Meinhardt v. Comm'r

T.C. Memo. 2013-85

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

DONALD B. MEINHARDT AND ARVILLA MEINHARDT, Petitioners v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket No. 21903-09. Filed March 27, 2013.

Eric William Johnson, for petitioners.

Blaine Charles Holiday, for respondent.

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

KERRIGAN, Judge: Respondent determined deficiencies and penalties with

respect to petitioners’ Federal income tax as follows:
 -2-

[*2] Penalty
Year Deficiency sec. 6662(a)
2005 $9,204 $1,840
2006 10,052 2,010
2007 3,535 707

Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue

Code (Code) in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax

Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. We round all monetary amounts to the

nearest dollar.

After concessions1 the issues for consideration are: (1) whether petitioners

may deduct expenses associated with their farmhouse under section 162 for tax

years 2005, 2006, and 2007 on Schedules E, Supplemental Income and Loss; (2)

alternatively, whether petitioners may deduct the claimed farmhouse expenses under

section 212 on Schedules A, Itemized Deductions; and (3) whether petitioners are

liable for the section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalties.

1
Petitioners concede the disallowance in the notice of deficiency of the
deductions claimed on Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, except those
allowed in respondent’s revised examination report dated September 1, 2009.
Petitioners also concede the disallowance of the casualty loss deduction claimed for
tax year 2007; however, this concession is moot because of a switch to the standard
deduction in the revised examining agent’s report.
 -3-

[*3] FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts are stipulated and are so found. Petitioners resided in

Minnesota when they filed the petition.

Petitioners timely filed their 2005, 2006, and 2007 Forms 1040, U.S.

Individual Income Tax Return. On June 9, 2009, respondent issued petitioners a

notice of deficiency determining deficiencies of $9,204 for 2005, $10,052 for 2006,

and $3,535 for 2007 and determining penalties under section 6662(a) of $1,840 for

2005, $2,010 for 2006, and $707 for 2007.

During the years in issue petitioner husband, an architect, worked full time at

an architectural firm. Petitioner wife operated a day care center out of petitioners’

home.

In 1976 petitioners purchased approximately 140 acres of land that was

improved with a farmhouse and outbuildings and that also consisted of crop land

and pasture land. Petitioners rented out the farmland separately from the farmhouse.

Since purchasing the land petitioners have had numerous local farmers lease the

crop land and the pasture land. Petitioners attempted to rent out the farmhouse but

were unsuccessful in finding tenants to rent the house in exchange for cash.

Petitioners claimed the following receipts, expenses, and losses on Schedules E of

their Forms 1040:
 -4-

[*4] Category 2005 2006 2007
Rents received $10,260 $10,800 $10,800
Total expenses 29,474 26,611 18,449
Losses (19,214) (15,811) (7,649)

All of the rental income reported on the Schedules E was from the rental of the crop

land and the pasture land. The Schedule E adjustments in the notice of deficiency

are associated only with the farmhouse. Respondent disallowed the following

expenses that were reported on Schedules E of petitioners’ Forms 1040:

Category 2005 2006 2007
Auto/travel $2,587 -0- -0-
Insurance 315 $541 $586
Repairs 8,589 6,977 2,641
Supplies 1,320 1,489 1,280
Utilities 1,868 1,575 1,640
Other 5,844 3,754 1,688
1
Total 20,523 14,336 7,835

1
The total for 2007 differs from the total included in the stipulation of facts.
The above total corrects a math error.

Petitioners did not present any documentary evidence showing that they actually

incurred these disallowed expenses.
 -5-

[*5] From 1976 through 2007 various individuals lived in the farmhouse at

different times, often exchanging services (such as repairs and maintenance on the

farmhouse) for use of the house. Over the years the occupants included petitioner

wife’s brother, who lived in the farmhouse seasonally for 20 years, petitioners’

daughter and her husband, who lived in the farmhouse for four years, and

petitioners’ son and his family, who lived in the farmhouse for three months.

