Peppers v. Commissioner
This text of 1981 T.C. Memo. 728 (Peppers 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.
Opinion
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
EKMAN,
| Additions to Tax | ||
| Taxable Year | Deficiencies in | Under Sec. 6653(b) |
| Ending | Income Tax | for Donald Peppers 1 |
| December 31, 1971 | $ 3,491.30 | $ 2,038.15 |
| December 31, 1972 | 23,141.55 | 12,537.01 |
| December 31, 1973 | 44,904.29 | 22,884.15 |
The issues for our decision are (1) whether petitioners understated their taxable income and underpaid their income tax liabilities for taxable years 1971, 1972 and 1973 and (2) whether any part of the underpayment of income tax for taxable years 1971, 1972 and 1973 was due to fraud.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts, the first supplemental stipulation of facts, and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference.
Donald Peppers and Barbara Jean Peppers, petitioners, resided in Beachwood, Ohio at the time they filed their petition herein. They filed their joint Federal income tax return for taxable year 1971 on October 3, 1973, for taxable year 1972 on September 25, 1974, and for taxable year 1973 on October 2, 1974.
Donald Peppers was a practicing attorney during years 1971 through 1973 specializing in criminal law. During September 1971, Mr. Peppers organized the Quincy Avenue Money Exchange, Inc. (hereinafter Quincy Money Exchange), an Ohio corporation which engaged in a check cashing*9 business, the sale of food stamps under the Federal Food Stamp program, and other related activities. Mr. Peppers was president and manager of Quincy Money Exchange from its formation through 1973 and owned approximately 35 percent of its outstanding stock. 2
Petitioners' business ventures during the taxable years involved herein also included the owning and racing of horses. During years 1970 through 1973 petitioners owned horses with a cost basis to them on December 31 of each year as follows:
| Horse | 12/31/70 | 12/31/71 | 12/31/72 | 12/31/73 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Happy Beau | $ 3,000 | $ 3,333 | $ 3,333 | $ 3,333 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Banquet Lady | 2,350 | 2,683 | 2,683 | 2,683 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Staunch Ruler | 6,000 | 6,333 | 6,333 | 6,333 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Angenora (Hy Relic) | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| King Gable 3 | 5,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emulsion | 2,500 | 2,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prince Stone | 10,000 | 10,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money Exchange | 3,700 | 3,700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma Ma Ruth | 3,700 | 3,700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim's Reject | 4,200 | 4,200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B.J.'s Don Don | 2,800 | 2,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Staunch Beauty | Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI DONALD PEPPERS AND BARBARA JEAN PEPPERS, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent Peppers v. Commissioner Docket No. 9157-78. T.C. Memo 1981-728; 1981 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 8; 43 T.C.M. (CCH) 160; T.C.M. (RIA) 81728; EKMAN MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION EKMAN,
The issues for our decision are (1) whether petitioners understated their taxable income and underpaid their income tax liabilities for taxable years 1971, 1972 and 1973 and (2) whether any part of the underpayment of income tax for taxable years 1971, 1972 and 1973 was due to fraud. FINDINGS OF FACT Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts, the first supplemental stipulation of facts, and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. Donald Peppers and Barbara Jean Peppers, petitioners, resided in Beachwood, Ohio at the time they filed their petition herein. They filed their joint Federal income tax return for taxable year 1971 on October 3, 1973, for taxable year 1972 on September 25, 1974, and for taxable year 1973 on October 2, 1974. Donald Peppers was a practicing attorney during years 1971 through 1973 specializing in criminal law. During September 1971, Mr. Peppers organized the Quincy Avenue Money Exchange, Inc. (hereinafter Quincy Money Exchange), an Ohio corporation which engaged in a check cashing*9 business, the sale of food stamps under the Federal Food Stamp program, and other related activities. Mr. Peppers was president and manager of Quincy Money Exchange from its formation through 1973 and owned approximately 35 percent of its outstanding stock. 2 Petitioners' business ventures during the taxable years involved herein also included the owning and racing of horses. During years 1970 through 1973 petitioners owned horses with a cost basis to them on December 31 of each year as follows:
