Alfred E. Gallade v. Commissioner

106 T.C. No. 20UNITED STATES TAX COURT
ALFRED E. GALLADE, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket Nos. 791-94, 792-94. Filed May 28, 1996.
C, P’s wholly owned corporation, operated a
pension plan in which P participated. Because of C’s
poor financial disposition, P executed a “waiver”, to
assign his fully vested, accrued benefits to C. Due to
the waiver, P did not report any taxable distribution.
R determined that P’s waiver was an impermissible
attempt to assign or alienate his benefits in violation
of sec. 206(d)(1) of ERISA and sec. 401(a)(13), I.R.C.
1. Held: P received a taxable distribution.
2. Held, further, the distribution was received
by P in 1986.
3. Held, further, R abused her discretion by
failing to waive the penalty for substantial
understatement of income tax.
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Kenneth M. Barish, James R. McDaniel, and Bruce L. Ashton,
for petitioner.
Paul B. Burns, for respondent.
GERBER, Judge: Respondent alternatively determined a
$540,716 income tax deficiency and a $135,179 addition to tax
under section 66611 for the 1985 tax year, or a $537,808 income
tax deficiency and a $107,562 addition to tax under section 6661
for the 1986 tax year. The issues remaining for our
consideration are: (1) Whether petitioner’s waiver of his
pension plan benefits and use of them by his wholly owned
corporation resulted in a taxable distribution to him; (2) if it
is a taxable distribution, whether it is recognizable in 1985 or
1986; and (3) whether petitioner is liable for an addition to tax
under section 6661.
FINDINGS OF FACT2
Petitioner resided in Fontana, California, at the time of
the trial of these consolidated cases. Petitioner was married to
Adele M. Gallade (ex-wife) during the period under consideration,
except for an interim period when they were divorced (January 20
1
Unless otherwise indicated, section references are to the
Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years at issue, and the
Rule references are the Tax Court Rules of Practice and
Procedure.
2
The stipulation of facts and exhibits are incorporated
herein by this reference.
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through December 29, 1979). They separated in November 1985, and
they were divorced a second time as of November 30, 1987.
In 1943, petitioner received a bachelor of science degree in
philosophy. After graduation, petitioner served in the U.S. Navy
for approximately 5 years, after which he returned to the Los
Angeles area to operate what he refers to as “small businesses”.
In the late 1940s, petitioner began working for Hughes Aircraft
Co. (Hughes) until approximately 1950, when he started a tire
distribution business. After working in this business,
petitioner returned to Hughes. Subsequently, petitioner was
hired by a chemical company as a general manager in Inglewood,
California.
After leaving the Inglewood chemical company, on January 2,
1970, petitioner incorporated his own chemical distribution
business, Gallade Chemical, Inc. (GCI), of which he was the sole
shareholder and officer. GCI maintained its principal place of
business in Santa Ana, California. Petitioner was employed by
GCI from its date of incorporation through the years in issue.
On December 1, 1970, GCI adopted a pension plan known as the
“Defined Benefit Pension Plan of Gallade Chemical, Inc.” (the
Plan), which, at all relevant times, was qualified under section
401(a). The First American Trust Co. (First American) was the
trustee of the Plan. Petitioner participated in the Plan from
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its inception through its termination, at which time his accrued
benefit was fully vested.3
Section 9.05 of the Plan, captioned “Nonreversion”,
prohibited the Plan funds from being used for any purpose other
than for the exclusive benefit of the participants or their
beneficiaries, except that
Upon termination of the Plan, any assets remaining in
the Trust Fund because of an erroneous actuarial
computation after the satisfaction of all fixed and
contingent liabilities under the Plan shall revert to
the Employer.
Under the heading of “Nonassignability”, section 16.03(A) stated:
None of the benefits, payments, proceeds or claims of
any Participant shall be subject to any claim of any
creditor of any Participant and, in particular, the
same shall not be subject to attachment or garnishment
or other legal process by any creditor of any
Participant, nor shall any Participant have any right
to alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber or
assign any of the benefits or payments or proceeds
which he may expect to receive under this Plan (except
as provided in this Plan for loans from the Trust).
