T.C. Memo. 2003-111
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
CHARLES SHAW, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 7752-00. Filed April 18, 2003.
A. Albert Ajubita and Wanda L. Theriot, for petitioner.
Emile L. Hebert III, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
COLVIN, Judge: Respondent determined deficiencies in
petitioner’s Federal income tax, penalties, and additions to tax
as follows:
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Addition to tax and penalties
Year Deficiency Sec. 6651(f) Sec. 6654 Sec. 6663
1993 $52,022 $38,266.50 $2,137.78
1994 89,820 67,365.00 4,660.89
1995 146,427 $109,820.25
Respondent concedes that petitioner is not liable for the
addition to tax for fraudulent failure to file for 1993 and 1994
under section 6651(f). Respondent also determined that, if
petitioner is not liable for fraudulent failure to file under
section 6651(f) for 1993 and 1994, then he is liable for fraud
under section 6663(a) for those years. Alternatively, respondent
determined that petitioner is liable for an addition to tax for
failure to timely file under section 6651(a) and an accuracy-
related penalty under section 6662(a) for 1993-95.
After concessions, the issues for decision are:
1. Whether petitioner had unreported gross receipts in 1993
of $252,006, as petitioner contends, or $345,172, as respondent
contends. We hold that he failed to prove that he had unreported
gross receipts of less than $345,172.
2. Whether petitioner had costs of goods sold of
$568,937.79 in 1993, $504,199.79 in 1994, and $560,235.41 in
1995, as petitioner contends, or $74,012 in 1993, $201,963 in
1994, and $101,395 in 1995, as respondent contends. Respondent
determined that petitioner’s costs of goods sold were $199,073 in
1993, $213,564 in 1994, and $166,142 in 1995. We hold that
petitioner failed to prove that his costs of goods sold were more
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than respondent determined, and that respondent failed to prove
that his costs of goods sold were less than respondent
determined.
3. Whether petitioner may deduct a larger amount for
business expenses than respondent allowed for each year in issue.
We hold that he may not.
4. Whether petitioner is liable for fraud under section
6663(a) for 1993-95. We hold that he is not because respondent
did not prove by clear and convincing evidence that petitioner’s
gross receipts exceeded his costs of goods sold for any of the
years in issue.
5. Whether petitioner is liable for the accuracy-related
penalty under section 6662 for 1993-95. We hold that he is.
6. Whether petitioner is liable for the addition to tax
under section 6654 for failure to pay estimated tax for 1993 and
1994. We hold that we lack jurisdiction to decide this issue
because petitioner filed returns for 1993 and 1994.
7. Whether the statute of limitations bars assessment of
tax for 1993. We hold that it does not because respondent proved
by a preponderance of the evidence that the 6-year period to
assess tax applies. Sec. 6501(3)(1)(A).
Unless otherwise specified, section references are to the
Internal Revenue Code as amended, and Rule references are to the
Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
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FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found.
A. Petitioner
Petitioner resided in Gretna, Louisiana, when the petition
was filed. He was born and raised in China, where he had the
equivalent of a high school education in the United States.
Petitioner has lived in the United States since 1984.
Petitioner’s Chinese name was Xia Zhi Wu. Petitioner had
brothers named Xia Hung, also known as Steven Morgan, who lived
in New Orleans in 1984, and Xia Zhi Yuang, who lived in Shanghai,
China.
In 1984, Steven Morgan owned a retail framing shop on
Bourbon Street in the French Quarter in New Orleans (Bourbon
Street store). Petitioner worked for Steven Morgan at the
Bourbon Street store after he arrived in the United States.
Petitioner changed his name to Charles Shaw when he became a
U.S. citizen in 1986. He married Gwendolyn Shaw (Ms. Shaw) in
1986. They bought the Bourbon Street store from Steven Morgan in
1986 and added retail sales of masks, dolls, T-shirts, posters,
and similar merchandise. They had a daughter who was less than
10 years old during the years in issue.
Petitioner and Ms. Shaw were divorced on September 19, 1991.
They did not remarry and were not married at any time during the
years in issue. However, petitioner and Ms. Shaw lived together
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in Gretna in 1993 and part of 1994, and in New Orleans during the
remainder of 1994 and 1995. Ms. Shaw became the sole owner of
the Bourbon Street store sometime before 1993.
In 1992, petitioner owned a residence at 432 Homes Boulevard
in Gretna. In 1995, petitioner paid $5,279 in interest and
$2,496 in real estate taxes with respect to his personal
residence.
