Klinner v. Commissioner

1979 T.C. Memo. 312, 38 T.C.M. 1213, 1979 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 219
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedAugust 13, 1979
DocketDocket No. 12713-77.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1979 T.C. Memo. 312 (Klinner 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
Klinner v. Commissioner, 1979 T.C. Memo. 312, 38 T.C.M. 1213, 1979 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 219 (tax 1979).

Opinion

LEO C. KLINNER, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Klinner v. Commissioner
Docket No. 12713-77.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1979-312; 1979 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 219; 38 T.C.M. (CCH) 1213; T.C.M. (RIA) 79312;
August 13, 1979, Filed
Leo C. Klinner, pro se.
Leo A. Reinikka, Jr., for the respondent.

WILES

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

WILES, Judge: Respondent determined the following deficiencies 1 and additions to tax in petitioner's Federal income taxes:

Addition to TaxAddition to Tax
YearDeficiencySec. 6651(a) 2Sec. 6653(a)
1974$2,623.98$574.65$131.20
1975 $ 208.0017.5310.40

The issues for decision are:

(1) Whether petitioner received unreported income during the years 1974 and 1975;

(2) whether petitioner realized a long-term*220 capital loss of $345.25 in 1975 on the disposition of shares of the United Fund Accumulation Plan; and

(3) whether petitioner is liable for additions to tax pursuant to sections 6651(a) and 6653(a).

FINDINGS OF FACT

Leo C. Klinner (hereinafter petitioner) resided in Port Orford, Oregon, when he filed his petition in this case. In 1974, petitioner filed a form 1040 containing no financial information other than an amount of tax withheld from his wages. He filed no return for 1975.

In his notice of deficiency, respondent determined that petitioner had unreported wage income of $193106.20 and $4,077.26 for 1974 and 1975, respectively. Having computed petitioner's 1974 and 1975 tax liability based upon such determination, 3 respondent also imposed the additions to tax under sections 6651(a) and 6653(a) for both years.

In his petition, petitioner alleged that respondent's determination was arbitrary, fictitious and totally without a factual basis.In addition, he claimed that respondent's actions throughout the entire administrative process were arbitrary, wanton and willful, with malice towards*221 him personally. Petitioner, however, did not allege any facts to support these allegations. Instead, he merely claimed that his position was supported by the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Common Law and the Holy Bible. Based on these allegations, petitioner also requested a $200,000 judgment against respondent for general and punitive damages and that criminal charges be brought against respondent.

OPINION

We must determine the following issues:

(1) Whether petitioner received unreported income during the years 1974 and 1975;

(2) whether petitioner realized a long-term capital loss of $345.25 in 1975 on the disposition of shares of the United Fund Accumulation Plan; and

(3) whether petitioner is liable for additions to tax pursuant to sections 6651(a) and 6653(a) for 1974 and 1975.

Issue 1: Unreported Income

The first issue is whether petitioner received unreported income in 1974 and 1975. At trial petitioner asserted his Fifth Amendment rights and thereby declined to answer any questions concerning the income in dispute. The record does not indicate that petitioner was the subject of a criminal prosecution or even a criminal*222 investigation. Since the privilege against self-incrimination does not apply where the possibility of criminal prosecution is remote or unlikely, Roberts v. Commissioner,62 T.C. 834, 838 (1974); see Rogers v. United States,340 U.S. 367, 374(1951), petitioner's Fifth Amendment claim is without merit.

Furthermore, reliance on the Fifth Amendment does not relieve petitioner of his normal burden of proof. Figueiredo v. Commissioner,54 T.C. 1508, 1512 (1970), affd. per order (9th Cir., Mar. 14, 1973). The burden of proof will shift to the respondent only if petitioner can show that respondent's determination was arbitrary. Roberts v. Commissioner,supra at 835.

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Related

Welch v. Helvering
290 U.S. 111 (Supreme Court, 1933)
Rogers v. United States
340 U.S. 367 (Supreme Court, 1951)
Courtney v. Commissioner
28 T.C. 658 (U.S. Tax Court, 1957)
Fischer v. Commissioner
50 T.C. 164 (U.S. Tax Court, 1968)
Figueiredo v. Commissioner
54 T.C. 1508 (U.S. Tax Court, 1970)
Enoch v. Commissioner
57 T.C. 781 (U.S. Tax Court, 1972)
Hosking v. Commissioner
62 T.C. No. 72 (U.S. Tax Court, 1974)
Roberts v. Commissioner
62 T.C. No. 89 (U.S. Tax Court, 1974)
Hatfield v. Commissioner
68 T.C. 895 (U.S. Tax Court, 1977)

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Bluebook (online)
1979 T.C. Memo. 312, 38 T.C.M. 1213, 1979 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 219, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/klinner-v-commissioner-tax-1979.