Shaw v. Comm'r

2013 T.C. Memo. 170, 106 T.C.M. 54, 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 182
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJuly 24, 2013
DocketDocket No. 8172-12
StatusUnpublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 2013 T.C. Memo. 170 (Shaw 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
Shaw v. Comm'r, 2013 T.C. Memo. 170, 106 T.C.M. 54, 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 182 (tax 2013).

Opinion

JUNE SHAW, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Shaw v. Comm'r
Docket No. 8172-12
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 2013-170; 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 182; 106 T.C.M. (CCH) 54;
July 24, 2013, Filed
*182

Decision will be entered for respondent.

Charles A. Naegele, for petitioner.
Jessica R. Browde and Matthew Carlson, for respondent.
LAUBER, Judge.

LAUBER
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

LAUBER, Judge: Respondent determined, with respect to petitioner's Federal income tax for 2009, a deficiency of $122,144, a section 6651(a)(1) addition to tax of $6,107, and a section 6662(a) penalty of $24,429. 1*183 The issues for *171 decision are: (1) whether petitioner is entitled to a nonbusiness worthless debt deduction under section 166; (2) whether petitioner is liable for an addition to tax for late filing of a tax return under section 6651(a)(1); and (3) whether petitioner is liable for the accuracy-related penalty under section 6662(a). We sustain respondent's disallowance of the worthless debt deduction because petitioner has failed to prove that the debt was a bona fide debt or that the obligation, if bona fide, had become worthless at yearend 2009. We also sustain respondent's determination of the addition to tax and the accuracy-related penalty.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. Petitioner resided in Roseville, California, when she filed the petition.

During 2008 petitioner sold an apartment building that she owned in Fairfield, California, and realized a significant gain on the sale. She reported this gain under the installment sale method and expected to report a substantial portion of this gain on her tax return for 2009. During 2009 she searched for a suitable investment vehicle for the sale proceeds. She initially hoped to shelter this gain by *172 completing a like-kind exchange, but she was unable to locate an acceptable replacement property.

SRG Corp. is a California corporation originally owned by petitioner's father. When he passed away, all ownership interests in the business passed to his wife and his children. SRG Corp. is now owned by petitioner, her mother, and her siblings, including her brother, Kenneth Shaw. Mr. Shaw was president of the company, which was a family-owned real estate corporation at all relevant times.

Since 2002 petitioner has worked for SRG Corp. as an *184 officer and as an employee. She was paid a salary for her services as the bookkeeper and chief financial officer of SRG Corp. She had check-signing authority over one or two of the company's bank accounts. Her responsibilities included handling the accounts payable, the accounts receivable, and all office matters.

As of 2007 SRG Corp. owned several real estate properties, all held for their potential to produce rental income. These properties included single-family and multifamily units, as well as one commercial property. Sometime in 2007 Mr. Shaw decided that SRG Corp. would undertake its first real estate development project. To this end, he located a derelict property with the intent to rehabilitate it into a food court and related commercial units. To finance the development, Mr. Shaw obtained from United Commercial Bank (UCB) a $1 million mortgage loan *173 to purchase the underlying property and a $1 million line of credit to pay construction expenses. In addition to these funds, Mr. Shaw estimated that he would need another $1 million to $3 million to complete the renovation. He planned to name the rehabilitated property "Shaw Plaza."

In July 2008 Mr. Shaw obtained a commitment from *185 Lisa Lembi to invest $2 million in Shaw Plaza. In exchange, Ms. Lembi would receive a 50% equity interest in the newly created Shaw Plaza LLC, and SRG Corp. would then own the remaining 50% equity interest. One month later Ms. Lembi formally rescinded her commitment to invest in Shaw Plaza, leaving SRG Corp. as the sole owner of the venture. Forced to look for other sources of funding to complete the development of Shaw Plaza, Mr. Shaw approached petitioner.

In January 2009 petitioner agreed to commit $1 million, in the form of a revolving line of credit, to the development of Shaw Plaza. The note from SRG Corp., executed on January 2, 2009, called for 10% annual interest, which was to accrue until January 2011 when the principal was also due. Petitioner did not require any collateral, and the line of credit was unsecured at all times. No interest or principal was ever paid on the note.

During 2009 petitioner made 74 separate advances to SRG Corp., transferring funds periodically as the company needed money for construction.

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Bluebook (online)
2013 T.C. Memo. 170, 106 T.C.M. 54, 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 182, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shaw-v-commr-tax-2013.