B. Petitioner’s Business
In 1993, petitioner started a sole proprietorship known as
Far Eastern Artworks Wholesale (Far Eastern) in Terrytown,
Louisiana. Far Eastern did business as both a retailer and a
wholesaler.
1. Merchandise
During 1993-95, Far Eastern sold gifts, souvenirs, and Mardi
Gras type merchandise. In 1993-95, petitioner bought goods for
resale from Shanghai Charles Artware Co., Ltd. (Shanghai
Charles), Jindge Zhen Huaxia Artware Co., Ltd. (Jindge Zhen),
Bizehen, Shanghai Shen Hong Corp. (Shanghai Shen), Kuang-Yu Wen,
Henry’s Gifts International Inc. (Henry’s Gifts), Boxter Customer
Service, The Express Publishing, Mardi Gras Imports, Graphtex,
United Gifts, Southland Shirts, Cunningham Posters, Sam’s Club,
and Jefferson Variety Store. Petitioner paid $8,439 to buy goods
for resale from Henry’s Gifts in 1993. Shanghai Charles, Jindge
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Zhen, Bizhen, Shanghai Shen, and Kuang-Yu Wen were located in
China.
2. Shipping Charges and Customs House Brokers
Petitioner obtained 70 to 75 percent of his merchandise from
China. Petitioner paid shipping charges of $38,682 in 1993,
$18,678 in 1994, and $21,401 in 1995 to buy merchandise for Far
Eastern to resell.
Petitioner was required to file forms with the U.S. Customs
Service (Customs Service) when he imported goods to the United
States. He used customs house brokers to prepare and file
documents with the Customs Service on his behalf in the years in
issue. One of the customs house brokers petitioner used was
Panalpina, Inc. (Panalpina). Petitioner also used The Hipage
Co., Inc., and Southern Export Services as customs house brokers
in 1993.
3. Petitioner’s Business Expenses
In 1993-95, petitioner incurred business expenses for
electricity, gas, garbage removal, termite control, telephone,
and travel.
Petitioner traveled to China during each of the years in
issue to attend craft and trade shows and to identify merchandise
that he could sell. He incurred business travel expenses of
$4,188 in 1994.
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Petitioner paid $50 per day for about 250 days per year to
each of two individuals to help him with the business (e.g.,
unloading containers) in 1993-95.
4. Petitioner’s and Ms. Shaw’s Bank Accounts
During 1993-95, petitioner was a signatory on six bank
accounts (petitioner’s bank accounts) that he used for his
business.
Ms. Shaw also had a business bank account. Some of the
gross receipts from her store were deposited in petitioner’s bank
accounts in 1993-95.
The following amounts were deposited in petitioner’s bank
accounts: $549,478 in 1993, $612,380 in 1994, and $603,049 in
1995.1 These deposits included some of Ms. Shaw’s income from
the Bourbon Street store, which was nontaxable to petitioner, and
the following additional amounts that are nontaxable to
petitioner:2
1
This included some deposits of income from Ms. Shaw’s
business, which respondent concedes is a nontaxable source for
petitioner.
2
Respondent concedes that the following amount of Ms.
Shaw’s income was deposited in petitioner’s bank accounts:
$38,834 in 1993, and $12,085 in 1994, and that those deposits
were not taxable to petitioner. Petitioner contends that more
than $38,834 of Ms. Shaw’s gross receipts was deposited in his
bank accounts in 1993. We discuss petitioner’s contention below
in par. B-1 of the opinion.
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Item 1993 1994 1995
Interest income $793 $410 $225
Rental income 2,614 11,379 12,600
Loans received 68,000 125,000 27,000
Credit card advances –- 4,000 –-
Tax refunds 138 278 548
Insurance proceeds 25,000 –- –-
Transfers between
accounts –- 27,500 3,400
Real property sale 68,427 –- –-
Total amounts of deposits,
not including deposits of
Ms. Shaw’s income: 164,972 168,567 43,773
Petitioner received no nontaxable or excludable income,
receipts, cash, or other assets during 1993-95, other than as
described above. He received no gifts or inheritances in 1993-
95.3
C. Petitioner’s Income Tax Returns
Petitioner and Ms. Shaw met with a representative of H & R
Block who prepared joint 1993 and 1994 Federal income tax returns
for them. They did not take any documents to H & R Block.
