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GERBER AND ASSOCIATES, INC., ET AL., v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RespondentGerber & Associates, Inc. v. CommissionerDocket Nos. 18564-81; 18565-81; 22482-81.
United States Tax Court T.C. Memo 1987-446; 1987 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 443; 54 T.C.M. (CCH) 420; T.C.M. (RIA) 87446;September 2, 1987. *443Held: (1) For 1973 through 1976, Ps understated their taxable income and underpaid their taxes in the amounts determined by the Commissioner by means of the source and application of funds method of reconstruction of income;(2) For 1977, Ps are not entitled to claim a short-term capital loss with respect to certain shares of stock;
(3) For 1977 and 1978, the Commissioner's determinations concerning deductions and a credit claimed for certain alleged business expenses are upheld;
(4) For 1977, Ps, as partners, must include in income their share of funds received by the partnership but not distributed to Ps;
(5) For 1973 through 1976, P is liable for the addition to tax for fraud under
sec. 6653(b), I.R.C. 1954 ; and(6) For 1977 and 1978, Ps are liable for the addition to tax for negligence under
sec. 6653(a), I.R.C. 1954 . for the petitioners.Belan Kirk Wagner , for the respondent.Reid M. Huey ,SIMPSONMEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
SIMPSON,
Judge: The Commissioner determined the following deficiencies in, and additions to, the petitioners' Federal income taxes:Additions to Tax Petitioner Year Deficiency Section 6653(a) I.R.C. 1954 *444 Section 6651(a)(1) I.R.C. 1954 Section 6653(b) I.R.C. 1954 Glen T. and Patricia Gerber 1973 $ 127,704.71 $ 63,852.36 1974 105,902.03 52,951.02 1975 24,068.96 12,034.48 Glen T. Gerber 1976 116,375.40 58,187.70 Gerber and Associates 1976 26,401.68 $ 1,540.04 $ 6,600.42 Glen T. and Patricia Gerber 1977 27,269.33 1,363.47 1978 40,173.23 2,008.66 After concessions by the parties, the issues for decision are: (1) Whether, for 1973 through 1976, the petitioners understated their taxable income, and consequently underpaid their taxes, in the amounts determined by the Commissioner by means of the source and application of funds method of reconstruction of income; (2) whether, for 1977, the petitioners are entitled to claim a short-term capital loss with respect to certain shares of stock; (3) whether, for 1977 and 1978, the petitioners are entitled to deduct or credit certain amounts for expenses allegedly incurred for business purposes; (4) whether, for 1977, the petitioners, as partners, must include in income their share of funds received by the partnership but not distributed to the petitioners; (5) whether, for 1973 through 1976, the petitioner Glen T. Gerber is liable for the addition to tax for fraud under
section 6653(b) ; and (6) whether, for 1977 and 1978, the petitioners are liable for the addition to tax for negligence or intentional disregard of rules and regulations undersection 6653(a) .FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the *445 facts have been stipulated, and those facts are so found.
The petitioners, Glen T. and Patricia Gerber, husband and wife, maintained their residence in Huntington, Indiana (Huntington), on the dates their petitions were filed in this case. The petitioner, Gerber and Associates, Inc. (Associates), had its principal place of business in Huntington at the time it filed its petition in this case. Mr. and Mrs. Gerber filed their joint Federal income tax returns for 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, and 1978 with the Internal Revenue Service Center at Memphis, Tennessee. They filed an amended return for 1978 with the Internal Revenue Service at Richmond, Virginia. Associates filed its Federal corporate income tax return for 1976 with the Internal Revenue Service Center at Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Gerber will sometimes be referred to as the petitioner.
The petitioner is a high school graduate who never had any formal post-high school education. From 1954 through 1964 and from 1966 through 1969, he was employed by the Kroger Company, a grocery chain. The petitioner was a 49-percent owner of a Dodge automobile dealership in Huntington from 1964 through 1966. From 1969 through 1973, he was employed *446 by the Financial Management Institute (later named Management Guidance, Incorporated). Following that employment, the petitioner engaged in the business of providing accounting services, including computerized billing services, and financial services, including maintaining accounts receivable, for doctors under the name of Physicians and Dentists Management Services. In the early 1970s, he began work with Associates. During 1973 and 1974, the petitioner operated a sole proprietorship named Gerber and Associates, which was not related to Associates. Such sole proprietorship offered services to professional clients for computerized billing, debt collection, and coordination of information among professional advisors.