[Emphasis added.]
On May 20, 1985, petitioner, his sons (who were also
employees of GCI), petitioner’s C.P.A. Henry Zdonek (Mr. Zdonek),
and a vice president of Actuarial Consultants, Inc., Scott
Salisbury (Mr. Salisbury), met to review the yearend 1984
3
At the Plan’s termination, the present value of
petitioner’s accrued benefit was $1,057,830, and the Plan’s total
available assets at that time were $1,498,682. The present value
of the accrued benefits of all other plan participants was at
that time $312,469.
The parties agree that, if petitioner failed to report his
distribution from the Plan, the amount should be $1,057,830
rather than $1,082,000, the amount stated in the notices of
deficiency.
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valuation of the original plan and profit-sharing plan (the
profit-sharing plan) and to discuss the distribution owed to
petitioner, as petitioner was near retirement age. The options
reviewed by petitioner included his receiving a distribution from
the Plan as taxable income, rolling the benefits over into an
individual retirement account (IRA), or rolling the benefits over
into the profit-sharing plan. At this meeting, the individuals
present did not discuss the possibility of petitioner’s waiving
his vested plan benefits.
After the May 20, 1985, meeting, petitioner evaluated the
financial needs of GCI. Amid GCI’s decreasing customer base and
financial losses, petitioner thought that expansion was
necessary. Therefore, petitioner decided that it would be best
for GCI if petitioner waived his benefits under the Plan and had
the funds paid to GCI to provide the necessary working capital.
Between the meeting on May 20, 1985, and July 12, 1985, Mr.
Zdonek called Mr. Salisbury and asked Mr. Salisbury to research
the question of whether petitioner was permitted to waive his
Plan benefits. On July 12, 1985, Mr. Salisbury prepared a
memorandum to GCI’s pension file which memorialized a telephone
conversation between Mr. Salisbury and Juanita Nappier (Ms.
Nappier), a supervisor with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.
(PBGC). Mr. Salisbury stated that Ms. Nappier believed that it
would be fine for petitioner to waive his benefits under the Plan
due to GCI’s business conditions, so long as the rank and file
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employees received their benefits. Mr. Salisbury forwarded a
copy of the memorandum to petitioner and Mr. Zdonek.
On August 5, 1985, Mr. Salisbury sent a letter to Mr.
Zdonek, a copy of which petitioner received. The letter
confirmed that GCI desired to: (1) Terminate the Plan; (2) pay
all participants their then-accrued benefits, except for
petitioner whose benefit would “revert” back to GCI; (3) create a
new plan, to which the employees of GCI would transfer their Plan
benefits; and (4) have a waiver of benefits prepared for
petitioner. Mr. Salisbury commented on the Plan benefits with
respect to Mrs. Gallade, stating that he believed:
temporary IRS regulations under the Retirement Equity
Act of 1984, published in the Federal Register on
July 19, 1985, indicate that, “...any plan that has a
termination date prior to September 17, 1985 and
distributes all remaining assets as soon as
administratively feasible after the termination date,
is not subject to the new survivor annuity requirements
[of sections 401(a)(11) and 417]." [See sec. 1.401(a)-
11T, Q&A-10, Temporary Income Tax Regs., 50 Fed. Reg.
29373 (July 19, 1985).]
On September 4, 1985, GCI adopted a resolution terminating
the Plan. The resolution stated that
[petitioner] hereby waives all his rights and benefits
under * * * [the Plan] and that all such rights and
benefits will revert to the Employer-Corporation upon
termination of [the] plan.
The termination, which was signed by petitioner, was effective
September 16, 1985.
In anticipation of the Plan’s termination, on or about
September 6, 1985, GCI filed an Internal Revenue Service Form
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5310, Application for Determination Upon Termination; Notice of
Merger, Consolidation or Transfer of Plan Assets or Liabilities;
Notice of Intent to Terminate, with the PBGC. See sec. 2616.3,
PBGC Regs. With the Form 5310, GCI sought a favorable
determination letter from respondent, and it applied for a Notice
of Sufficiency from the PBGC upon the Plan’s termination.
