Palmer v. Commissioner

1997 T.C. Memo. 462, 74 T.C.M. 887, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 547
United States Tax Court·Decided October 9, 1997·No. Tax Ct. Dkt. No. 14177-95·Unpublished

Opinion

MICHAEL S. PALMER, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Palmer v. Commissioner
Tax Ct. Dkt. No. 14177-95
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1997-462; 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 547; 74 T.C.M. (CCH) 887;
October 9, 1997, Filed

*547 Roslyn D. Grand, for respondent.

Michael S. Palmer, pro se.
COLVIN, JUDGE.

COLVIN

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION*548

COLVIN, JUDGE: Respondent determined deficiencies and additions to tax in petitioner's income tax as follows:

Additions to tax

_________________________________

*549 Year        Deficiency        Sec. 6651(a)(1)         Sec. 6654

____        __________        _______________         _________

1992          $34,553              $8,638              $1,509

1993           31,360               7,840               1,314

The issues for decision are:

1. Whether petitioner may deduct business expenses in the amount of $70,170.68 for 1992 and $58,369.81 for 1993, as petitioner contends; $17,924 for 1992 and $16,004 for 1993, as respondent contends; or some other amounts. We hold that petitioner may deduct business expenses of $17,924 for 1992 and $16,004 for 1993.

2. Whether petitioner is liable for the self-employment tax imposed by section 1401 for 1992 and 1993. We hold that he is.

3. Whether petitioner is liable for the addition to tax for failure to file under section 6651(a)(1) for 1992 and 1993. We hold that he is.

4. Whether petitioner is liable for the addition to tax for underpaying his estimated taxes under section 6654 for 1992 and 1993. We hold that he is.

Unless otherwise indicated, section references are to the Internal Revenue Code. Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and*550 Procedure.

FINDINGS OF FACT

A. PETITIONER

Petitioner lived in Marietta, Georgia, when he filed the petition in this case. He was married during the years in issue.

During 1992 and 1993, petitioner did construction work as a subcontractor for Mark A. Palmer, Inc. (MAP). MAP paid petitioner $119,492 in 1992 and $106,695 in 1993. MAP issued Forms 1099-Misc to petitioner showing that it had paid him nonemployee compensation in these amounts. MAP withheld no Federal income tax from its payments to petitioner for 1992 or 1993.

Petitioner did not file individual income tax returns for 1992 and 1993.

B. NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY

On April 25, 1995, respondent mailed petitioner a notice of deficiency. In it, respondent determined that MAP's payments to petitioner were income to him and that petitioner had business expenses of $17,924 for 1992 and $16,004 for 1993 (15 percent of his compensation).

Petitioner did not issue Forms W-2 (wage statements) or Forms 1099 (income statements) to any subcontractors. Petitioner offered into evidence no canceled checks or receipts showing that he paid subcontractors.

OPINION

A. PETITIONER'S TAX PROTESTER CONTENTIONS

Petitioner makes several*551 tax protester arguments and submitted related documents and other materials which purportedly support his contention that he is not subject to Federal income tax. For example, petitioner contends that he is not liable for income tax because he is a citizen of Georgia and not of the United States. He claims that respondent lacks delegated authority to collect tax and that the Internal Revenue Code lacks "positive law" as its foundation. He also contends that he is exempt from income tax because taxable gross income does not include compensation for services. Petitioner's contentions are merely a rehash of frivolous tax protester arguments which have been uniformly rejected by this and other courts. Abrams v. Commissioner, 82 T.C. 403, 406-407 (1984); Rowlee v. Commissioner, 80 T.C. 1111 (1983); McCoy v. Commissioner, 76 T.C. 1027 (1981), affd. 696 F.2d 1234 (9th Cir. 1983). We see no need to catalog petitioner's contentions and painstakingly address them. See, e.g., Crain v. Commissioner, 737 F.2d 1417 (5th Cir. 1984); Solomon v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1993- 509,*552 affd. without published opinion 42 F.3d 1391 (7th Cir. 1994).

B. UNREPORTED INCOME

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Palmer v. Commissioner, 1997 T.C. Memo. 462, 74 T.C.M. 887, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 547 (tax 1997).

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