Blush v. Commissioner

1999 T.C. Memo. 191, 77 T.C.M. 2140, 1999 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 227
United States Tax Court·Decided June 10, 1999·No. No. 3637-98·Unpublished

Opinion

RONALD D. AND SHIRLEY A. BLUSH, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Blush v. Commissioner
No. 3637-98
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1999-191; 1999 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 227; 77 T.C.M. (CCH) 2140; T.C.M. (RIA) 99191;
June 10, 1999, Filed
*227

Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

David A. Slacter, for petitioners.
William J. Gregg, for respondent.
Panuthos, Peter J.

PANUTHOS

MEMORANDUM OPINION

PANUTHOS, CHIEF SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE: This case was heard pursuant to section 7443A(b)(3)(1) 1 and Rules 180, 181, and 182.

Respondent determined the following deficiencies and penalties with regard to petitioners' Federal income taxes:

                          Penalty

                          ___________

   Year         Deficiency         Sec. 6662(a)

   ____         __________         ____________

   1993          $ 5,210           $ 1,042

   1994           4,145             829

   1995            490             98

______________________________________________________________________

After concessions by respondent, 2 the issues remaining for decision are: (1) Whether petitioners received unreported taxable income in the amounts of $ 15,687 and $ 18,714 3 for 1993 and 1994, respectively, as shown by unexplained bank deposits made by them during *228those years; and (2) whether petitioners are liable for an accuracy-related penalty for each of the 1993 and 1994 taxable years, pursuant to section 6662(a).

Some of the facts have been stipulated, and they are so found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. At the time of filing the petition, petitioners resided in New Market, Virginia.

BACKGROUND

Petitioner Ronald D. Blush (hereinafter petitioner) started his business as an independent building contractor in the spring of 1991. Previously, petitioner had worked as a maintenance director for the Potomac Conference Corp. (hereinafter Potomac). Petitioner suffered an on-the-job injury in 1986 while working *229for Potomac. Petitioner received $ 15,076.97 and $ 5,000 in 1990 and 1993, respectively, as a settlement of his worker's compensation claim.

Petitioners purchased land in Shenandoah County, Virginia, in 1983 for approximately $ 30,000. The property consisted of five lots, all of which were sold by petitioners during the years 1985 through 1988 for a total of $ 73,500. Petitioners received approximately $ 33,739 of these funds after satisfaction of the sole mortgage on the property. Petitioners deposited the funds directly into their bank account.

For the tax years in question, petitioners maintained four bank accounts -- a joint checking account, a business checking account in the name of petitioner, a savings account in the name of petitioner, and a checking account in the name of petitioner Shirley A. Blush. Petitioners deposited $ 93,452 and $ 72,808 into their various bank accounts during 1993 and 1994, respectively.

Petitioners timely filed their 1993 and 1994 Federal income tax returns. Petitioners attached Schedules C, Profit or Loss From Business, reporting $ 35,344 and $ 20,984 in gross receipts for 1993 and 1994, respectively. Upon examination of petitioners' tax returns, respondent's *230revenue agent concluded that, to some extent, petitioner's business was conducted in cash. Petitioners did not present adequate books or records to respondent's revenue agent pertaining to the income generated by petitioner's business. The revenue agent performed a bank deposits analysis of the tax years in issue to determine petitioners' income. A summary of the revenue agent's bank deposits analysis for 1993 and 1994 reflects the following:

                ____

   Deposits to bank accounts             $ 93,452

   Less deposits from known sources           77,315

                            ______

   Total unexplained deposits            1 16,137

                _____

   Deposits to bank accounts             $ 72,808

   Less deposits from known sources           49,190

                            ______

    Total unexplained deposits            23,618

_____________________________________________________________________

During the initial interview with petitioners' representative, the revenue agent inquired as to the amount of cash petitioners had on *231hand during the years in question. Petitioners' representative did not provide an answer. The revenue agent prepared an information document request that again inquired as to the amount of cash petitioners had on hand. Petitioners responded that they did not know how much cash they had on hand. During the course of the examination, the revenue agent was not informed of the prior real estate transactions. In addition, petitioners did not come forward with the explanation that some of the unexplained deposits were due to cash on hand.

In the preparation of his report, the revenue agent assumed that the unexplained deposits were unreported income, and the unreported income was attributable to petitioner's contracting business. Respondent asserts (after concessions) that pe

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