Petitioner and Ms. Shaw timely filed those returns. They did not
report any income or deductions relating to Far Eastern on their
1993 or 1994 returns. The income and expenses reported on
3
Contrary to the stipulation of facts, petitioner
testified that he received gifts or loans in 1993-95. However,
he does not contend that he deposited those alleged gifts in his
bank accounts in 1993-95. Thus, his testimony about those
alleged gifts does not affect the amount of petitioner’s
unreported gross receipts in 1993-95.
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petitioner’s and Ms. Shaw’s 1993 and 1994 returns related to Ms.
Shaw’s store.
Petitioner timely filed his 1995 return as a single person.
On that return, he reported $221,000 in gross receipts from Far
Eastern, but he understated gross receipts from Far Eastern by
$338,276, and overstated net rental income by about $5,000.
D. Respondent’s Determination
Revenue Agent Claude Williams (Williams) began to examine
petitioner’s 1993-95 returns before July 23, 1998. Petitioner
cooperated fully with Williams during the examination.
Petitioner signed a document allowing Williams to review
petitioner’s bank records. Williams asked petitioner to complete
a lengthy form to provide information about his personal living
expenses during the years in issue. Petitioner completed the
form with information that Williams believed was fair and
complete.
Petitioner did not have many records for Far Eastern. As a
result, Williams reconstructed petitioner’s gross receipts for
1993-95 using the bank deposits method. To reduce photocopying
costs, Williams did not obtain copies of petitioner’s bank
deposit records or canceled checks for the years in issue.
Williams obtained records for Far Eastern from the Customs
Service, Panalpina, and Henry’s Gifts. He used those records to
try to reconstruct petitioner’s shipping costs. The Panalpina
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employee who gave Panalpina’s records of petitioner’s imports to
Williams during the audit of petitioner’s 1993-95 tax years was
transferred from New Orleans to Chicago, where she was a manager
or vice president. She was subsequently fired or forced to
resign from Panalpina.
Petitioner gave Williams a document purporting to be a
summary of petitioner’s purchases from Jindge Zhen in 1993-95.
Williams included the amounts from that summary in petitioner’s
costs of good sold for 1993-95. However, Williams did not
include any payments by petitioner to The Hipage Co., Inc.,
Southern Export Services, Bizehen, Shanghai Shen, Boxter Customer
Service, Sam’s Club, Jefferson Variety Store, and Kuang-Yu Wen in
petitioner’s costs of goods sold for 1993-95. Respondent’s
determination of petitioner’s costs of goods sold is based solely
on petitioner’s purchases from Henry’s Gifts and Jindge Zhen and
amounts paid to Panalpina for brokerage services in 1993-95.
Respondent mailed a notice of deficiency to petitioner for
1993-95 on April 11, 2000.
E. Invoice Summaries of Shanghai Charles and Shanghai Shen
In anticipation of the trial in this case, petitioner
obtained documents from one of his brothers in China which
purport to be summaries of petitioner’s purchases in 1993-95 from
Shanghai Charles and Shanghai Shen.
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OPINION
A. Respondent’s Determination
Respondent determined that petitioner had unreported income
of $139,425 in 1993, $239,655 in 1994, and $375,637 in 1995.
Petitioner disputes respondent’s determination of his gross
receipts for 1993 and costs of goods sold and business expenses
for each year in issue.
Petitioner must keep records which are sufficient to
calculate his tax liability. Sec. 6001. Where, as here, a
taxpayer keeps inadequate records, the Commissioner may
reconstruct the taxpayer’s gross receipts and costs to determine
the taxpayer’s unreported income. Webb v. Commissioner, 394 F.2d
366, 373 (5th Cir. 1968), affg. T.C. Memo. 1966-81. As the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said in Webb v.
Commissioner, supra at 373:
Arithmetic precision was originally and exclusively in
* * * [the taxpayer’s] hands, and he had a statutory
duty to provide it. He did not have to add or
subtract; rather, he had simply to keep papers and data
for others to mathematicize. Having defaulted in his
duty, he cannot frustrate the Commissioner’s reasonable
attempts by compelling investigation and recomputation
under every means of income determination. * * *
Respondent reconstructed petitioner’s income for 1993-95
using the bank deposits method because petitioner did not have
adequate books and records. Petitioner points out that Williams
did not account for amounts petitioner paid to vendors other than
Jindge Zhen and Henry’s Gifts even though the documents that
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Williams obtained from Panalpina listed other vendors.
