DocketNumber: Docket Nos. 21599-92, 28871-92, 8303-93.
Judges: HAMBLEN
Filed Date: 9/5/1995
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 11/20/2020
*429 An order and decision will be entered in each case granting respondent's motion for summary judgment and entering decision for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
HAMBLEN,
By notice of deficiency dated January 28, 1993, respondent determined the following deficiencies in, and additions to, petitioners' Federal income taxes for the 1981 and 1982 taxable years:
Additions to Tax | |||||
Sec. | Sec. | Sec. | Sec. | ||
Year | Deficiency | 6653(b) | 6653(b)(1) | 6653(b)(2) | 6661 |
1981 | $ 46,503 | $ 23,252 | -- | -- | -- |
1982 | 28,879 | -- | $ 14,440 | $ 6,550 |
*430 In addition, by separate notices of deficiency dated September 30 and July 1, 1992, respectively, respondent determined the following deficiencies in, and additions to, petitioner's Federal income taxes for the 1989 and 1990 taxable years:
Additions to Tax | |||
Sec. | Sec. | ||
Year | Deficiency | 6651(a)(1) | 6654(a) |
1989 | $ 14,059 | $ 1,572 | $ 367 |
1990 | 7,096 | 525 | 101 |
The issues for decision are:
(1) Whether petitioners are liable for the tax deficiencies as determined in the notices of deficiency;
(2) whether petitioners are liable for additions to tax under
(3) whether petitioners are liable for an addition to tax under
(4) whether petitioner Benedetto Romano is liable for additions to tax under
(5) whether petitioner Benedetto Romano is liable for additions to tax under
(6) whether respondent*431 is precluded from assessing and collecting any of the determined tax deficiencies and additions to tax for the 1981 and 1982 taxable years due to the expiration of the 3-year limitations period on assessments and collections provided by
(7) whether respondent is precluded from assessing and collecting any of the alleged tax deficiencies and additions to tax by reason of the
Petitioners resided in Malba, New York, at the time the petitions were filed.
In their petition in docket No. 8303-93, relating to the 1981 and 1982 taxable years, petitioners challenge all of the tax deficiencies and additions to tax determined by respondent. The petition alleges the following: (1) The adjustments made by respondent to petitioners' income are erroneous; (2) petitioners submitted all records to their accountant and fully relied on him to properly prepare their returns; (3) the deficiency notice is invalid with respect to the years 1981 and 1982 because the 3- year limitations period on assessments under
Petitioners did not respond to the answer, and on August 24, 1993, respondent moved pursuant to
*434 Petitioners did not file a reply to respondent's
Petitioners' deemed admissions establish the following facts. During 1981 and 1982, petitioner Benedetto Romano claimed to be a wage laborer, and petitioner Giuseppa Romano claimed to be a housewife. On their tax returns, petitioners reported the following items of income:
Source | 1981 | 1982 |
Wages | $ 8,732 | $ 3,725 |
Interest | 2,274 | |
Total taxable | ||
items reported | 13,449 | 5,999 |
*435 Petitioners also received $ 6,251 of unemployment compensation during 1981, which they treated as exempt from taxation.
Petitioners engaged in additional income-producing activities during 1981 and 1982, including the rental of real estate in Jackson Heights, New York, and the operation of a pizzeria known as Benny's Pizza (the Pizzeria) in Sunnyside, New York. Petitioners "fraudulently and with intent to evade tax" failed to report the income they received from the rental real estate activity and the Pizzeria on their 1981 and 1982 tax returns. Moreover, petitioners failed to maintain, or to submit for examination by respondent, complete and adequate books and accounts of these income-producing activities for each of the taxable years 1981 and 1982, and petitioners "fraudulently and with intent to evade tax made false and misleading statements to respondent's agents during the examination of petitioners' income tax returns for the years 1981 and 1982".
