DocketNumber: Docket No. 12150-08
Citation Numbers: 100 T.C.M. 170, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222, 2010 T.C. Memo. 187
Judges: MARVEL
Filed Date: 8/23/2010
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 11/20/2020
Decision will be entered under
MARVEL,
2001 | $17,215 | $3,873 | $4,304 | $688 |
2002 | 15,495 | 3,486 | 3,874 | 518 |
2003 | 6,171 | 1,388 | 1,419 | 162 |
2004 | 6,540 | 1,635 | to be determined | 190 |
2005 | 2,251 | 563 | to be determined | 90 |
Petitioner graduated from college in 1961. Petitioner then attended graduate courses in education at the University of Washington for 1 year but did not complete her graduate degree. Petitioner taught at the high school level, and in 1965-72 she worked for IBM. After working for Royal Typewriter and Xerox in the field of office automation, petitioner worked on a startup team for a small company for 10 years. After a period of unemployment petitioner established an independent consulting practice. Between 1982 and 1994 petitioner owned and operated a restaurant. At some point after 1994 petitioner became an independent consultant in the restaurant and office management industries.
During the years at issue petitioner, in addition to operating her consulting business, occasionally worked part time for some clients. Petitioner depended mostly on word-of-mouth advertising.
Petitioner did not keep a ledger, journal, or cash receipts book to record receipts generated by her business. Petitioner did not routinely issue any invoices or statements to her customers and instead told her customers 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*225 what they owed. Petitioner used her bank statements to keep track of her income. When customers paid petitioner by check, she usually deposited the checks at a bank. Sometimes she cashed checks and deposited cash at the bank only when needed. Once or twice customers paid petitioner in cash, in which case petitioner put the payment in a box at her house and deposited the money in her bank account when needed.
In addition to running her consulting business, petitioner marketed educational materials, such as lectures and seminars. Petitioner either developed the educational materials herself or purchased them from professional groups. This business involved mostly telemarketing. Petitioner incurred various expenses related to this business. She purchased prospect lists and incurred costs for online back office, online training costs, and online referral sites. In 2001 and 2002 petitioner incurred $620 of expenses related to this business.
In 2001-2002 petitioner worked part time for Leon Felton (Mr. Felton) managing his personal assets. Petitioner deposited in her accounts checks from Mr. Felton totaling $36,111. Of those deposits, several checks totaling $427 and $287 in 2001 and 2002, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*226 respectively, were reimbursements for various expenses.
In 2000-2004 petitioner owned a condominium at 799 Dahlia Street, unit 601, Denver, Colorado (Denver condominium). Petitioner purchased the Denver condominium for $89,900. Petitioner partially financed the purchase by a nonrecourse loan, which was secured by a mortgage on the property. Petitioner began renting out the Denver condominium in 2001 but evicted the tenants at some point in 2002. In 2004 the bank foreclosed on the property. At the time of the foreclosure sale, the balance of the nonrecourse loan was $86,000. Besides the mortgage interest deduction that respondent allowed, petitioner incurred expenses related to the Denver condominium totaling $371, $5,043, and $2,792 in 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively.
In the 1990s petitioner invested in J-Mac Enterprises, a real estate partnership. Petitioner owned the interest until the partnership dissolved in 2004. Upon partnership dissolution, petitioner received checks totaling $17,425 which she deposited in her account.
At various points during the years at issue petitioner maintained checking accounts in her name at Bank of America, Northern Trust Bank of California (Northern 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*227 Trust), and Bank of Marin. In 2001-2005 petitioner also maintained a checking account at Northern Trust under the name "Highlander Clan", which was a trust that petitioner had set up. Petitioner was listed on this account as a director.
Petitioner made deposits into the accounts as follows: Northern Trust (trust) $40,526 $33,452 $6,826 $23,819 $2,927 Northern Trust (personal) -0- 951 100 4,471 2,388 Bank of America 34,573 2,871 -0- -0- -0- Bank of Marin Total 75,099 66,980 31,475 28,290 5,315
In 2003, 2004, and 2005 petitioner's cash expenditures totaled $4,150, $11,049, and $9,398, respectively. 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*228 Petitioner occasionally withdrew cash or wrote checks payable either to herself or to cash. Her withdrawals were as follows:
2001 | $1,400 | $5,600 | $7,000 |
2002 | 800 | 25,311 | 26,111 |
2003 | 100 | 1,300 | 1,400 |
2004 | 3,125 | -0- | 3,125 |
2005 | 2,064 | -0- | 2,064 |
Beginning with her 1999 taxable year petitioner stopped filing Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and she had not filed Forms 1040 to the date of trial. Petitioner never made any estimated tax payments because "she did not know what to estimate."
