Homayoun Samadi & Sarabano Samadi v. Commissioner

T.C. Summary Opinion 2018-27UNITED STATES TAX COURT
HOMAYOUN SAMADI AND SARABANO SAMADI, Petitioners v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 722-17S. Filed May 24, 2018.
Homayoun Samadi and Sarabano Samadi, pro sese.
Sharyn M. Ortega, Caitlin A. Downing, and Brian A. Pfeifer, for
respondent.
SUMMARY OPINION
LEYDEN, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the
provisions of section 7463 of the Internal Revenue Code in effect when the
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petition was filed.1 Pursuant to section 7463(b), the decision to be entered is not
reviewable by any other court, and this opinion shall not be treated as precedent
for any other case.
In a notice of deficiency dated October 13, 2016, respondent determined
deficiencies in petitioners’ Federal income tax of $4,518 and $6,131 for 2013 and
2014, respectively. Respondent also determined accuracy-related penalties under
section 6662(a) of $904 and $1,226 for 2013 and 2014, respectively.
After concessions by petitioners2 the issues for decision are whether
petitioners are: (1) entitled to Schedule C deductions for car and truck expenses
for 2013 and 2014 related to petitioner husband’s real estate activity and (2) liable
for accuracy-related penalties under section 6662(a) for 2013 and 2014.
1
Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal
Revenue Code (Code), as amended, in effect at all relevant times, and all Rule
references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
2
At trial, petitioners conceded the following deductions for expenses
reported on Schedules C, Profit or Loss From Business, with respect to petitioner
husband’s “Real Estate Salesperson” business (hereinafter referred to as petitioner
husband’s real estate activity): (1) advertising expenses of $122 and $254 for
2013 and 2014, respectively; (2) office expenses of $1,358 and $1,374 for 2013
and 2014, respectively; (3) laundry and cleaning expenses of $385 and $369 for
2013 and 2014, respectively; and (4) depreciation of $6,921 for 2014.
Petitioners also conceded the following deductions for expenses reported on
a Schedule C for 2014 with respect to petitioner husband’s tax preparation
services: (1) advertising expenses of $140, (2) office expenses of $289, (3)
supplies of $89, and (4) other expenses of $504.
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The Court holds that petitioners are: (1) not entitled to Schedule C
deductions for car and truck expenses for 2013 or 2014 related to petitioner
husband’s real estate activity and (2) liable for accuracy-related penalties under
section 6662(a) for 2013 and 2014.
Background
Some of the facts are stipulated and so found. Petitioners resided in
California when they timely filed their petition.
I. Petitioners’ Tax Returns
Petitioners timely filed 2013 and 2014 joint Federal income tax returns.
Petitioner husband prepared these tax returns using online software. On both tax
returns petitioner husband listed his occupation as “tax specialist” and petitioner
wife listed her occupation as “registered nurse”.
Petitioners attached Schedules C to their 2013 tax return for petitioner
husband’s translation services, real estate activity, and tax preparation services.
Petitioners also attached Schedules C to their 2014 tax return for petitioner
husband’s real estate activity, tax preparation services, and work as a county
election poll worker. Only the 2013 and 2014 Schedules C for petitioner
husband’s real estate activity are at issue.
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The 2013 and 2014 Schedules C for petitioner husband’s real estate activity
did not report any gross receipts but reported expenses for each year. The 2013
Schedule C reported a loss of $15,719, and the 2014 Schedule C reported a loss of
$22,502.
II. Petitioner Husband’s Real Estate Activity
In 2010 petitioner husband decided to invest in homes with his friends and
family (hereinafter referred to as the group). The group consisted of five
individuals, including petitioner husband’s brother. The group intended to buy
homes, renovate them, and sell them for a profit (i.e., to flip houses). Petitioner
husband became a licensed real estate agent in 2010 and continued to be licensed
during 2013 and 2014. He did not earn any commissions from selling real estate
in 2013 or 2014. Petitioner husband researched potential investment properties for
the group; and because he was a licensed real estate agent, he had access to
properties that were for sale.