Respondent determined petitioners' correct adjusted gross income for the taxable years 1981 and 1982 using the bank deposits method of reconstructing income. Under this analysis, petitioners' gross income from bank deposits for*436 1981 was $ 71,134, and their gross income from bank deposits for 1982 was $ 47,063, calculated as follows:
1981 | 1982 | |
Total bank deposits | $ 92,733 | $ 54,320 |
Less: | ||
Deposits attributable to | ||
nontaxable sources | (8,150) | (1,258) |
Net taxable deposits | 84,583 | 53,062 |
Less: | ||
Reported income | (13,449) | (5,999) |
Unreported ajusted | ||
gross income from | ||
bank deposits | 71,134 | 47,063 |
Except as indicated in the above calculations, petitioners did not receive any nontaxable or excludable income, receipts, cash or other assets during the 1981 and 1982 taxable years. Moreover, petitioners did not receive any gifts, inheritances, legacies, or devises during those years.
In addition to income reflected in the bank deposits, petitioners had the following income in 1981 and 1982:
1981 | 1982 | |||
Interest income reported | $ 4,717 | $ 2,274 | ||
Cash expenditures for | ||||
purchase of home | -- | W-2 tax withheld | 2,544 | 732 |
Personal living expenses | 16,204 | 17,825 | ||
Gross income from | ||||
other sources | 23,465 | 32,981 | ||
*437 Accordingly, petitioners "fraudulently and with intent to evade tax" omitted $ 94,599 and $ 80,044 from their 1981 and 1982 gross incomes, respectively, calculated as follows:
1981 | 1982 | |
Gross income from | ||
bank deposits | $ 71,134 | $ 47,063 |
Gross income from | ||
other sources | 23,465 | 32,981 |
Gross income | ||
per return | 13,449 | 5,999 |
Corrected gross income | 108,048 | 86,043 |
Less: | ||
gross income | ||
per return | (13,449) | (5,999) |
Understatement of | ||
gross income | 94,599 | 80,044 |
As a result of the foregoing omissions, petitioners "fraudulently and with intent to evade tax" understated their tax liability on their 1981 and 1982 income tax returns as follows:
1981 | 1982 | |
Corrected tax liability | $ 45,500 | $ 25,825 |
Add: | ||
Self employment tax | 1,950 | 2,681 |
Total corrected liability | 47,450 | 28,506 |
Less: | ||
Tax shown on return | ||
or as previously adjusted | (947) | Understatement of tax |
attributable to fraud | 46,503 | 28,879 |
In his petitions in docket Nos. 28871-92 and*438 21599-92, relating to the 1989 and 1990 taxable years, respectively, petitioner Benedetto Romano challenges all of the tax deficiencies and additions to tax determined by respondent. In respondent's answers to these petitions, respondent denies petitioner's material allegations.
On March 5, 1993, respondent sent informal information requests to petitioner in docket No. 21599-92, and on August 20, 1993, respondent sent informal information requests to petitioner in docket No. 28871-92. Petitioner failed to reply to each of these informal requests.
On September 14, 1993, pursuant to
2. Petitioner Benedetto Romano failed to file a federal income tax return for the year ended December 31, 1989.
3. During 1989, petitioner maintained [a] bank account * * * at the Long Island Savings Bank, FSB.
4. Petitioner earned $ 15 of taxable interest income from [that] bank account * * * during 1989.
5. During 1989, petitioner earned $ 34,047 of taxable wage income from Red Ball Interior Demolition Corp.
6. Petitioner had $ 4,979 of federal income tax withheld and $ 2,556 of FICA tax withheld from his wages from Red Ball Demolition Corp. in 1989.
7. During 1989, petitioner earned $ 24,908 of taxable wage income from Civale Z. Trovato, Inc.
8. Petitioner had $ 2,792 of federal income tax withheld and $ 1,870 of FICA tax withheld from his wages from Civale Z. Trovato, Inc. in 1989.