Respondent undertook to reconstruct petitioner's income by analyzing petitioner's bank deposits in 2001-2005 and cash purchases in 2003-2005.
Respondent also determined that petitioner was liable for additions to tax under 2001 $59,877 2002 47,601 2003 18,885 2004 46,131 2005 3,230
The primary issues in this case are the extent of petitioner's unreported income and whether petitioner is entitled to any business deductions other than the ones respondent allowed. Petitioner, who has the burden of proof, see
Petitioner's lack of preparation is a problem of her own making because she had adequate notice of the trial date. Respondent mailed petitioner the notice of deficiency on February 11, 2008, and petitioner mailed her petition on May 12, 2008. On December 5, 2008, more than 5 months before the trial date, we served petitioner with a notice setting case for trial in San Francisco, California, at the session beginning on May 11, 2009. 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*231 for trial herself.
On May 7, 2009, less than a week before the May 11, 2009, date set for trial, the Court received petitioner's motion for continuance.
When this case was called for trial at the calendar call, petitioner stated that she was not ready to proceed to trial that week. Petitioner also faxed documents entitled "Motion for Reconsideration and Certificate of Unpreparedness". Petitioner sought to file the same documents again during trial. Because such documents are not proper documents under the Rules, we directed that the documents not be filed but construed them as a request for continuance. We explained to petitioner during trial that continuances are granted only in exceptional circumstances and because petitioner did not do anything to prepare the case for trial, we would not grant a continuance.
Throughout the calendar call and the trial and on brief petitioner lamented that the 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*234 Court "required her to defend herself without assistance of counsel" while she is incapable of doing so and blamed her unpreparedness on appearing without counsel. In petitioner's words, she "did not feel capable of conducting * * * trial" and she could not afford counsel. 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*235 California, at the session beginning on May 11, 2009. The notice directed the parties to "agree in writing to all facts and all documents about which there should be no disagreement." The notice was accompanied by the Court's standing pretrial order which required the parties to cooperate and stipulate facts to the maximum extent possible. The standing pretrial order states in pertinent part: The parties shall begin discussions as soon as practicable for purposes of settlement and/or preparation of a stipulation of facts. * * * All minor issues should be settled so that the Court can focus on the issue(s) needing a Court decision. * * * * Continuances will be granted only in exceptional circumstances. See * * * * To facilitate an orderly and efficient disposition of all cases on the trial calendar, it is hereby
At trial and on brief petitioner stated that she did not know what respondent's case would consist of, what witnesses would testify, and what arguments respondent would rely on. Petitioner's complaint is ungrounded. Forms 4549-A, Income Tax Discrepancy Adjustments, attached to the notice of deficiency, set out respondent's adjustments. Petitioner received the Forms 4549-A along with the notice of deficiency on or after February 11, 2008, more than 1 year before the May 11, 2009, trial. Petitioner also received respondent's pretrial memorandum, which set forth the issues in the case, witnesses that respondent expected to call, summary of the facts, and synopsis of legal authorities on which respondent relied.
The Commissioner's determinations in a notice of deficiency are presumed correct, and the 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*237 taxpayer generally bears the burden of showing they are erroneous.
Petitioner deposited cash into her bank accounts, and bank deposits evidence receipt of income. See
When a taxpayer fails to keep adequate books and records, the Commissioner is authorized to determine the 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*239 existence and amount of the taxpayer's income by any method that clearly reflects income. See
One of the indirect methods of reconstructing income is the bank deposits method. "The use of the bank deposit method for computing income has long been sanctioned by the courts."
Respondent introduced adequate evidence to show that petitioner received unreported income in 2001-2005. The record contains canceled checks, bank statements, deposit slips, and other documentary evidence. Petitioner admits that at various times during the years at issue she rented out her condominium, engaged in the business of selling educational materials, worked for Mr. Felton, offered services as an independent consultant, and occasionally worked part time for various clients. We find that it was reasonable 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*241 for respondent to use an indirect method, i.e., the bank deposits and cash expenditures method, to reconstruct petitioner's income. Accordingly, the burden of proof falls on petitioner to demonstrate that respondent's determinations are arbitrary or erroneous.