The group decided to look for potential investment properties in West
Sacramento, California, where petitioner husband lived, because the group
expected him to manage the investment properties. Petitioner husband prepared
mileage logs for 2013 and 2014 to document the mileage he drove to see the
potential investment properties. Petitioner husband relied on Internal Revenue
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Service (IRS) Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses, in
preparing these mileage logs. Petitioner husband maintained a daily spreadsheet
on his computer for each year’s mileage log. He input the starting and ending
addresses, beginning and ending mileage, miles traveled, and business purpose of
each trip. According to the mileage logs, petitioner husband drove 24,882 miles in
2013 and 25,220 miles in 2014.
The mileage logs reflect that every Saturday from January 5 through August
27, 2013, and every Saturday from January 4 through August 16, 2014, petitioner
husband drove 192 miles from his home in West Sacramento to the same “client’s
house” in Marina, California; drove back about 190 miles to the Sacramento area
for a “house showing with client”; drove back about 190 miles to “return client to
his home” in Marina; and then drove 192 miles back home to West Sacramento.
The “client’s home” in Marina was the home of petitioner husband’s brother. The
“house showing” consisted of picking up his brother or one of the other
individuals in the group (i.e., the “client”) from his brother’s home in Marina and
driving that individual to the Sacramento area to look at a potential investment
property.
Petitioner husband did not show any potential investment property to the
group from late August through December in either 2013 or 2014. The group did
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not buy any investment property in either 2013 or 2014; its members could not
agree on any of the potential investment properties petitioner husband had shown
them.
The IRS audited petitioners’ 2013 and 2014 tax returns and disallowed,
among other things, deductions for the reported Schedule C expenses related to
petitioner husband’s real estate activity and determined accuracy-related penalties
under section 6662(a) for both years.
Discussion
I. Burden of Proof
Generally, the Commissioner’s determination of a deficiency is presumed
correct, and a taxpayer bears the burden of proving it incorrect. See Rule 142(a);
Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111, 115 (1933). Morever, deductions are a matter
of legislative grace, and the taxpayer bears the burden of proving entitlement to
any deduction claimed. See INDOPCO, Inc. v. Commissioner, 503 U.S. 79, 84
(1992); New Colonial Ice Co. v. Helvering, 292 U.S. 435, 440 (1934). Under
section 7491(a)(1), the burden of proof may shift to the Commissioner if the
taxpayer produces credible evidence with respect to any relevant factual issue and
meets other requirements.
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At trial petitioners argued that under section 7491(a)(1) the burden of proof
had shifted to respondent. If the taxpayer introduces credible evidence with
respect to any factual issue relevant to ascertaining the proper tax liability, section
7491(a)(1) places the burden of proof with respect to that issue on the
Commissioner. See Rule 142(a)(2). “Credible evidence is the quality of evidence
which, after critical analysis, the court would find sufficient upon which to base a
decision on the issue if no contrary evidence were submitted”. Higbee v.
Commissioner, 116 T.C. 438, 442 (2001) (quoting H. Conf. Rept. 105-599, at 240-
241 (1998), 1998-3 C.B. 747, 994-995). Section 7491(a)(1) applies only if the
taxpayer complies with substantiation requirements; maintains all required
records; and cooperates with reasonable requests by the Commissioner for
witnesses, information, documents, meetings, and interviews. Sec. 7491(a)(2)(A)
and (B). On the basis of the record, the Court concludes that petitioners did not
introduce credible evidence with respect to either year at issue and, therefore, the
burden of proof has not shifted to respondent.
II. Car and Truck Expenses
Petitioners assert that petitioner husband’s real estate activity during 2013
and 2014 constituted a trade or business and that the mileage logs substantiate the
car and truck expenses reported for 2013 and 2014 with respect to that business.
