Cobb v. Commissioner

77 T.C. 1096, 1981 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedNovember 12, 1981
DocketDocket No. 6797-79
StatusPublished
Cited by33 cases

This text of 77 T.C. 1096 (Cobb 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
Cobb v. Commissioner, 77 T.C. 1096, 1981 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31 (tax 1981).

Opinion

Simpson, Judge:

The Commissioner determined deficiencies in the petitioners’ Federal income taxes of $1,850.54 for 1975 and $795.58 for 1976. Also, for 1975, he determined an addition to tax under section 6653(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 19541 of $92.53. After concessions by the petitioners, the issues for decision are: (1) Whether in 1975 the petitioners made a deductible contribution to a validly created individual retirement account (IRA); (2) whether for 1975 and 1976 the petitioners are entitled to a deduction for automobile expenses in excess of the amounts allowed by the Commissioner; and (3) whether for 1975 the petitioners are liable for an addition to tax under section 6653(a) for negligence or intentional disregard of rules and regulations.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated, and those facts are so found.

The petitioners, Earle E. Cobb and Jane M. Cobb, husband and wife,, maintained their legal residence in San Antonio, Tex., at the time they filed their petition in this case. They filed their joint Federal income tax returns for 1975 and 1976 with the Internal Revenue Service, Austin, Tex.

During 1975 and 1976, Mr. Cobb was an attorney-at-law, employed by the law firm of Cobb, Thurmond & Bain, Inc. The offices of such firm were located in the Frost National Bank building in downtown San Antonio. In 1975, such firm incorporated, and Mr. Cobb became an employee thereof. Mr. Cobb received compensation from such firm of $35,300 during 1975 and $45,866.68 during 1976.

In 1974, Mr. Cobb established a Keogh plan2 account with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. (Connecticut General). During 1975, Connecticut General’s records indicated that Mr. Cobb had established a Keogh account, but that he had not established an IRA. On December 31, 1975, Mr. Cobb caused to be issued a check in the amount of $1,500 payable to the State Street Bank — trustee. He intended such check to be a contribution to an IRA.

On December 15, 1976, Mr. Cobb executed an account registration statement with Connecticut General for the establishment of an IRA. On December 8, 1976, Mr. Cobb caused to be issued a check in the amount of $1,500 payable to State Street Bank & Trust. He intended such check to be a contribution to an IRA.

On their returns for 1975 and 1976, the petitioners claimed a deduction for contributions to an IRA in the amount of $1,500 for each of such years. In his notice of deficiency, the Commissioner disallowed the petitioners a deduction for a contribution in 1975. Instead, he allowed the petitioners a deduction of $17.84 for a contribution to a Keogh plan. Such amount equaled the petitioners’ net Schedule C income as determined by the Commissioner, which determination the petitioners conceded. For 1976, the Commissioner allowed the petitioners a deduction of $1,495 for a contribution to an IRA. He disallowed $5 of the petitioners’ contribution, since such amount was paid as a fee to Connecticut General. The petitioners conceded such disallowance.

In connection with his legal work, Mr. Cobb used his personal automobile to travel to his clients’ offices and residences and to various courthouses and jails. However, during 1975 and 1976, most of such courthouses and jails were located in downtown San Antonio. Mr. Cobb also used such automobile to commute between his residence and his office and for other personal purposes. In addition to the automobile which he used for business purposes, Mr. Cobb also had one or two other automobiles which were used primarily for personal purposes.

On their 1975 return, the petitioners claimed a deduction of $2,438.43 for business use of an automobile, and on their 1976 return, they claimed a deduction of $2,889.97 for such purpose. Mr. Cobb computed such deductions based on checks he had written for oil, gas, maintenance, and repairs. However, the account on which such checks were written was used for both business and personal purposes, and the expenses for the nonbusiness automobiles were also paid from such account. Mr. Cobb kept no specific records as to the business use of his automobiles.

In his notice of deficiency, the Commissioner disallowed the petitioners’ claimed automobile expense deductions for 1975 and 1976. Instead, he computed the petitioners’ allowable deduction based on 5,000 miles per year at 15 cents per mile, a deduction of $750 for each of such years.

OPINION

The first issue we consider is whether in 1975 Mr. Cobb had complied with the requirements for the establishment of an IRA. Generally, subject to certain limitations and restrictions, section 219 allows a taxpayer a deduction for amounts paid in cash to an IRA (as described in section 408(a)) equal to the lesser of 15 percent of compensation includable in his gross income for the year or $1,500.

Section 408(a) defines an IRA as "a trust created or organized in the United States for the exclusive benefit of an individual or his beneficiaries, but only if the written governing instrument creating the trust meets the following requirements.” (Emphasis added.) Section 1.408-2(a), Income Tax Regs., provides that an IRA must be a trust or custodial account (as described in section 408(h); see sec. 1.408-2(d), Income Tax Regs.) and that it must satisfy the requirements of section 1.408-2(b), Income Tax Regs. Section 1.408-2(b) provides, in part, that the instrument creating the trust (or custodial account) must be in writing. In addition, the committee reports accompanying the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Pub. L. 93-406, 88 Stat. 829, which enacted sections 219 and 408, expressly state that a requirement of an IRA is that it be maintained under the provisions of a written governing instrument. H. Rept. 93-807 (1974), 1974-3 C.B. (Supp.) 236, 367; S. Rept. 93-383 (1973), 1974-3 C.B. (Supp.) 1, 211. Thus, it is clear from the statute, the regulations, and the legislative history that for a contribution to an IRA to be deductible, there must be a written instrument governing such account which was extant by the time prescribed for the making of such a contribution.3

During 1975, Mr. Cobb had only a Keogh account. It was not until December 15, 1976, when he executed the account registration statement with Connecticut General, that he had a written instrument governing his IRA. Hence, despite the fact that Mr. Cobb may have believed that in 1975 he had complied with the requirements of sections 219 and 408, there is no question that during such year, he had not complied with such requirements. Accordingly, the petitioners are not entitled to a deduction for Mr. Cobb’s "contribution” to an IRA made during that year. ^

The petitioners argue that if their claimed deduction for a contribution to an IRA in 1975 is disallowed, they are entitled to a loss deduction under section 165, either as a loss from conversion or as a casualty loss. Such argument is without merit. Although there are adverse tax consequences on the premature withdrawal of contributions to a validly established IRA (see sec. 408(f)), the petitioners offered no evidence that Mr. Cobb had forfeited or could not withdraw the $1,500 which he sent to Connecticut General in 1975. See sec. 408(d)(5)(A).

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Bluebook (online)
77 T.C. 1096, 1981 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cobb-v-commissioner-tax-1981.