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JACK J. KRAMER, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent; JACK S. KRAMER 1 AND MAXINE C. KRAMER, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RespondentKramer v. CommissionerDocket Nos. 22785-90, 22457-91.
United States Tax Court T.C. Memo 1996-513; 1996 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 529; 72 T.C.M. (CCH) 1270;November 19, 1996, Filed*529An appropriate order will be issued denying petitioners' oral motion to dismiss in the case at docket No. 22457-91. Decisions will be entered under Rule 155.
Sidney A. Soltz , 2 for petitioners.Stanley P. Kaplan , 3 for petitioner in docket No. 22785-90.Kathleen L. Donohue,Ellen T. Friberg , andEli J. Dicker , for respondent.BEGHE, JudgeBEGHEMEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
BEGHE,
Judge : Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' Federal income taxes and additions to tax for the taxable years 1985 to 1987 as follows:1. Jack S. & Maxine C. Kramer -- docket No. 22457-91 Additions to Tax Sec. Sec. Sec. Year Deficiency 6651(a)(1) 6653(a)(1) 6653(a)(2) 1985 $ 25,766 $ 10,191.50 $ 2,304.75 1*530 2. Jack J. Kramer -- docket No. 22785-90 Additions to Tax Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Year Deficiency 6653(b)(1)(A) 6653(b)(1)(B) 6654 6661 1986 $ 338,783 $ 254,087 1 $ 15,981 $ 84,696 1987 69,977 52,483 3,571 17,494 After concessions, the following deficiencies and additions remain in dispute:
Additions to Tax Sec. Sec. Sec. Year Deficiency 6651(a)(1) 6653(a)(1) 6653(a)(2) 1985 $ 25,177 $ 6,294.25 $ 2,275.30 1 Additions to Tax Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. Year Deficiency 6653(b)(1)(A) 6653(b)(1)(B) 6654 6661 1986 $ 287,224 $ 368,323.70 1 $ 14,225.36 $ 71,806.00 1987 7,290 10,836.00 556.53 1,822.50 All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references *531 are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, unless otherwise indicated. All references to petitioner are to petitioner Jack Kramer. All references to petitioners for tax year 1985 are to petitioner and Maxine C. Kramer (Maxine), his wife.
The issues for consideration are: (1) Whether petitioners are liable for a deficiency in income tax for tax year 1985, and whether petitioner is so liable for tax years 1986 and 1987; (2) whether petitioners are liable for additions to tax for failure to file and negligence for 1985; and (3) whether petitioner is liable for additions to tax for fraud, underpayment of estimated tax, and substantial understatement for 1986 and 1987.
We hold, based upon the parties' stipulations, respondent's concessions at trial, the entire record, and the findings below, that petitioner has deficiencies that are less than those recomputed by respondent for 1985 and 1986 and the same as respondent recomputed for 1987. We also hold petitioner liable for all determined additions computed on the reduced deficiencies.
We further hold, based upon the parties' stipulations, respondent's concessions at trial, the entire record, and the findings below, that Maxine *532 has no deficiency for 1985 and is therefore not liable for any additions to tax for that year. 4
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated, and are so found. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated herein. The cases were consolidated for trial, briefing, and opinion.
When petitioners filed their petition for 1985, petitioner resided in the Federal Correction Institution at Jesup, Georgia, and Maxine resided in North Miami Beach, Florida. When petitioner filed his petition for 1986 and 1987, he resided in the Metropolitan Correctional Center, Miami, Florida. Throughout 1985-87, petitioner was married to Maxine; they divorced in 1993 after having lived separately since 1989. Petitioner and Maxine have two children, Benjamin (Ben) and Mark. Ben is a convicted drug smuggler, serving a life sentence without possibility of parole. His younger brother, Mark, was convicted and subsequently imprisoned for his role in attempting to help Ben escape from Federal custody. *533
For 1985, after obtaining the appropriate extensions, petitioner and Maxine signed and filed a Form 1040 that they styled a "tentative return". The Form 1040 contained no detail concerning income and deductions, although it did list $ 20,329 on line 56 as the "total tax". The Form 1040 also displayed the following legend at the bottom of page one: "Ongoing Grand Jury Investigation May Materially Affect Tax Liability". Max Forman (Forman), an accountant who performed services for Ben's enterprises, signed the form as tax preparer. Petitioner was aware of his obligation to file Federal income tax returns for 1986 and 1987, but he did not do so for either year.
1.
Background When respondent issued the notices of deficiency, petitioner was serving a prison sentence stemming from his criminal convictions on racketeering and associated charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and travel and use of facilities to distribute the proceeds of unlawful activity. Petitioner had participated in a series of schemes to launder the profits from Ben's illegal marijuana smuggling operations.
Petitioner became involved in Ben's criminal enterprises as early as 1977, after Ben was first arrested and *534 convicted for marijuana smuggling. Petitioner carried $ 80,000 in cash of Ben's marijuana smuggling profits to Bel Air, California, to "invest" in an enterprise controlled by Sam Gilbert. Ben received his $ 80,000 back from an entity called Commercial Factors when he was released from prison in 1981. After this initial episode, petitioner maintained a social and business relationship with Sam Gilbert.
By November 1983, petitioner had become deeply involved in laundering Ben's marijuana smuggling profits. He met with Sam Gilbert in a Beverly Hills hotel to discuss a plan to launder $ 12 million in drug smuggling profits 5 through a British Virgin Islands (BVI) entity, to a bank in Liechtenstein. This bank turned the funds into a seemingly legitimate "construction loan" so that Ben, through various entities, was able to invest the proceeds in the Bell Gardens Bicycle Club, Inc. (the card club), a legal, State regulated gambling enterprise, without revealing his participation. Another BVI entity, Troon Mortgage Investments, N.V. (Troon Mortgage), run by Shaun (or Shawn) Murphy (Murphy), subsequently held the note as a vehicle through which Ben could recover the $ 12 million principal, *535 15 percent interest on the loan, and an additional 15-percent "kicker".