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Respondent contends that petitioner husband’s real estate activity did not rise to
the level of carrying on a trade or business during 2013 or 2014. The Court agrees
with respondent.
Section 162(a) provides that “[t]here shall be allowed as a deduction all the
ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in
carrying on any trade or business”. However, “not every income-producing and
profit-making endeavor constitutes a trade or business.” Commissioner v.
Groetzinger, 480 U.S. 23, 35 (1987). “[T]o be engaged in a trade or business, the
taxpayer must be involved in the activity with continuity and regularity and * * *
the taxpayer’s primary purpose for engaging in the activity must be for income or
profit.” Id. Whether petitioner husband’s real estate activity in 2013 or 2014 rose
to the level of a trade or business requires an examination of the facts. See
Higgins v. Commissioner, 312 U.S. 212, 217 (1941).
Petitioner husband argues that he was a real estate agent during 2013 and
2014, that he was acting in that capacity when he showed the group the potential
investment properties, and that any expenses incurred in helping the group see the
potential investment properties are deductible business expenses. Although
petitioner husband was a licensed real estate agent during 2013 and 2014, he was
not in the trade or business of being a real estate agent during the years at issue.
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Petitioner husband testified that he did not earn any commissions during 2013 or
2014 as a real estate agent. There is no other evidence in the record to suggest that
he was continuously and regularly buying and selling real estate as a real estate
agent to clients.
Rather, the record shows that during 2013 and 2014 petitioner husband and
the group were attempting to start a business of flipping houses. To do this,
petitioner husband researched potential investment properties ahead of time;
picked up his brother and/or someone else from the group; and drove to see a
potential investment property each Saturday from January to August in 2013 and
2014. However, petitioner husband’s activity during 2013 and 2014 with respect
to this venture did not rise to the level of carrying on a trade or business.
At best, petitioner husband’s activity in 2013 and 2014 was in the
exploratory or formative stages of forming a business of flipping houses. Carrying
on a trade or business requires more than initial research into a potential business
opportunity; it requires that the business have actually commenced. Dean v.
Commissioner, 56 T.C. 895, 902-903 (1971); Frank v. Commissioner, 20 T.C.
511, 513-514 (1953); see Christian v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1995-12, 1995
Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 12, at *10-*12 (finding that activities relating to only
“exploratory or formative stages” do not rise to the level of a trade or business).
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Section 162(a) does not permit current deductions for startup or preopening
expenses incurred by a taxpayer before beginning business operations. See sec.
195(a).
Petitioner husband had plans for a potential business that had not
materialized in 2013 or 2014. He testified that nothing came of the showings.
Neither he nor anyone in the group purchased any investment property in 2013 or
2014. In fact, as petitioner husband testified, the group could not agree on any
investment properties to purchase. Accordingly, petitioners are not entitled to
deduct under section 162(a) any expenses, including car and truck expenses,
incurred in connection with petitioner husband’s real estate activity during 2013 or
2014.
Having found that petitioner husband’s real estate activity did not rise to the
level of carrying on a trade or business during 2013 or 2014, the Court need not
address the veracity of the mileage logs, whether the mileage logs satisfy the strict
substantiation requirements of section 274(d), or whether the car and truck
expenses were ordinary and necessary business expenses.
III. Accuracy-Related Penalties
Respondent determined accuracy-related penalties for 2013 and 2014
because petitioners’ underpayments were due to substantial understatements of
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income tax or negligence or disregard of rules or regulations. See sec. 6662(a) and
(b)(1) and (2). A taxpayer may be liable for a 20% accuracy-related penalty on the
portion of an underpayment of income tax attributable to a substantial
understatement of income tax or to negligence or disregard of rules or regulations.
Id. Only one section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty may be imposed with
respect to any given portion of an underpayment, even if that portion is
attributable to more than one type of conduct listed in section 6662(b). See New
Phoenix Sunrise Corp. v. Commissioner, 132 T.C. 161, 187 (2009), aff’d, 408 F.