During September 1972 petitioners purchased farm property known as Maple Lakes Farm apparently in connection with their horse owning and racing activities. Petitioners made improvements to Maple Lakes Farm during 1972 and 1973 with a cost basis to them of said improvements on December 31 of each year as follows:
During the taxable years involved herein petitioners also owned numerous rental properties. Petitioners acquired property at 1524 E. 123 Street, Cleveland, Ohio, on November 14, 1968, property at Quincy Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, during 1970, property at Superior Avenue during 1970, and property at 1622 Holyrood, Cleveland, Ohio during 1972. 4 On their 1971 Federal income tax*11 return petitioners reported rents received and deducted expenses for depreciation and "other expenses" with respect to the properties at Quincy Avenue, 1524 E. 123 Street, and Superior Avenue. On their 1972 and 1973 Federal income tax returns petitioners reported rents received and deducted expenses for depreciation and "other expenses" with respect to the properties at Quincy Avenue, 1524 E. 123 Street, Superior Avenue and 1622 Holyrood. On July 13, 1977 a deed was filed with the Cuyahoga County Records recording petitioner's transfer of the Holyrood property to Nathaniel and Elizabeth Green and on November 22, 1977 a deed was filed with the Cuyahoga County Records recording petitioners' transfer of the Quincy Avenue property to GBG, Inc.5 *12 During the taxable years involved herein one Robert Stone made sizeable loans to Quincy Money Exchange. Notes to Mr. Stone were signed by Mr. Peppers and Ms. Green as officers of Quincy Money Exchange. The loans were substantially repaid with funds from Quincy Money Exchange. Petitioners purchased a dishwasher for $ 249.99 from Americo Wholesale Plumbing during 1972. The dishwasher was delivered to their personal residence and paid for to the extent of $ 200 by a personal check drawn by Mr. Peppers. Special agent Olcott Abbott of the Intelligence Division of the Internal Revenue Service was initially the agent assigned to petitioners' case. His first contact with petitioners occurred in late October 1974. Subsequently, Robert Milliken, a special agent for the Criminal Investigation Divison of the Internal Revenue Service who had been investigating Quincy Money Exchange, was assigned to petitioners' case. Special agent Milliken determined by means of tracing that funds were being diverted from Quincy Money Exchange to petitioners and petitioners did not report those amounts on their joint returns. Mr. Milliken also learned that petitioners had unreported gambling winnings*13 related to horse racing wagers in the amount of $ 5,000 each year for years 1971, 1972 and 1973. 6 Petitioners reported a loss for 1971, adjusted gross income of $ 12,182.46 and taxable income of $ 7,335.09 for 1972, and a loss for 1973. In view of petitioners' inadequate books and records, respondent computed petitioners' tax liability for taxable years 1971, 1972 and 1973 using the net worth method of reconstructing income and determined that petitioners understated their adjusted gross income in the amount of $ 34,263.05 for taxable year 1971, $ 80,452.45 for taxable year 1972 and $ 125,999.87 for taxable year 1973 and their taxable income in the amount of $ 17,596.79 for taxable year 1971, in the amount of $ 80,279.82 for taxable year 1972 and in the amount of $ 108,867.55 for the taxable year 1973. The following is a summary of the net worth computations as determined by respondent:
*15
*17 The parties by their stipulation have agreed to most of these amounts. During taxable years 1971, 1972, and 1973 petitioners did not receive any gifts, inheritances, legacies, or devises. Petitioners' two sons, Michael and Stephen, were minors under Ohio law for the taxable years involved herein. OPINION In view of petitioners' inadequate books and records, respondent computed petitioners' tax liability for taxable years 1971, 1972, and 1973 using the net worth method of reconstructing income and determined that petitioners understated their adjusted gross income in the amounts of $ 34,263.05 for taxable year 1971, $ 80,452.45 for taxable year 1972 and $ 125,999.87 for taxable year 1973. Petitioners do not contest respondent's right to use the net worth method as evidence of unreported income, see After the parties entered into a stipulation, petitioners filed a motion to the relieved from parts of the stipulation of facts and the first supplemental stipulation of facts. Inasmuch as petitioners did not favor us with briefs, it is from that motion, in conjunction with evidence presented at trial, that we glean from petitioners their objections to respondent's net worth computations. 