On or about December 30, 1985, GCI opened an interest-
bearing account at Republic Bank (the Republic Bank account).
Petitioner and J. Ray Haynes (Mr. Haynes) of First American were
the designated signatories on the Republic Bank account, and all
withdrawals or disbursements required both individuals to sign.
On the same day, First American deposited $771,000 of funds from
the Plan into the Republic Bank account.4
On January 8, 1986, the PBGC issued a Notice of Sufficiency
to GCI in accordance with GCI’s first application. On or about
January 15, 1986, the funds were withdrawn, including accrued
interest (total of $772,996.44). GCI filed a second Form 5310 on
or about March 5, 1986, to notify respondent and the PBGC of
GCI’s plans to transfer the remaining assets from the Plan to the
GCI profit-sharing plan. On July 17, 1986, First American had
transferred all those assets from the Plan trust, payable to all
4
Approximately $400,000 of petitioner’s balance in the Plan
went towards paying suppliers, which we find was distributed to
petitioner in 1986. The remainder, $771,000, was deposited into
the Republic Bank account, which petitioner claims was to be used
at some point for GCI’s expansion into the Inland Empire. The
record is unclear whether such a property was ever purchased.
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Plan participants except for petitioner, to the profit-sharing
plan trust. First American then arranged for the remaining
assets, to which petitioner was entitled, to be transferred from
the Plan trust to GCI on August 18 and September 23, 1986.
During the summer 1986, respondent assigned GCI’s
application for a determination to an employee plans specialist.
During the period July 1986 through January 1987, the specialist
and GCI’s representatives corresponded concerning the
application. On or about March 31, 1987, the matter was
submitted internally within respondent’s office for technical
advice regarding the Plan’s termination. On June 9, 1988,
respondent’s national office issued a technical advice
memorandum, stating its position. On or about July 27, 1988, GCI
withdrew its application for a determination letter. Thereafter,
this issue was addressed in the examination of petitioner which
led to this controversy.
A closing conference was held on October 23, 1991, and it
was attended by petitioner, respondent’s agent, the agent’s
supervisor, and Mr. Zdonek. At this meeting, respondent’s agent
discussed the substantive issues and the reasons he believed that
a section 6661 penalty for substantial understatement should
apply. Mr. Zdonek told respondent’s agent that he believed this
penalty should not apply.
OPINION
Evidentiary Objections
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We first consider the evidentiary objections to certain
stipulated facts. Respondent objected to the admission of
certain facts concerning a settlement meeting between the parties
at which petitioner’s counsel asked to have the section 6661
penalty waived. Petitioner seeks to introduce this fact solely
to show that he asked respondent to waive the section 6661
penalty, not to establish liability or validity of the
substantive claim.
Rule 143(a) provides that trials before this Court are to be
"conducted in accordance with the rules of evidence applicable in
trials without a jury in the United States District Court for the
District of Columbia." See sec. 7453.
Rule 408 of the Federal Rules of Evidence provides that
evidence of an offer or promise to compromise or settle is not
admissible to prove liability or validity of a claim or amount.
Settlement agreements, however, are admissible if offered for a
purpose other than to prove liability or a claim's validity.
Wentz v. Commissioner, 105 T.C. 1, 6 (1995); Tijerina v.
Josefiak, 50 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) par. 38,943 (D.D.C. 1988)
(citing County of Hennepin v. AFG Indus., Inc., 726 F.2d 149, 153
(8th Cir. 1984)); see also Sage Realty Corp. v. Insurance Co. of
N. Am., 34 F.3d 124 (2d Cir. 1994); Johnson v. Hugo's Skateway,
974 F.2d 1408 (4th Cir. 1992). Therefore, the fact that
petitioner and respondent met is admissible for the limited
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purpose of showing that petitioner asked respondent to waive the
section 6661 penalty.
Petitioner reserved objections to certain stipulated facts
proposed by respondent. Petitioner did not address the
objections until his reply brief. Relying on Midkiff v.