For each year at issue respondent applied the bank deposits method. Respondent identified four bank accounts that petitioner used in 2001-2005 and summoned the bank records. Respondent analyzed each account and performed a bank deposits analysis to identify unreported gross income. He totaled all deposits into petitioner's accounts during the years at issue. Respondent's revenue agent Michelle Jirasek (Ms. Jirasek) credibly testified, and her bank deposits analysis spreadsheet supports her testimony, that she eliminated from taxable deposits the items that she identified as nontaxable, such as interaccount transfers or returned checks.
With respect to 2003-2005 respondent also analyzed petitioner's expenditures in reconstructing her income. The cash expenditures method assumes that the amount by which a taxpayer's expenditures during the relevant period exceed reported income has taxable origins absent some explanation by the taxpayer. 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*242
At trial respondent introduced a spreadsheet documenting the bank deposits and cash expenditures analysis and copies of petitioner's bank statements, canceled checks, and deposit slips. The burden is on petitioner to show that respondent's analysis is unfair or inaccurate. See
The following items of income remain in dispute:
Item | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2006 |
Other income -- not subject | |||||
to self-employment tax | $ 22,171 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
Other income -- subject to | |||||
self-employment tax | 31,360 | $ 44,515 | $ 26,118 | $ 15,878 | $ 13,644 |
Capital gain | -0- | -0- | -0- | 40,525 | -0- |
We 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*243 consider each adjustment below.
Petitioner contends that the $22,171 she received in 2001 represented proceeds of a personal injury settlement and is not taxable. Generally,
Where damages are received pursuant to a settlement agreement, the nature of the claim that was the basis for the settlement 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*244 determines whether the damages are excludable from gross income under
To justify excluding the $22,171 from income under
We summarize our findings with respect to respondent's bank deposits analysis in the appendix.
Relying on the bank deposits and cash expenditures analysis, respondent determined petitioner's category of income "Other income—subject to self-employment tax" as follows:
Cash | $ 5,540 | $ 17,713 | $ 8,843 | $ 2,574 | $ 1,973 |
Paypal | -0- | -0- | 2,550 | -0- | -0- |
Mr. Felton | 17,654 | 19,117 | -0- | -0- | -0- |
I-Promotion | -0- | 282 | 605 | -0- | -0- |
Other | 6,541 | 7,404 | 9,969 | 2,256 | 2,273 |
Elliot Mgmt. | 1,625 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
Cash expenditures | -0- | -0- | 4,150 | 11,049 | 9,398 |
Total | 31,360 | 44,516 n.1 | 26,117 n.1 | 15,879 n.1 | 13,644 |
n.1 The discrepancy with the notice of deficiency is due to rounding. |
For 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*246 2003, 2004, and 2005 respondent also added cash expenditures of $4,150, $11,049, and $9,398, respectively.
Petitioner contests respondent's determinations of the amounts of income subject to self-employment tax. First, petitioner contends that the checks from Mr. Felton deposited on March 26 and July 9, 2002, were repayments of loans she had advanced to him. The disputed checks bear notations "IGP GII Seminar Purchase", "IGP GI Course", and "Final". Petitioner made self-serving statements in her posttrial brief in support of her argument but presented no evidence at trial that these checks were repayment of loans. See
Second, petitioner contends that respondent failed to connect amounts of cash deposits, "other deposits", and cash expenditures with an income-producing activity. Whether the Commissioner produces evidence that the taxpayer received income affects the allocation of the burden of proof, rather than the taxpayer's liability. Cf.
Third, petitioner challenges respondent's bank deposits analysis on the ground that at trial respondent failed to explain how he arrived at the amounts. Petitioner's argument is unfounded. At trial Ms. Jirasek explained how she calculated the total amounts of income subject to self-employment tax for 2001 and 2002 and how the spreadsheet, which is part of the record, supports her calculations. She also addressed how she calculated petitioner's cash expenditures for 2004 and then stated that she used a similar process for other years. Respondent explained 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*248 his methodology with sufficient clarity, and we reject petitioner's argument.