App’x 908 (6th Cir. 2010); sec. 1.6662-2(c), Income Tax Regs. Nevertheless, the
Court considers both grounds for imposition of the penalties. The Commissioner
bears the burden of production with respect to the liability of an individual for a
section 6662(a) penalty. Sec. 7491(c).
Section 6751(b)(1) provides that, subject to certain exceptions in section
6751(b)(2), no penalty shall be assessed unless the initial determination of the
assessment is personally approved in writing by the immediate supervisor of the
individual making the determination or such higher level official as the
Commissioner may designate. Written approval of the initial penalty
determination under section 6751(b)(1) must be obtained no later than the date the
notice of deficiency is issued or the date the Commissioner files an answer or
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amended answer asserting the penalty. Chai v. Commissioner, 851 F.3d 190, 221
(2d Cir. 2017), aff’g in part, rev’g in part T.C. Memo. 2015-42; see also Graev v.
Commissioner, 149 T.C. ___ (Dec. 20, 2017), supplementing and overruling in
part 147 T.C. 460 (2016). Compliance with section 6751(b)(1) is part of the
Commissioner’s burden of production in any deficiency case in which a penalty
subject to section 6751(b)(1) is asserted. Chai v. Commissioner, 851 F.3d at 221.
The section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalties determined in the notice of
deficiency were properly approved as required by section 6751(b)(1). The record
includes a copy of a Civil Penalty Approval Form, approving imposition of
accuracy-related penalties against petitioners for 2013 and 2014 and executed by
the IRS tax examiner’s group manager before the date the notice of deficiency was
issued. Respondent has proven sufficient facts to satisfy the burden of production
as to that issue.
Once the Commissioner meets his burden of production, the taxpayer must
come forward with persuasive evidence that the Commissioner’s determination is
incorrect. Rule 142(a); see Higbee v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. at 447. The
taxpayer may meet this burden by proving that he acted with reasonable cause and
in good faith with respect to the underpayment. See sec. 6664(c)(1); Higbee v.
Commissioner, 116 T.C. at 447; sec. 1.6664-4(b)(1), Income Tax Regs. As
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explained below, petitioners did not provide persuasive evidence that they acted
with reasonable cause and in good faith with respect to the underpayment of tax
for 2013 or 2014.
A. Substantial Understatement
Given petitioners’ concessions and the Court’s decision that petitioners are
not entitled to the claimed car and truck expense deductions for either 2013 or
2014, the result is a substantial understatement of income tax for each year.
There is a substantial understatement of income tax for any taxable year if
the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to
be shown on the tax return or $5,000. Sec. 6662(d)(1)(A). An “understatement”
means the excess of the amount of the tax required to be shown on the tax return
over the amount of tax that is shown on the tax return, reduced by any rebate. Sec.
6662(d)(2)(A).
Section 6662(d)(2)(B) reduces the amount of an understatement by the
portion of the understatement for which there is: (1) substantial authority for the
taxpayer’s tax treatment of any item or (2) an adequate disclosure of the relevant
facts affecting the item’s tax treatment and a reasonable basis for the taxpayer’s
treatment of the item. Petitioners do not argue that they had substantial authority
for any part of the understatement for 2013 or 2014 or that they made adequate
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disclosures on their 2013 or 2014 tax return with respect to any part of the
understatement. Accordingly, the Court does not reduce petitioners’ accuracy-
related penalties pursuant to section 6662(d)(2)(B).
Petitioners’ 2013 tax return showed a tax of $13,664. Respondent
determined the amount of tax required to be shown on petitioners’ 2013 tax return
was $19,382. Thus, the understatement of tax that respondent determined for
2013 was $5,718. That amount exceeds $5,000, which is greater than $1,938.20,
10% of the tax required to be shown on petitioners’ 2013 tax return.