Ben and Sam Gilbert, along with M. Dale Lyon (Lyon) and Michael Gilbert, the "front men" used to obtain the gambling license for the card club, later formed the entities used to conceal Ben's supposed ownership role in the card club. Sam Gilbert's attorney, Stephen Fainsbert (Fainsbert), performed many of the legal services necessary to create and operate these entities. 6*536
During early 1984, petitioner participated in several meetings that monitored the card club's financing and construction. He also used Forman's 7 services and those of an attorney, Emerson Allsworth 8*537 (Allsworth), to oversee his and Ben's financial interests. Both Allsworth and Forman, while not initially involved in the actual money laundering, became increasingly aware of the nature of the activities underlying the card club's financing and Ben's actual ownership role.
The card club opened in October 1984. By 1985, Lyon and Sam Gilbert were sending its profits, approximately $ 1.6 million over the course of 1985 and 1986, back to Ben through their various partnerships, such as LCP Associates. Some of these profits flowed into a trust account controlled by Allsworth. Some went directly to petitioner and some went through Allsworth's trust account and then to petitioner. At least $ 505,000 flowed through petitioners' joint checking account at Safra Bank in 1986. To further conceal Ben's ownership role in the card club, some of these payments took the form of "loans" to petitioner that he signed for on what Allsworth called "drugstore pads".
Throughout the early 1980's, Ben competitively raced offshore power boats, an expensive sport popular in south Florida at the time. In 1982, Ben created an entity, Apache Racing Team, Inc., through which to conduct his boat racing and building activities, although *538 it was later administratively dissolved while he was still racing and building powerboats. Other entities were created on an ad hoc basis. 9 Allsworth was instrumental in creating many of these entities. Petitioner and Ben used the term "Apache" generically when referring to many of the entities connected with the offshore boat racing, and to identify expenditures made on behalf of one or another of the entities that supported some aspect of Ben's boat racing.
The most important of these entities was Fort Apache, Inc. (Fort Apache), through which Ben and petitioner developed a marina. They used Fort Apache to lease back the marina from another entity known as Marina Bay Associates, ostensibly owned by Lyon and Michael Gilbert. This partnership held legal title to the marina in order to dissociate its assets from Ben's name. In order to allow Ben to fund marina development *539 while still concealing his ownership role, Lyon used a funding scheme similar to that used for the card club. 10 Petitioner, acting as Ben's agent, became the president and sole board member of Fort Apache, although without an independent ownership interest of his own.
Ben and petitioner wanted to use the marina to help them persuade Lamborghini Motor Co. to custom-build high-performance *540 engines for the boats that Apache Boats, Inc., built for Ben to race. Funds to purchase land for the marina came through Allsworth's trust account. Len-Ed Construction, Inc. (Len-Ed), a corporation partially owned by Len Dublin (Dublin), a longtime friend of the Kramer family, built the marina, which eventually opened in October 1985.
Petitioner participated in the money laundering schemes because of a mixture of paternal loyalty, greed, and a desire for an enhanced appearance of personal stature. Ben dominated petitioner and exercised a powerful influence over petitioner in his criminal activities. Ben continued to exercise that influence over petitioner throughout the mid-1980's.
Ben's promise to petitioner of a large "salary", $ 360,000 per year, also helped entice petitioner to participate in these schemes. The card club investment also provided petitioner with the opportunity, at least in his own mind, to move to California to oversee the Kramer interests and act as Ben's personal representative. 11*541
When British police arrested Murphy in Tortola, BVI, in April 1986, the empire that petitioner had helped Ben build with laundered proceeds of his drug smuggling activities began to come apart. At about the same time, Ben's erstwhile partner, Sam Gilbert, reneged on the terms of the note that Troon Mortgage held on the card club by eliminating the 15-percent "kicker" on the loan payments. Following Murphy's arrest, petitioner met Lyon and Fainsbert at the Miami Marriott Hotel, ostensibly to develop a plan for Ben to liquidate his interest in the marina. Lyon and Fainsbert, in Allsworth's presence, began dictating to petitioner what would be done with the marina. Fainsbert also informed petitioner at the same meeting that the "kicker" from the card club had been eliminated. Petitioner protested vociferously. *542 But Fainsbert told him in no uncertain terms that Sam Gilbert and Ben had already discussed and arranged this change.
Ben and petitioner then decided to liquidate Ben's interest in the card club and recover the $ 12 million investment by paying off the note held by Troon Mortgage. Murphy's arrest prompted petitioner to travel to Hong Kong in May or June 1986 to create another entity to replace Troon Mortgage. Ben and petitioner also attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to liquidate Ben's interest in the marina by selling it. As late as September or October 1986, they had been unsuccessful at these efforts. Throughout most of 1987, petitioner participated in a convoluted effort to recover $ 9.5 million of the original $ 12 million investment in the card club. This effort ended in failure at a meeting petitioner had in Zurich, Switzerland, in late October or early November, with not clearly identified underworld figures.
In May 1987, in what was either a last ditch attempt to conceal Ben's ownership of the marina, or the recognition that the Gilberts had forced Ben out, petitioner abandoned management of the marina and other boat racing assets to Michael Gilbert and Marina Bay Associates. *543 Ben's hopes of ever recovering his investment in the marina terminated in August 1987, when Federal law enforcement officials arrested him and seized the marina and other Apache power boat entities and assets. By that time, petitioner had moved to Atlantic City, where he and Maxine remained through October 1987, in an effort to "get away from it all".