b. • For 2002 we decreased deposits into petitioner's Bank of Marin account by $316, which represents the total of checks deposited on April 11 and July 9, 2002, because the notations on the checks show those payments were refunds. • We excluded a $500 deposit dated March 8, 2004, from deposits into petitioner's Northern Trust personal account because the record establishes it was a nontaxable transfer from petitioner's trust account at Northern Trust. • We find that petitioner withdrew $500 from 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*249 the trust account on March 8, 2004, rather than $1,000 as respondent determined. • We find that on April 22, 2004, petitioner deposited $354 of her Social Security check into the trust account and withdrew $200 from the trust account. Respondent had determined that on that date petitioner deposited $854 and withdrew $500 from the trust account. • We find that on August 18, 2004, petitioner deposited $754 of her Social Security check into the trust account and withdrew $354. Respondent had determined that petitioner deposited $854 and withdrew $454 from the trust account. • We find that on October 5, 2005, petitioner deposited $753 of her Social Security check into the trust account and withdrew $553. Respondent had determined that petitioner had deposited $200. • We exclude from the taxable deposits checks from Mr. Felton totaling $427 and $287 that petitioner deposited in 2001 and 2002, respectively, into her Bank of Marin and Bank of America accounts. These checks bear notations "reimb.-office supplies and equipment", "reimbursement-postage", or a similar notation, and we find Mr. Felton reimbursed petitioner for various supplies, postage, or similar expenses.
Petitioner contends on brief that respondent's bank deposits and cash expenditures analysis is unreliable 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*251 because it ignores the cash petitioner had on hand at the beginning of 2001. Petitioner also claims that she had some assets offshore at the beginning of 2001. 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*252 Petitioner claims she prefers "the anonymity of cash" to maintain her privacy and has kept "significant sums in cash rather than in the bank" for at least 10 years. Petitioner testified and states on brief that in 2000 she sold her houseboat at a profit of over $100,000 and kept a large part of the proceeds in cash. Petitioner claims that she spent $33,220 of that cash when she purchased her Denver condominium. Petitioner also states on brief that between 2000 and 2004 she invested $102,500 but lost her investments. At trial petitioner estimated her real estate investments made with cash, including the proceeds from the sale of the houseboat, totaled approximately $225,000. According to petitioner, after her investments she had approximately $5,000 or $6,000, and on several occasions in 2003-2005 she deposited some of that cash into her bank accounts. According to petitioner, she used her "cash stash" to pay living expenses.
Petitioner failed to present any credible evidence to corroborate her testimony. She presented no documentary evidence that she sold her houseboat and received the proceeds in cash. No witnesses with knowledge of petitioner's cash at home testified at trial. Petitioner did not explain the source of the over $200,000 she claimed she invested in real estate, nor did she credibly quantify her gain from the sale of the houseboat; she testified that it was $100,000. Even if we were to accept that petitioner had cash on hand, petitioner failed to establish how much cash she had at the beginning of each year at issue.
Although her argument is not entirely clear, petitioner appears to challenge the bank deposits analysis on the ground that she redeposited the cash she had withdrawn from her accounts. The record supports a finding that in 2001-2005 petitioner withdrew 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*253 $39,700 from her accounts and deposited $35,953.
Petitioner also challenges respondent's cash expenditures analysis for 2003-2005 on the ground that she kept cash "outside the banking system." The relevant issue is whether any of petitioner's expenditures in 2003-2005 can be attributed to assets available at the beginning of 2003 or to nontaxable receipts. See
The record reveals that petitioner's withdrawals from her bank account totaled $33,111 in 2001-2002 and $6,589 in 2003-2005. 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*255 However, the record contains no evidence to support a finding that the sources of funds for the cash expenditures were in fact petitioner's cash withdrawals.
It is the taxpayer's responsibility to maintain adequate records that would allow the determination of the taxpayer's correct tax liability. See
In the notice of deficiency respondent determined that in 2004 petitioner had a $40,525 capital gain. Respondent explains that this adjustment consists of a $23,100 gain on the foreclosure of the Denver condominium and a $17,425 gain related to the sale of petitioner's interest in J-Mac Enterprises.
In general
For purposes of calculating gain or loss, the amount realized is the sum of any money received plus the fair market value of the property received.
The mortgage documents are not in the record. Respondent assumed in making his determination that petitioner's liability was nonrecourse, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*258 and petitioner does not disagree. In fact, on brief petitioner agrees that the amount realized was $86,000 as respondent determined. Accordingly, we shall not disturb respondent's determination that the loan was nonrecourse and the amount petitioner realized on the foreclosure sale was $86,000.