Commissioner, 96 T.C. 724, 734 (1991), affd. sub nom. Noguchi v.
Commissioner, 992 F.2d 226 (9th Cir. 1993), respondent argues
that because of petitioner’s failure to address his evidentiary
objections at trial or on opening brief, petitioner has abandoned
the objections reserved in the parties’ stipulation of facts.
Midkiff held that objections not addressed in briefs are
abandoned. While that case did not distinguish between opening
and reply briefs, it would be unreasonable to allow a party to
wait until filing a reply brief to address the party's
objections, because it eliminates the opportunity for the adverse
party to respond. We have found that petitioner in these cases
waited until he filed his reply brief to address his objections;
accordingly, we hold that petitioner did not preserve his
objections.5
The Plan Distribution
5
Despite our holding that petitioner’s objections were
abandoned, we note that we did not rely on the statements
contained in the declarations of Bruce A. Hughes, which
petitioner argued are hearsay. Furthermore, the substance of
respondent’s internal request for technical advice was not
relevant to the legal conclusions reached in these cases.
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The first substantive issue for decision is whether
petitioner must include in income the value of his fully vested
interest in GCI’s pension plan, which he waived in favor of GCI.
Petitioner asserts that the funds are not includable because of
his permissible “waiver” of benefits in favor of his wholly owned
corporation.
Respondent argues that petitioner must recognize taxable
income from the Plan’s distribution because petitioner had an
unconditional right to receive the benefits, and any attempted
“waiver” is invalid under the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 (ERISA), Pub. L. 93-406, 88 Stat. 829, 29 U.S.C. sec.
1001, and the Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.).
ERISA was enacted to establish “a comprehensive federal
scheme for the protection of pension plan participants and their
beneficiaries.” American Tel. & Tel. Co. v. Merry, 592 F.2d 118,
120 (2d Cir. 1979). ERISA was intended to assure that American
workers “may look forward with anticipation to a retirement with
financial security and dignity, and without fear that this period
of life will be lacking in the necessities to sustain them as
human beings within our society.” S. Rept. 93-127, at 13 (1974),
1974-3 C.B. (Supp.) 1, 13. To this end, ERISA requires that
plans provide that benefits may not be assigned or alienated. H.
Rept. 93-807, at 68 (1974), 1974-3 C.B. (Supp.) 236, 303. This
provision is included in both the I.R.C. and ERISA section
206(d)(1), which state that a pension plan will not be qualified
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if its benefits can be assigned or alienated. Sec. 401(a)(13);
29 U.S.C. sec. 1056(d)(1) (1994).
Section 1.401(a)-13(c)(1), Income Tax Regs., provides:
(c) Definition of assignment and alienation--(1)
In general. For purposes of this section, the terms
“assignment” and “alienation” include--
(i) Any arrangement providing for the
payment to the employer of plan benefits which
otherwise would be due the participant under the plan,
and
(ii) Any direct or indirect arrangement
(whether revocable or irrevocable) whereby a party
acquires from a participant or beneficiary a right or
interest enforceable against the plan in, or to, all or
any part of a plan benefit payment which is, or may
become, payable to the participant or beneficiary.
Included in the Plan’s terms is a clause that complies with
the aforementioned antiassignment requirement. Specifically,
section 16.03 of the Plan contains a nonassignability clause that
includes the statement that a participant shall not “have any
right to alienate * * * the benefits or payments or proceeds
which he may expect to receive under [the] Plan”.
We must decide whether petitioner’s “waiver” constituted an
assignment or alienation of his benefits under the Plan in
violation of ERISA section 206(d)(1) and I.R.C. section
401(a)(13).
In light of GCI’s financial difficulties, petitioner decided
that his accrued, fully vested benefit would be put to best use
by GCI. Therefore, he executed a waiver of benefits in favor of
GCI. Petitioner contends that ERISA’s antialienation provisions
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do not apply to a “waiver of a right to payment of benefits made
by a designated beneficiary.” We disagree.