Petitioners never received rent for use of the farmhouse. At various other times the

farmhouse remained vacant. Petitioners did not keep or present at trial any detailed

records of the value of these barter exchanges or the fair market rental value of the

farmhouse. It is unclear whether the farmhouse was in use or remained vacant

during the years in issue.

During the years in issue petitioners occasionally used the farmhouse to stay

overnight, change clothes, or cook meals after working on the farm. Petitioners also

kept carpentry tools and supplies at the farmhouse, which they would use when

remodeling and working on the farmhouse. Petitioners had access to the farmhouse

at all times.

Petitioners hired Geoffrey Tenney to prepare their Federal income tax returns

for the years in issue. Mr. Tenney was a practicing Minnesota attorney who

regularly handled tax returns in the community.
 -6-

[*6] OPINION

Generally, the Commissioner’s determinations in a notice of deficiency are

presumed correct, and the taxpayer bears the burden of proving that those

determinations are erroneous. Rule 142(a)(1); Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111,

115 (1933). Under section 7491(a), in certain circumstances, the burden of proof

may shift from the taxpayer to the Commissioner. Petitioners have not claimed to

meet and have not shown that they meet the specifications of section 7491(a) to shift

the burden of proof to respondent as to any relevant factual issue.

Deductions are a matter of legislative grace, and a taxpayer must prove his or

her entitlement to a deduction. INDOPCO, Inc. v. Commissioner, 503 U.S. 79, 84

(1992); New Colonial Ice Co. v. Helvering, 292 U.S. 435, 440 (1934). Sections

162 and 212 allow a deduction for all ordinary and necessary expenses paid or

incurred during the taxable year in carrying on a trade or business or for the

production or collection of income. See secs. 162(a), 212. If an activity is not

engaged in for profit, generally no deduction is allowed under sections 162 and 212.

See sec. 183. Section 183(c) defines an “activity not engaged in for profit” as any

activity other than one with respect to which deductions are allowable for the

taxable year under section 162 or under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 212.
 -7-

[*7] Section 162

Section 162 allows a taxpayer to deduct all ordinary and necessary expenses

paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on a trade or business. An

ordinary expense is one that commonly or frequently occurs in the taxpayer’s

business, Deputy v. du Pont, 308 U.S. 488, 495 (1940), and a necessary expense is

one that is appropriate and helpful in carrying on the taxpayer’s business, Welch v.

Helvering, 290 U.S. at 113. The expense must directly connect with or pertain to

the taxpayer’s business. Sec. 1.162-1(a), Income Tax Regs.

While petitioners reported insurance, supplies, repair, and other expenses

associated with the farmhouse, they failed to show that they operated a real estate

rental business with their farmhouse. Petitioners were unable to rent out the

farmhouse and consequently received no rental income for the house.

Petitioners contend that the farmhouse was available for rent during the

years in issue; however, they testified that during this time the farmhouse either

remained vacant or was occupied by relatives. A taxpayer may not deduct a

personal, living, or family expense unless the Code expressly provides otherwise.

Sec. 262(a).2 Petitioners periodically allowed family members to live in the

2
Although neither petitioners nor respondent discussed sec. 280A, we note
that no deduction is allowed with respect to the use of a dwelling unit which is used
(continued...)
 -8-

[*8] farmhouse rent free and, at other times, left the farmhouse vacant. Petitioners

contend that these family members provided services in exchange for use of the

farmhouse; however, petitioners did not report rental income from these bartering

transactions on their Federal income tax returns. In addition, petitioners did not

prove that the value of these barter exchanges was equal to the fair market rental

value of the farmhouse. Petitioners have failed to prove the deductibility of these

expenses under section 162 because they have not proved that these expenses were

tied to a real estate property rental business.

Section 212

Section 212 provides, in relevant part, that an individual taxpayer can

deduct all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred (1) for the

production or collection of income or (2) for the management, conservation, or

maintenance of property held for the production of income. Sec. 212(1) and (2).

