Cote v. Comm'r

2006 T.C. Memo. 129, 91 T.C.M. 1288, 2006 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 130
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJune 21, 2006
DocketNo. 12502-04
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2006 T.C. Memo. 129 (Cote v. Comm'r) 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
Cote v. Comm'r, 2006 T.C. Memo. 129, 91 T.C.M. 1288, 2006 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 130 (tax 2006).

Opinion

DIANA COTE, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Cote v. Comm'r
No. 12502-04
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 2006-129; 2006 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 130; 91 T.C.M. (CCH) 1288; RIA TM 56548;
June 21, 2006, Filed
*130 Philip A. Putman, for petitioner.
Gavin L. Greene, for respondent.
Laro, David

David Laro

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

LARO, Judge: Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's Federal income tax of $ 176,428 for 1999 and additions to tax of $ 55,249.74 under section 6651(a) and $ 6,479.40 for failure to pay estimated tax under section 6654. 1 After concessions by respondent, the issues for decision are (1) whether petitioner had unreported income in the amounts determined by respondent, (2) whether petitioner is liable for a 10-percent additional tax on early distributions from her individual retirement accounts (IRAs), (3) whether petitioner is liable for the addition to tax determined by respondent under section 6651(a)(1), and (4) whether the Court should impose a penalty against petitioner pursuant to section 6673.

*131 FINDINGS OF FACT

Some facts have been stipulated and are so found. When the petition was filed, petitioner resided in Cobb, California.

In 1999, petitioner received gains of $ 16,194 from the sale of securities through National Financial Services, gains of $ 90,039 from the sale of securities through OppenheimerFunds Services, income of $ 5,936 from the Social Security Administration, dividends of $ 50 from National Financial Services, dividends of $ 1,827 from OppenheimerFunds Services, interest of $ 210 from the Rhode Island State Employees Credit Union, interest of $ 116 from the Xerox Federal Credit Union, distributions from an IRA of $ 179,558 from OppenheimerFunds Services, distributions from an IRA of $ 3,407 from Delaware Service Company, and distributions from an IRA of $ 129,064 from Franklin Templeton Investor Services. Petitioner's basis in the securities sold through OppenheimerFunds Services was $ 100,000. During 1999, petitioner was under the age of 55, and she did not receive the distributions from any of her IRAs as a result of becoming disabled. Federal income tax of $ 55,000 was withheld from her income for 1999.

Petitioner did not file a Federal income tax return*132 for 1999. Respondent has no record that petitioner filed a tax return for 1999, and petitioner has never disputed respondent's assertion that petitioner failed to file a tax return for 1999. Respondent issued a notice of deficiency on April 7, 2004, and determined the above- stated deficiency and additions to tax. Petitioner timely filed a petition disputing the determinations. 2

Petitioner failed to submit to the Court a pretrial memorandum as required by the Court's standing pretrial order. At calendar call, petitioner did not appear, but the Court had before it and granted*133 petitioner's motion for a trial time and date certain. At trial, petitioner did not personally appear but was represented by counsel. Petitioner's counsel did not introduce any evidence on petitioner's behalf at trial and failed to file a posttrial brief following the trial.

OPINION

1. Unreported Income

As a general rule, the Commissioner's determinations set forth in a notice of deficiency are presumed correct, and the taxpayer bears the burden of showing that these determinations are in error. Rule 142(a); Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111, 115, 54 S. Ct. 8, 78 L. Ed. 212, 1933-2 C.B. 112 (1933). 3 In order for the presumption of correctness to attach to the deficiency determination in unreported income cases, the Commissioner must establish "some evidentiary foundation" connecting the taxpayer with the income-producing activity, Weimerskirch v. Commissioner, 596 F.2d 358, 361-362 (9th Cir. 1979), revg. 67 T.C. 672 (1977), or demonstrate that the taxpayer received unreported income, Edwards v. Commissioner,

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Related

Welch v. Helvering
290 U.S. 111 (Supreme Court, 1933)
United States v. Boyle
469 U.S. 241 (Supreme Court, 1985)
Green v. Commissioner
1996 T.C. Memo. 107 (U.S. Tax Court, 1996)
McManus v. Comm'r
2006 T.C. Memo. 57 (U.S. Tax Court, 2006)
HIGBEE v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE
116 T.C. No. 28 (U.S. Tax Court, 2001)
Weimerskirch v. Commissioner
67 T.C. 672 (U.S. Tax Court, 1977)

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Bluebook (online)
2006 T.C. Memo. 129, 91 T.C.M. 1288, 2006 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 130, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cote-v-commr-tax-2006.