Lane v. Commissioner

1994 T.C. Memo. 381, 68 T.C.M. 375, 1994 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 388
United States Tax Court·Decided August 15, 1994·No. Docket No. 42837-85·Unpublished

Opinion

HELEN L. LANE, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Lane v. Commissioner
Docket No. 42837-85
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1994-381; 1994 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 388; 68 T.C.M. (CCH) 375; 94-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P47,943;
August 15, 1994, Filed

*388 Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

Helen L. Lane, pro se.
For respondent: Lisa K. Hartnett.
KORNER

KORNER

MEMORANDUM OPINION

KORNER, Judge: Respondent determined deficiencies in and additions to petitioner's Federal income tax as follows:

Additions to Tax
YearDeficiencySec. 6651(a)Sec. 6653(a)Sec. 6653(a)(2) Sec. 6654 
1979$ 1,235$   309$  62$  51
19802,005501100128
19814,7881,197239 *367
19824,4571,025223 *434
19833,754863188 *230
* 50 percent of the interest due on the deficiency.

Helen L. Lane (petitioner) is an individual who resided in Fairmont, Minnesota, at the time the petition was filed in this case. All statutory references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, except as otherwise noted.

Petitioner and her mother Theresa Lane (Theresa) were the joint legal owners of two parcels of farmland in Hall County, Nebraska, during 1979, 1980, and 1981 until May 30, 1981, when petitioner's mother died. After her death, petitioner, as surviving joint owner, was the sole owner of the*389 farm properties.

On December 19, 1977, Howard S. Hinman (Hinman) was appointed by the County Court of Hall County, Nebraska, to be the conservator of petitioner, charged only with the management of the farm property, which petitioner owned jointly with her mother. The pertinent portions of the order of appointment of the County Court of Hall County, Nebraska, read as follows:

4. That Helen Lane is the joint owner with Theresa Lane of two quarter sections of farm land in Hall County, Nebraska, and that Helen Lane is unable to manage the business affairs in conjunction with the operation of farm lands in Hall County, Nebraska, and that it is necessary for a conservator [sic] be appointed to manage the farm properties only.

5. That Howard S. Hinman is a proper person to act as conservator to manage the farm property and that he be appointed to act as conservator with respect to the affairs of Helen Lane.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED BY THE COURT that a conservatorship be established for Helen Lane, a protected person, and that Howard S. Hinman be appointed conservator, and letters of conservatorship shall be issued upon said appointee accepting anf [sic] filing*390 an approved bond in the amount of $ 30,000.00, of Helen Lane's estate to manage the farm property jointly owned by Helen Lane.

Pursuant to the above order, Mr. Hinman, as conservator, filed periodic reports of income and expense concerning the operation of petitioner's property. These reports, however, did not purport to be a complete accounting of all of petitioner's income and expense. Instead, the reports of the conservator, which are in the record herein, appear generally to report income related to petitioner's farm operation, bank interest, and expenses related thereto, including payments for petitioner's benefit and the benefit of Theresa Lane, petitioner's mother.

Petitioner did not file income tax returns for the years 1979 through 1983, nor did Mr. Hinman. Whether she filed returns for years later and prior to this period is not known. Mr. Hinman's periodic reports of income and expense for the period involved in this case were filed with the County Clerk of Hall County, Nebraska, and were matters of public record.

Upon audit, and determining that petitioner had not filed income tax returns for the years here in issue, respondent issued to her a statutory notice*391 of deficiency in the amounts, together with additions to tax, that we have indicated above. Petitioner appealed to this Court from such determination. At trial and on brief, respondent has conceded the following matters:

1. That petitioner was not liable for additions to tax under sections 6651(a) and 6653(a).

2. That petitioner was entitled to a personal exemption of $ 1,000 for each of the years 1981, 1982, and 1983.

3.

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Lane v. Commissioner, 1994 T.C. Memo. 381, 68 T.C.M. 375, 1994 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 388 (tax 1994).

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