9. Petitioner is entitled to $ 2,000 in exemptions in computing his 1989 federal income tax liability.
10. Petitioner is entitled to the standard deduction of $ 2,600 in computing his 1989 federal income tax liability.
11. Petitioner had no reasonable cause to fail to file his 1989 federal income tax return.
12. Petitioner willfully*440 neglected to file his 1989 federal income tax return.
13. Petitioner is liable for the addition to tax pursuant to
14. Petitioner was required to make estimated tax payments for 1989.
15. Petitioner failed to make estimated tax payments for 1989.
16. Petitioner is liable for the addition to tax pursuant to
*441 Petitioner's deemed admissions establish the following facts with respect to the 1990 taxable year, as stated in paragraphs 17 through 32 of Respondent's First Request for Admissions: 17. Petitioner Benedetto Romano was required to file a federal income tax return for the taxable year ended December 31, 1990. 18. Petitioner Benedetto Romano failed to file a federal income tax return for the year ended December 31, 1990. 19. During 1990, petitioner maintained [a] bank account * * * at the Long Island Savings Bank, FSB. 20. Petitioner earned $ 10 of taxable interest income from [that] bank account * * * during 1990. 21. During 1990, petitioner earned $ 36,332.25 of taxable wage income from Red Ball Interior Demolition Corp. 22. Petitioner had $ 4,998.24 of federal income tax withheld and $ 2,779.41 of FICA tax withheld from his wages from Red Ball Demolition Corp. in 1990. 23. During 1990, petitioner received $ 1,300 of taxable unemployment compensation income from the New York State Department of Labor/Manpower. 24. Petitioner had no federal income tax withheld and no FICA tax withheld from his unemployment compensation in 1990. 25. Petitioner is entitled to $ 2,050 in *442 exemptions in computing his 1990 federal income tax liability. 26. Petitioner is entitled to the standard deduction of $ 2,725 in computing his 1990 federal income tax liability. 27. Petitioner had no reasonable cause to fail to file his 1990 federal income tax return. 28. Petitioner willfully neglected to file his 1990 federal income tax return. 29. Petitioner is liable for the addition to tax pursuant to 30. Petitioner was required to make estimated tax payments for 1990. 31. Petitioner failed to make estimated tax payments for 1990. 32. Petitioner is liable for the addition to tax pursuant to
Summary judgment is intended to expedite litigation and avoid unnecessary and expensive trials of phantom factual issues.
A motion for summary judgment is granted if "the pleadings, answers to interrogatories, depositions, admissions, and any other acceptable materials, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that a decision may be rendered as a matter of law."
As suggested by
In their petition in docket No. 8303-93, petitioners assert the affirmative defense that the 3-year limitations period under
The
Respondent contends that the statutory exception provided by (1) False Return.--In the case of a false or fraudulent return with the intent to evade tax, the tax may be assessed, or a proceeding in court for collection of such tax may be begun without assessment, at any time.
As discussed in more detail below, petitioners' deemed admissions of fact establish that petitioners filed false or fraudulent income tax returns for the 1981 and 1982 taxable years with the intent to evade tax. Accordingly, we hold that respondent has met her burden of proving that the exception contained in
The next issue for decision is whether petitioners are liable for the underlying tax deficiencies for the 1981 and 1982 taxable years in the amounts determined by respondent. Respondent determined the amount of petitioners' unreported income for 1981 and 1982*447 using the bank deposits method. Under the bank deposits method, it is assumed "that all money deposited in a taxpayer's bank account during a given period constitutes taxable income, but the Government must take into account any nontaxable source or deductible expense of which it has knowledge."
Petitioners' deemed admissions detail the manner in which respondent used the bank deposits method to reconstruct petitioners' income. Respondent first identified the bank accounts maintained by petitioners during the taxable years in issue and calculated the total deposits into each account. She then totaled the bank deposits net of amounts attributable to nontaxable sources and subtracted the*448 income as reported on petitioners' tax return for each year. These computations produced unexplained deposits of $ 71,134 for 1981 and $ 47,063 for 1982.
In addition to the unreported income reflected in the bank deposits, petitioners' deemed admissions establish that petitioners had other unreported*449 income of $ 23,465 in 1981 and $ 32,981 in 1982. As a result, petitioners failed to report as income a total of $ 94,599 for 1981 and $ 80,044 for 1982. Because no genuine issue of material fact exists regarding this issue, we hold that petitioners are liable for the tax deficiencies for the 1981 and 1982 taxable years in the amounts reflected in the deficiency notice.
We next decide whether petitioners are liable for the addition to tax under
The deemed admissions establish that the understatement for 1982 is substantial under this definition. Although the addition to tax may be reduced to the extent that an understatement is attributable to a taxpayer's reliance on substantial authority for his position or to facts that a taxpayer adequately disclosed on his return,
In their petition, petitioners allege that they submitted all of their records to their accountant and relied on him to accurately prepare their returns. Petitioners apparently contend that this reliance is sufficient to invoke the waiver provisions of
In determining reasonable cause and good faith under
Because no genuine issue of material fact exists, we hold that petitioners are liable for the addition to tax under
The final issue for decision with respect to the 1981 and 1982 taxable years is whether petitioners are liable for the additions to tax for fraud as determined by respondent. Congress amended the provision for the fraud addition to tax during the years in issue. The 1981 taxable year is governed by
Respondent bears the burden of proving petitioners' fraud for each year by clear and convincing evidence. *453
For each year, the Commissioner must prove fraud with affirmative evidence; fraud is never imputed or presumed.