Petitioners’ 2014 tax return showed a tax of $15,670. Respondent
determined the amount of tax required to be shown on petitioners’ 2014 tax return
was $23,001. Thus, the understatement of tax that respondent determined for
2014 was $7,331. That amount exceeds $5,000, which is greater than $2,300.10,
10% of the tax required to be shown on petitioners’ 2014 tax return. Therefore,
petitioners have substantially understated their income tax for 2013 and 2014 and
are liable for the accuracy-related penalties under section 6662(a) and (b)(2) for
2013 and 2014.
B. Negligence or Disregard of Rules or Regulations
The accuracy-related penalty may also be imposed under section 6662(a)
because of negligence or disregard of rules or regulations. See sec. 6662(b)(1).
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In the alternative petitioners are liable for the accuracy-related penalties for 2013
and 2014 because they were negligent and disregarded rules or regulations.
Negligence includes any failure to make a reasonable attempt to comply
with the provisions of the Code and any failure to keep adequate books and
records or to substantiate items properly. Sec. 6662(c); see Higbee v.
Commissioner, 116 T.C. at 448; sec. 1.6662-3(b)(1), Income Tax Regs.
Negligence has also been defined as the failure to exercise due care or the failure
to do what a reasonable person would do under the circumstances. See Neely v.
Commissioner, 85 T.C. 934, 947 (1985). “Disregard” includes any careless,
reckless, or intentional disregard of rules or regulations. Sec. 6662(c); see Higbee
v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. at 448.
Respondent has met his burden of production with respect to petitioners’
negligence and disregard of rules or regulations. Petitioners’ tax returns for 2013
and 2014 were prepared by petitioner husband. Petitioner husband considered his
occupation to be a “tax specialist” and operated a tax preparation services business
as a sole proprietorship. However, in preparing their tax returns petitioners failed
to exercise due care or to do what a reasonable person would do under the
circumstances to determine whether petitioner husband was in a trade or business
in order to deduct the car and truck and other expenses for 2013 and 2014.
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C. Reasonable Cause for the Underpayment of Tax
A penalty will not be imposed under section 6662(a), however, if a taxpayer
establishes that he or she acted with reasonable cause and in good faith. Sec.
6664(c)(1). Circumstances that indicate reasonable cause and good faith include
reliance on the advice of a tax professional or an honest misunderstanding of the
law that is reasonable in the light of all the facts and circumstances. Sec. 1.6664-
4(b), Income Tax Regs.; see Higbee v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. at 449. Relevant
facts and circumstances for the Court to consider include the knowledge and
experience of the taxpayer. Sec. 1.6664-4(b)(1), Income Tax Regs.
Petitioners argued that petitioner husband relied on IRS Publication 463 to
prepare the mileage logs for 2013 and 2014. Informal IRS guidance, like a
publication, is not itself law, but a reasonable misunderstanding of its discussions
of law can be relevant to whether a taxpayer should be excused from a penalty.
See, e.g., Gray v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1982-392, 1982 Tax Ct. Memo
LEXIS 350, at *15-*16. However, petitioners have not explained which IRS
publications or other authority they consulted to determine whether petitioner
husband was carrying on a trade or business. Petitioner husband held himself out
to be a “tax specialist” and prepared tax returns as a business and, therefore,
should have been able to consult the tax law or regulations to determine whether
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he was carrying on a trade or business. In fact, petitioner husband testified that he
did not see a purpose for referring to any regulations in preparing their tax returns.
The Court concludes that petitioners did not act reasonably or in good faith in
taking the position that petitioner husband’s real estate activity constituted a real
estate trade or business in 2013 and 2014. Therefore, petitioners are liable for the
section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalties for 2013 and 2014.
The Court has considered all of the parties’ arguments, and, to the extent not
addressed herein, the Court concludes they are moot, irrelevant, or without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered
for respondent.