“As a general rule, rights under an ERISA plan may not be
waived or assigned”. Ferris v. Marriott Family Restaurants,
Inc., 878 F. Supp. 273, 277 (D. Mass. 1994) (emphasis added).
The waiver here effectively changed the beneficiary of the Plan.
Such a waiver of benefits is equivalent to an assignment or
alienation, which is statutorily prohibited in the qualified
pension plan at issue.
Petitioner argues that ERISA section 206(d)(1) and I.R.C.
section 401(a)(13) simply require that plans contain some type of
antialienation provision. Such provisions, however, must be
given effect. By violating the statutory provisions, the Plan
ceases to be qualified. “To be qualified, both a plan’s terms
and operations must meet the statutory requirements.” Fazi v.
Commissioner, 102 T.C. 695, 702 (1994); see Ludden v.
Commissioner, 620 F.2d 700, 702 (9th Cir. 1980), affg. 68 T.C.
826 (1977); see also Guidry v. Sheet Metal Workers Natl. Pension
Fund, 493 U.S. 365, 371 (1990) (ERISA section 206(d)(1) prohibits
the assignment or alienation of pension plan benefits). GCI’s
amendment to the Plan providing for the waiver, if given effect,
violates the antialienation requirements of ERISA section
206(d)(1) and I.R.C. section 401(a)(13).
Petitioner also argues that waivers are permissible if
“knowingly and voluntarily” made; however, petitioner fails to
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direct us to any authority that supports the argument that his
waiver in the instant cases is valid so long as they were
knowingly and voluntarily made.
We agree that when the antialienation rule does not apply,
any waiver or alienation must be knowingly and voluntarily made.
Pursuant to ERISA section 201(2), the antialienation rule of
ERISA section 206(d)(1) does not apply to “a plan which is
unfunded and is maintained by an employer primarily for the
purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of
management or highly compensated employees”; i.e., a “top hat”
plan. 29 U.S.C. sec. 1051(2) (1994); see also Modzelewski v.
Resolution Trust Corp., 14 F.3d 1374, 1377 n.3 (9th Cir. 1994)
(referring to the characteristics of a “top hat” plan). However,
the plan under consideration is overfunded and covers both
petitioner and rank and file employees. Therefore, whether
petitioner’s waiver was knowingly or voluntarily made is of no
consequence because the plan was not a “top hat” plan. Ferris v.
Marriott Family Restaurants, Inc., supra.
Petitioner relies heavily on the fact that the PBGC issued a
“Notice of Sufficiency” to GCI which stated that, insofar as it
was concerned, the Plan’s termination was acceptable.
Petitioner’s argument assumes that any Government approval cures
a statutory defect.
The PBGC was created to ensure that participants in private
pension plans would receive the benefits for which their
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employers were liable. ERISA established the PBGC to operate a
mandatory insurance program that provides for benefits if a
pension plan is terminated without adequate funding. In re
Pension Plan For Employees of Broadway Maintenance, 707 F.2d 647,
648 (2d Cir. 1983).
Concerning the Plan, GCI filed a Notice of Intent to
Terminate with the PBGC, stating that it planned to effect the
“waiver”. The PBGC then issued a Notice of Sufficiency after it
determined that the Plan’s assets were sufficient to discharge
all obligations under the Plan. See sec. 2617.12(c), PBGC Regs.
A Notice of Sufficiency is not a determination of the Federal
income tax consequences of termination; its purpose is to address
plans’ financial sufficiency. Therefore, petitioner’s reliance
on the Notice of Sufficiency is misplaced.
Finally, petitioner contends that the Plan’s excess funds
could be waived by petitioner. Petitioner argues that, pursuant
to section 1.401-2(b)(2), Income Tax Regs., excess plan funds may
revert back to the employer if due to actuarial error. In this
regard, petitioner argues that there was “actuarial error”
because his waived funds were no longer needed to meet the
obligations to the other Plan participants.