For the remainder of 1987, petitioner, in addition to trying to recover the $ 9.5 million from the card club investment, delivered bank checks for $ 500,000 to Ben's criminal attorneys, and $ 250,000 to his own attorney as retainers for services to be rendered in the impending grand jury proceedings and criminal trials. Petitioner also succeeded in funneling an additional $ 1 million into Apache Power Boats. These funds, which exceeded $ 1.75 million, came through the same channels through which petitioner had tried unsuccessfully to recover the card club investment.
In December 1989, Federal agents arrested petitioner. Petitioner was indicted, tried, and convicted for crimes associated with the money laundering and other activities described above, as well as others not specifically detailed here, sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment, *544 and fined $ 200,000. A lien for $ 9.5 million was recorded against petitioner.
In hopes of obtaining a lighter sentence, petitioner entered into agreements to cooperate with authorities and testify at the criminal trials of some of Ben's associates. The agreements were never carried out because petitioner, by his own admission, lied to the Government during the initial depositions. 12*545 However, petitioner ultimately did testify both at a civil forfeiture trial adjunct to his own criminal trial and at the criminal trial of Fainsbert and Michael Gilbert, in an effort to reduce his sentence. 13
2. The Tax Years in Issue. During 1985-87, petitioner helped launder profits of Ben's marijuana smuggling operations. During 1985 and 1986, as part of the money laundering scheme, Sam Gilbert Associates, Inc. (SGA), owned by Sam Gilbert, made payments to petitioner labeled "wages" on W-2 Forms and withheld taxes therefrom. 14 In 1987, petitioner rendered services to Fort Apache, Inc., and received $ 17,000 wages, with taxes withheld.
The Internal Revenue Service audited petitioner, first for 1986 and 1987, and then for 1985. During neither audit did petitioner produce the books and records necessary to substantiate *546 items of income, gain, loss, or deduction. However, some documentation was given to respondent during the audits. On advice of counsel, petitioner did not cooperate with respondent during the audit for 1986 and 1987. Because of the lack of records and failure to cooperate by petitioner, respondent used the bank deposits method to determine petitioner's income for the 3 years at issue.
During these 3 years, petitioner operated three bank accounts in his and Maxine's names: Safra Bank joint checking account (hereinafter Safra), Barnett Bank Joint Money Market Account (hereinafter Barnett money market), and Barnett Bank joint checking account (hereinafter Barnett joint checking). Safra was active beginning in December 1985, and closed in July 1987. The other two accounts remained open during the entire 3-year period. Safra, and to a lesser extent Barnett money market, were conduits through which large amounts of money flowed from 1985 to 1987. The record explains some, but not all, of these flows. 15 Petitioner earned interest, which he did not report as income, on the deposits in these accounts during each of the 3 years. Petitioner used Barnett joint checking only for personal purposes *547 throughout the 3-year period.
During this period, petitioner had no other sources of funds such as "cash hoards", except for an inheritance of $ 19,641 from his mother, which was deposited into Barnett money market in November-December 1985. In 1985, petitioner sold a house and bought a condominium at Turnberry Isle, a luxury residential community. Petitioner had a mortgage loan on the condominium with payments of approximately $ 2,000 per month. He also owned a 1984 Mercedes automobile.
Profits from Ben's marijuana smuggling funded Fort Apache while petitioner was its president. Petitioner disbursed funds to Fort Apache and other of Ben's enterprises from deposits that others, such as LCP Associates, made in Safra and Barnett money market.
In December 1985, Len-Ed deposited $ 85,000 into Safra; $ 50,000 of this deposit went to two of the racing entities: $ 35,000 to Apache Power Boats and $ 15,000 to Team Apache. The remainder of the funds in that account rolled over into 1986. In 1985, petitioner also disbursed a *548 total of $ 29,465.80 from Barnett money market to support the racing efforts. However, petitioner never explained or established the source of these funds. The $ 85,000 in Safra could not have been so used because it was deposited in December 1985, and the Barnett expenditures were made during February-December 1985. The record does not show a transfer between the two accounts. Tables 1 through 3 in the appendix detail these transactions. Table 4 reconstructs the bank deposits and summarizes the various explanations; as set forth therein, petitioner's net unexplained bank deposits amount to $ 29,480.75 for 1985. Table 5 calculates petitioner's taxable income for 1985 based upon the net unexplained bank deposits and items of income and deductions that the parties stipulated to or were included in respondent's notice of deficiency for that year.
The bulk of the unexplained bank deposits at issue were deposited and disbursed in 1986, largely through Safra. Virtually all the disbursed funds supported some aspect of the powerboat racing entities. Petitioner disbursed funds for freight delivery, insurance, advertising, work on the boats, and rigger services. Petitioner also disbursed $ 100,000 *549 to Len-Ed as payment for services related to construction of the marina. Dublin was a designated recipient for a portion of the $ 505,000 that LCP Associates, controlled by Lyon and others, deposited in Safra during April as part of Ben's remittances from the card club profits.
Petitioner disbursed funds totaling $ 50,628.44 from Safra to Allsworth on a regular basis throughout 1986, either into Allsworth's trust account or to him personally. Some of these payments supplemented the marina land purchase that Allsworth made with funds that he received directly from LCP Associates.
Of the funds deposited into Safra during 1986, $ 200,000 came from a loan from Safra Bank. Respondent made no adjustment with respect to those funds in the notice of deficiency for 1986 and 1987. The funds were deposited into the account in July and August. The loan covered the $ 93,582 overdraft on Safra that existed at the end of June 1986. Disbursements made in June, which total $ 206,500 and remain unexplained by the record, caused the overdraft. The unexplained deposits for 1986, summarized in Table 9, are decreased by the amount of the loan.
