ROEHNING v. COMMISSION OF INTERNAL REVENUE

1989 T.C. Memo. 345, 57 T.C.M. 978, 1989 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 344
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJuly 19, 1989
DocketDocket No. 24894-86
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1989 T.C. Memo. 345 (ROEHNING v. COMMISSION OF INTERNAL REVENUE) 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.

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ROEHNING v. COMMISSION OF INTERNAL REVENUE, 1989 T.C. Memo. 345, 57 T.C.M. 978, 1989 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 344 (tax 1989).

Opinion

DONALD H. AND MARY LOU ROEHNING, Petitioners v. COMMISSION OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
ROEHNING v. COMMISSION OF INTERNAL REVENUE
Docket No. 24894-86
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1989-345; 1989 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 344; 57 T.C.M. (CCH) 978;
July 19, 1989
Donald H. Roehning and Mary Lou Roehning, pro sese.
Mary E. (Betsy) Pierce, for the respondent.

WILLIAMS

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

WILLIAMS, Judge: The Commissioner determined a deficiency in petitioners' Federal income tax of $ 3,768 for the taxable year 1982 and an addition to tax for fraud against petitioner Donald H. Roehning only, which respondent has conceded is inapplicable. In his answer, respondent determined an addition to tax for negligence against both petitioners as an alternative to his fraud allegations. After concessions by the parties, the issues remaining are: (1) whether petitioners realized income from two real estate partnerships; (2) whether petitioners realized gains from stock transactions; (3) whether petitioners sustained deductible losses from a vacation club time-sharing arrangement; and (4) whether petitioners are liable for the addition to tax for negligence pursuant to sections 6653(a)(1) 1 and 6653(a)(2).

*346 FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. Petitioners Donald H. and Mary Lou Roehning resided in Lakeville, Minnesota at the time they filed their petition. In 1982, petitioner Donald Roehning ("Roehning") was employed by Thermo-King in Bloomington, Minnesota, and was also self-employed as an electrical contractor.

In 1982, Roehning was a partner in SS & R Properties, a real estate partnership. Petitioners reported a $ 4,750 ordinary loss from SS & R Properties on their 1982 Federal income tax return. SS & R Properties filed a final partnership return (Form 1065), dated March 31, 1983, with a Schedule K-1 for Roehning attached showing that Roehning's distributive share of partnership items was $ 989 in section 1231 losses. Petitioners filed their 1982 return before receiving a copy of the Schedule K-1.

The IRS audited SS & R Properties in 1984, and adjusted its 1982 return to reflect a section 1231 gain. Based on the results of SS & R Properties' audit, respondent determined that Roehning's distributive share of the section 1231 gain was $ 774. In 1983, petitioners reported a loss from SS & R Properties on their Federal income tax return.

*347 Roehning also was a partner in Enterprise II, a real estate partnership, in 1982. During 1982, Enterprise II wrote checks totaling $ 1,044 to Roehning, all of which were deposited to petitioners' checking account. Petitioners reported a $ 1,100 ordinary loss from Enterprise II on their 1982 return. Enterprise II filed a partnership return (Form 1065) for 1982 with a Schedule K-1 for petitioner attached showing that Roehning had $ 1,668 in ordinary income and $ 38 in long-term capital gain from Enterprise II. Petitioners received their copy of the Schedule K-1 after filing their 1982 return.

The IRS audited Enterprise II in 1984, and adjusted its 1982 return by increasing the partnership's ordinary income and section 1231 gain. Based on the results of the Enterprise II audit, respondent in this case determined that Roehning's distributive share of the increased amounts was $ 1,684 of ordinary income and $ 6,455 of section 1231 gain. Roehning sold his interest in Enterprise II sometime after December 31, 1982, for approximately $ 2,000. In 1983, petitioners reported a loss from Enterprise II on their Federal income tax return.

Roehning, together with other partners in SS*348 & R Properties and Enterprise II, filed suit against the common managing partner of both partnerships in 1980. They abandoned the lawsuits sometime after 1982.

Petitioners reported a $ 2,609 short-term capital loss from stock put and call transactions in N.L. Inc., in 1982. Petitioners calculated the loss as follows: $ 14,676 sales price less $ 17,376 cost. Petitioners' record of the transactions is a stock account summary sheet. The summary sheet lists five transactions. In a "gain/loss" column, three of the transactions are identified "'81" and two are identified "'82." The two "'82" transactions are $ 11,154.36 gain and $ 7,298.51 loss. The transactions identified "'81" are $ 4,355.72 gain, $ 4,047.61 loss and $ 6,465.27 loss.

In 1980, petitioners paid $ 9,000 to join the Paradise Palms Vacation Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, a time-sharing arrangement which entitled petitioners to live in one of the Club's one-bedroom units for two weeks each year. Petitioners visited the club once, in 1980. Petitioners bought the two weeks per year time-sharing unit both to use themselves and to rent out, but petitioners were unsuccessful in renting their unit in 1981. In 1982, the Paradise*349 Palms Vacation Club filed for reorganization pursuant to Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Petitioners reported a $ 2,150 loss from the Club in 1982.

In 1982, petitioners deducted $ 72 for bank service charges on their return on both Schedule A and Schedule C. Petitioners' bank account was not debited for any service charges in 1982. Petitioners conceded that they were not entitled to the deduction.

OPINION

The first issue we must decide is Roehning's distributive share of income, gain or loss in 1982 from two real estate partnerships, SS & R Properties and Enterprise II. Petitioners reported ordinary losses from both partnerships in 1982. The Schedules K-1 that the partnerships issued after petitioners filed their return show a loss from one of the partnerships, different than the loss petitioners reported, and a gain from the other. Respondent adjusted the amounts of Roehning's distributive share of income, gain and loss for 1982 from the partnerships based on 1984 audits of SS & R Properties and Enterprise II. Respondent contends that Roehning's distributive shares of income determined in the audits are includable in petitioners' 1982 income.

Petitioners*350

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1989 T.C. Memo. 345, 57 T.C.M. 978, 1989 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 344, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/roehning-v-commission-of-internal-revenue-tax-1989.