Petitioner contends that Williams’ failure to obtain information
from other vendors about how much petitioner paid them in the
years in issue means that the determination of costs of goods
sold was arbitrary. We disagree.
Williams’ analysis is a reasonable basis for the notice of
deficiency. Thus, the notice of deficiency is presumed to be
correct, and petitioner bears the burden of proving that the
deficiencies were less than determined by respondent.4 Welch v.
Commissioner, 204 F.3d 1228, 1230 (9th Cir. 2000), affg. T.C.
Memo. 1998-121; Calhoun v. United States, 591 F.2d 1243, 1245
(9th Cir. 1978); Clayton v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 632, 645
(1994); DiLeo v. Commissioner, 96 T.C. 858, 869 (1991), affd. on
other grounds 959 F.2d 16 (2d Cir. 1992); Parks v. Commissioner,
94 T.C. 654, 660 (1990). That burden of proof is important
because petitioner lacked important business records.
Conversely, there are gaps in Williams’ analysis which are
important to issues where respondent has the burden of proof;
i.e., whether petitioner is liable for fraud, and whether the
deficiencies are larger than respondent determined.
4
Sec. 7491(a) does not apply because the examination for
each year in issue commenced before July 23, 1998.
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B. Whether Petitioner Had Unreported Income in 1993-95
1. Petitioner’s Gross Receipts for 1993
Respondent contends that petitioner had unreported gross
receipts of $345,172 for 1993. Petitioner contends that he had
unreported gross receipts of $252,006 for 1993.
Respondent concedes that $38,834 of petitioner’s bank
deposits in 1993 was from Ms. Shaw’s business, a nontaxable
source. Petitioner contends that, because Ms. Shaw deposited
$132,393 from her business in her bank accounts in 1994, and
because she testified that her gross receipts were similar for
1993 and 1994, $132,000 from Ms. Shaw’s business was deposited in
his bank accounts in 1993.
There is no evidence that more than $38,834 of Ms. Shaw’s
gross receipts was deposited in petitioner’s bank accounts in
1993. Thus, because petitioner has the burden of proving that
his gross receipts were less than respondent determined, we
conclude that he had unreported gross receipts of $345,172 in
1993.5
2. Costs of Goods Sold
a. Positions of the Parties
Respondent determined that petitioner had costs of goods
sold of $199,073 for 1993, $213,564 for 1994, and $166,142 for
5
Petitioner concedes that he had unreported gross receipts
of $431,728 for 1994 and $338,276 for 1995.
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1995. Petitioner contends that he had costs of goods sold of
$568,937.79 in 1993, $504,199.79 in 1994, and $560,235.41 in
1995. Petitioner bears the burden of proving that his costs of
goods sold for 1993-95 were greater than respondent determined.
Rule 142(a)(1).
Respondent contends that petitioner had costs of goods sold
of $74,012 for 1993, $201,963 for 1994, and $101,395 for 1995.
Respondent bears the burden of proving that costs of goods sold
are less than respondent determined. Id.
b. Whether Documents Bearing the Names Shanghai
Charles, Shanghai Shen, and Jindge Zhen Are
Admissible
Petitioner offered what appears to be summaries on company
invoice forms bearing the names of Shanghai Charles (Exhibit 79-
P), Shanghai Shen (Exhibit 80-P), and Jindge Zhen (Exhibit 81-P)
to show the amounts he paid to those companies in 1993-95.
Exhibits 79-P and 80-P are dated “Jane 7 2001” (sic). Exhibit
81-P is not dated. Exhibits 79-P and 81-P are stamped with a
company seal but not signed. Exhibit 80-P is signed by an
unidentified person but not stamped with a company seal. The
summaries state that petitioner paid the following amounts for
merchandise:
Merchant 1993 1994 1995
Shanghai Charles $194,000 $181,500 $149,000
Shanghai Shen 115,000 94,500 103,500
Jindge Zhen 174,500 131,600 154,400
Total 483,500 407,600 406,900
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The parties stipulated that we may treat Exhibits 90-J and
91-J as statements of petitioner’s brother, Xia Zhi Yuang (Xia
Zhi Yuang’s statements), in China. According to those
statements, the information in Exhibits 79-P and 80-P was created
by accountants for Shanghai Charles and Shanghai Shen in 2001 at
petitioner’s request and then translated into English.