None of the 11 debits to the account in June 1986 was smaller *550 than $ 2,000 and all were for amounts rounded to the nearest thousand or five hundred dollars. The largest debits were for $ 50,000 (two checks for that amount), $ 30,000, and $ 20,000 (two checks for that amount). By the end of 1986, petitioner had disbursed all the funds that had been deposited during December 1985-October 1986.
Based upon exhibits stipulated by both parties, the total deposits into Safra during 1986 exceed by $ 75,200 the amount reported on Schedule C in respondent's notice of deficiency for 1986 and 1987.
Petitioner explained only $ 14,230.89 of the $ 133,523.32 that petitioner and Maxine disbursed from Barnett money market in 1986. The $ 14,230.89 represents expenditures for accounting services for Ben's enterprises or for the racing boat enterprises. The source of another $ 30,204.45 is undisputed: a refund check from the IRS.
Table 9 reconstructs the bank deposits for 1986 and summarizes the various explanations; as set forth therein, petitioner had net unexplained bank deposits of $ 99,077.39 for 1986. Table 10, using income and deductions stipulated by the parties, or calculated in respondent's notice of deficiency for 1986 and 1987, calculates petitioner's *551 taxable income for 1986.
In 1987, the Safra account was inactive and closed in July of that year. No deposits were made other than one for $ 400 to correct an overdraft.
During 1987, Barnett money market continued to be active. However, only $ 4,175 was deposited into the account, while petitioner spent $ 12,650.93 supporting Ben's enterprises. Since the expenditures tend to explain the deposits, only $ 4,175 is credited to explaining 1987 deposits. The balance is applied to explaining their source: the 1986 deposits. Petitioner's disbursements from this account paid Apache Power Boat's building rental and $ 4,850.93 for property taxes for Ben's property. Funds also went to Allsworth's trust account.
Respondent conceded a $ 150,000 loan from petitioner's sister-in-law used to post petitioner's bail. This corresponds to a $ 150,000 deposit made into Barnett joint checking in December and a check written for the same amount on the same day. Based upon the exhibits, the total deposits made into Barnett joint checking exceed by $ 10,000 the amount shown in respondent's notice of deficiency for 1986 and 1987 as having been deposited into the account.
Table 14 reconstructs the net unexplained *552 deposits for 1987, $ 41,899.34, based on the record. Because the parties stipulated a smaller amount, $ 36,088, we use that lesser figure attributable to unexplained bank deposits to calculate petitioner's taxable income for 1987. Table 15 calculates petitioner's taxable income for 1987 based upon the stipulated unexplained bank deposits and income items and deductions that either the parties stipulated or respondent used in her notice of deficiency for 1986 and 1987.
Based upon respondent's concessions and the above findings of fact, the unexplained bank deposits included in petitioner's gross income for each year are:
1985 $ 29,480.75 (From Table 4) 1986 99,077.39 (From Table 9) 1987 36,088.00 (From Table 14) Based upon respondent's statutory notices of deficiency, her concessions, and the unexplained bank deposits, petitioner's income and deductions are:
Item 1985 1 1986 2*553 1987 3 Net unexplained bank deposits $ 29,480.75 $ 99,077.39 $ 36,088 Wages 32,199.00 34,020.00 17,000 Interest income 11,777.00 7,922.00 388 Other income 3,468.00 - 0 - - 0 - Gross income 76,924.75 141,019.39 53,476 Stipulated deductions (28,044.00) (31,362.92) (23,394) Taxable income 48,880.75 109,656.47 30,082 OPINION
The convoluted facts and missing records in these cases, attributable in part to the criminality of petitioner's activities, have resulted in a fragmentary record, all the gaps in which have not been fully explained by the parties.
Petitioner's counsel, Mr. Soltz, became ill shortly after trial, and died without filing a brief. Although Mr. Soltz had originally associated with Mr. Kaplan to obtain his help in preparing a brief, we granted Mr. Kaplan's motion to withdraw, filed shortly after Mr. Soltz's death. Petitioner did not retain new counsel and declined to file an answering brief, citing his limited education. Respondent then decided not to file a reply brief.
Respondent's opening and only brief does not reconcile the differences between respondent's notices of deficiency and the stipulated bank record exhibits. 16*555 As a starting place for the deficiency calculations, Schedules C in the deficiency notices listed certain amounts as the total deposits, from which the net unexplained bank deposits were then calculated. For 1986, these amounts do not correspond to the total deposits recorded in the bank records. The record indicates that the deposits for *554 that year total $ 1,043,161.86. Schedule C of the notice of deficiency for 1986 and 1987 shows the total deposits in the three accounts to be $ 975,648.36. Nothing in the record or respondent's brief explains this difference or why respondent determined the numbers she did. The amounts of respondent's concessions and how she arrived at them are also unclear.
In the stipulations, respondent claimed $ 593,716 in unexplained deposits for 1986, which petitioner denied. But, based on the record, and using respondent's *556 concessions and known non-income items, that number cannot be reconciled with the actual deposits in that year, nor can it be reconciled with respondent's total for the 1986 deposits. Because petitioner denies the income, the $ 593,716 has not been stipulated by the parties.
We are presented with a similar problem for 1987, although, as shown in tables 13 and 14, the cause seems to be arithmetical error in one case and an oversight in the other. Respondent also never explained her stipulation that the 1987 unexplained bank deposits were only $ 36,088. Using the bank records as a starting point, the record supports a different and slightly larger number, $ 41,899.34. In determining the unexplained bank deposits for each of the years, we went back to the bank deposits, as listed in the record, to recalculate the amounts that remain unexplained based upon the record and concessions made by respondent. Tables 4, 9, and 14 summarize the unexplained deposits and expenditures for the 3 years.