Petitioner, however, challenges respondent's determination that her basis in the property was $62,900. At trial Ms. Jirasek did not remember how she had calculated petitioner's basis and guessed she had done so using information in the original loan document. The original loan document is not part of the record. The record contains only a "Uniform Residential Loan Application Charterwest Mortgage, LLC" dated April 17, 2002 (loan application), that relates to refinancing of the Denver condominium. The loan application shows the original cost of the condominium was $89,900 and the amount of existing liens was $62,900. The $89,900 original cost specified in the loan application is consistent with petitioner's testimony that she paid $89,900 for the Denver condominium and that she used some cash proceeds from the sale of her houseboat and borrowed the rest. On the other hand, respondent's determination 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*259 that the basis was $62,900 appears inconsistent with the loan application, and at trial Ms. Jirasek could not explain how she had arrived at that number. We find that petitioner's basis was $89,900 and petitioner had no gain on the foreclosure.
Petitioner also suggests that her basis in the Denver condominium should include $6,000 she spent to replace the windows. However, the record contains no credible evidence documenting that petitioner replaced windows in the Denver condominium or the cost thereof, and statements in brief are not evidence.
Respondent determined that petitioner realized and must recognize gain on the sale of her interest in J-Mac Enterprises on the basis of two cashier's checks totaling $17,425. Petitioner contends that respondent improperly treated the cashier's check deposits as proceeds from the sale of her interest in J-Mac Enterprises. We disagree.
The record contains a summary of Ms. Jirasek's interview with petitioner on December 13, 2007. The notes 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*260 show that during the interview Ms. Jirasek asked petitioner about the deposits from Jefferson Title Co. and that petitioner stated those deposits were probably from the buyout of her partnership interest. Petitioner also provided Ms. Jirasek with a Schedule K-1, Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., for J-Mac Enterprises for 2004, which respondent introduced into evidence. Ms. Jirasek concluded that the proceeds were from the sale of a partnership interest because the Schedule K-1 was marked as a final schedule.
Petitioner also argues that respondent failed to give her credit for any basis in the partnership interest. Petitioner, however, did not present any evidence at trial regarding her basis in the partnership interest, nor did she testify as to how much she had invested in J-Mac Enterprises. Petitioner relies on a handwritten page purporting to show her contributions to the partnership totaling $23,150 in 1990-2003 that she attached to her posttrial brief. The bottom of the page bears a notation: "7-03 Prepared by Kristine Jasiecki
Generally, deductions and credits are a matter of legislative grace, and the taxpayer bears the burden of proving that she is entitled to any deduction or credit claimed.
When a taxpayer establishes that he paid or incurred a deductible expense but does not establish the amount of the expense, we may estimate the amount allowable in some circumstances (the
Petitioner alleges that respondent failed to allow deductions for certain business expenses, such as property taxes, homeowners association fees, and utilities but does not point to any evidence in the record that identifies specific rental business expenses that she paid. Nevertheless, the record shows that petitioner paid expenses related to the Denver condominium totaling $371, $5,043, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 222">*264 and $2,792 in 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. Notations on the canceled checks that support this additional deduction refer to "HOA fees", "Dahlia", or the partial address of the Denver condominium. Accordingly, we allow petitioner to deduct these expenses. However, we do not allow any deductions for expenses petitioner testified she incurred for title insurance; replacement of an air conditioner, microwave, and windows; patching holes in the walls; and painting the Denver condominium, because the record contains no credible evidence to support deductions for those expenses.
With respect to petitioner's marketing business, petitioner testified that she incurred expenses for purchasing educational materials, but she failed to produce credible evidence of those expenses at trial. The record does contain three checks totaling $620, dated January 16, 2001, and March 28, 2002, that show petitioner purchased educational tapes. We find that these expenses related to petitioner's marketing business, and we allow a deduction for these expenses.