Section 1.401-2(b)(1), Income Tax Regs., provides, in
relevant part:
A balance due to an “erroneous actuarial computation”
is the surplus arising because actual requirements
differ from the expected requirements even though the
latter were based upon previous actuarial valuations of
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liabilities or determinations of costs of providing
pension benefits under the plan and were made by a
person competent to make such determinations in
accordance with reasonable assumptions as to mortality,
interest, etc., and correct procedures relating to the
method of funding. For example, a trust has
accumulated assets of $1,000,000 at the time of
liquidation, determined by acceptable actuarial
procedures using reasonable assumptions as to interest,
mortality, etc., as being necessary to provide the
benefits in accordance with the provisions of the plan.
Upon such liquidation it is found that $950,000 will
satisfy all of the liabilities under the plan. The
surplus of $50,000 arises, therefore, because of the
difference between the amounts actuarially determined
and the amounts actually required to satisfy the
liabilities. This $50,000, therefore, is the amount
which may be returned to the employer as the result of
an erroneous actuarial computation. If, however, the
surplus of $50,000 had been accumulated as a result of
a change in the benefit provisions or in the
eligibility requirements of the plan, the $50,000 could
not revert to the employer because such surplus would
not be the result of an erroneous actuarial
computation. [Emphasis added.]
“Actuarial errors” refer to clerical or mathematical
mistakes regarding actuarial assumptions and methods in
determining the future costs and liabilities required to meet a
plan’s funding. See Holland v. Valhi Inc., 22 F.3d 968, 972
(10th Cir. 1994). Petitioner argues that his 1984 decision to
assign his benefits to GCI was tantamount to actuarial error. We
disagree.
The amount of petitioner’s benefits which he attempted to
assign was part of the benefits which actuarial assumptions
addressed since the Plan’s inception. In accordance with the
example in section 1.401-2(b)(1), Income Tax Regs., upon
liquidation of the Plan, there were sufficient assets to meet the
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Plan’s needs, including petitioner’s benefits. The surplus above
all participants' needs (including petitioner’s) may be excess
due to actuarial error; however, this is not the issue with which
we are faced. Petitioner attempted to assign only his vested
benefits in the Plan, not the amount by which the Plan may have
been overfunded. With respect to this amount, the second part of
the example in section 1.401-2(b)(1), Income Tax Regs., is
instructive. Here, the “excess” benefits that resulted from
petitioner’s attempted waiver exist solely because petitioner
sought to change the benefit provisions of the Plan through the
September 4, 1985, resolution--not because of an erroneous
actuarial computation.
Petitioner caused the Plan to terminate and distribute his
accrued, fully vested benefit to him individually, while he
contemporaneously decided that the funds would be best utilized
by GCI. Consequently, petitioner contributed the funds to his
wholly owned corporation. This investment decision did not
change the substantive result: the distribution was
petitioner’s--not GCI’s.6 Accordingly, the attempted waiver by
petitioner in favor of GCI constitutes a taxable distribution
from the Plan on its termination. See sec. 61(a)(11).7
6
We also note that petitioner’s attempted assignment would
have violated the express terms of the Plan, sec. 16.03, as well
as both ERISA sec. 206(d)(1) and I.R.C. sec. 401(a)(13).
7
In these cases, petitioner was the only party who could
have beneficially received the benefits from the Plan. See Lucas
(continued...)
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Next, we decide in which year petitioner, a cash basis
taxpayer, was required to report the Plan distribution.
Respondent argues that petitioner should recognize the
distribution in 1986; i.e., when it was paid to GCI. Section
1.451-1(a), Income Tax Regs., provides that “income [is] to be
included in gross income for the taxable year in which [it is]
actually or constructively received by the taxpayer” (emphasis
added). See also sec. 451(a). The taxpayer here is petitioner
Mr. Gallade, not GCI. We must decide whether Mr. Gallade, the
taxpayer, actually or constructively received his distribution in
1986, as respondent contends, or in 1985, as respondent argues in
the alternative.
Section 1.451-2(a), Income Tax Regs., concerning
constructive receipt as interpreted in Hornung v. Commissioner,
47 T.C. 428, 434 (1967), provides that
Income although not actually reduced to a taxpayer’s
possession is constructively received by him in the
taxable year during which it is credited to his
account, set apart for him, or otherwise made available
so that he may draw upon it at any time, or so that he
could have drawn upon it during the taxable year if
notice of intention to withdraw had been given.