Issue 1. Deficiencies in 1985, 1986, and 1987 Section 61 provides the general rule that gross income includes income from whatever source derived. To facilitate calculating that income, section 6001, *557 as interpreted by
section 1.6001-1(b), Income Tax Regs. , requires taxpayers "to keep such records as will enable the district director to determine the correct amount". In the absence of such records, respondent may use indirect methods of proof of income such as the bank deposits method.DiLeo v. Commissioner , 96 T.C. 858">96 T.C. 858959 F.2d 16">959 F.2d 16 (2d Cir. 1992);Petzoldt v. Commissioner , 92 T.C. 661">92 T.C. 661Estate of Mason v. Commissioner , 64 T.C. 651">64 T.C. 651566 F.2d 2">566 F.2d 2 (6th Cir. 1977);Estate of Hague v. Commissioner , 45 B.T.A. 104">45 B.T.A. 104132 F.2d 775">132 F.2d 775 (2d Cir. 1943), affd. sub nom.Commissioner v. Uniacke , 132 F.2d 781">132 F.2d 781Welch v. Helvering , 290 U.S. 111">290 U.S. 111Reid v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo 1974-185">T.C. Memo. 1974-185516 F.2d 896">516 F.2d 896 (2d Cir. 1975) (using the bank deposits method, deducting identifiable items, and regarding the rest as unexplained deposits and thus taxable income, puts the burden of proof on petitioner). Respondent's *558 concessions on one or more issues do not destroy the presumption of correctness, nor do they shift the burden of proof on issues remaining in dispute.United States Holding Co. v. Commissioner , 44 T.C. 323">44 T.C. 323Mensik v. Commissioner , 37 T.C. 703">37 T.C. 703328 F.2d 147">328 F.2d 147 (7th Cir. 1964);Gobins v. Commissioner , 18 T.C. 1159">18 T.C. 1159217 F.2d 952">217 F.2d 952 (9th Cir. 1954) (concessions by the Commissioner in an unexplained bank deposit case did not destroy the presumption of correctness of the deficiency, nor did it shift the burden of proof to the Commissioner).Ordinarily, the presumption of correctness does not allow "looking behind the notice of deficiency to examine the evidence used by the Commissioner".
Petzoldt v. Commissioner, supra at 687-688Weimerskirch v. Commissioner , 596 F.2d 358">596 F.2d 35867 T.C. 672">67 T.C. 672 (1977)). However, for cases involving illegal activity as the source of income, the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has adopted theWeimerskirch doctrine, which requires both an evidentiary linkage of illegal income-producing activity with the deficiency determination,Blohm v. Commissioner , 994 F.2d 1542">994 F.2d 1542T.C. Memo. 1991-636 (citingWeimerskirch v. Commissioner, supra at 362Weimerskirch v. Commissioner, supra at 361Hobart v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 1995-517Blohm v. Commissioner, supra at 1549Carson v. United States , 560 F.2d 693">560 F.2d 693Gerardo v. Commissioner , 552 F.2d 549">552 F.2d 549T.C. Memo 1975-341">T.C. Memo. 1975-341 )), and petitioner's admitted participation in money laundering on Ben's behalf clearly provides such a linkage. Petitioner's admission establishes not only that he was linked to illegal activity, but that he received income from that illegal activity. Much of the funds that flowed through Safra and Barnett money market in 1985 and 1986 came from the card club through LCP Associates.Because of the "obvious intent of that Congress to tax income derived from both legal and illegal sources, to remove the incongruity of having the gains of the honest laborer taxed and the gains of the dishonest immune", funds from illegal sources have long been considered taxable income.
James v. United States , 366 U.S. 213">366 U.S. 213Rutkin v. United States , 343 U.S. 130">343 U.S. 130James v. United States, supra Commissioner v. Glenshaw Glass Co. , 348 U.S. 426">348 U.S. 426If petitioner could show that he accrued no gain or benefit and had mere dominion over the funds without control, he could rebut the presumption that the funds are taxable income to him.
Brittingham v. Commissioner , 57 T.C. 91">57 T.C. 91Ianniello v. Commissioner , 98 T.C. 165">98 T.C. 165Rutkin v. United States, supra at 137Petitioner relies upon his own testimony as his primary proof. "Undoubtedly, as a general rule, positive testimony as to a particular fact, uncontradicted by any one, should control the decision of the court; but that rule admits of many exceptions",
Ouock Ting v. United States , 140 U.S. 417">140 U.S. 417Greenfeld v. Commissioner , 165 F.2d 318">165 F.2d 318Davis v. Commissioner , 88 T.C. 122">88 T.C. 122866 F.2d 852">866 F.2d 852 (6th Cir. 1989); see alsoAnaya v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 1991-91983 F.2d 186">983 F.2d 186 (10th Cir. 1993). However, that is not the case here.Petitioner *562 corroborated his testimony on the use of the bank deposits with bank statements for each of the three accounts and exhibits summarizing various annotated checks. His testimony at the trial in these cases is consistent with his earlier testimony in the criminal trial of his former associates Michael Gilbert and Fainsbert and the civil forfeiture trial adjunct to his own criminal trial. The flows of funds that petitioner did explain were almost exclusively directed towards the entities associated with Ben's powerboat racing, paying Allsworth for his legal and other services, and paying for other costs that Ben had incurred. As in
Brittingham v. Commissioner , the facts are persuasive. Petitioner's testimony, corroborated as it is, constitutes compelling evidence that tips "the scales in * * * [petitioner's] favor",Brittingham v. Commissioner, supra at 101Respondent did not controvert petitioner's testimony that he made each of these disbursements at Ben's behest. Respondent also did not dispute petitioner's assertion that Ben, not he, controlled and owned the various Apache enterprises. *563 Respondent's failure on this count is telling because the circumstantial evidence strongly corroborates petitioner's story. The May 1986 meeting in which Fainsbert told petitioner that the 15-percent "kicker" had been eliminated is just one instance of petitioner as a subordinate participant being presented with a fait accompli. Another such instance is how, after breaking his ankle in the boating accident, petitioner never went to California to assume the role he had sought as overseer of Ben's investment in the card club, see
supra note 11. These incidents help to demonstrate the tenuousness of petitioner's position in Ben's enterprises and his lack of any real ownership interest in them. Also persuasive to us is petitioner's lack of involvement in the underlying drug smuggling activities.Even after accepting petitioner's explanations for the disbursements to and from the various bank accounts, significant amounts still remain unaccounted for and unexplained in each of the 3 years. Petitioner failed to discharge his burden of proof with regard to all the funds that came into his accounts. Indeed, petitioner used funds from Barnett joint checking exclusively for his own personal *564 use. Only one deposit in that account is not income: a $ 150,000 loan to petitioner by his sister-in-law. The record does show that funds going through Safra, and, to a lesser extent, Barnett money market, came from the card club via LCP Associates and other entities. But, without more, merely showing the source is insufficient to rebut the presumption that they were income to petitioner. Accordingly, we find that petitioner has unexplained bank deposits in the amounts set forth in our concluding findings, with resulting decreased deficiencies for 1985 and 1986. The unexplained deposits for 1987 are as the parties have stipulated for that year.