15 Petitioners first contend that respondent erroneously included the funds from account number 28713, Quincy Savings and Loan, and account number X8714, *19 Quincy Savings and Loan, see footnote 7, Based upon the record, we find that petitioners have sustained their burden of proving that respondent improperly included these two small accounts in the net worth of petitioners. Mr. Peppers testified without contradiction that those accounts were trust accounts for the benefit of their two minor children. We need not rely solely on the testimony of Mr. Peppers to make such a finding, however. These accounts, containing identical amounts during the years in question, were categorized as "fiduciary accounts" on the Quincy Savings and Loan account form. Furthermore, account number 28713 was in the name of Michael Peppers and account number X8714 was in the name of Stephen Peppers, the names of the sons were placed on the signature cards in the areas designated for "Name of Beneficiary" and the address of the Peppers residence was placed in the areas on the signature cards designated for "Address of Fiduciary who will hold Passbook." The funds from these accounts*20 were not assets of petitioners to be included in their opening and closing net worths for taxable years 1970 through 1973. It is true that since Mrs. Peppers signed the signature cards she could withdraw funds from the account, but such a withdrawal would be as a fiduciary and not as the owner of the funds. Accordingly, we find that it was improper for respondent to include the funds from these fiduciary accounts in the net worth of petitioners for the taxable years involved. 16 Petitioners next contend that respondent erroneously included in the net worth computations account number XXX-XX4995, Continental Bank, see footnote 7, Again, we find petitioners have satisfied their burden. The name of the account was "Donald Peppers - (Trust Account)". Respondent's own computations listed this account as "Trust a/c". Although the record is unclear at best as to the origin*21 and purpose of this account, Mr. Peppers at trial made it clear that he never "received any benefit" from this account, which he referred to as the "attorney trust account". We note that all three accounts in dispute contained relatively small amounts for the years in queston and that petitioners do not dispute respondent's determination as to the inclusion of the eight other bank accounts in the net worth computation, or respondent's determination as to the amounts in any of the 11 accounts. Petitioners have offered logical explanations as to why these relatively minor three bank accounts were separately maintained and accordingly why these accounts should not be included in the net worth computations. In view of all the foregoing, we find that respondent's determination is to be adjusted to exclude from the net worth computations bank account numbers XXXXX, X8714, and XXX-XX4995. Petitioners contend that the account receivable of John Carswell listed in respondent's determination for $ 2,000 as of December 31, 1973, was an account receivable due to Quincy Money Exchange and not to petitioners and therefore should be*22 excluded from the net worth computation. Petitioners also contend that the account payable to John Carswell listed in respondent's determination for $ 3,000 as of December 31, 1972, was an obligation due from Quincy Money Exchange and not from petitioners. Although at first glance a finding in petitioners' favor would appear to require a simple decrease and increase with a result that would not be beneficial to petitioners, the computations show that that is not necessarily the case. The resulting adjustment for the account receivable would simply be a lower closing net worth as of December 31, 1973, than that determined by respondent and therefore a lower increase in net worth for 1973. The resulting adjustment for the account payable would be a greater closing net worth as of December 31, 1972, than that determined by respondent and therefore a greater increase in net worth for 1972, but correspondingly, a greater beginning net worth for 1973 and therefore a lower increase in net worth for 1973 than that determined by respondent. In any event, we find that petitioners have not sustained their burden of proving that the account receivable and the account payable belonged to*23 Quincy Money Exchange. Petitioners did not submit any evidence in support of their contention; the account receivable was only briefly referred to at trial, and the account payable not referred to at all. 17 Accordingly, it was not improper for respondent to include the account receivable and the account payable of John Carswell in the net worth computation. Petitioners contend that they were not the owners of the Quincy Avenue property during the taxable years 1971 through 1973 and therefore it should not be included in the net worth computation for those years. It is their position that the property was acquired by them during 1970 at a purchase cost of $ 35,000 but was subsequently transferred to Quincy Money Exchange as a contribution to capital. We assume petiioners are contending that they transferred the property upon the formation of Quincy Money Exchange during 1971 and therefore closing net worth for taxable years 1971, 1972, and 1973 are to