2
(...continued)
by the taxpayer during the taxable year as a residence. See sec. 280A. A taxpayer
is treated as using a dwelling unit as a residence if he used the unit for personal
purposes for a certain number of days. Sec. 280A(d)(1). A taxpayer is deemed to
have used a dwelling for personal purposes for any day the unit is used by a member
of the taxpayer’s family, sec. 280A(d)(2)(A), unless the unit is rented at a fair rental
for use as a principal residence. Because the evidence in this case did not establish
whether anyone lived in the farmhouse during the years in issue, and because we
resolve this case on other issues, we do not resolve the issue of the potential
applicability of sec. 280A.
 -9-

[*9] The taxpayer bears the burden of proving the property was held for the

production of income during the years in issue. Meredith v. Commissioner, 65 T.C.

34, 41 (1975). Whether property is held for the production of income is a question

of fact to be determined from all of the facts and circumstances. Johnson v.

Commissioner, 59 T.C. 791 (1973), aff’d, 495 F.2d 1079 (6th Cir. 1974).

The term “income” for the purpose of section 212 is not limited to current

income. As defined in the pertinent regulations, the term “income” for the purpose

of section 212 includes not merely income of the taxable year but also income which

the taxpayer has realized in a prior taxable year or may realize in subsequent taxable

years and is not confined to recurring income but applies as well to gains from the

disposition of property. Sec. 1.212-1(b), Income Tax Regs.

The standard for determining whether an individual taxpayer is engaged in an

activity for the production or collection of income, sec. 212(1), or for the

management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for the production of

income, sec. 212(2), is whether the taxpayer engaged in the activity with an actual

and honest objective of making a profit, Elliott v. Commissioner, 90 T.C. 960, 969

(1988), aff’d without published opinion, 899 F.2d 18 (9th Cir. 1990); Dreicer v.

Commissioner, 78 T.C. 642, 646 (1982), aff’d without published opinion, 702 F.2d

1205 (D.C. Cir. 1983).
 - 10 -

[*10] During the years in issue petitioners never occupied the property as their

residence. This case does not involve the fact situation where a taxpayer has moved

out of his or her residence and then tries to deduct expenses connected with that

residence. See Ray v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1989-628. In that situation the

question is whether, after abandonment of the residence (abandonment of the

personal use), the taxpayer has converted that property to an income-producing

property, either as rental property or as investment property held for postconversion

appreciation in value. Id.; see Grant v. Commissioner, 84 T.C. 809, 824-826

(1985), aff’d without published opinion, 800 F.2d 260 (4th Cir. 1986); Meredith v.

Commissioner, 65 T.C. 34; Newcombe v. Commissioner, 54 T.C. 1298 (1970). As

these cases show and as relevant here, however, even if the taxpayer never used the

property as a residence there still must be some affirmative act appropriating the

property for the production of income. Ray v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1989-

628.

During the years in issue petitioners occasionally stayed at the farmhouse,

sleeping at the house overnight, changing clothes, and cooking meals after working

on the farm. Petitioners kept tools and supplies in the farmhouse for use when

working on the farm or the house itself. Relatives often stayed at the farmhouse as

well. Petitioners did not abandon all personal use of the farmhouse.
 - 11 -

[*11] Petitioners differentiated the farmland from the farmhouse and rented out the

farmland separately. The farmhouse could be used for petitioners’ recreational

purposes if they chose.

Petitioners did try to rent out the farmhouse, but they did not receive offers to

rent for cash. Instead, residents of the farmhouse stayed in the house rent free in

exchange for providing services, which included carpentry work, roofing, and other

repair work on the house. There is no indication that the value of these services in

any way approximated the fair rental value of the property. From 1976 through

2007 there were no offers to rent the farmhouse and no tenants paying rent to live in

the farmhouse. Approximately 24 of the 31 years the farmhouse was available for

rent, petitioners had relatives living in the farmhouse rent free. Petitioners do not

contend that they tried to sell the farmhouse or that they held it for possible

appreciation in value. We find that petitioners did not put forth reasonable effort to

rent out the farmhouse, and as in Ray we note that petitioners’ allowing individuals

to live in the house rent free connotes personal use. See id.