Issue 2. Additions to Tax for 1985 a. Failure to file a return--section 6651 Section 6011(a) requires that "any person made liable for any tax * * * shall make a return or statement according to the forms and regulations prescribed by the Secretary." Treasury regulations require that returns contain "therein the information required by the applicable regulations or forms."
Sec. 1.6011-1(a), Income Tax Regs. Failure to file a return subjects a taxpayer to additions to tax under section 6651(a)(1) of "5 percent for each additional month * * * *565 not exceeding 25 percent".To be a return that starts the period of limitations, a document must "purport to be a specific statement of the items of income, deductions, and credits in compliance with the statutory duty to report information and '
to have that effect it must honestly and reasonably be intended as such'". Beard v. Commissioner , 82 T.C. 766">82 T.C. 766793 F.2d 139">793 F.2d 139 (6th Cir 1986) (quotingFlorsheim Bros. Drygoods Co. v. United States , 280 U.S. 453">280 U.S. 453Zellerbach Paper Co. v. Helvering , 293 U.S. 172">293 U.S. 172In 1985, petitioner filed appropriate extensions and eventually filed what he labeled a "tentative return" on a Form 1040. The document did not include any information on income, deductions, credits or exclusions, although it did list $ 20,329 in line 56 as the "total tax". It also displayed the legend: "Ongoing Grand *566 Jury Investigation May Materially Affect Tax Liability". Even with an "estimated tax" listed in the "total tax" line, the form still lacked the minimum information prescribed by the regulations. 18 It did not evince an honest and genuine endeavor to satisfy the law.
Id. ; see also, e.g.,Porth v. United States 426 F.2d 519">426 F.2d 519United States v. Jordan , 508 F.2d 750">508 F.2d 750Ross v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 1984-27A taxpayer who fails to *567 file a return bears the burden of showing that: (1) His failure to file did not result from "willful neglect"; and (2) he had reasonable cause for failure to file the return. Sec. 6651(a)(1);
United States v. Boyle , 469 U.S. 241">469 U.S. 241United States v. Boyle, supra at 245-246Petitioner must also show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he had reasonable cause to fail to file a return, a question determined in the "instant circumstances".
Id. at 246-247United States v. Sullivan , 274 U.S. 259">274 U.S. 259United States v. Malquist , 791 F.2d 1399">791 F.2d 1399Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, seeKirschbaum v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo 1989-526">T.C. Memo. 1989-526Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination by refusing to answer specific questions.United States v. Egan , 459 F.2d 997">459 F.2d 997United States v. Daly , 481 F.2d 28">481 F.2d 28Porth v. United States, supra at 523Reiff v. Commissioner , 77 T.C. 1169">77 T.C. 1169Accordingly, we find that petitioner failed to show either that he had reasonable cause not to file a return or that his failure to file was not due *569 to willful neglect. Petitioner is therefore liable for the addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1) for 1985.
b. Additions to tax for negligence--section 6653(a) Respondent also determined a 5-percent penalty on underpayments under section 6653(a)(1) and an additional penalty of 50 percent of interest due on the underpayment under section 6653(a)(2), based on her determination of petitioner's negligence. Section 6653(c)(1) defines an underpayment as, among other things, a deficiency as defined in section 6211(a). As discussed
supra in Issue 1, we find that there will be a reduced deficiency against petitioner for 1985.Section 6653(a), as applicable to the 1985 tax year, does not define negligence. It makes no real distinction between negligence and "disregard of rules and regulations". For purposes of this section, courts have generally followed
Marcello v. Commissioner , 380 F.2d 494">380 F.2d 49443 T.C. 168">43 T.C. 168 (1964), in holding that "Negligence is lack of due care or failure to do what a reasonable and ordinarily prudent person would do under the circumstances". See alsoNeely v. Commissioner , 85 T.C. 934">85 T.C. 934Harris v. Commissioner , 745 F.2d 378">745 F.2d 378T.C. Memo 1982-410">T.C. Memo. 1982-410 ;Mack v. Commissioner , 429 F.2d 182">429 F.2d 182Marcello v. Commissioner , 380 F.2d at 506-507, 509, 511)T.C. Memo. 1969-26 ;Cox v. Commissioner , 54 T.C. 1735">54 T.C. 1735Petitioner bears the burden of proof to show that he was not negligent. Rule 142(a);
Patterson v. Commissioner , 740 F.2d 927">740 F.2d 927Marcello v. Commissioner , 380 F.2d at 506-507T.C. Memo 1983-655">T.C. Memo. 1983-655 . Petitioner must furnish evidence to show that he exercised reasonable care--in this case by showing that he did indeed keep adequate records. However, petitioner *571 never addressed this issue on the record at trial, and of course, he has not filed a brief. In view of the lack of evidence rebutting respondent's determination, we find that petitioner is liable for the additions to tax under sections 6653(a)(1) and (2), based upon the deficiencies to be determined in the Rule 155 computation.Issue 3. Additions to Tax for 1986 and 1987 Respondent determined that petitioner was liable for additions to tax under three different Code sections: (1) section 6653(b) for civil fraud; (2) section 6661 for failing to pay estimated tax; and (3) section 6654 for substantial underpayment of tax.