Petitioner contends that Xia Zhi Yuang’s statements show that all
of the requirements for admissibility under rule 803(6) of the
Federal Rules of Evidence6 have been met for Exhibits 79-P, 80-P,
and 81-P. We disagree. There is no evidence that Exhibits 79-P,
80-P, or 81-P were contemporaneously made, were regularly kept,
were based on information transmitted by a person with knowledge,
or that the witness was qualified to provide the information.
Exhibits 79-P, 80-P, and 81-P lack trustworthiness because they
6
Fed. R. Evid. 803(6) provides as follows:
(6) Records of regularly conducted activity.--A
memorandum, report, record, or data compilation, in any
form, of acts, events, conditions, opinions, or
diagnoses, made at or near the time by, or from
information transmitted by, a person with knowledge, if
kept in the course of a regularly conducted business
activity, and if it was the regular practice of that
business activity to make the memorandum, report,
record, or data compilation, all as shown by the
testimony of the custodian or other qualified witness,
* * * unless the source of information or the method or
circumstances of preparation indicate lack of
trustworthiness. The term “business” as used in this
paragraph includes business, institution, association,
profession, occupation, and calling of every kind,
whether or not conducted for profit.
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were unaccompanied by any underlying business records and because
the accountants and translators are not identified in the record.
Fed. R. Evid. 803(6); see also Fed. R. Evid. 1006.
Petitioner contends that this case is like Gerling Intl.
Ins. Co. v. Commissioner, 98 T.C. 640 (1992), in which we
admitted summaries. We disagree. The summaries in Gerling were
made at or near the time of the events recorded in the summaries
and were regularly kept. Id. at 652-653. That is not the case
here. We conclude, as we did at trial, that Exhibits 79-P, 80-P,
and 81-P are inadmissible.
c. Whether Petitioner’s Costs of Goods Sold Were
Greater Than Respondent Determined
Petitioner contends that Exhibits 79-P, 80-P, and 81-P show
that his costs of goods sold were greater than respondent
determined. We disagree because, as discussed above at paragraph
B-2-b, those exhibits are not in evidence.
Petitioner contends that Williams failed to count all of
petitioner’s costs of goods sold because Panalpina’s numerical
codes made it difficult to retrieve all records of petitioner’s
imports. Petitioner also contends that the Panalpina records are
unreliable because the Panalpina employee who gave them to
respondent was not competent to do so because she was fired or
forced to resign.
Petitioner’s criticism of Williams and Panalpina misses the
mark because petitioner bears the burden of proving that his
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costs of goods sold for the years in issue were greater than
respondent determined.
d. Whether Petitioner’s Costs of Goods Sold Were Less
Than Respondent Determined
Respondent contends that petitioner’s costs of goods sold
were less than the amounts determined in the notice of
deficiency. Respondent contends that respondent erroneously
credited payments to Jindge Zhen in calculating petitioner’s
costs of goods sold for 1993-95 as a result of relying on a
document that is unreliable. Respondent determined and contends
that petitioner had cost of goods sold as follows:
Notice of Deficiency Litigating Position1
Supplier 1993 1994 1995 1993 1994 1995
Henry’s Gifts –- $73,189 $4,050 $8,439 $73,189 $4,050
Panalpina $24,573 8,774 7,692 24,573 8,774 7,692
Jindge Zhen 174,500 131,600 154,400 –- 56,000 58,100
Shanghai Charles -- -- -- 41,000 64,000 9,000
Express Publishing -- -- -- –- –- 1,260
Certified Merchant Svcs. –- -- -- –- –- 1,175
Mardi Gras Imports -- -- -- –- –- 6,145
Graphtex –- -- -- -- -- 2,519
United Gift and Novelty -- -- -- –- –- 8,958
Southland Shirts -- -- -- –- –- 1,163
Cunningham Enterprises -- -- -- –- –- 1,333
2
Total 199,073 213,563 166,142 74,012 201,963 101,395
1
Respondent’s litigating position is based on amounts
contained in the stipulation. However, the parties did not stipulate
that these amounts included all of petitioner’s costs of goods sold.
2
Respondent determined that petitioner’s costs of goods sold
were $213,564 for 1994. The $1 discrepancy is unexplained in the
record.