In the course of performing his duties for Financial Management Institute, Management Guidance, Incorporated, and Physicians and Dentists Management Services, and for a "short period of time" after his association with these ventures, the petitioner made appearances at banks on behalf of clients concerning the preparation of their financial statements and in the course of their securing loans. In addition, he negotiated on behalf of his clients with the IRS concerning *447 unpaid taxes. Finally, for a fee, he assisted taxpayers in the preparation of their tax returns.
The petitioner testified that, in 1978, he was a contract administrator of ten health spas. He stated that such spas were located in Toronto, Canada; Cleveland, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Miami, Florida; St. Louis, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; Austin, Texas; and San Francisco, California.
On April 5, 1972, the articles of incorporation for Associates was filed with the Secretary of State of Indiana. Associates' existence was to be perpetual. As stated in such articles, the purposes of Associates were:
Section 1. To carry on business in the United States as a corporation engaging in buying, leasing, taking options on, and acquiring by conveyance real estate for private or commercial development, developing same for private or commercial use; and selling, leasing or otherwise marketing same.Section 2. To transact any and all lawful business for which corporations may be formed under the Indiana General Corporation Act, as amended.Associates acted as the developer for hotels in Peru, Indiana, and in Huntington (the hotels). Such hotels were leased by L *448 and K Enterprises (L and K), a division of a publicly traded corporation.
During the period 1972 through 1976, the petitioner was the sole shareholder of Associates. During such period, the petitioner was the president, Larry Wells was the vice president, and Richard Green was the secretary of Associates. During such period, Associates maintained a checking account with the American Fletcher National Bank in Indianapolis, Indiana (AFNB), with the petitioner and possibly Mr. Wells as the only signatories.
The petitioner provided the preparer of Associates' tax returns with the information used in the preparation of such returns for each year 1972 through 1976. The petitioner, in his capacity as president, signed each such return for Associates. On the returns for 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976, Associates claimed depreciation for certain property owned by it. Associates never claimed an interest in, nor a depreciation deduction for, any automobile or boat.
On October 30, 1973, Associates entered into a loan agreement with American Fletcher Mortgage Company, Inc. , for the principal amount of $ 700,000.00. The loan was obtained for the primary purpose of constructing the hotel in *449 Huntington, and the disbursing agent for the loan was the Huntington Abstract Company. Such amount was disbursed as follows: $ 673,691.96 for construction, $ 306.25 for prepaid interest, $ 9.49 for certain taxes, and $ 25,992.30 as excess proceeds. The excess proceeds were sent to Associates by a check made payable to the petitioner. He used these funds to purchase a $ 25,000.00 certificate of deposit in his name. In addition, in 1973, the petitioner received three other checks from the Huntington Abstract Company, totalling $ 6,509.05. The petitioner controlled the disbursements of the loan proceeds. Mr. Wells was not aware that the petitioner used such proceeds to purchase certificates of deposit in the petitioner's name.
In November 1973, the petitioner purchased a $ 10,000 certificate of deposit in his name at the Indiana Bank and Trust Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana (IBT Co.). He purchased such certificate of deposit with proceeds from rent checks from L and K which were payable to Associates. The interest payable on such certificate of deposit was paid to the petitioner and was not reported by Associates on any tax return.
G and W Enterprises, Inc. (G and W), was formed *450 allegedly for the purpose of acting as a general contractor on behalf of Associates with respect to the building of the hotels. In fact, it existed for only 6 or 7 months in 1973 and 1974. The "G" stood for Gerber, and the "W" stood for Wells. It was never capitalized, and the petitioner never saw any articles of incorporation or bylaws for G and W. The petitioner maintained a checking account in the name of G and W. Disbursements from such account were $ 76,849.57 in 1973 and $ 109,936.45 in 1974. G and W did not prepare financial statements or file Federal income tax returns during the years at issue. Financial information concerning G and W was allegedly reflected on the tax returns of Associates for 1973 and 1974.
