Janklow v. Commissioner

1988 T.C. Memo. 46, 55 T.C.M. 69, 1988 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedFebruary 11, 1988
DocketDocket Nos. 14638-81; 11759-82; 4189-83; 9687-83; 18420-83; 13267-84.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 1988 T.C. Memo. 46 (Janklow 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
Janklow v. Commissioner, 1988 T.C. Memo. 46, 55 T.C.M. 69, 1988 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40 (tax 1988).

Opinion

ALVIN AND PHYLLIS JANKLOW, ET AL., 1 PETITIONERS V. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Janklow v. Commissioner
Docket Nos. 14638-81; 11759-82; 4189-83; 9687-83; 18420-83; 13267-84.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1988-46; 1988 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40; 55 T.C.M. (CCH) 69; T.C.M. (RIA) 88046;
February 11, 1988; As amended February 23, 1988
Edward B. Simpson and John Gigounas, for the petitioners.
Barbara M. Leonard, for the respondent.

WRIGHT

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

WRIGHT, Judge: Each of these consolidated cases involves deductions and investment tax credits claimed by petitioners with respect to their purchases of video tapes from Del Vida International, Inc. (Del Vida). 2 By amendment to answer respondent asserted that petitioners, with the exception of petitiners William and*42 Mary Jane Putman, are also liable for additional interest under section 6621(c)3 on the portions of the underpayment of tax attributable to a tax motivated transaction. 4

*43 After concessions, 5 the issues for decision are:

(1) Whether petitioners are entitled to the deductions and credits claimed in connection with their purchases of the Del Vida video tapes;

(2) Whether petitioners are entitled to deduct interest paid on the notes used in the purchases of the video tapes;

(3) Whether petitioners Charles and Agnes Fishel, Alvin and Phyllis Janklow and Roman and Lorraine Oleynik are liable for the additions to tax for negligence pursuant to section 6653(a);

(4) With respect to petitioners Roman and Lorraine Oleynik only, whether they are liable for the additions to tax pursuant to section 6653(a)(2); and

(5) With one exception, whether petitioners are liable for the additional interest under section 6621(c). 6

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation*44 of facts, the supplemental stipulations of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by reference. Petitioners resided in California at the time the petitions were filed.

In 1977 and 1978, each petitioner purchased a video tape containing the master recording of an entertainment program. 7 Petitioners bought the video tapes from Del Vida, a California corporation which produced entertainment programs on video tape. Although the purchases were made independently, the purchase prices and contracts were virtually identical for each petitioner.

Petitioners 8 are a diverse group. Except for Marvin, William, John and Robert Struiksma, who are all related, petitioners had only the investments in Del Vida video tapes in common. The Struiksmas worked for West Coast Sand & Gravel Company, Inc., the family business, in various managerial positions. Roman J. Oleynik (Oleynik) was a doctor and Alvin C. Janklow (Janklow) was a dentist. William Putman (Putman) was the vice president of*45 administration and comptroller for a closely held corporation. Charles V. Fishel (Fishel) was a tax attorney and was president of a consulting firm for emerging businesses. Forrest R. Whitcomb (Whitcomb) was a retired airline pilot. All of petitioners had made other investments before purchasing the Del Vida tapes. Some of these prior investments were profitable and some were not.

The video tapes purchased by petitioners came from four entertainment series, each comprised of 13 half-hour episodes. The series were entitled "Magic, Magic, Magic," "Sari's Celebrity Brunch," "Music Country" and "Hollywood Cabaret." Although Del Vida was in the business of producing entertainment programs, it did not produce the four series involved here. Rather Del Vida solicited One Pass Video to make "Magic, Magic, Magic" and Random Production to produce "Music Country," "Sari's Celebrity Brunch" and "Hollywood Cabaret." Del Vida paid $ 40,420 for "Magic, Magic, Magic,*46 " $ 45,000 for "Music Country," $ 26,000 for "Sari's Celebrity Brunch" and between $ 39,000 and $ 65,000 for "Hollywood Cabaret." In addition Random Productions charged $ 200 for each copy of the tape.

According to Don Murphy (Murphy), Del Vida's vice president during 1977 and 1978, Del Vida wanted to exploit the nascent home video market for video cassette recorders (VCR's). In the late 1970's individual ownership of VCR's was still relatively uncommon but Del Vida expected it to increase dramatically. One of Del Vida's goals was to produce high quality family entertainment video tapes to sell to the new VCR owners. The programs Del Vida sold were also suitable for independent television stations both in the United States and abroad.

The programs sold by Del Vida to petitioners were family entertainment shows. "Music Country" was a country music variety show hosted by recording star Jimmie Rodgers. The show featured performances by well known country and western musicians. 9 "Magic, Magic, Magic" featured professional magicians in live performances at a San Francisco nightclub.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Berry v. Commissioner
1991 T.C. Memo. 145 (U.S. Tax Court, 1991)
Gerhart v. Commissioner
1991 T.C. Memo. 35 (U.S. Tax Court, 1991)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1988 T.C. Memo. 46, 55 T.C.M. 69, 1988 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/janklow-v-commissioner-tax-1988.