DocketNumber: Docket No. 1564-94.
Citation Numbers: 71 T.C.M. 2007, 1996 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 56, 1996 T.C. Memo. 51
Judges: ARMEN
Filed Date: 2/13/1996
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 4/17/2021
*56 Decision will be entered under Rule 155.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
ARMEN, Addition to Tax and Penalty Year Deficiency Sec. 6651(a)(1) Sec. 6662(a) 1989 $ 3,132 --- $ 626 1990 4,521 $ 541 $ 904
After a concession by petitioners, *57 (2) whether petitioners understated their income on their 1989 and 1990 income tax returns by $ 11,149 and $ 15, 236, respectively;
(3) whether petitioners are liable for an addition to tax for failure to timely file under
(4) whether petitioners are liable for an accuracy-related penalty for negligence under
Finally, whether petitioners are liable for self-employment taxes for 1989 and 1990 (and if so, the correlative amount*58 of the deduction under section 164(f) to which they are entitled for 1990) and whether petitioners are entitled to an earned income credit for 1990 are derivative issues, the resolution of which depends on our disposition of the second issue enumerated above.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated, and they are so found. Petitioners resided in Piedmont, Alabama, at the time that their petition was filed with the Court.
For 1989 and 1990, the taxable years in issue, petitioners were married and filed joint income tax returns. They have three children, two sons and a daughter, who were born in 1985, 1986, and 1987.
In 1989 and for a short period in 1990, petitioner Eddie M. Chandler (petitioner) was employed as a rubber worker by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (Goodyear). Petitioner terminated employment with Goodyear in 1990.
Petitioner was also self-employed in 1990. He reported income from three separate activities: bulldozer work and digging; sales of wood products; and sales of melons.
Petitioner also derived income in 1990 from the sale of marijuana. Petitioner had "played" with marijuana for many years before 1990. Petitioners did not report any income*59 from the sale of marijuana on either of their income tax returns for the years in issue.
Petitioner Cynthia L. Chandler (Mrs. Chandler) is a college graduate and a registered nurse by profession. In 1989 and for part of 1990, she worked part time as a bookkeeper for Mike's Video in Anniston, Alabama, and received nonemployee compensation in return for her services. Mrs. Chandler terminated her business relationship with Mike's Video in 1990.
Petitioners reported income on their 1989 and 1990 income tax returns as follows:
1989 | 1990 | |
Wages (petitioner) | $ 20,907 | $ 245 |
Interest | 749 | 395 |
Schedule C (petitioner) | ||
(1) bulldozer work/digging | ||
net profit | 6,267 | |
(2) sale of wood products | ||
net profit | 2,910 | |
(3) sale of melons | ||
net profit | 1,500 | |
Unemployment compensation | 145 | --- |
Bookkeeping income (Mrs. Chandler) | 1,800 | 900 |
23,601 | 12,217 |
During 1989, petitioners maintained at least three accounts with Family Savings Federal Credit Union. During 1990, they maintained at least four such accounts. These accounts included share draft accounts. Only Mrs. Chandler wrote checks on the share draft accounts. Mrs. Chandler did not retain petitioners' bank statements *60 and the carbon copies of their checks; rather, she discarded them after the checks had cleared their accounts.
In addition to writing checks, petitioners frequently used cash in making purchases. In particular, petitioner conducted much of his business in cash.
Expenses paid by petitioners during 1989 by cash and check did not exceed $ 37,215. Expenses paid by petitioners during 1990 by cash and check did not exceed $ 19,416.
In December 1990, a grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (the grand jury) returned a one-count indictment against petitioner, petitioner's brother Ronnie Chandler, and a number of other individuals (the other individuals). The indictment charged conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely, marijuana.
On January 9, 1991, the grand jury returned a 10-count indictment (the indictment) that superseded the previously mentioned 1-count indictment. Petitioner was charged in the first and tenth counts of the indictment with various narcotics-related offenses. Thus, in the first count of the indictment the grand jury charged petitioner, Ronnie Chandler, and the other individuals*61 with conspiring to possess marijuana, a controlled substance, with intent to distribute. The first paragraph of the first count of the indictment read as follows:
The Grand Jury charges:
1. That from on or about January 1, 1987, to on or about October 1, 1990, within the Northern District of Alabama, and elsewhere, the defendants * * * did conspire with each other and others both known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana and one thousand or more marijuana plants, a Schedule I controlled substance in violation of Title
In the tenth count of the indictment the grand jury charged petitioner with possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. The tenth count read as follows:
The Grand Jury charges:
1. That from in or about June 1990 to in or about September 1990, within the Northern District of Alabama, the defendant, EDDIE CHANDLER [petitioner], did unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent*62 to distribute and distributed marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance, in violation of Title
Initially, petitioner pleaded not guilty to the charges set forth in the indictment. However, on February 14, 1991, 2 days after his jury trial began, petitioner changed his plea and pleaded guilty to the tenth count of the indictment pursuant to an agreement reached with the U.S. Attorney.