be affected. *24 Initially we note that if indeed such a transfer occurred, instead of a cost basis in Quincy Avenue property of $ 35,000 in their net worth, petitioners would have a cost basis in Quincy Money Exchange of $ 35,000 in their net worth after the transfer (disregarding for the moment the impact of the mortgage and the tax escrow funds). See section 358, also see our discussion, In any event petitioners have not sustained their burden of proving that the Quincy Avenue property was improperly included by respondent in the net worth computation. Again, petitioners offered*25 no evidence in support of their position besides their testimony. The transfer which petitioners contend occurred during 1971 was never recorded in the Cuyahoga County Records. On their Federal tax returns for years 1971, 1972, and 1973 petitioners specifically listed, and reported rents received and deducted expenses for depreciation and "other expenses" with respect to, the Quincy Avenue property. The original escrow fund and the mortgage were in the names of petitioners and the loan records through 1973 continued to reflect petitioners as the obligors of the loan. 18 Furthermore, on November 22, 1977 a deed was filed with the Cuyahoga County Records office recording the transfer of the Quincy Avenue property to GBG, Inc. by petitioners, and not Quincy Money Exchange. In view of the foregoing, we find that petitioners have not sustained their burden of showing that it was improper for respondent to include the Quincy Avenue property as an asset of petitioners during taxable years 1971 through 1973. *26 D. 1622 Holyrood Property. Petitioners contend that they were not the owners of the Holyrood property during taxable years 1972 and 1973 and therefore it should not be included in the net worth computations. Petitioners contend, in contrast to their position with respect to the Quincy Avenue property, that they never were the owners of the Holyrood property. Although the property was acquired in their names without any further notation, they insist that they acted only as agents for the true purchaser, Quincy Money Exchange. We find that petitioners again have failed to sustain their burden. Once again, petitioners offered no evidence in support of their position besides their testimony. The property was purchased in their names and there is no notation on the deed, or elsewhere in the record other than their testimony, that they were acting only as agents. Both the first and second mortgages for the property were executed in their names. 19 The mortgage loan account records continually reflected petitioners as the owners of the property for 1972 and 1973. On their Federal income tax returns for years 1972 and 1973 petitioners specifically listed, and reported rents*27 received and deducted expenses for depreciation and "other expenses" with respect to, the Holyrood property. Furthermore, on July 13, 1977 a deed was filed with the Cuyahoga County Records recording petitioners', and not Quincy Money Exchange's, transfer of the Holyrood property to Nathaniel Green and Elizabeth Green. In view of the foregoing, we find that petitioners have not sustained their burden of showing that it was improper for respondent to include the Holyrood property as an asset of petitioners during taxable years 1972 and 1973. Petitioners contend that during the taxable years involved herein they received numerous sizeable loans from one Robert Stone. They contend that their stock was collateral for the loans and that*28 Phyllis Green signed the notes only upon the insistence of Mr. Stone's lawyer. Four notes were referred to at trial - two for $ 25,000 each, another for $ 50,000, and one for $ 20,000. We find that these loans were in fact to Quincy Money Exchange. The notes were not signed by Mr. Peppers in a personal capacity but rather as president of Quincy Money Exchange. Similarly, Phyllis Green signed the notes as an officer of Quincy Money Exchange and not as any type of guarantor; nor did she sign, as petitioners vaguely contend, as some kind of assurance that if payment were not made on the notes the stock of Quincy Money Exchange would be transferred to Mr. Stone. Amounts repaid on the loans were repaid with funds from Quincy Money Exchange. There was no written evidence of any type of collateral agreement for the loans. Furthermore, Mr. Peppers consistently represented to both special agents of respondent that these loans were loans to the corporation and were not personal in any way. Accordingly, petitioners have not sustained their burden of proving that they were the recipients of sizeable loans from Robert Stone during the years in question. Petitioners*29 contend that they are entitled to a deduction for an amount, $ 249.99, paid to Americo Wholesale Plumbing, Inc., because, they contend, it was an expense incurred "in connection with the income property". The documents entered into evidence show that the expense involved petitioners' personal purchase of a dishwasher, that the dishwasher was delivered to their personal residence and that it was paid for, to the extent of $ 200, by a personal check drawn by Mr. Peppers. Petitioners offered no evidence as to why they are entitled to this deduction and accordingly, it is denied. Section 262. Petitioners contend that they are entitled to itemize deductions. However, petitioners did not claim itemized deductions on the Federal income tax returns filed for the years involved herein and they offered no evidence as to itemized deductions. Respondent's determination that petitioners were entitled to a standard deduction in lieu of itemized deductions, accordingly, has not been shown by petitioners to be erroneous. 