Respondent bears the burden of proof on this point. Rule
142(a)(1). To meet this burden, respondent must show that
petitioner’s cost of goods sold for each year in issue was less
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than respondent determined for that year. Respondent does not
meet this burden by pointing out gaps in petitioner’s proof. In
calculating petitioner’s costs of goods sold, respondent did not
account for any payments to The Hipage Co., Inc., Southern Export
Services, Bizehen, Shanghai Shen, Boxter Customer Service, Sam’s
Club, Jefferson Variety Store, and Kuang-Yu Wen in 1993-95,
despite the fact that these are companies with which Far Eastern
did business during the years in issue. Williams did not obtain
canceled checks from petitioner’s bank accounts for the years in
issue because they were numerous and he thought that his
supervisor would not approve the cost of copying them. This
suggests that respondent did not count all of petitioner’s costs
in calculating petitioner’s costs of goods sold. Respondent’s
apparent failure to account for payments to some of the companies
with which Far Eastern did business and respondent’s failure to
obtain petitioner’s checks casts doubt on respondent’s contention
that petitioner’s costs of goods sold is less than respondent
determined.
Respondent has not shown that petitioner’s costs of goods
sold were less than respondent determined.
e. Conclusion
We conclude that, because neither party has proven
otherwise, petitioner had costs of goods sold as respondent
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determined in the amounts of $199,073 in 1993, $213,564 in 1994,
and $166,142 in 1995.
3. Petitioner’s Business Expense Deductions
Petitioner contends that he may deduct greater amounts for
business expenses than respondent allowed. We disagree for
reasons discussed below.
a. Insurance
Petitioner contends that he may deduct insurance expenses of
$2,803.25 in 1994 and $2,280 in 1995. There are four canceled
checks in evidence written by petitioner to insurance companies
in 1994 and 1995. However, there is no evidence that these
payments were for petitioner’s business.
b. Supplies
Petitioner contends that three checks that he wrote to Sam’s
Club, Home Supplies, and Jefferson Variety Store, Inc., were
business expenses. However, there is no evidence that these
payments were for business expenses.
c. Travel
The parties stipulated that petitioner incurred business-
related travel expenses of $4,188 in 1994. There is no evidence
showing the amount of petitioner’s travel expenses for 1993 or
1995. Petitioner contends that he may deduct expenses that he
and Ms. Shaw incurred to attend a festival of rural craftsmen in
China in each year in issue. However, there is no evidence
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showing how much he spent to travel to the festivals. Thus,
petitioner may not deduct more than $4,188 for travel expenses in
1994 and $0 for 1993 and 1995.
d. Other Expenses
Respondent determined that petitioner did not substantiate,
and therefore may not deduct, expenses for electricity,
telephone, sewage, water, labor, and transportation used in his
business. Petitioner asks us to estimate the amount of these
expenses under Cohan v. Commissioner, 39 F.2d 540, 544 (2d Cir.
1930); see also Bayou Verret Land Co. v. Commissioner, 450 F.2d
850, 858 (5th Cir. 1971), affg. 52 T.C. 971 (1969). The taxpayer
must present credible evidence that provides a rational basis for
our estimate. Vanicek v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 731, 743 (1985).
Petitioner offers only the vaguest estimates of his costs. It is
not appropriate under Cohan for us to guess the amounts of his
expenses. Thus, petitioner may not deduct any amounts for
miscellaneous business expenses.
4. Conclusion as to Unreported Income
Petitioner has not shown that he had unreported income less
than $139,425 in 1993, $239,655 in 1994, and $375,637 in 1995, as
determined by respondent. Thus we sustain respondent’s
determination.
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C. Whether Petitioner Is Liable for Fraud Under Section 6663(a)
1. Background
Respondent contends that petitioner is liable for the
penalty for fraud under section 6663(a) for 1993-95. Fraud is
actual, intentional wrongdoing designed to evade a tax believed
to be owing. Webb v. Commissioner, 394 F.2d 366, 377 (5th Cir.
1968), affg. T.C. Memo. 1966-81. To prevail, the Commissioner
must prove by clear and convincing evidence: (a) Petitioner
underpaid tax for each year in issue, and (b) some part of the
underpayment is due to fraud. Secs. 6663(b), 7454(a); Rule
142(b); Parks v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. at 660-661; Petzoldt v.
Commissioner, 92 T.C. 661, 699 (1989). If respondent shows that
any part of an underpayment is due to fraud, the entire
underpayment is treated as due to fraud unless the taxpayer shows
by a preponderance of the evidence that part of the underpayment
is not due to fraud. Sec. 6663(b).
The fact that petitioner failed to meet his burden of proof
on the underlying deficiencies in this case does not relieve
respondent of the burden to prove, by clear and convincing
evidence, both elements of fraud. Fairchild v. United States,
240 F.2d 944, 947 (5th Cir. 1957); Olinger v. Commissioner, 234
F.2d 823 (5th Cir. 1956), affg. in part and revg. in part T.C.