However, income is not constructively received if the
taxpayer’s control of its receipt is subject to
substantial limitations or restrictions. * * *
7
(...continued)
v. Earl, 281 U.S. 111 (1930). In this regard, because we have
held that the total distribution was taxable to petitioner in
1986 under sec. 61(a)(11), it is unnecessary to discuss the
parties’ assignment-of-income argument, which is another theory
under which petitioner’s income could be taxable. Id.- 19 -
Petitioner directed GCI to open the Republic Bank account on
December 30, 1985, at which time $771,000 was deposited.8 Both
petitioner and Mr. Haynes of First American were signatories of
the Republic Bank account, and both individuals were required to
sign for a transaction. Therefore, we must determine whether
this two-signature requirement posed a substantial limitation or
restriction on petitioner’s control of the funds.
In Estate of Fairbanks v. Commissioner, 3 T.C. 260 (1944),
the decedent was entitled to receive annual delay rentals from
Sun Oil Co., which she specifically devised to her four children
and surviving husband. Because a dispute arose between
decedent’s husband and her executors, in 1940, the Sun Oil Co.
deposited the rentals in a joint bank account that required the
signatures of decedent’s husband and her executors before any
withdrawals could be made. The Court held that the estate was
not required to recognize income in 1940, stating that “these
delay rentals were not paid to * * * [the] executors, but, on the
contrary, were paid by the Sun Oil Co. to the * * * [bank], and
were deposited in that bank to a new account” of which decedent’s
husband and her executors were joint signatories. This Court
stressed that, in order for the executors to make a withdrawal,
they needed the signature of decedent’s husband. The opinion
concluded that this was enough of a restriction on the account to
8
See supra note 4.
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preclude the estate from recognizing income in 1940; i.e., when
the funds were deposited in the account. Id. at 266, 267.
We believe that the same analysis should apply in these
cases. In Estate of Fairbanks v. Commissioner, supra, the bank
account was established by the payor Sun Oil Co., not by either
of the joint signatories. However, we believe that the relevant
holding in that case was that the taxpayer estate did not have
the type of unfettered control which would trigger income
recognition. Petitioner here did not have exclusive control over
the funds until 1986. In fact, any action required the signature
of a vice president of the Plan’s trustee, First American, who
had a fiduciary duty to act in the Plan’s best interests, which
we believe the Plan’s trustee recognized in his dealings with the
Plan. See generally Friend v. Sanwa Bank California, 35 F.3d 466(9th Cir. 1994); see also Winger’s Dept. Store, Inc. v.
Commissioner, 82 T.C. 869, 884 (1984). Petitioner could not
unilaterally remove the funds in the Republic Bank account. This
was a substantial restriction on petitioner’s ability to withdraw
funds, and it prevented petitioner from having constructively
received the distribution in 1985. Instead, petitioner was
taxable on the $771,000 for the 1986 tax year.
Substantial Understatement
Respondent also determined that petitioner is liable for the
addition to tax for substantial understatement of income tax in
1985 or 1986. Income tax is substantially understated if, in any
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year, the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10
percent of the tax required to be shown on the return for the
taxable year or $5,000. Sec. 6661(b)(1)(A). Section 6661(a)
provides for an addition to tax equal to 25 percent of the amount
of any underpayment attributable to such understatement.
Pallottini v. Commissioner, 90 T.C. 498 (1988).
The understatement is reduced by that portion for which
there is "substantial authority" or that has been "adequately
disclosed". Sec. 6661(b)(2)(B). Petitioner did not disclose the
transaction at issue on his 1985 or 1986 Federal income tax
returns, so there could not have been adequate disclosure.
Moreover, to show that he had substantial authority, petitioner
must demonstrate that the substantial weight of authority
supports the positions taken on his income tax return. Sec.