The petitioner, Mr. Wells, and their spouses, entered into an oral partnership agreement to purchase real estate. The partnership was known as the Gerber and Wells Partnership (the partnership). For 1974 and 1976, the partnership filed income tax returns. A return was prepared for 1975, although there is no evidence that it was filed. All such returns were prepared by an accountant. The petitioner was responsible for maintaining the books and records necessary *451 for such returns and signed the returns that were filed. On its returns, the partnership reported losses of $ 4,492.28 in 1974, $ 2,947.51 in 1975, and $ 8,534.50 in 1976.
During the period December 1972 to January 1974, the petitioner maintained a checking account in his name, entitled "house account," at the Anthony Wayne Bank in Fort Wayne, Indiana (AWB). From December 1972 through September 1975, the petitioner maintained another checking account in his name, without a title, at AWB. During the period December 1972 through January 1977, the petitioner maintained a checking account in his name, entitled "special account," at the Fort Wayne National Bank in Fort Wayne, Indiana (FWNB). On February 17, 1976, the petitioner opened a checking account in his name at IBT Co. Such account was open through the end of 1976. During 1975 and 1976, Mrs. Gerber maintained a checking account at the Community State Bank in Huntington. It was the petitioner's responsibility to make sure that there were sufficient funds in this account for Mrs. Gerber to write checks.
On January 1, 1973, the petitioner had checking account balances in the total amount of approximately $ 4,686.09, and the *452 petitioners had approximately $ 37,255.00 in loans outstanding. At the end of the year, the petitioner had checking account balances which totalled approximately $ 3,794.74. In 1973, the petitioners obtained new loans for $ 88,500.00, renewals for $ 43,250.00, and repaid principal and interest on loans of $ 42,024.64. In addition, an unaudited financial statement of the petitioners, prepared by Donald H. Borger & Co., showed that as of December 31, 1973, the petitioners had assets of $ 55,893.63, liabilities of $ 235,396.35, and a net worth of $ 320,497.28.
In June 1973, the petitioner opened a stock brokerage account in his name. During 1973, the petitioner purchased stock worth approximately $ 41,246.08 through such account. The petitioner obtained the money necessary to make such purchases from the surplus which Associates had secured from certain loans. The petitioner failed to report $ 318.00 in stock dividends on his 1973 return.
In 1973, the petitioner purchased a 1972 Chevrolet for $ 3,000, a 1973 Alco trailer for $ 3,500, a 1973 Discoverer motor home for $ 10,000, and a 1971 Jaguar for $ 4,000. On May 14, 1973, the petitioner purchased a 21-foot-long 1972 Silverline *453 boat. The boat was purchased in exchange for $ 2,000 and a car. The $ 2,000 was paid by a check drawn on Associates' account at AFNB. The car was owned by the petitioner. The boat was used by the petitioner and his family, Mr. Wells, and certain attorneys. The boat was stored in a barn at the petitioner's farm.
In October 1973, the petitioner purchased a 1974 Lincoln Continental Mark IV, serial no. 4Y89A809464, for $ 8,846.58. In November 1973, a 1974 Lincoln Continental Mark IV, serial no. 4Y89A835828, was purchased in the name of Associates for $ 11,485.30. The petitioner signed the order form without indicating a business title. Due to a trade-in allowance of $ 1,857.60, the cash price of the car that was purchased in November was $ 9,627.70. Such Lincoln was titled to G and W. The petitioner paid for both cars with checks drawn on his account at AWB and listed both as assets on his financial statement.
During 1973, the petitioner used shares of stock purchased through his stock brokerage account, the two 1974 Lincoln Mark IVs, and the Silverline boat as security for personal bank loans. In 1974, the petitioner used both 1974 Lincoln Mark IVs, the certificates of deposit, *454 the 1971 Jaguar, the 1973 Discoverer motor home, and 1,400 shares of stock as security for personal bank loans.
During 1973, the petitioners purchased real estate in Huntington at 651 William Street for $ 8,000, at 321-323 Market Street for $ 12,000, *455 Drive for $ 25,000.00. The sale price was to consist of $ 500.00 down, $ 1,500.00 on January 15, 1974, and the balance of $ 23,000.00 on November 15, 1974. In addition, the buyers executed two interest-bearing promissory notes with a total principal value of $ 7,600.00 payable to the petitioner. Five thousand dollars of such principal was to repay a loan from the petitioners which was subsequently satisfied by the transfer of a truck worth $ 5,000.00. On November 15, 1974, the petitioners entered into a second contract for the sale of the same real estate to the same buyers. Such contract provided credit for payments previously received and required rent in addition to purchase payments. On August 2, 1975, the buyers made the final payment of $ 21,500.00 for the West Park Drive property. Of this payment, $ 14,310.55 was used to pay First Federal Savings and Loan of Huntington, and $ 7,189.45 went directly to the petitioners. In addition, as a result of a court action by the petitioners against the buyers, the buyers paid the petitioners $ 1,200.00 in 1975.