a. Civil tax fraud--section 6653(b) The addition to tax for fraud is a civil sanction provided primarily to safeguard the revenue and recoup the heavy costs of investigating tax fraud.
Helvering v. Mitchell , 303 U.S. 391">303 U.S. 391Zand v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo 1996-19">T.C. Memo. 1996-19Hobart v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo 1995-517">T.C. Memo. 1995-517For the 2 tax years at issue, the fraud additions under 6653(b)(1) are two-fold. First, a taxpayer is liable for 75 percent of the underpayment attributable to fraud. Sec. 6653(b)(1)(A). However, that effectively means that the taxpayer who fails to show that part of the underpayment is not attributable to fraud can be liable for 75 percent of the entire underpayment. Sec. 6653(b)(2). Second, section 6653(b)(1)(B) calls for an addition equal to 50 percent of the interest payable on that underpayment under section 6601(a).
Section 6653(b)(1) requires the presence of two elements for a finding of civil tax fraud: underpayment of tax and fraudulent intent. Respondent bears the burden of proof on the issue of existence of fraud, sec. 7454(a); Rule 142(b), and can meet that burden by presenting *574 a prima facie case of clear and convincing evidence.
DiLeo v. Commissioner , 96 T.C. 858">96 T.C. 858959 F.2d 16">959 F.2d 16 (2d Cir. 1992);Smith v. Commissioner , 91 T.C. 1049">91 T.C. 1049Rickard v. Commissioner , 15 B.T.A. 316">15 B.T.A. 316926 F.2d 1470">926 F.2d 1470 (6th Cir. 1991); see alsoManton v. Commissioner , a Memorandum Opinion of this Court dated Nov. 22, 1948. The existence of fraud is a question of fact that we must resolve separately for each year upon considering the entire record.Recklitis v. Commissioner , 91 T.C. 874">91 T.C. 874Teitelbaum v. Commissioner , 294 F.2d 541">294 F.2d 541T.C. Memo 1960-11">T.C. Memo. 1960-11 .i. Existence of an underpayment In addition to proving fraudulent intent, respondent bears the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that there is an underpayment. Sec. 7454(a); Rule 142(b);
DiLeo v. Commissioner, supra at 873Franklin v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 1993-184Respondent did adduce considerable evidence that petitioner had large, unreported bank deposits in 1986 and 1987. For 1986, the parties also stipulated that petitioner received income from wages and interest, which also explained some of the deposits. Respondent further conceded that transfers and the $ 200,000 loan from Safra Bank explained still more of the bank deposits, because they were not includable in income. Petitioner's own corroborated explanations for the expenditure of much of the money that flowed through the three accounts in 1986 accounted for another portion of the bank deposits as nontaxable income. Only $ 99,077.39 of the bank deposits for 1986, along with stipulated sources of income and deductions, form clear and convincing evidence of taxable income of $ 109,656.47, upon which a deficiency may be calculated.
In 1987, the parties stipulated the unexplained bank deposits were $ 36,088. They also stipulated items of income and deductions such that petitioner's taxable income in 1987 upon which the deficiency is calculated is $ 30,082.
ii. Fraudulent intent The Code does not specifically define fraudulent intent. However, courts have developed a working *576 definition of fraudulent intent as the "'actual, intentional wrongdoing, and the intent required is the specific purpose to evade a tax believed to be owing'".
Estate of Temple v. Commissioner , 67 T.C. 143">67 T.C. 143Mitchell v. Commissioner , 118 F.2d 308">118 F.2d 30840 B.T.A. 424">40 B.T.A. 424 (1939)); see alsoChin v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo 1994-54">T.C. Memo. 1994-54Fraudulent intent may never be imputed or assumed, but must be proven by independent evidence.
Recklitis v. Commissioner, supra at 909-910Beaver v. Commissioner , 55 T.C. 85">55 T.C. 85Rowlee v. Commissioner , 80 T.C. 1111">80 T.C. 1111Stone v. Commissioner , 56 T.C. 213">56 T.C. 213Spies v. United States , 317 U.S. 492">317 U.S. 492Stephenson v. Commissioner , 79 T.C. 995">79 T.C. 995748 F.2d 331">748 F.2d 331 (6th Cir. 1984); see alsoPowell v. Granquist , 252 F.2d 56">252 F.2d 56Gajewski v. Commissioner , 67 T.C. 181">67 T.C. 181578 F.2d 1383">578 F.2d 1383 (8th Cir. 1978).(a) The badges of fraud To that end, courts have, in the past, developed a non-exhaustive list of the "badges of *577 fraud".
Bradford v. Commissioner , 796 F.2d 303">796 F.2d 303T.C. Memo. 1984-601 ;Douge v. Commissioner , 899 F.2d 164">899 F.2d 164(I) Taxpayer's experience and sophistication Petitioner's relative experience and sophistication are relevant in determining whether fraud exists.
