Miller v. Commissioner

1991 T.C. Memo. 515, 62 T.C.M. 997, 1991 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 564
United States Tax Court·Decided October 9, 1991·No. Docket No. 5875-88·Unpublished·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

ESTATE OF DARWIN A. MILLER, DECEASED, VIRGINIA P. MILLER, TESTAMENTARY EXECUTRIX AND SURVIVING SPOUSE, AND VIRGINIA P. MILLER, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Miller v. Commissioner
Docket No. 5875-88
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1991-515; 1991 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 564; 62 T.C.M. (CCH) 997; T.C.M. (RIA) 91515;
October 9, 1991, Filed

*564Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

Michael E. Guarisco, David A. Aymond, and Richard K. Leefe, for the petitioners.
Stevens E. Moore, for the respondent.
RUWE, Judge.

RUWE

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

Respondent determined the following deficiencies and additions to tax in petitioners' Federal income taxes:

Addition to Tax
YearDeficiencySec. 6659 1
1981$ 820,422.00$ 246,126.60
1982154,623.0046,386.90
1983182,966.0042,854.40
198469,257.5015,014.70
1985107,920.7026,603.16

After concessions by the parties, the issues for decision are: (1) Whether the burden of proof on certain issues is on respondent; (2) whether petitioners are entitled to a deduction for purported charitable contributions of animal trophies made to the*565State of Louisiana during the years in issue; and, if so, (3) what is the amount of the allowable deductions; (4) whether the charitable contribution deductions claimed by petitioners are limited to the fair market value of the animal trophies reduced by the amount of gain which would not have been long-term capital gain if the animal trophies had been sold at their fair market value; (5) whether petitioners can deduct expenses incurred in connection with hunting and mounting animal trophies that they purportedly donated to the State of Louisiana; (6) whether petitioners can deduct expenses associated with the care and maintenance of the animal trophies incurred after they purportedly donated the trophies to the State of Louisiana; (7) whether petitioners are liable for additions to tax for valuation overstatements under section 6659 for the taxable years 1981, 1983, and 1984; and (8) whether petitioners are entitled to deductions for the taxable years 1983, 1984, and 1985 for expenses incurred in connection with the operation of the Ram Head Hunting Lodge.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The first and second stipulation of facts and the*566 attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference.

Petitioners Darwin A. Miller and Virginia P. Miller were husband and wife and resided in Houma, Louisiana, at the time of filing their petition in this case. On November 26, 1989, Darwin A. Miller died. On June 1, 1990, this Court ordered that the Estate of Darwin A. Miller be substituted as a party petitioner for the deceased Darwin A. Miller. All references to petitioner in the singular shall hereinafter refer solely to Darwin A. Miller.

For the taxable years 1981 through 1985, petitioners timely filed their joint income tax returns. During the years in issue, petitioners claimed deductions for "noncash" charitable contributions which were identified as "museum donations" on Schedule A of these returns. Petitioners did not designate the recipient of the "noncash" contributions on their 1981 and 1982 tax returns. On their 1983, 1984, and 1985 tax returns, petitioners stated that the State of Louisiana received the "noncash" contributions. 2 Petitioners also claimed deductions for certain "cash" contributions for the taxable years 1981 through 1985. On their 1981, 1982, and 1983 tax returns, petitioners did not*567 indicate the nature of these "cash" contributions. On their 1984 and 1985 tax returns, petitioners identified the "cash" contributions as "Hunts and Taxidermy," "From K-1 Entity," and "Misc. Contributions."

Respondent disallowed all of the "noncash" contributions claimed on petitioners' 1981 through 1985*568 income tax returns. Respondent disallowed all of the deductions claimed as "cash" contributions, except those items identified as "Misc. Contributions," on petitioners' 1981 through 1985 tax returns. 3

The following table reflects the "cash" and "noncash" contributions that petitioners reported on their 1981 through 1985 tax returns:

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Miller v. Commissioner, 1991 T.C. Memo. 515, 62 T.C.M. 997, 1991 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 564 (tax 1991).

1991 T.C. Memo. 515 (Miller v. Commissioner) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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