Fraud is defined as an intentional wrongdoing designed to evade tax believed to be owing.
Petitioners' deemed admissions directly state that petitioners "fraudulently and with intent to evade tax" failed to report the income they received from the rental real estate activity and the Pizzeria in their 1981 and 1982 gross income. The deemed admissions also contain numerous badges of petitioners' fraud. For example, petitioners admit that they failed to maintain, or to submit for examination by respondent, complete and adequate books and accounts of these income-producing activities for each of the taxable years 1981 and 1982, and that petitioners "fraudulently and with intent to evade tax made false and misleading statements to respondent's agents during the examination of petitioners' income tax returns for the years 1981 and 1982."
Petitioners' *456 admissions provide clear and convincing evidence that at least some part of petitioners' underpayment for the 1981 and 1982 taxable years was due to fraud. Accordingly, respondent has proven that petitioners are liable for the additions to tax under
We are also convinced that petitioners' admissions are sufficient to meet respondent's augmented burden of proving petitioners' liability under
In light of the foregoing, we hold that there is no genuine issue of material fact with respect to respondent's determinations of the additions to tax imposed for fraud for the 1981 and 1982 taxable years, and we grant respondent's motion for summary judgment on this issue.
The first issue for decision with respect to petitioner Benedetto Romano's 1989 and 1990 taxable years is whether petitioner is liable for the tax deficiencies in the*458 amounts determined by respondent. Petitioner's deemed admissions establish that petitioner had the following taxable items of income for the 1989 taxable year, none of which was reported on a Federal income tax return: (1) Interest income of $ 15, (2) wage income of $ 34,047 from Red Ball Interior Demolition Corp., and (3) wage income of $ 24,908 from Civale Z. Trovato, Inc. After taking into consideration the $ 2,000 personal exemption and the $ 2,600 standard deduction to which petitioner admits he is entitled, respondent determined a deficiency of $ 14,059 for petitioner's 1989 taxable year.
Similarly, petitioner's deemed admissions establish that petitioner had the following taxable items of income for the 1990 taxable year, none of which was reported on a Federal income tax return: (1) Interest income of $ 10, (2) wage income of $ 36,332.25 from Red Ball Interior Demolition Corp., and (3) unemployment compensation income from the New York State Department of Labor/Management of $ 1,300. After taking into consideration the $ 2,050 personal exemption and the $ 2,725 standard deduction to which petitioner admits he is entitled, respondent determined a deficiency of $ 7,096 for *459 petitioner's 1990 taxable year.
As a result of these deemed admissions, no genuine issue of material fact exists with respect to petitioner's income tax deficiencies for the 1989 and 1990 taxable years, and we grant respondent's motion for summary judgment on this issue.