20 *30 Finally, at trial petitioners attempted to discredit the tracing of funds by special agent Milliken. Petitioners' attempts in this regard were no more than attacks on isolated transactions. We have examined all the checks received in evidence and conclude that respondent properly determined by the tracing method that funds were diverted from Quincy Money Exchange to petitioners during the taxable years involved herein. 21 *31 The final issue is whether part of the underpayments in each year for taxable years 1971, 1972, and 1973 was due to fraud within the meaning of section 6653(b). Respondent has the burden of proving fraud by clear and convincing evidence. Section 7454(a); The existence of fraud is a question of fact to be resolved by an examination of all the facts and circumstances. The mere failure to report income is not enough to establish fraud. After careful examination of the entire record we find that respondent has sustained his burden of proving that part of the underpayments for each of the taxable years 1971, 1972, and 1973 was due to fraud. During the taxable years*33 involved herein petitioners consistently and substantially understated their income. A finding in favor of petitioners as to their numerous objections to respondent's net worth computations, with the exception of the alleged loans from Robert Stone, would only cause minor adjustments in the overall figures as determined by respondent and substantial understatements of income for each year would still exist. Petitioners understated their taxable income by over $ 15,000 for 1971, over $ 75,000 for 1972 and over $ 100,000 for 1973, substantial understatements especially in view of the amounts reported on their returns. See During 1971, 1972, and 1973 Mr. Peppers was a practicing attorney in Ohio. In*34 addition to being involved in numerous business undertakings, he was president and manager of a business which handled substantial sums of money regularly. Petitioners did not keep adequate books and records. We are convinced, in light of his education, cf. Notwithstanding petitioners' apparent cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service during most of the investigation of their income tax liability, 23 see In view of the foregoing, Footnotes
RelatedWelch v. Helvering 290 U.S. 111 (Supreme Court, 1933) Spies v. United States 317 U.S. 492 (Supreme Court, 1943) Holland v. United States 348 U.S. 121 (Supreme Court, 1955) United States v. Massei 355 U.S. 595 (Supreme Court, 1958) Morris Lipsitz, and Morris Lipsitz and Helen Lipsitz v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue 220 F.2d 871 (Fourth Circuit, 1955) Milford R. Baumgardner and Pearl E. Baumgardner v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue 251 F.2d 311 (Ninth Circuit, 1957) Grace M. Powell, of the Estate of O. E. Powell, Deceased v. Ralph C. Granquist, District Director of Internal Revenue 252 F.2d 56 (Ninth Circuit, 1958) Condor Merritt v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue 301 F.2d 484 (Fifth Circuit, 1962) Harry and Eugenia Gromacki v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, (Two Cases). Harry Gromacki v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, (Two Cases) 361 F.2d 727 (Seventh Circuit, 1966) Roy E. Kramer and Frances D. Kramer v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue 389 F.2d 236 (Seventh Circuit, 1968) Robert P. Lord, Appellee-Cross-Appellant v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Appellant-Cross-Appellee 525 F.2d 741 (Ninth Circuit, 1975) Ben H. Logan and Jeanne E. Logan v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue 595 F.2d 365 (Sixth Circuit, 1979) Earl J. Lollis and Ruth Lollis v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue 595 F.2d 1189 (Ninth Circuit, 1979) Mitchell v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue 118 F.2d 308 (Fifth Circuit, 1941) Arlette Coat Co. v. Commissioner 14 T.C. 751 (U.S. Tax Court, 1950) Miller v. Commissioner 51 T.C. 915 (U.S. Tax Court, 1969) Otsuki v. Commissioner 53 T.C. 96 (U.S. Tax Court, 1969) Stratton v. Commissioner 54 T.C. 255 (U.S. Tax Court, 1970) Lord v. Commissioner 60 T.C. No. 24 (U.S. Tax Court, 1973) Estate of Pittard v. Commissioner 69 T.C. 391 (U.S. Tax Court, 1977)
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