Cooper v. Commissioner

1992 T.C. Memo. 340, 63 T.C.M. 3138, 1992 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 363
United States Tax Court·Decided June 15, 1992·No. Docket No. 1187-87.·Unpublished

Opinion

GEORGE W. COOPER, III, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Cooper v. Commissioner
Docket No. 1187-87.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1992-340; 1992 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 363; 63 T.C.M. (CCH) 3138;
June 15, 1992, Filed

*363 Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

B.W. Enlow, for petitioner.
Roslyn D. Grand, for respondent.
GERBER

GERBER

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

GERBER, Judge: Respondent determined the following deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income tax and additions to tax:

Additions to Tax
YearDeficiencySec. 6653(a)(1)Sec. 6653(a)(2)Sec. 6661
1981$ 173,679 $ 8,684      1     --     
1982136,765 6,838           $ 34,191   
1983135,610 6,781           33,903   
198455,177 2,759           13,794   

All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, unless otherwise indicated.

The issues for decision are:

(1) Whether petitioner had unreported taxable income from sales of counterfeit audio cassette tapes for 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984;

(2) whether petitioner incurred deductible losses*364 from commodities trading for 1982;

(3) whether petitioner is liable for self-employment tax for 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984;

(4) whether petitioner is liable for additions to tax for negligence or intentional disregard of rules and regulations under section 6653(a)(1) and (2) for 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984; and

(5) whether petitioner is liable for additions to tax for substantial understatement of Federal income tax under section 6661 for 1982, 1983, and 1984.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and the stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated by this reference.

At the time of filing the petition herein, petitioner George W. Cooper III resided in Atlanta, Georgia. Petitioner and his wife jointly filed their individual Federal income tax returns for 1981 and 1982. Petitioner and his wife were divorced in 1983. 1 Petitioner filed individual Federal income tax returns for 1983 and 1984.

*365 During the period from 1981 through August 1984, petitioner was engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling counterfeit audio cassette tapes of the music and songs of various popular recording artists. These cassette tapes were virtually indistinguishable in appearance, packaging, and sound quality from the legitimate, duly licensed, and commercially sold tapes of these recording artists. Petitioner did not pay any royalties on the tapes he produced to the recording artists or to the recording companies which owned the rights to exploit the artists' music or songs.

During 1981 through August 1984, petitioner also sold legitimate tapes and recording supplies. Petitioner had sold legitimate tapes and recording supplies since the early 1970's. He had begun manufacturing and selling counterfeit tapes at least by 1977. These counterfeit tapes included 8-track tapes. However, by 1981 petitioner concentrated on producing only the smaller sized cassette tapes.

Prior to August 1984, petitioner lived with his parents in Piedmont, South Carolina. Petitioner's father, George W. Cooper II, was a party in a prior case before this Court. See .*366

During the period from 1981 through August 1984, petitioner conducted some of his business operations under the name Palmetto State Enterprises (Palmetto). Petitioner maintained a bank account in Palmetto's name. He deposited some of the money from counterfeit tape sales into the account. Petitioner utilized this account to pay for supplies and equipment for both his legitimate and counterfeit tape activities.

Petitioner conducted his business operations from various locations. He stored equipment and supplies for manufacturing counterfeit tapes at or near his parents' residence. Petitioner also manufactured counterfeit tapes at the homes of the individuals he hired to assist him in producing tapes. Petitioner also maintained inventories of counterfeit cassette tapes stored in boxes, each containing 50 cassettes, in a warehouse. During 1981 through August 1984, petitioner employed at least three to four individuals on a full-time basis to produce the tapes. One of these individuals was petitioner's cousin, William Ronald Stone (Ronnie Stone). Ronnie Stone held no other employment during this period.

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Cooper v. Commissioner, 1992 T.C. Memo. 340, 63 T.C.M. 3138, 1992 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 363 (tax 1992).

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