The next issue for decision is whether petitioner is liable for the additions to tax under
Petitioner's deemed admissions establish that petitioner was required to file Federal income tax returns for both the 1989 and 1990 taxable years and that he failed to do so. Moreover, petitioner admits that he had no reasonable*460 cause for his failure to file, and that his failure was due to willful neglect. Accordingly, the additions to tax under
The next issue we address is whether petitioner is liable for additions to tax under
Petitioner has failed to show that he falls within any of the exceptions in
As a final matter, we address an argument that permeates*461 petitioners' opposition to respondent's motion for summary judgment. As their primary argument against summary judgment, petitioners contend that an alleged violation of petitioner Benedetto Romano's due process right under the
The facts upon which petitioners' argument is based were set forth in our recent opinion in
On November 17, 1983, petitioner was stopped by a Canadian customs official while crossing a bridge from Buffalo, New York, into Ontario, Canada. When petitioner opened his car trunk at the request of the Canadian official, the official discovered bags containing several thousand dollars. When the Canadian official learned that petitioner had not declared the money before exporting it from the United States, *462 the official ordered petitioner to return to the United States. After crossing back to the American side of the bridge, petitioner was questioned by a U.S. immigration officer, and petitioner eventually admitted that he had more than $ 300,000 in cash in his trunk. Petitioner, at the official's request, then completed a currency declaration form and a baggage declaration form. Because petitioner had failed to declare the currency before he crossed into Canada, the currency was confiscated and the United States sought a forfeiture of the confiscated money under
The District Court for the Western District of New York (the District Court) denied the Government's forfeiture petition, observing that the Government's failure to provide some form of notice of the reporting requirement violated petitioner's due process rights under the
In Romano I, petitioner raised an argument similar to that raised in the present case. Petitioner argued that the "fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine of
The Supreme Court has recognized that *464 "the exclusionary rule imposes a substantial cost on the societal interest in law enforcement by its proscription of what concededly is relevant evidence",
Because no genuine issue of material fact exists as to any of the issues in question, and because respondent's determination with respect to each issue is correct as a matter of law,
1. The following cases are consolidated herewith: Benedetto Romano, docket No. 28871-92, and Benedetto and Giuseppa Romano, docket No. 8303-93. All references to petitioner are to Benedetto Romano.↩
2. Murray Appleman, who was counsel of record for petitioners in each of the respective consolidated cases, died following the briefing of the current motion but before issuance of this opinion. There is presently no counsel of record for petitioners.↩
1. Fifty percent of the interest due on the portion of the underpayment attributable to fraud. For the year 1982, respondent determined that $ 26,198 of the deficiency was attributable to fraud.↩
3. By order of this Court dated Oct. 24, 1994, allegations in the petition relating to petitioner Giuseppa Romano's claim of entitlement to innocent spouse relief were stricken from the petition.↩
4. The relevant part of (c) Effect of Reply or Failure Thereof: * * * Where a reply is not filed, the affirmative allegations in the answer will be deemed denied unless the Commissioner, within 45 days after expiration of the time for filing the reply, files a motion that specified allegations in the answer be deemed admitted. That motion will be served on the petitioner and may be granted unless the required reply is filed within the time directed by the Court.↩
1. In one paragraph of respondent's answer the amount of interest income reported by petitioners for 1981 is listed as $ 4,717, while in another it is stated to be $ 5,117. Because petitioners' ultimate admission of understated income reflects the $ 4,717 figure, and because that figure is consistent with the calculations contained in the notice of deficiency, petitioners are deemed to have admitted that the amount of interest income reported for 1981 was $ 4,717.↩
1. During 1982, petitioners paid a total of $ 184,824 to purchase their home in Malba, New York. Of that amount, $ 172,674 was paid from petitioners' bank accounts and from the proceeds of a bank loan. The source of the remaining $ 12,150 payment was unaccounted for, and respondent treated it as coming from taxable source.↩
1. The $ 373 addition for the 1982 taxable year reflects the disallowance of an earned income credit claimed by petitioners on their return.↩
5. The relevant part of (c) Response to Request: Each matter [contained in a written request for admission] is deemed admitted unless, within 30 days after service of the request or within such shorter or longer time as the Court may allow, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the requesting party (1) a written answer specifically admitting or denying the matter involved in whole or in part, or asserting that it cannot be truthfully admitted or denied and setting forth in detail the reasons why this is so, or (2) an objection, stating in detail the reasons therefore.* * *↩
6. Although respondent is not required to show a likely source of income determined under the bank deposits method,
7. The relevant part of
8. The relevant parts of
(1) In General.--If any part of any underpayment * * * of tax required to be shown on a return is due to fraud, there shall be added to the tax an amount equal to 50 percent of the underpayment. (2) Additional Amount for Portion Attributable to Fraud.--There shall be added to the tax (in addition to the amount determined under paragraph (1)) an amount equal to 50 percent of the interest payable under section 6601-- (A) with respect to the portion of the underpayment described in paragraph (1) which is attributable to fraud, and (B) for the period beginning on the last day prescribed by law for payment of such underpayment (determined without regard to any extension) and ending on the date of the assessment of the tax (or, if earlier, the date of the payment of the tax).↩
9. The $ 2,681 of the underpayment not attributable to fraud apparently represents the amount of petitioners' self-employment tax.↩
10. Although we address this possible connection in an attempt to fully address petitioner's argument, petitioners made no specific allegations of fact supporting this connection.↩
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