On April 25, 1991, the District Court dismissed the first count of the indictment against petitioner on the oral motion of the U.S. Attorney and imposed its sentence on petitioner relative to his guilty plea to the tenth count of the indictment. Petitioner received 8 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release subject to the special condition that he participate in a substance abuse program, including drug testing, as directed by the U.S. Parole Office. The Court declined to impose a fine on petitioner because of his inability to pay.
Petitioners executed their income tax return for 1990 on June 6, 1991. The return was received by respondent's Service Center in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 10, 1991.
In the notice*63 of deficiency, respondent determined that petitioners failed to report accurately their income on their income tax returns for 1989 and 1990. Accordingly, respondent used an indirect method in order to reconstruct petitioners' income for those years. Specifically, respondent used the source and application of funds method and determined that petitioners understated their income (or overstated their expenses) on their 1989 and 1990 income tax returns by $ 11,149 and $ 15,236, respectively. Respondent determined these amounts as follows:
Taxable Year 1989 | |
Funds Available | |
Wages - per return | $ 20,907 |
Interest income - per return | 749 |
Unemployment compensation - per return | 145 |
Miscellaneous income - per return | 1,800 |
Interest income - credit union | 67 |
Loan | 15,000 |
State tax refund | 95 |
Federal tax refund | 791 |
Credit union acct # X1957 (balance on 1/1/89) | 194 |
Credit union share acct # X1246 (balance on 1/1/89) | 2,884 |
Credit union acct # X1246 (balance on 1/1/89) | 8,462 |
Sale of truck - oral testimony | 250 |
Sale of 4-wheeler | 3,000 |
Sale of land to brother | 5,000 |
Total funds available | 59,344 |
Expenditures | |
Federal tax - per W-2 | $ 1,226 |
Social security tax - per W-2 | 1,561 |
State tax - per W-2 | 573 |
Local tax - per W-2 | 365 |
IRA | 2,250 |
Payment to GMC - truck purchase | 16,900 |
CD purchase | 10,000 |
Credit union acct # X1957 (balance on 12/31/89) | 4,072 |
Credit union share acct # X1246 (bal. on 12/31/89) | 2,715 |
Credit union acct # X1246 (balance on 12/31/89) | 7,891 |
Expenses paid by check | 23,975 |
Expenses paid by cash | 19,240 |
less: IRA | (2,250) |
less: deposits | (6,125) |
less: truck | (1,900) |
less: CD | (10,000) |
Total expenditures | 70,493 |
Understatement of Income | |
Total expenditures | $ 70,493 |
less: total funds available | -59,344 |
Understatement of income | 11,149 |
Taxable Year 1990 | ||
Funds Available | ||
Wages - per return | $ 245 | |
Interest income - per return | 395 | |
Other income - per return | 900 | |
Federal tax refund | 298 | |
Gross receipts per Schedule C's | 12,700 | |
CD | 10,418 | |
CD | 10,804 | |
Credit union acct # X1957 (balance on 1/1/90) | 4,072 | |
Credit union share acct # X1957 (bal. on 1/1/90) | Credit union share acct # X1246 (balance on 1/1/90) | 2,715 |
Credit union acct # X1246 (balance on 1/1/90) | 7,891 | |
Cash from sale of land to brother | 5,000 | |
Total funds available | 57,425 | |
Expenditures | ||
IRA | $ 3,800 | |
Estimated tax payments - per return | 530 | |
Schedule C expenses - per return | 600 | |
Bisuness Business asset purchased - per return | 450 | |
CD purchased | 10,418 | |
CD purchased | 10,804 | |
Expenses paid by cash | 3,450 | |
Credit union acct # X1957 (balance on 12/31/90) | 6,771 | |
Credit union share acct # X1957 (bal. on 12/31/90) | ||
Credit union share acct # X1246 (bal. on 12/31/90) | 310 | |
Credit union acct # X1246 (balance on 1/1/90) | 668 | |
Expenses paid by check | 24,966 | |
less: Expenses paid by cash | (10,268) | |
Cash on drug busts | 20,000 | |
Total expenditures | 72,661 | |
Understatement of Income | ||
Total expenditures | $ 72,661 | |
less: total funds available | -57,425 | |
Understatement of income | 15,236 | |
*65 OPINION
In general, the Commissioner's determinations are entitled to a presumption of correctness, and the taxpayer bears the burden of rebutting such presumption by a preponderance of the evidence.
