Sandoval v. CIR

United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
May 12, 2003
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Charles R. Fulbruge III
__________________________ Clerk
No. 02-60656
Summary Calendar
__________________________
THOMAS C. SANDOVAL, JR.,
Petitioner-Appellant,
versus
COMMISSIONNER OF INTERNAL REVENUE,
Respondent-Appellee.
________________________________________
Appeal from a Decision of the United States Tax Court
16395-98
________________________________________
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, SMITH, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM*:
Appellant Thomas C. Sandoval, Jr. (“Sandoval”) asserts that the Tax Court erred in ruling
in favor of Appellee Commissioner of Internal Revenue (“Commissioner”). We affirm.
I. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
In 1994, Sandoval was married and the owner of three residential rental
properties—Seabrook, Indiana, and Jones Maltzberger—from which he received rental income. On
the tax return prepared by his CPA, Sandoval omitted his rental income and incorrectly claimed single
status.
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
After auditing Sandoval’s tax return, the Commissioner found several irregularities with his
tax return. The parties settled most of the issues in dispute, but left four issues for the Tax Court to
resolve. The Tax Court held in favor of the Commissioner on all the issues. On appeal, the issues are
whether the Tax Court correctly found that: (1) Sandoval’s unreported income from Seabrook was
$3900; (2) Sandoval was not entitled to deduct depreciation expenses for Seabrook and Indiana in
excess of those the Commissioner agreed to allow; (3) Sandoval was not entitled to net operating loss
carryover deductions; and (4) Sandoval was liable for an accuracy-related penalty for negligence
under Section 6662.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“The Tax Court's determinations of law—for example, interpretations of statutory
language—are reviewed de novo, while its factual findings are reviewed for clear error.” Stanford v.
Comm’r of Internal Revenue, 152 F.3d 450, 455 (5th Cir. 1998).
III. DISCUSSION
First, the Commissioner provided indicia that Sandoval received the unreported income, which
consisted primarily of testimony from the Revenue Officer as to how she reached the $3900 figure.1
Portillo v. Comm’r, 932 F.2d 1128, 1133 (5th Cir. 1991) (holding that in unreported income cases,
the Commissioner must provide “some indicia that the taxpayer received unreported income” in order
to shift the burden of proof to the taxpayer to disprove the Commissioner’s determination of
unreported income). Sandoval argues that the Revenue Officer’s testimony was hearsay and
inadmissible to show the amount of unreported income. The Tax Court did not admit the testimony
for its truth, but instead for the purpose of showing how the Revenue Officer made her determination.
1
According to the Revenue Officer, the renter living at Seabrook indicated that the
monthly rent was $325, and Sandoval stated that he received $192 every two weeks.
2
Although the testimony was not admitted for its truth, it was sufficient to shift the burden of proof
to Sandoval. Williams v. Comm’r, 999 F.2d 760, 765-66 (4th Cir. 1993) (holding that “[h]earsay
evidence inadmissible for its truth value may nonetheless be considered in determining whether a
burden of proof should be shifted from the Taxpayer to the Commissioner”); Avery v. Comm’r, 574
F.2d 467, 468 (9th Cir. 1978) (same). For this reason, Sandoval bore the burden of proving that the
Commissioner’s determination was incorrect. Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111, 115 (1933);
Portillo, 932 F.2d at 1133. Sandoval provided no substantive evidence to prove the inaccuracy of the
Commissioner’s determination; therefore, the Commissioner’s determination remains presumptively
correct, and the Tax Court’s judgment is not clearly erroneous.
Second, the parties agreed that Sandoval was entitled to deduct certain expenses, including
wear and tear, from the unreported income he received from Seabrook and Indiana. The parties
disagreed on the amount of deductions and the recovery period applicable to each property. Sandoval
challenges the Tax Court’s determinations on both issues. As the taxpayer claiming the deduction,
Sandoval bears the burden of proof of showing that he satisfies all of the requirements for the
deduction. Newark Morning Ledger Co. v. United States, 507 U.S. 546, 566 (1993). On appeal,
Sandoval presents no substantive evidence in support of his argument; therefore, he has failed to meet
his burden of proof, and the Tax Court’s judgment is not clearly erroneous.
Third, the Tax Court found that Sandoval had incurred net operating losses in past years, but
those losses had been absorbed prior to 1994. Sandoval challenges this finding, but he presents no
substantive evidence in support of his argument. For this reason, the Tax Court’s judgment is not
clearly erroneous.
3
Fourth, the Commissioner determined that Sandoval was liable for an accuracy-related penalty
equal to 20 percent of his underpayment on the ground that it was attributable to his negligence. Such
determinations of negligence are presumptively correct, and Sandoval has the burden of proving that
an underpayment was not due to his negligence. Kenco Rests., Inc. v. Comm’r, 206 F.3d 588, 597
(6th Cir. 2000). Sandoval challenges this finding, but he presents no substantive evidence in support
of his argument. For this reason, the Tax Court’s judgment is not clearly erroneous.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the aforementioned reasons, we affirm the judgment of the Tax Court.
4