DocketNumber: Docket No. 8370-87.
Filed Date: 4/26/1989
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 11/20/2020
On his 1983 return, P offset wages he received as a steampipe fitter by claiming an itemized deduction in an equal amount for tools. Such deduction was for his body, which P claims is the "tool of his trade." On his 1984 return, P reported his wages but claimed that wages are not income.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
JACOBS,
Additions to Tax | ||||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6653(a)(1) *186 | Sec. 6653(a)(2) | Sec. 6661 |
1983 | $ 10,262.00 | $ 513.10 | $ 2,565.50 | |
1984 | 17,818.00 | 876.55 | 4,454.50 |
Respondent also moved for an award of damages to the United States pursuant to
The issues for decision are: (1) whether petitioner's wages constitute income; (2) whether petitioner is entitled to claim an exemption for his wife; (3) whether petitioner is entitled to a loss deduction with respect to investment property; (4) whether petitioner is liable for the additions to tax for negligence pursuant to
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and accompanying exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference.
Petitioner resided in New Brunswick, New Jersey, at the time the petition was filed in this case. He is married, but he filed separately for both 1983 and 1984. His wife earned no income during the years in issue, and he provided over one-half of her support.
Petitioner was employed as a steampipe fitter and received wages in the amount of $ *187 36,158.16 for 1983 and $ 55,512.48 for 1984. On his 1983 return, petitioner claimed an itemized deduction for tools in the amount of $ 36,158.16, the same amount as his wages. When questioned by the Court, petitioner stated that such deduction was for his body, which he contends is the "tool of his trade." On an amended 1983 return, which petitioner filed after receipt of the notice of deficiency for 1983, he deleted the deduction for "tools" but claimed he erred in reporting his wages because "wages are not income," and he claimed two exemptions rather than one. On his 1984 return, petitioner reported his wages but claimed his wages were not subject to taxation.
Although petitioner claimed no deductions on his returns (except for the deduction for "tools" on his 1983 return), respondent acknowledges that he is entitled to itemized deductions of $ 3,679.72 for 1983 and $ 7,581.21 for 1984.
At trial, petitioner claimed entitlement to a deduction for a loss incurred when a land deal in which he invested allegedly went bankrupt in 1983. In this regard, the record shows that on February 27, 1974, petitioner agreed to purchase, on a deferred basis, a lot located in Florida from Continental-Southeast *188 Land Corporation (Continental) for $ 7,021.84 (including interest). However, he ceased making payments on March 1, 1981; at that time, he had made total payments of approximating $ 5,426.00.
In support of his claimed loss, petitioner submitted as an exhibit a "Final Default Judgment" rendered on March 10, 1981, by the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for Putnam County, Florida. Petitioner was not a plaintiff in that case. The defendants included Continental; however, the Default Judgment was not entered against Continental, but referred to Continental as bankrupt. The Florida Circuit Court voided conveyances from Continental to the other defendants and ordered that all money and land be returned to the trustee in bankruptcy of Continental.
In a letter dated March 23, 1983, the trustee in bankruptcy of Continental wrote to petitioner and stated, "In my judgment, the various contract vendees have been defrauded and will neither receive their money nor their lot[s]. * * * The administration of the bankruptcy case is, however, continuing with every effort being made to recover the contract vendee payments * * * If my attorneys are successful, a substantial dividend *189 should be paid to creditors. * * * Frankly, I am not hopeful that we will be successful. * * *"
OPINION
We dispose of the issue raised by petitioner that wages do not constitute income simply by stating that they do. Section 61(a)(1);
The first issue of substance is whether petitioner is entitled to an exemption for his wife. Deductions are a matter of legislative grace, and petitioner bears the burden of proving entitlement to such deductions.
We next must decide whether petitioner is entitled to a deduction in 1983 *190 for the loss he contends he suffered as a result of his investment in the Florida lot.
Theft losses are treated as sustained during the taxable year in which the taxpayer discovers the loss.
The record with respect to a possible theft loss is far from satisfactory. The only evidence petitioner presented was the judgment rendered in a civil proceeding in 1981 involving Continental and a letter from the trustee in bankruptcy which addressed the possibility of recovery in 1983. Petitioner failed to identify what crime Continental committed, other than providing a general statement in the trustee's letter that petitioner was defrauded. In view of the inadequacy of the evidence, the fault for which must be borne by petitioner, we are compelled to hold that petitioner failed to prove entitlement to a theft loss in 1983.
We next must determine whether petitioner is liable for the additions to tax under
Under
Petitioner stated that he did not intend to disregard the rules and regulations and thus, he asserts, he should not be liable for the additions to tax under
Respondent also determined that petitioner is liable for an addition to tax pursuant to
An understatement is substantial if it exceeds the greater of $ 5,000 or 10 percent of the amount required to be shown on the return. The amount of the understatement is reduced by the portion of the understatement which is attributable to a taxpayer's treatment of an item if there is or was substantial authority for such treatment, or if the relevant facts affecting the item's tax treatment are adequately disclosed on the return or in a statement attached to the return.
Here, there is no question but that petitioner substantially understated his tax liability for both 1983 and 1984. Further, it is clear that no substantial authority existed for the positions taken by petitioner that his body is a deductible tool
Because disclosure of items attributable to a tax shelter will not reduce an understatement, we pause for a moment to determine whether petitioner's tax protestor activities constitute a "tax shelter" within the purview of
Having decided that petitioner's tax protestor activities do not constitute a tax shelter, we now shall decide whether he adequately disclosed his positions on his 1983 and 1984 returns.
Although the statute does not state what constitutes "adequate disclosure" of "relevant facts," the regulations amplify the two ways in which a taxpayer can satisfy the adequate disclosure standard under
However, where a taxpayer fails to comply with the disclosure procedures set forth in the revenue procedures issued pursuant to
On his 1983 return, petitioner simply deducted the entire amount of wages received as an expense for "tools." Assuming, arguendo, that such sufficed as a "clue," it clearly did not provide sufficient information to enable respondent to identify the potential controversy involved for purposes of satisfying the adequate disclosure standards under
On his 1984 return, petitioner identified the potential controversy, however lacking in merit, when he stated that wages do not constitute taxable income. Thus, petitioner's 1984 return did provide sufficient information to enable respondent to identify the potential controversy involved. Accordingly, we find petitioner liable for the addition to tax under
The *198 final issue for decision is whether damages should be awarded to the United States pursuant to
Whenever it appears to the Tax Court that proceedings before it have been instituted or maintained by the taxpayer primarily for delay or that the taxpayer's position in such proceedings is frivolous or groundless, damages in an amount not in excess of $ 5,000 shall be awarded to the United States by the Tax Court in its decision. Damages, so awarded shall be assessed at the same time as the deficiency and shall be paid upon notice and demand from the Secretary and shall be collected as a part of the tax.
On this particular record, we decline to award damages to the United States under
To reflect the foregoing and concessions by respondent,
1. All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended and in effect during the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
*. 50 percent of the interest due on the entire underpayment. ↩
2. We disregard the so-called amended return petitioner filed for 1983 after he received the notice of deficiency from respondent. See