1.6661-3(b)(1), Income Tax Regs.; see also Nestle Holdings, Inc.
v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1995-441. Petitioner has not shown
this Court any authority for his tax positions. Furthermore,
opinions of tax professionals may not constitute such authority.
See, e.g., sec. 1.6661-3(b)(2), Income Tax Regs. In this case,
there was no “substantial authority”.
Section 6661(c) provides that the Secretary may waive this
penalty “on a showing by the taxpayer that there was reasonable
cause for the understatement * * * and that the taxpayer acted in
good faith.” The denial of a waiver under section 6661(c) is
reviewable by this Court, and the appropriate standard of review
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is whether respondent has abused her discretion in not waiving
the addition to tax. Mailman v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 1079, 1083
(1988). If we conclude that respondent's discretion was
exercised arbitrarily, capriciously, or without a sound basis in
fact, we will not sustain the determination. Karr v.
Commissioner, 924 F.2d 1018, 1026 (11th Cir. 1991), affg. Smith
v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 733 (1988).
We have found that petitioner met with his sons (former GCI
employees) to discuss the future of the Plan. In May 1985, when
petitioner determined that his distribution could benefit GCI’s
operations, he took several steps to assure that the assignment
would comply with the law. First, petitioner sought the advice
of his C.P.A., Mr. Zdonek, and an actuary, Mr. Salisbury. Mr.
Salisbury then formally contacted Ms. Nappier of the PBGC, who
stated in writing that she believed petitioner’s “waiver” would
be fine. To comply with GCI’s filing requirements, petitioner
caused his wholly owned company to file Forms 5310 with
respondent and the PBGC.
In August 1985, Mr. Salisbury informed petitioner that he
believed that temporary IRS regulations indicated that, with the
Plan’s termination date, the Plan would not be subject to the new
survivor annuity requirements. Based on the above advice, GCI
adopted the resolution where petitioner agreed to waive his
benefits under the Plan. Finally, in January 1986, the PBGC
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issued a Notice of Sufficiency to GCI in accordance with its
first application.
The most important factor in determining whether petitioner
acted in a reasonable manner and in good faith is the extent to
which he attempted to determine his proper income tax liability.
Mailman v. Commissioner, supra at 1084. Reliance on the advice
of professionals is tantamount to acting in a reasonable manner
if “under all the circumstances, such reliance [is] reasonable
and the taxpayer acted in good faith.” Sec. 1.6661-6(b), Income
Tax Regs.; see also Vorsheck v. Commissioner, 933 F.2d 757, 759
(9th Cir. 1991); Shelton v. Commissioner, 105 T.C. 114, 125
(1995); Nestle Holdings, Inc. v. Commissioner, supra.
On the basis of these facts, we find that petitioner did act
as an ordinarily prudent person in the circumstances.
Accordingly, his reliance on the advice of his hired
professionals was reasonable and in good faith. Therefore, we
hold that respondent abused her discretion by failing to waive
this penalty. Accordingly, we hold that petitioner is not liable
for the section 6661 addition to tax. See, e.g., Nestle
Holdings, Inc. v. Commissioner, supra (holding that it was
unreasonable in that case to penalize a taxpayer for relying on
the advice of a professional or for not prevailing in this
Court).
Citing Reinke v. Commissioner, 46 F.3d 760, 765 (8th Cir.
1995), affg. T.C. Memo. 1993-197, respondent argues that
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petitioner was required to request a “waiver” of the addition to
tax, and, because he did not, he is precluded from receiving one.
We disagree. While the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
suggests that a taxpayer’s request for a waiver can establish the
Commissioner's degree of fault for failing to waive, it does not
hold that a request is a requirement or prerequisite for a
waiver.
Petitioner’s C.P.A., Mr. Zdonek, stated that he believed
that the addition to tax did not apply; however, he did not refer
to respondent’s “waiving” the addition to tax. We hold that Mr.
Zdonek’s statement at the meeting which challenged the addition
to tax had the same effect as a request for a waiver of the
addition to tax, although such a formal request is not required.
Id. The paramount question is whether petitioner had reasonable
cause and acted in good faith, which he did.
Decisions will be entered
under Rule 155.