Normally, the Court does not look behind a notice of deficiency to examine the evidence used by the Commissioner in making the deficiency determinations.
Petitioners seek to invoke the foregoing exception to the general rule by arguing that respondent's deficiency determination for 1990 "is not supported by the proper foundation of substantive evidence".
First, 2 days after his criminal trial began, petitioner pleaded guilty to the charge that from "in or about June 1990 to in or about September 1990, within the Northern District of Alabama, * * * [petitioner] did unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute and distributed marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance, in violation of Title
Second, *67 evidence gathered during the criminal investigation of Ronnie Chandler, petitioner, and the other individuals, as well as evidence adduced during the subsequent criminal prosecution, inculpates petitioner as involved in the drug business. Such evidence also undoubtedly influenced his decision to plead guilty to the tenth count of the indictment 2 days after the criminal trial began.
Third, at the trial herein a third party testified that petitioner had sold her marijuana and had admitted to her that he had "played" with marijuana for many years before 1990.
We think that the foregoing matters suffice to establish a rational basis upon which respondent could determine, as she did, that petitioner was involved in the drug business during 1990, and that he derived unreported income from such business during that year.
Petitioners also argue that respondent's deficiency determinations for 1989 and 1990 should not enjoy their usual presumption of correctness because respondent was not justified in reconstructing petitioners' income for those years using an indirect method. Again, we disagree.
When a taxpayer fails to maintain adequate*68 books and records as required by
Here it should be recalled that respondent reconstructed petitioners' income for 1989 and 1990 using an indirect method, namely, the source and application of funds method. This method of reconstructing income has long been accepted by this Court. E.g.,
In view of the foregoing, we hold that petitioners bear the burden of going forward with the evidence, as well as the ultimate burden of persuasion, with respect to respondent's deficiency determinations for the years in issue.
*70
As noted above, respondent reconstructed petitioners' income for 1989 and 1990 using the source and application of funds method. This method of reconstructing income is based on the assumption that the amount by which a taxpayer's application of funds during a taxable year exceeds the taxpayer's known sources of funds for such year represents taxable income. A taxpayer has the right, of course, to identify particular areas or specific instances where the Commissioner's analysis fails to reflect the taxpayer's actual income. E.g.,
Petitioners do not dispute the mechanics of respondent's source and application of funds analysis other than in three respects. First, they contend that*71 respondent's analysis failed to credit them with cash on hand at the beginning of 1989. Second, they contend that respondent's analysis overstated their expenditures for 1989 and 1990. Third, they contend that respondent's analysis erroneously charged them with $ 20,000 derived from drug trafficking in 1990. As discussed below, we reject petitioners' first and third contentions; however, we agree in part with their second contention.
Based principally on the testimony of petitioner at trial, petitioners contend that they had cash on hand at the beginning of 1989 in the approximate amount of $ 2,000 to $ 4,000. However, we are unable to accept uncritically petitioner's testimony to this effect. See
We also reject petitioner's testimony*72 that he was never involved in either the production, distribution, or sale of marijuana, and that he never possessed marijuana or even saw a marijuana plant. See
However, we do partially accept petitioners' contention that respondent overstated their expenditures for 1989 and 1990. Based principally on the testimony of Mrs. Chandler, who impressed us as a credible witness, we have found as a fact that expenses paid by petitioners by cash and check during 1989 and 1990 did not exceed $ 37,215 and $ 19,416, respectively.
*73
We turn now to the addition to tax for failure to timely file.
In the case of a failure to file an income tax return within the time prescribed by law,
There is no question that petitioners failed to file their 1990 income tax return within the period prescribed by law. Their return for that year was due on or before April 15, 1991. *74 liable for the addition to tax under
A failure to file is due to "reasonable cause" if the taxpayer exercised ordinary business care and prudence but, nevertheless, failed to file the return within the period prescribed by law.
Petitioners contend that they are not liable for the addition to tax because petitioner's attorney in the drug prosecution advised petitioner not to file his 1990 income tax return until the criminal case was concluded. However, apart from the fact that this contention would not shield Mrs. Chandler from liability for the addition to tax because she was neither a defendant nor otherwise implicated in the drug prosecution,
*76 First, we are again reminded of the familiar principle that the Court is not required to accept uncritically a taxpayer's self-serving testimony as gospel.
Second, we note that petitioners failed to call as a witness the attorney who allegedly gave petitioner the advice not to file his return until the criminal case was concluded. Thus, we are reminded of another familiar principle, namely, that a party's failure to call a critical witness may give rise to a presumption that, if called, the witness' testimony would not have been favorable to the party.