We conclude that petitioners did not prove that the farmhouse was held for

the production of income during the years in question. See Meredith v.

Commissioner, 65 T.C. at 43. Petitioners did nothing to generate revenue during

the years in issue, and they had no credible plan for operating it profitably in the
 - 12 -

[*12] future. See Mitchell v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2001-269. There was no

affirmative act (renting or holding for appreciation in value) to demonstrate that the

property was held for the production of income. See Ray v. Commissioner, T.C.

Memo. 1989-628. In Meredith, the Court held that the taxpayers had no reasonable

expectation of rental income after being unable to rent out their house for numerous

years. The Court reasoned that the taxpayers failed to change strategies over

numerous years to obtain a tenant. Meredith v. Commissioner, 65 T.C. at 42.

Petitioners made no effort to change their strategy after being unable to find a rent-

paying tenant for over 30 years. Like the taxpayers in Meredith, petitioners did not

have a reasonable expectation of realizing rental income from the property.

Substantiation

Taxpayers are required to substantiate each claimed deduction by maintaining

records sufficient to establish the amount of the deduction and to enable the

Commissioner to determine the correct tax liability. Sec. 6001; Higbee v.

Commissioner, 116 T.C. 438, 440 (2001). The Court may estimate the amount of a

deductible expense if a taxpayer establishes that an expense is deductible but is

unable to substantiate the precise amount. See Cohan v. Commissioner, 39 F.2d

540, 543-544 (2d Cir. 1930); Vanicek v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 731, 742-743
 - 13 -

[*13] (1985). This is often referred to as the Cohan rule. See, e.g., Estate of

Reinke v. Commissioner, 46 F.3d 760, 764 (8th Cir. 1995), aff’g T.C. Memo. 1993-

197.

Certain expenses, including automobile and travel expenses, require

substantiation. See sec. 274(d). To substantiate by sufficient evidence

corroborating the taxpayer’s own statement, the taxpayer must establish each

element by the taxpayer’s statement and by direct evidence, such as documentary

evidence. Sec. 1.274-5T(c)(3)(i), Temporary Income Tax Regs., 50 Fed. Reg.

46020 (Nov. 6, 1985). Section 274(d) overrides the Cohan rule. Boyd v.

Commissioner, 122 T.C. 305, 320 (2004); sec. 1.274-5T(a), Temporary Income Tax

Regs., 50 Fed. Reg. 46014 (Nov. 6, 1985) (flush language) (noting that section 274

supersedes the Cohan rule).

Petitioners contend that they bartered accommodations at the farmhouse for

services; however, they failed to show that the farmhouse was a rental property

used for the production of income. Petitioners did not present adequate records of

these transactions or of the value of the barter exchanges for use of the farmhouse,

the property that they depreciated, or the deductible nature of expenses claimed.

Substantiation of the payment and business purpose of claimed expenses requires

records. Sec. 6001. The evidence presented to the Court is not sufficient to
 - 14 -

[*14] enable us to verify the amounts of these expenses or whether they were

ordinary and necessary business expenses. See Dougherty v. Commissioner, T.C.

Memo. 1986-188, aff’d without published opinion, 822 F.2d 1093 (8th Cir. 1987).

A tax return is merely a statement of the taxpayer’s claim and does not establish the

facts contained therein. Jewett v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2004-26, slip op. at

5; see Lamphere v. Commissioner, 70 T.C. 391, 394 (1978). We find that

petitioners failed to establish that their expenses are deductible under sections 162

and 212 and that they failed to substantiate these reported expenses.

