Scott v. Commissioner

1997 T.C. Memo. 507, 74 T.C.M. 1157, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 593
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedNovember 12, 1997
DocketTax Ct. Dkt. No. 21525-94
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1997 T.C. Memo. 507 (Scott 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.

Bluebook
Scott v. Commissioner, 1997 T.C. Memo. 507, 74 T.C.M. 1157, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 593 (tax 1997).

Opinion

SAM E. SCOTT, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Scott v. Commissioner
Tax Ct. Dkt. No. 21525-94
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1997-507; 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 593; 74 T.C.M. (CCH) 1157;
November 12, 1997, Filed

*593 Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

Marshall R. Jones, for respondent.

Sam E. Scott, pro se.
JACOBS, JUDGE.

JACOBS

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION*594

JACOBS, JUDGE: Respondent determined a $73,055 deficiency in petitioner's 1991 Federal income tax, a $12,313 addition to tax for failure to timely file a 1991 Federal income tax return pursuant to section 6651(a)(1), and a $14,611 accuracy-related penalty for substantial understatement of tax pursuant to section 6662. The deficiency primarily relates to Sam E. Scott's (petitioner) withdrawal from his law firm partnership.*595

*596 After concessions, the following issues remain for decision: (1) Whether petitioner was entitled to a $121,500 loss deduction due to his withdrawal from his law firm partnership; (2) whether petitioner received an $85,455 taxable distribution from his law firm's 401(k) plan; (3) whether petitioner is entitled to a $33,943 interest expense deduction; (4) whether petitioner is liable for an addition to tax for failure to timely file his 1991 Federal income tax return pursuant to section 6651(a)(1); and (5) whether petitioner is liable*597 for an accuracy-related penalty for the substantial understatement of tax pursuant to section 6662.

All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code as in effect for the year in issue, unless otherwise indicated. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

FINDINGS OF FACT

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

Petitioner resided in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, at the time he filed his petition.*598

HEIDELBERG & WOODLIFF LAW PARTNERSHIP

In 1963, petitioner joined the law firm of Heidelberg, Woodliff & Franks (which later became Heidelberg & Woodliff), a general partnership in Jackson, Mississippi, as an associate attorney. Petitioner's practice primarily was confined to general civil litigation.

In 1968, petitioner became a partner in Heidelberg, Woodliff & Franks (hereinafter referred to as the firm, law firm, or the partnership). Upon becoming a partner, petitioner purchased his interest in the law firm by making monthly payments to the three named partners. During his tenure there, petitioner was active in the firm's management, serving as*599 managing partner for a time.

In 1983, Messrs. Woodliff and Franks sold their interests (totaling 46 percent) in the partnership for approximately $500,000 to seven junior partners. (Junior partners received a percentage of the law firm profits to the extent they exceeded a certain amount, plus a salary, but did not own an interest in the partnership.) Four of the junior partners who bought Messrs. Woodliff's and Franks' interests left the firm in 1985 and refused to pay the balance due. Thereafter, the remaining partners at the firm (including petitioner) assumed the obligation owed to Messrs. Woodliff and Franks.

Sometime during the late 1980's, the firm adopted a new partnership agreement that granted partners only income interests in the firm rather than specific interests in the firm's assets. Partners under the old partnership agreement were bought out by the partnership. Thus, under the new partnership agreement, partners did not make capital contributions when they entered the partnership, and received no liquidating distributions when they left. The income interests were based on an annual evaluation of each partner through a point system used by the firm's compensation*600 committee. In 1990, petitioner had an 8.86-percent interest in the partnership.

On January 2, 1991, petitioner gave notice of his termination from the firm, effective retroactively to December 31, 1990. Petitioner then left Heidelberg & Woodliff, and together with several other individuals who had earlier left the firm, started a new law firm. At the time petitioner left Heidelberg & Woodliff, he was the firm's largest producer.

Petitioner's 1990 Schedule K-l on Form 1065 (Partner's Share of Income, Credits, Deductions, Etc.) from Heidelberg & Woodliff reported petitioner's capital account adjustments as follows:

(a) Capital account at$ (21,369)
beginning of year       
(b) Capital contributed--
during year       
(c) Income (loss) from223,264
* * * below       
(d)Incomenotincluded647    
incolumn(c)plus          
nontaxableincome        
(e)Lossesnotincluded   (19,672)
incolumn(c),plus          
unallowabledeductions        
(f)Withdrawalsand  (182,870)

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Bluebook (online)
1997 T.C. Memo. 507, 74 T.C.M. 1157, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 593, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scott-v-commissioner-tax-1997.