The balances in the petitioner's checking accounts totalled approximately $ 3,795.00 at the beginning of 1974 and approximately *456 $ 284.00 at the end of such year. During 1974, the petitioner obtained new loans of $ 177,824.50 and loan renewals of $ 152,000.00. During the year, he made principal and interest payments on all loans of $ 158,983.74.
During 1974, the petitioner purchased a 1975 Lincoln for $ 11,924.00, a 1970 Plymouth for $ 2,500.00, and J. W. Campbell stock for $ 11,500.00. During 1974, the petitioner sold stock with a $ 23,761.57 cost basis for $ 15,448.25. In addition, he exchanged certain stock for 40 shares of United Aircraft stock.
At the beginning of 1975, the total of the balances in the petitioner's checking accounts was approximately $ 284.00, and such total was approximately $ 470.00 at the end of the year. During 1975, the petitioner obtained new loans of at least $ 51,242.40 and renewals of $ 65,995.90. During the year, he made principal and interest payments on all loans of approximately $ 95,608.11.
In 1975, the petitioners made improvements to their residence costing approximately $ 5,800, of which $ 5,000 was financed by a home improvement loan from the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Huntington.
In January 1975, the petitioners sold the real estate located *457 at 44 West Maple Street for $ 4,000. In April 1975, the petitioners sold the property located at 651 William Street for $ 10,650. On March 24, 1975, the petitioners sold a parcel of approximately 3 acres of land in Huntington for $ 15,000. On July 16, 1975, they sold the property located at 321-323 Market Street for $ 22,500. On November 12, 1975, the petitioners sold a parcel of property containing .8 acres to Mr. Wells for $ 3,783.
On May 13, 1975, the petitioners purchased property located at 576 William Street for $ 14,500. In order to purchase such property, the petitioners executed a mortgage to the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Huntington as security for an $ 11,600 loan.
On November 10, 1975, Associates entered into an investment agreement with Komputer Dynamics Corporation (KDC), K. Richard Payne, Charles M. Russell, Ronald E. Young, and R. Chad Zulich. Under such agreement, Associates agreed to make $ 155,000 available to KDC in return for interest payments on $ 50,000, 25 percent of the voting stock of KDC, and a percentage of gross profits of KDC for 2 years following execution of the agreement. In 1976, KDC sued the petitioner for breach of the *458 investment agreement. In anticipation of an adverse judgment, the petitioner transferred title of real estate located in Columbia City, Indiana, from Associates to himself without any payment for such transfer. The petitioner sold such real estate to Mr. Wells for $ 50,000, reported the transaction on his return as a $ 25,000 gain, and claims to have paid $ 22,500 to KDC in 1977 as a settlement of the suit.
In 1975, the petitioner purchased a 1973 Capri, which was financed by a loan from IBT Co. On April 7, 1975, the petitioner purchased a Corvette for $ 2,650 with a check from the special account. He subsequently sold the car to Mr. Wells. On May 13, 1975, the petitioner and Charles A. Dees purchased a 1973 Jaguar and a 1975 Jaguar for a total price of $ 14,900. The automobiles were paid for by a $ 2,000 telegraphic money order from Mr. Dees and the petitioner, and by a $ 12,900 cashier's check payable to and endorsed by Mr. Dees, and drawn on the Kondallville Bank & Trust Co. of Kondallville, Indiana. On September 3, 1975, the petitioner purchased KDC stock worth $ 1,000 with a check from the special account. On November 21, 1975, the petitioner purchased a 1976 Cadillac for *459 $ 2,482 in cash and a trade-in allowance of $ 9,486 for the 1975 Lincoln.