Petitioner testified that some of her records were destroyed by fire. She also admitted that she had some documentation but that she had not brought it to Court. Because petitioner introduced no credible evidence that she actually paid any expenses other than those allowed above, the
In a proceeding before this Court, the Commissioner's obligation under
Respondent has determined that petitioner is liable for additions to tax under
We have considered the remaining arguments made by the parties and, to the extent not discussed above, conclude those arguments are irrelevant, moot, or without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
2001 | ||||||
N. Trust (trust) | -0- | $3,000 | -0- | $12,455 | $17,227 | -0- |
Bank of America | ||||||
Total | 9,549 | 5,540 | l | 12,455 | 17,227 | -0- |
2002 | ||||||
N. Trust (trust) | -0- | -0- | -0- | $11,910 | $18,170 | $282 |
N. trust (personal) | -0- | 800 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
Bank of America | $1,756 | $1,115 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
Bank of Marin | ||||||
Total | 11,157 | 17,713 | -0- | 11,910 | 18,170 | 282 |
2003 | ||||||
N. Trust (trust) | -0- | $683 | $2,550 | -0- | -0- | $605 |
N. Trust (personal) | -0- | 100 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
Bank of Marin | ||||||
Total | 8,430 | 8,853 | 2,550 | -0- | -0- | 605 |
2004 | ||||||
N. Trust (trust) | $3,310 | $1,454 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
N. trust (personal) | ||||||
Total | 4,991 | 2,074 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
2005 | ||||||
N. Trust (trust) | $1,506 | $1,400 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
N. trust (personal) | ||||||
Total | 2,812 | 1,773 | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
2001 | |||||
N. Trust (trust) | -0- | $6,219 | $1,625 | -0- | -0- |
Bank of America | |||||
Total | -0- | 6,531 | 1,625 | 22,171 | -0- |
2002 | |||||
N. Trust (trust) | -0- | $3,090 | -0- | -0- | -0- |
N. trust (personal) | -0- | 151 | -0- | -0- | -0- |
Bank of America | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
Bank of Marin | |||||
Total | -0- | 7,748 | -0- | -0- | -0- |
2003 | |||||
N. Trust (trust) | $1,068 | $1,920 | -0- | -0- | -0- |
N. Trust (personal) | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- |
Bank of Marin | |||||
Total | 1,068 | 9,969 | -0- | -0- | -0- |
2004 | |||||
N. Trust (trust) | -0- | $1,630 | -0- | -0- | $17,425 |
N. trust (personal) | |||||
Total | -0- | 2,256 | -0- | -0- | 17,425 |
2005 | |||||
N. Trust (trust) | -0- | $1,564 | -0- | -0- | -0- |
N. trust (personal) | |||||
Total | -0- | 2,273 | -0- | -0- | -0- |
1. On brief petitioner states that respondent's "estimate for rent in 2001 and 2002 is about right, in round numbers." Petitioner also states that "estimates for Social Security benefits are, I assume, correct" and the "estimate for dividends are close enough for our purposes." We construe these statements as petitioner's concessions with respect to the adjustments to rental income in 2001 and 2002, Social Security income in 2001-2003, and dividends in 2003.
2. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code (Code) in effect for the years at issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. All monetary amounts have been rounded to the nearest dollar.↩
3. Other adjustments proposed in the notice of deficiency are computational. With respect to the standard deductions allowed for 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005 petitioner does not assert nor does the record allow us to conclude that the itemized deductions are greater than the standard deduction.↩
4. Consistent with respondent's bank deposits analysis, we do not include returned checks, credits and refunds, interaccount transfers, a check from Title Services, Inc., and a check marked as "for payment of escrow to mortgagor" in the deposits analysis.↩
5. The record contains only the totals of the receipts, but petitioner does not allege that respondent calculated her cash expenditures incorrectly.
6. Petitioner provided respondent with receipts for her purchases, such as food, phone, clothing, and other.↩
7. Petitioner did not recall receiving these documents.↩
8. Continuances will be granted only in exceptional circumstances. * * * A motion for continuance, filed 30 days or less prior to the date to which it is directed, may be set for hearing on that date, but ordinarily will be deemed dilatory and will be denied unless the ground therefor arose during that period or there was good reason for not making the motion sooner. * * *
9. As we observed in another context in The Office of the Court is in Washington, D.C., but trial sessions are held in various cities * * * for the convenience of the parties. Delays also affect other taxpayers who are awaiting the opportunity to have their cases heard. Only a certain number of cases can be placed on any particular trial calendar. Each time that a case scheduled for trial does not proceed, time is wasted that could have been spent on other cases if they could have been scheduled. Respondent's counsel is required to spend time preparing cases for trial which could be spent working with taxpayers on other cases and attempting to settle them. These unnecessary burdens on the system are unreasonable and unfair from the standpoint of everyone involved. [Citations and fn. refs. omitted.]