Memo. 1955-9; Drieborg v. Commissioner, 225 F.2d 216, 218 (6th
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Cir. 1955); Estate of Beck v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 297, 363
(1971); Otsuki v. Commissioner, 53 T.C. 96, 106 (1969).
2. Underpayment
Respondent contends that petitioner had an underpayment in
each of the years in issue. Respondent contends that respondent
has shown that the amounts deposited in petitioner’s bank
accounts (less nontaxable deposits) are greater than the amount
of petitioner’s costs of goods sold for each year in issue.
Petitioner stipulated to the amounts deposited in his bank
accounts in each year in issue. However, for reasons described
below, respondent had not shown by clear and convincing evidence
that petitioner had an underpayment for each year in issue.
If a taxpayer alleges that he or she had a nontaxable source
of income, respondent may satisfy the burden of proving that the
taxpayer had an underpayment by disproving that nontaxable
source. United States v. Massei, 355 U.S. 595 (1958). As
discussed at paragraph B-1, above, petitioner contends that
$132,000 of Ms. Shaw’s gross receipts in 1993 was deposited in
his bank accounts in 1993. Respondent contends that no more than
$38,834 of gross receipts from Ms. Shaw’s business was deposited
in petitioner’s bank accounts in 1993. However, respondent has
not proved that no more than $38,834 of receipts from Ms. Shaw’s
business was deposited in petitioner’s bank accounts in 1993.
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To show an underpayment for purposes of the fraud penalty,
respondent must show by clear and convincing evidence that
petitioner had an underpayment of tax for each year in issue.
Once respondent shows that a taxpayer had unreported income,
respondent generally does not have the burden of proving that the
taxpayer does not have any unclaimed costs of goods sold or
deductions that would offset the unreported income. United
States v. Bender, 218 F.2d 869, 871-872 (7th Cir. 1955); United
States v. Stayback, 212 F.2d 313, 317 (3d Cir. 1954); Clark v.
United States, 211 F.2d 100, 103-104 (8th Cir. 1954); Franklin v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1993-184; Perez v. Commissioner, T.C.
Memo. 1974-211.
In contrast, to show an underpayment in a case in which
there appears to be a genuine basis for believing the taxpayer’s
claim that costs of goods sold and expenses were substantial, the
Commissioner must prove that the taxpayer had at least some
unreported net income; i.e., that the taxpayer’s gross receipts
exceeded the taxpayer’s costs of goods sold and deductions. AJF
Transp. Consultants, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1999-16,
affd. without published opinion 213 F.3d 625 (2d Cir. 2000); Cox
v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1993-559; CHEM, Inc. v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo. 1993-520; Van Vorst v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1993-
353; McNichols v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1993-61, affd. 23 F.3d
932 (1st Cir. 1993); Zack v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1981-700,
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affd. 692 F.2d 28 (6th Cir. 1982); Rivera v. Commissioner, T.C.
Memo. 1979-343; Perez v. Commissioner, supra; H.J. Feinberg & Co.
v. Commissioner, a Memorandum Opinion of this Court dated Sept.
20, 1950; see Franklin v. Commissioner, supra at n.4.
There appears to be a genuine basis for petitioner’s claim
that his business had substantial costs of goods sold that could
have offset the unreported gross receipts and eliminated
underpayment of taxes. Thus, respondent must show by clear and
convincing evidence that petitioner’s unreported gross receipts
exceeded his costs of goods sold. Respondent did not do so.
Williams used the sources and applications method to
reconstruct petitioner’s income. Williams testified that
petitioner cooperated by providing reasonable information about
his living expenses. However, respondent did not offer that data
into evidence. We infer from respondent’s failure to offer that
data into evidence that petitioner’s living expenses do not
support respondent’s determination. Singleton v. Commissioner,
65 T.C. 1123, 1144 (1976) (the Commissioner’s failure to call a
certain witness gives rise to the inference that any proof, if
offered, would have been unfavorable), affd. 606 F.2d 50 (3d Cir.
1979); Wichita Terminal Elevator Co. v. Commissioner, 6 T.C.
1158, 1165 (1946), affd. 162 F.2d 513 (10th Cir. 1947); Apothaker
v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1985-445 (the Court may infer from
the Commissioner’s failure to offer into evidence the taxpayer’s
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bank records that those records would not support the
determination).