The total of the petitioner's checking account balances was approximately $ 472.00 at the beginning of 1976 and approximately $ 919.00 at the end of 1976. During 1976, the petitioner obtained new loans of $ 50,600.00 and renewals of $ 84,495.64. In addition, during such year, he made principal and interest payments on all loans of $ 41,001.49. On January 11, 1976, the petitioner submitted a financial statement to AWB which listed assets of $ 489,456.00, liabilities of $ 125,675.00, and a total net worth, as of January 1, 1976, of $ 363,781.00.
On November 30, 1976, the petitioner purchased a 1977 Lincoln Continental for $ 10,000. He obtained a loan for $ 10,000 from IBT Co. in order to make such purchase. On December 11, 1976, the petitioner purchased a 1977 Vogue motor home. The price of such motor home was $ 40,500. The petitioner also purchased certain tires and received an allowance of $ 18,800, leaving a balance of $ 22,732, which was paid by two checks dated December 11, 1976. In 1976, the petitioner sold his 1976 Cadillac to a physician who agreed to make the remaining payments on the car. On *460 October 28, 1976, the petitioner and Mr. Hougendobler purchases a 1976 Corvette for $ 8,844. The petitioner obtained a loan from the FWNB in the amount of $ 7,600 in connection with the purchase of the Corvette. He sold the Corvette for $ 9,000 in 1976 and paid Mr. Hougendobler for his share of the car.
During 1976, the partnership purchased property in Huntington adjacent to the hotel. A portion of such property was sold to Mr. Forney for $ 125,000. The purchase price was paid by an earnest money deposit of $ 10,000, cash of $ 65,000, and two promissory notes of $ 25,000 each with interest at a rate of 10 percent. As of the date of the trial, the property had been paid for in full.
At the beginning of 1977, the petitioner had approximately $ 466 in his checking accounts. At the end of 1977, he had no funds in the accounts.
On November 3, 1977, the petitioner entered into a 24-month lease agreement for a 1978 Lincoln Mark V. Under such lease, he was to pay $ 321.10 a month. In January 1977, the petitioner received a $ 4,220.56 bill for legal fees for services performed with respect to three matters: "Caley," "Flint Creek Realty," and KDC.
On their Federal income tax returns, *461 the petitioners reported adjusted gross income (loss) of ($ 237.59) in 1973, $ 16,457.23 in 1974, $ 8,745.72 in 1975, $ 27,096.96 for 1977, and $ 81,780.00 for 1978. The petitioners reported taxable income (loss) of ($ 12,477.01) for 1973, $ 2,368.55 for 1974, ($ 4,922.29) for 1975, $ 22,848.31 for 1977, and $ 78,654.00 for 1978. The petitioners filed no return for 1976. The partnership reported ordinary losses on its returns of $ 4,492.28 for 1974, $ 2,947.51 for 1975, and $ 8,534.50 for 1976.
In his notices of deficiency, the Commissioner computed the petitioners' unreported income for 1973 through 1975, and the petitioner's unreported income for 1976, by use of the source and application of funds method for reconstructing income. He determined that the petitioners received unreported income in the amounts of $ 297,786.80 for 1973, $ 195,842.17 for 1974, and $ 66,654.12 for 1975, and that the petitioner received $ 187,531.00 for 1976. After concessions, the Commissioner recomputed the petitioners' unreported income as follows:
Sources 1973 1974 1975 1976 Wages - 0 - $ 15,000.00 - 0 - - 0 - Dividends - stock - 0 - 141.00 - 0 - - 0 - Interest income $ 1,330.00 - 0 - $ 1,373.56 - 0 - Schedule C income 3,850.00 2,229.00 3,975.00 - 0 - Sale of assets 19,400.00 43,761.57 47,744.00 - 0 - Rental & other income 7,969.41 8,477.55 6,950.01 - 0 - Supplemental income - 0 - - 0 - 5,400.00 - 0 - Depreciation - Sched. E 2,275.00 2,716.00 2,716.00 - 0 - Bank accounts decrease - 0 - 3,026.82 - 0 - - 0 - New loans 88,500.00 177,824.00 51,242.06 $ 67,927.50 Peru Trust Co. 2,650.08 - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - Cash on hand decrease 3,550.00 100.00 - 0 - - 0 - Huntington Abstract Co. 37,001.36 - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - Insurance proceeds 9,350.00 - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - Total Sources $ 175,875.85 $ 253,275.94 $ 114,000.63 *462 $ 67,927.50