Section 6662

Respondent determined that for each year at issue petitioners are liable for an

accuracy-related penalty pursuant to section 6662(a). Respondent contends that

petitioners are liable for the accuracy-related penalties on alternative grounds: (1)

the underpayment is attributable to negligence or disregard of rules or regulations

within the meaning of section 6662(b)(1); or (2) there was a substantial

understatement of income tax within the meaning of section 6662(b)(2). Only one

accuracy-related penalty may be applied with respect to any given portion of an

underpayment, even if that portion is subject to the penalty on more than one of the

grounds set out in section 6662(b). Sec. 1.6662-2(c), Income Tax Regs.
 - 15 -

[*15] The Commissioner bears the burden of production with respect to this penalty.

Sec. 7491(c). Once the Commissioner meets this burden, the taxpayer must come

forward with persuasive evidence that the Commissioner’s determination is

incorrect. See Rule 142(a); Higbee v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. at 446-447.

Section 6662(a) imposes a penalty equal to 20% of the amount of any

underpayment attributable to various factors, including negligence or a substantial

understatement of income tax. Sec. 6662(b)(1) and (2). Negligence includes any

failure to make a reasonable attempt to comply with the provisions of the Internal

Revenue Code and is the failure to exercise due care or the failure to do what a

reasonable and prudent person would do under the circumstances. Sec. 6662(c);

Neely v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 934 (1985); sec. 1.6662-3(b)(1), Income Tax Regs.

Negligence also includes any failure by the taxpayer to keep adequate records to

substantiate items properly. Sec. 1.6662-3(b)(1), Income Tax Regs. Petitioners

failed to properly substantiate their expenses on the farmhouse and failed to keep

adequate records of these expenses. The expenses on petitioners’ Schedules E

cannot be tied to any income-producing activity or rental activity from the

farmhouse. Respondent has met his burden of production with regard to the

accuracy-related penalties on the basis of negligence.
 - 16 -

[*16] The section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty does not apply with respect to

any portion of the underpayment for which it is shown that the taxpayer had

reasonable cause and acted in good faith. Sec. 6664(c)(1). For purposes of section

6664(c), a taxpayer may be able to establish reasonable cause and good faith by

showing reliance on professional advice. Sec. 1.6664-4(b)(1), Income Tax Regs.

Whether the taxpayer acted with reasonable cause and in good faith depends on all

of the pertinent facts and circumstances. See id. Generally, the most important

factor is the taxpayer’s effort to assess his or her proper tax liability. Id. In order to

show justified reliance on professional advice, a taxpayer must show that: (1) the

adviser was a competent professional who had sufficient expertise to justify

reliance; (2) the taxpayer provided necessary and accurate information to the

adviser; and (3) the taxpayer actually relied in good faith on the adviser’s judgment.

See Neonatology Assocs., P.A. v. Commissioner, 115 T.C. 43, 99 (2000), aff’d,

299 F.3d 221 (3d Cir. 2002); see also Estate of La Meres v. Commissioner, 98 T.C.

294, 315-316 (1992).

Petitioners recognized their unfamiliarity with tax law and approached Mr.

Tenney, a practicing attorney during the years in issue, to assist in preparing their

Forms 1040. Petitioners testified that Mr. Tenney “did a high volume of tax

returns for the whole community”. Petitioners also testified that Mr. Tenney
 - 17 -

[*17] “asked questions about the farm”. Petitioners gave him “all of [the] materials

that * * * [they] thought were relevant to * * * [their] taxes”. We conclude that

petitioners in good faith took reasonable efforts to assess their proper tax liabilities

by seeking advice from a qualified tax return preparer and reasonably relied on Mr.

Tenney’s expertise. See Furnish v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2001-286; sec.

1.6664-4(b)(1), Income Tax Regs. Accordingly, petitioners are not liable for the

section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalties.

To reflect the foregoing,

Decision will be entered

under Rule 155.