We conclude that respondent has not shown by clear and
convincing evidence that petitioner had an underpayment for each
year in issue.7 Thus, petitioner is not liable for the fraud
penalty for 1993, 1994, or 1995.8
D. Whether Petitioner Is Liable for the Accuracy-Related
Penalty for 1993-95 Under Section 6662
In the alternative to fraud, respondent determined and
contends that petitioner is liable for the accuracy-related
penalty for negligence under section 6662 for 1993-95.
Petitioner did not address this issue at trial or on brief. A
taxpayer may be deemed to have conceded an issue that was raised
in the petition if he or she made no argument at trial or on
brief relating to that issue. Levin v. Commissioner, 87 T.C.
698, 722-723 (1986), affd. 832 F.2d 403 (7th Cir. 1987);
Zimmerman v. Commissioner, 67 T.C. 94, 104 n.7 (1976). We
conclude that petitioner is liable for the accuracy-related
penalty under section 6662(a) for 1993-95.
7
This case is similar to Chin v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.
1994-54, in which the Commissioner used the bank deposits method
to reconstruct income, and we held that the Commissioner had not
shown by clear and convincing evidence that the taxpayer had an
underpayment.
8
In light of our conclusion, we need not decide whether
respondent established by clear and convincing evidence that
petitioner intended to evade tax in each year in issue.
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E. Whether Petitioner Is Liable for the Addition to Tax for
Failure To Pay Estimated Tax Under Section 6654
Respondent determined and contends that petitioner is liable
for the addition to tax under section 6654 for failure to pay
estimated tax for 1993 and 1994. Respondent concedes that
petitioner filed returns for 1993 and 1994. Thus, we lack
jurisdiction to decide whether petitioner is liable for the
addition to tax under section 6654 for 1993 and 1994. See sec.
6665(b)(2); Fendler v. Commissioner, 441 F.2d 1101 (9th Cir.
1971); Meyer v. Commissioner, 97 T.C. 555, 562 (1991); Estate of
DiRezza v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 19, 25-26 (1982).
F. Whether the Statute of Limitations Bars Assessment of
Petitioner’s 1993 Tax Liability
Petitioner filed his 1993 return on or before April 15,
1994. Respondent mailed the notice of deficiency on April 11,
2000. Petitioner contends that the time to assess tax for 1993
expired before respondent issued the notice of deficiency. We
disagree.
Generally, the Commissioner must assess tax within 3 years
after the due date of a timely filed return. Sec. 6501(a).
Respondent bears the burden of proving that an exception to the
3-year limit on the time to assess tax applies if, as here as to
1993, the notice of deficiency was mailed more than 3 years after
the filing date. Wood v. Commissioner, 245 F.2d 888, 893-895
(5th Cir. 1957), affg. in part and revg. in part T.C. Memo. 1955-
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301; Bardwell v. Commissioner, 38 T.C. 84, 92 (1962), affd. 318
F.2d 786 (10th Cir. 1963).
Respondent contends that respondent has 6 years to assess
tax under section 6501(e)(1)(A) because petitioner omitted more
than 25 percent of his gross income for 1993. Although
respondent must prove fraud by clear and convincing evidence,
respondent need only prove a 25-percent omission from income by a
preponderance of the evidence. Armes v. Commissioner, 448 F.2d
972, 974-975 (5th Cir. 1971), affg. in part and revg. in part
T.C. Memo. 1969-181.
For purposes of section 6501(e)(1)(A)(i), “gross income”
includes the amounts received or accrued from the sale of goods
or services without considering the cost of those sales or
services. Id.; sec. 301.6501(e)-1(a)(1)(ii), Proced. & Admin.
Regs. Thus, we do not consider petitioner’s costs of goods sold
in deciding whether he omitted 25 percent of his gross income for
a year.
Petitioner and Ms. Shaw reported gross receipts of $26,810
on Schedule C of their 1993 return. We need not decide whether
to calculate the 25 percent omission based on the amount
petitioner reported ($0), or the amount reported on the purported
joint return ($26,810), if respondent shows that petitioner
omitted more than $6,701.50 (25 percent of $26,810). Respondent
made that showing because petitioner concedes that he had
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unreported gross receipts of $252,006 in 1993, and $338,276 in
1995. Respondent has proved by a preponderance of the evidence
that section 6501(e)(1)(A) applies.
We conclude that the statute of limitations does not bar
assessment of tax for 1993.
To reflect concessions and the foregoing,
Decision will be
entered under Rule 155.