Third, petitioner's criminal case was essentially concluded*77 on February 14, 1991, 2 days after his jury trial began, when petitioner pleaded guilty to the tenth count of the indictment pursuant to an agreement reached with the U.S. Attorney. We fail to appreciate why the 1990 return could not have been prepared and filed within the next 2 months.
Fourth, petitioner failed to prove that the attorney on whom he allegedly relied was competent to give tax advice and that petitioner's alleged reliance thereon was therefore reasonable. In our view, advice not to file a return that is legally required to be filed
Finally, we note that the return for 1990 filed by petitioners in June 1991 was in no way incriminatory of petitioner regarding the sale of marijuana. Indeed, petitioners did not report any income from the sale of marijuana on that return. We therefore fail to appreciate why there was any need to delay filing the 1990 return and, a fortiori, why an automatic extension of time to file could not have been filed. In our*78 view, petitioners' return for 1990 makes petitioner's contention all the more suspect.
In view of the foregoing, we conclude that petitioners have failed to carry their burden of proof on this issue. We hold, therefore, that they are liable for the addition to tax under
Finally, we turn now to the accuracy-related penalty for negligence or intentional disregard of rules or regulations.
The accuracy-related penalty does not apply with respect to any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable*79 cause for such portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith with respect thereto.
The taxpayer bears the burden of showing that the Commissioner's determination of negligence or disregard of rules or regulations is erroneous.
Petitioners do not specifically contend that they are not liable for the accuracy-related penalty apart from their contention that there is no underpayment of tax for either 1989 or 1990. However, we have already held to the contrary. Therefore, they have failed to carry their burden of proof on this issue. In addition, we think that petitioners' failure to maintain adequate books and records reflecting their true income indicates an intentional disregard for the rules or regulations. Moreover, the record does not reveal any reasonable cause for such disregard.
In view of the foregoing, we hold that petitioners are liable for the accuracy-related penalty*80 under
In order to reflect our disposition of the disputed issues, as well as petitioners' concession,
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the taxable years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. Neither at trial nor on brief did petitioners contest respondent's determination that they received unreported interest income in the amount of $ 67 from Family Savings Federal Credit Union in 1989. Accordingly, petitioners are deemed to have conceded this adjustment to their income.
1. The record does not disclose why this account may have been omitted in the reconstruction of petitioners' income for 1989.↩
3. We should not be understood to imply that we think that petitioners' books and records were adequate. Indeed, the evidence in this case suggests the contrary. For example, Mrs. Chandler did not retain petitioners' bank statements and the carbon copies of their checks but rather discarded them after the checks had cleared their accounts. In addition, petitioner conducted much of his business in cash. Moreover, it would appear that no records were maintained regarding sales of marijuana.↩
4. Respondent determined that expenses paid by petitioners by cash and check during 1989 and 1990 amounted to $ 43,215 and $ 28,416, respectively. Consequently, as a result of our finding, the understatement of petitioners' income for 1989 will be reduced from $ 11,149 to $ 5,149, and the understatement in petitioners' income for 1990 will be reduced from $ 15,236 to $ 6,236.↩
5. Petitioners do not contend that they requested an extension of time to file their 1990 income tax return, and there is no evidence in the record suggesting that they did do so. See sec. 6081(a);
6. We note that Mrs. Chandler is a college graduate and a registered nurse by profession. In 1989 and for part of 1990, she worked part-time as a bookkeeper. She impressed us as an intelligent woman. Given her relatively straightforward tax situation, we can see no compelling reason why she could not have prepared her own return or at least sought competent assistance if petitioner had been unwilling to timely file a joint return. See sec. 6013(b)(1).↩
Vassallo v. Commissioner , 23 T.C. 656 ( 1955 )
Schroeder v. Commissioner , 40 T.C. 30 ( 1963 )
Jackson v. Commissioner , 73 T.C. 394 ( 1979 )
Cohan v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue , 39 F.2d 540 ( 1930 )
Johnny Weimerskirch v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue , 596 F.2d 358 ( 1979 )
Tokarski v. Commissioner , 87 T.C. 74 ( 1986 )
Bixby v. Commissioner , 58 T.C. 757 ( 1972 )
United States v. Boyle , 105 S. Ct. 687 ( 1985 )
Welch v. Helvering , 54 S. Ct. 8 ( 1933 )
United States v. Janis , 96 S. Ct. 3021 ( 1976 )
Greenberg's Express, Inc. v. Commissioner , 62 T.C. 324 ( 1974 )
Wichita Term. El. Co. v. Commissioner of Int. R. , 162 F.2d 513 ( 1947 )