Nordloh v. Comm'r

2017 T.C. Summary Opinion 37, 2017 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 36
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMay 30, 2017
DocketDocket No. 20097-12S
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2017 T.C. Summary Opinion 37 (Nordloh 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
Nordloh v. Comm'r, 2017 T.C. Summary Opinion 37, 2017 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 36 (tax 2017).

Opinion

MICHAEL E. NORDLOH AND SHARON J. NORDLOH, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Nordloh v. Comm'r
Docket No. 20097-12S
United States Tax Court
T.C. Summary Opinion 2017-37; 2017 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 36;
May 30, 2017, Filed

Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

*36 Michael E. Nordloh and Sharon J. Nordloh, Pro se.
Benjamin D. Wolarsky, for respondent.
WHALEN, Judge.

WHALEN
SUMMARY OPINION

WHALEN, Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of section 7463 of the Internal Revenue Code in effect when the petition was filed. Pursuant to section 7463(b), the decision to be entered in this case is not reviewable by any other court, and this opinion shall not be treated as precedent for any other case. Hereinafter, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code, as amended and in effect for 2010, the taxable year in issue, unless stated otherwise, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

These are some of the facts in this case. In 2007 Mr. Nordloh (petitioner) and his doctors believed that he had become disabled and was unable to work because of back pain. Representatives of the Social Security Administration (SSA) disagreed and denied petitioner's application to the SSA for disability benefits (SSD benefits). Petitioner appealed the SSA's denial. In the meantime he received disability payments under an employer-provided, long-term disability policy with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (MetLife). Petitioners reported the disability payments received from*37 MetLife on their Federal income tax returns, and they paid tax on them. Petitioner accepted those disability payments with the understanding that he would repay them to MetLife if his appeal of the SSA's decision were successful and he received SSD benefits.

In 2009 petitioner's application to the SSA was approved by an administrative law judge, and in 2010 he received a lump-sum payment of $87,004 from the SSA. This triggered petitioner's obligation to repay the disability payments received from MetLife. By check dated January 5, 2011, petitioner repaid $83,233 to MetLife.

There are three issues for decision: first, whether petitioners are allowed a deduction on their 2010 return for the repayment of $83,233 made during 2011 to MetLife; second, whether petitioners must include in gross income the lump-sum payment of SSD benefits totaling $87,004 received in 2010 and, if so, the amount to be included; and, third, whether petitioners are liable for an accuracy-related penalty under section 6662(a) and (b)(2) based upon an underpayment due to a substantial understatement of income tax.

BackgroundPetitioner's Disability and His Claim for Disability Benefits

Circa 2006 petitioner began experiencing*38 back pain due to medical problems with his back, and he underwent back surgery. Petitioner's back problems left him unable to work, and after a number of months he was declared disabled by his doctors. As a result, petitioner applied to the SSA for SSD benefits. Initially his claim was denied by the SSA, and he appealed.

Petitioner began collecting disability payments in 2007 under a long-term disability policy with MetLife that had been provided by his employer. Petitioner's insurance contract with MetLife is not included in the record, but the parties agree that the contract required that: (1) petitioner apply for SSD benefits at the onset of disability, (2) the disability payments made by MetLife be offset by any SSD benefits petitioner received, and (3) petitioner repay any overpayment of benefits to MetLife. MetLife paid disability benefits to petitioner during 2007, 2008, and 2009, and petitioners reported those benefits on their income tax returns for those years.

In August 2009 petitioner's claim for SSD benefits was finally allowed following a hearing before an administrative law judge. In a letter dated September 16, 2009, shortly after the hearing, petitioner's attorney explained*39 that in due course petitioner would receive a "formal award notice" and a retroactive check from the SSA. The attorney warned petitioner that, under the terms of his disability insurance policy with MetLife, he might owe to MetLife some or most of the amount received from the SSA. The attorney's letter states as follows:

It may be possible to receive your retroactive check before you receive this award notice. Either way, when you receive this check, please deposit it into your bank account. I strongly advise you not to spend any of this money (including any retroactive children's benefits). You may owe some, if not most of it, to your Long Term Disability insurer, MetLife, under the terms of your policy.

Petitioner did not receive any SSD benefits from the SSA until December 2010 when he received a lump-sum payment of $87,004. Petitioner also received an SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, which stated that the lump-sum payment was composed of SSD benefits of $12,402 for 2007, $25,380 for 2008, $22,372 for 2009, and the balance, $26,850, for 2010.

As a consequence of receiving the lump-sum payment from the SSA, petitioner became obligated to reimburse MetLife for some or most*40

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

Related

North American Oil Consolidated v. Burnet
286 U.S. 417 (Supreme Court, 1932)
Commissioner v. Glenshaw Glass Co.
348 U.S. 426 (Supreme Court, 1955)
Udeobong v. Comm'r
2016 T.C. Memo. 109 (U.S. Tax Court, 2016)
Neonatology Assocs., P.A. v. Comm'r
115 T.C. No. 5 (U.S. Tax Court, 2000)
HIGBEE v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE
116 T.C. No. 28 (U.S. Tax Court, 2001)
Knudsen v. Comm'r
131 T.C. No. 11 (U.S. Tax Court, 2008)
Diamond v. Commissioner
56 T.C. 530 (U.S. Tax Court, 1971)
Achiro v. Commissioner
77 T.C. No. 62 (U.S. Tax Court, 1981)
Humphrey v. Commissioner
1995 T.C. Memo. 110 (U.S. Tax Court, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2017 T.C. Summary Opinion 37, 2017 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 36, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nordloh-v-commr-tax-2017.