10. At calendar call the Court encouraged petitioner to consult one of the two volunteer attorneys who were present and could have assisted her in reviewing stipulations.↩
11. The parties did not address the items discussed in this part.↩
12. In addition to our findings in this section, we note that we included the $660 check deposited on Mar. 21, 2002, as part of the "other" category, rather than a payment from Mr. Felton because the relevant check was issued to petitioner by Sausalito Art Festival, LLC. The correction, however, does not change the amount of income subject to self-employment tax.
Petitioner's $100 deposit on Aug. 28, 2002, is properly included in the "other" category of deposits rather than nontaxable credit/refund. However, because respondent does not assert an increased deficiency on brief with respect to this deposit, we shall disregard the deposit in our analysis.
Petitioner's $74 deposit dated Sept. 15, 2003, into her Bank of Marin account bears the notation "postage for volunteer letters", but petitioner did not argue that this deposit is nontaxable. Because petitioner bears the burden of proof, see
13. As refunds, such amounts do not represent income to petitioner, and accordingly should not be part of deposits.↩
14. Petitioner's application for a mortgage for the purchase of the Denver condominium indicates that her assets offshore totaled "100M". Petitioner acknowledges that at the beginning of 2001 she had assets offshore but disputes that "100M" referred to $100 million. We need not resolve the dispute regarding the amount of cash petitioner had offshore because we reject the cash hoard defense for lack of credible evidence in the record.
15. Respondent's bank deposits analysis includes a column for cash withdrawals, but the analysis ignores checks written to petitioner or to cash. Because checks written to petitioner or to cash are equivalent to cash withdrawals, we include all such withdrawals in our analysis.↩
16. On brief respondent contends that in the bank deposits analysis he "accounted for certain cash deposits" and refers to deposits that equaled petitioner's cash withdrawals. However, respondent's bank deposits analysis shows that although respondent subtracted cash withdrawals from the total daily deposits, the cash withdrawals did not affect the categories of taxable deposits. Because respondent did not use the total daily deposits column for calculating taxable income and instead added specific categories to calculate petitioner's self-employment income, we find that respondent did not factor cash withdrawals into his bank deposits analysis.
17. A debtor's transfer of property to a creditor in satisfaction of a nonrecourse liability is treated as a sale or other disposition of property, and any resulting income constitutes gain on the disposition of property, rather than discharge of indebtedness income.
18. The record establishes that Kristine Jasiecki was another partner in J-Mac Enterprises.↩
19. Petitioner testified that maintenance and repair expenses in 2002 were $6,988.53, but she produced no records at trial. Petitioner attached to her brief a spreadsheet summarizing, inter alia, her expenses. However, statements on brief are not part of the record. See
Commissioner v. Groetzinger , 107 S. Ct. 980 ( 1987 )
William H. And Avilda L. Edwards v. Commissioner of ... , 680 F.2d 1268 ( 1982 )
Cathy Miller Hardy v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue , 181 F.3d 1002 ( 1999 )
Schroeder v. Commissioner , 40 T.C. 30 ( 1963 )
Seay v. Commissioner , 58 T.C. 32 ( 1972 )
Taglianetti v. United States , 89 S. Ct. 1099 ( 1969 )
Commissioner v. Schleier , 115 S. Ct. 2159 ( 1995 )
Cohan v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue , 39 F.2d 540 ( 1930 )
Louis J. Taglianetti v. United States , 398 F.2d 558 ( 1968 )
Johnny Weimerskirch v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue , 596 F.2d 358 ( 1979 )
Commissioner v. Tufts , 103 S. Ct. 1826 ( 1983 )
Tokarski v. Commissioner , 87 T.C. 74 ( 1986 )
Joseph R. Dileo, Mary A. Dileo, Walter E. Mycek, Jr., ... , 959 F.2d 16 ( 1992 )
W. Horace Williams, Sr., and Viola Bloch Williams v. United ... , 245 F.2d 559 ( 1957 )
Weimerskirch v. Commissioner , 67 T.C. 672 ( 1977 )
Deputy, Administratrix v. Du Pont , 60 S. Ct. 363 ( 1940 )
New Colonial Ice Co. v. Helvering , 54 S. Ct. 788 ( 1934 )
Commissioner v. Lincoln Savings & Loan Ass'n , 91 S. Ct. 1893 ( 1971 )
Commissioner v. Tellier , 86 S. Ct. 1118 ( 1966 )