. Petitioner resided in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the time he filed his petition.

During the taxable years in issue, petitioner received the following payments in the following amounts:

                        1998

                        ____

     Nonemployee compensation       $  1,562

     Rent                 13,523

     Interest                 21

                       _______

                       $ 15,106

                        1999

                        ____

     Nonemployee compensation       $  5,224

     Rent                 10,725

     Interest                 13

                       _______

                      $ 15,962

[6] Petitioner did not file Federal income tax returns for 1998 and 1999. Respondent received information reports and prepared substitutes for return for 1998 and 1999. Respondent determined that petitioner had unreported income of $ 15,106 and $ 15,962 for 1998 and 1999, respectively.

Section 61(a) provides that gross income includes all income from whatever source derived unless excludable by a specific provision of the Code. Compensation, interest, and rents are enumerated sources of income includable in gross income. Sec. 61(a)(1), (4), and (5).

Petitioner stipulated to receipt of nonemployee compensation, rent, and interest in the amounts determined in the notices of deficiency. At trial, petitioner testified that he did not file Federal tax returns for 1998 and 1999. Petitioner began to make tax protester type arguments, but upon admonition by the Court as to potential penalties associated with advancing such arguments, petitioner concluded his testimony. Petitioner offered no evidence as to the excludability of any of the amounts he received during 1998 and 1999. We find that petitioner had unreported income in 1998 and 1999 in the amounts determined by respondent.

We further find that respondent has satisfied his burden of production with respect to the imposition of the additions to tax under sections 6651(a)(1) and 6654(a). Sec. 7491(c).

As to the section 6651(a)(1) additions to tax for 1998 and 1999, section 6651(a)(1) imposes an addition to tax for failure to timely file a tax return, unless such failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. Additions to tax under section 6651(a)(1) are imposed unless the taxpayer establishes that the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. The taxpayer must prove both reasonable cause and a lack of willful neglect. Crocker v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. 899">92 T.C. 899, 912 (1989)."Reasonable cause" requires the taxpayer to demonstrate that he exercised ordinary business care and prudence. United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241">469 U.S. 241, 246 (1985). Willful neglect is defined as a "conscious, intentional failure or reckless indifference." Id. at 245.

Petitioner did not file tax returns for 1998 and 1999. Petitioner offered no evidence that he had reasonable cause and a lack of willful neglect. Rather, in tax protester fashion, petitioner testified that he did not file tax returns for 1998 and 1999 because, under the Internal Revenue Code, "there's no requirement to file without tax liability first * * * [and] it has to be recorded" and that "I have no liability". Such a position does not demonstrate reasonable cause. Thus, we conclude that petitioner is liable for the additions to tax under section 6651(a)(1) for 1998 and 1999.

We next consider whether petitioner is liable for the addition to tax under section 6654 for failure to pay estimated taxes for 1999. Section 6654(c) imposes a requirement that estimated taxes be paid in installments. If a taxpayer fails to pay a sufficient amount of estimated taxes, section 6654(a) provides for a mandatory addition to tax in the absence of exceptions not applicable here. Grosshandler v. Commissioner, 75 T.C. 1">75 T.C. 1, 20-21 (1980). Petitioner did not file a tax return for 1999, and there is no evidence that any tax was withheld from the income he received in 1999. Accordingly, we find that petitioner is liable for the addition to tax under section 6654 for 1999.

Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small Tax Case Division.

Decision will be entered for respondent.