Berg v. Commissioner

1989 T.C. Memo. 252, 57 T.C.M. 506, 1989 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 252
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMay 24, 1989
DocketDocket No. 38955-86.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1989 T.C. Memo. 252 (Berg v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Berg v. Commissioner, 1989 T.C. Memo. 252, 57 T.C.M. 506, 1989 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 252 (tax 1989).

Opinion

LESTER DEE BERG, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Berg v. Commissioner
Docket No. 38955-86.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1989-252; 1989 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 252; 57 T.C.M. (CCH) 506; T.C.M. (RIA) 89252;
May 24, 1989.
Lester Dee Berg, pro*254 se.
Jeffrey L. Heinkel and Peter D. Bakutes, for the respondent.

COHEN

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

COHEN, Judge: Respondent determined a deficiency of $ 3,028,541.49 in petitioner's Federal income tax for 1981 and additions to tax under sections 6651(a)(1), 6653(a)(1), and 6653(a)(2) of $ 757,135.00, $ 151,463.00, and 50 percent of the interest due on the entire deficiency, respectively. After concessions, the issues for decision are whether petitioner underreported his gross income for 1981, whether petitioner sustained deductible losses in connection with his alleged investments in certain entities, and whether petitioner is subject to the additions to tax as determined by respondent. All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code, as amended and in effect for the year in issue.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated, and the stipulated facts are incorporated in our findings by this reference. Petitioner resided in Woodland Hills, California, when he filed the petition.

In 1981 petitioner engaged in various businesses and activities under his name and through at least 12 entities, including Pacific Coast*255 Wholesale International; Lester Berg Sales; N.R.G. Systems, sometimes referred to in exhibits as N.R.G. Corporation or N.R.G., Inc., but not a corporation; Security Associates, sometimes referred to in exhibits as Security Associates, Inc., but not a corporation in 1981; and West Coast Glass, Inc., incorporated August 14, 1981. During 1981, petitioner maintained bank accounts in his name and had signatory authority over bank accounts under the names of these various entities.

Petitioner and his then spouse filed a joint income tax return for 1981 on September 14, 1983, without obtaining an extension of time to file the return. Petitioner's former spouse filed a separate petition on her own behalf and is not a party to this proceeding. The return included Schedules C with respect to the activities of only two of the entities, Pacific Coast Wholesale International and Lester Berg Sales. These schedules indicated the following:

Pacific Coast
Wholesale InternationalLester Berg Sales
Gross Receipts$  644,782 $ 150,000
Less Cost of
Goods Sold(174,949)-0-  
Total Income$  469,779 $ 150,000 
Total Deductions(560,238)(49,148)
Net Profit (Loss)$  (90,459)$ 100,852 

*256 No returns or schedules were filed in regard to the activities of N.R.G. Systems, Security Associates, or West Coast Glass, Inc.

Respondent determined that petitioner had unreported income of $ 3,732,821 for 1981. This adjustment was based on respondent's bank deposits analysis of 19 accounts controlled by petitioner. Respondent also disallowed generally for lack of substantiation a portion of petitioner's itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A and certain business expense deductions claimed on the Schedules C.

Subsequent to sending the deficiency notice, respondent acknowledged that petitioner's bank deposits included deposits of funds from loans, certain transfers between petitioner's accounts, and corporate account deposits that were not properly attributable to petitioner. Accordingly, respondent agreed to decrease the unreported income adjustment to $ 2,175,747. At trial on March 14, 1989, the parties filed a Stipulation of Settled Issues indicating the amounts of Schedule A and Schedule C deductions that petitioner is entitled to for 1981. The parties expressly agreed that petitioner is entitled to no Schedule C expense deductions for 1981 beyond those set*257 forth in the stipulation.

OPINION

The first issue is whether petitioner had unreported income for 1981. Bank deposits are prima facie evidence of income, and petitioner bears the burden of proving that respondent's determination based on this evidence is incorrect. Tokarski v. Commissioner,87 T.C. 74, 77 (1986); Estate of Mason v. Commissioner,64 T.C. 651, 656-657 (1975), affd.

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Related

New Colonial Ice Co. v. Helvering
292 U.S. 435 (Supreme Court, 1934)
Estate of Mason v. Commissioner
64 T.C. 651 (U.S. Tax Court, 1975)
Linseman v. Commissioner
82 T.C. No. 39 (U.S. Tax Court, 1984)
Tokarski v. Commissioner
87 T.C. No. 5 (U.S. Tax Court, 1986)
Gantner v. Commissioner
91 T.C. No. 47 (U.S. Tax Court, 1988)
Emmons v. Commissioner
92 T.C. No. 20 (U.S. Tax Court, 1989)

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Bluebook (online)
1989 T.C. Memo. 252, 57 T.C.M. 506, 1989 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 252, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/berg-v-commissioner-tax-1989.