Stephenson v. Commissioner , 79 T.C. at 1006Zand v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 1996-19(ii) Participation in illegal activities The Court has repeatedly found that illegal activity strongly indicates the presence of fraud even when the taxpayer has not been criminally convicted.
Clayton v. Commissioner , 102 T.C. 632">102 T.C. 632Bradford v. Commissioner, supra at 307-308Meier v. Commissioner , 91 T.C. 273">91 T.C. 273Deletis v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 1995-512The evidence of illegal activity in this case is even more compelling than in
Clayton because petitioner was convicted of money laundering. Petitioner funneled the proceeds from the card club investment into the Apache enterprises, some of it through his own bank accounts. He also tried to recover the $ 12 million *579 investment in the card club. Petitioner admitted that his sources of income, at least in part, were those illegal activities for both 1986 and 1987. He produced no evidence to show that his sources of income for either year were anything other than criminal activity. SGA, controlled by Sam Gilbert, paid petitioner's "wages" in 1985 and 1986 as a conduit for returning laundered money to the Kramers.(iii) Failure to maintain accurate records A taxpayer's failure to maintain accurate records is another badge of fraud, especially in combination with other indicia.
Merritt v. Commissioner , 301 F.2d 484">301 F.2d 484T.C. Memo 1959-172">T.C. Memo. 1959-172 ;Reaves v. Commissioner , 295 F.2d 336">295 F.2d 33631 T.C. 690">31 T.C. 690 (1958);Grosshandler v. Commissioner , 75 T.C. 1">75 T.C. 1(iv) Unexplained bank deposits While unexplained bank deposits are not themselves necessarily clear and convincing evidence of fraud,
York v. Commissioner , 24 T.C. 742">24 T.C. 742Stone v. Commissioner , 56 T.C. at 224Manton v. Commissioner , a Memorandum Opinion of this Court dated Nov. 22, 1948 (citingRogers v. Commissioner , 111 F.2d 987">111 F.2d 98738 B.T.A. 16">38 B.T.A. 16 (1938)); *581 see alsoRecklitis v. Commissioner , 91 T.C. at 912(v) Failure to file tax returns Petitioner's failure to file tax returns in 1986 or 1987 serves as yet another indicator of fraud.
Bradford v. Commissioner , 796 F.2d at 307-308(vi) Failure to cooperate with tax authorities Failure to cooperate with tax authorities is a badge of fraud.
Zell v. Commissioner , 763 F.2d 1139">763 F.2d 1139T.C. Memo. 1984-152 ;Powell v. Granquist , 252 F.2d 56">252 F.2d 56Jones v. Commissioner , 259 F.2d 300">259 F.2d 30025 T.C. 1100">25 T.C. 1100 (1956);Chin v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 1994-54Reliance on an attorney or another tax preparer may constitute a defense against fraud if the taxpayer relied upon *583 the preparer's advice and actual preparation of the returns to calculate his taxable income. See, e.g.,
Marinzulich v. Commissioner , 31 T.C. 487">31 T.C. 487United States v. Egan , 459 F.2d 997">459 F.2d 997(b) Causal connection between indicia of fraud and petitioner's specific purpose to evade paying taxes The record is replete with the badges of fraud as discussed above from which we can infer the specific purpose of evading taxes. But the record also contains some evidence that petitioner may not have actually intended to fraudulently evade paying taxes. The issue is whether, *584 using the indicia of fraud in the presence of such contrary evidence, we infer from the record as a whole that petitioner had the specific purpose to evade paying his taxes.
Estate of Temple v. Commissioner , 67 T.C. 143">67 T.C. 143In April 1987, when the 1986 return was due, petitioner was trying to recover the card club investment, and find a way out of the marina, activities that had occupied him for nearly a year following Murphy's arrest in Tortola. In May of the previous year, Sam Gilbert had reneged on the payment of the "kicker" on the Troon Mortgage, and Fainsbert had openly said, at the May 1986, meeting at the Miami Marriott, that petitioner was no longer in charge of the marina. By June 1987, petitioner had left the marina, either in a desperate attempt to continue to conceal Ben's interest in it, or because the Gilberts had forced him out.
In the wake of Ben's arrest in August 1987, petitioner and Maxine stayed in a condominium they had leased in Atlantic City during the late summer and fall of 1987 to "get away from it all". Petitioner focused on recovering the $ 9.5 million from June 1987 until the meeting in Zurich in November 1987 effectively ended those efforts. *585 Thereafter, until his arrest in December 1989, petitioner was using laundered funds to make payments to lawyers and generally doing all that he could to keep his son from being convicted. He also took care of his own legal fees of $ 250,000 with these same funds. 20
Petitioner also feared criminal prosecution. Murphy had been arrested and the Troon Mortgage conduit disrupted. Petitioner was under investigation by a grand jury. Petitioner's fear of prosecution drove him in October 1986 to file a document that, as we have held, was not a tax return. Petitioner was afraid that a proper return could reveal his illegal sources of income and perhaps tie *586 him to the money laundering. Max Forman, the accountant who had advised him and Ben on the card club investment, had signed the 1985 Form 1040 that petitioner and Maxine jointly filed. With Forman's advice and preparation, that Form 1040 completely lacked the requisite detail about income and deductions, even to the point of excluding the SGA "wages", the interest income, and bona fide deductions such as home mortgage interest. Fear of criminal investigation must have driven the decision to disclose no detail, because petitioner also inscribed a legend on the document that referred to the possible effect that the outcome of the grand jury investigation could have on his tax liability.
By 1987, petitioner's fear of criminal prosecution had grown even stronger. Ben's criminal enterprise was falling apart, and petitioner was trying to help him in the wake of his arrest by ensuring that his lawyers were paid. Petitioner also ensured that his own criminal lawyer was paid. But his understanding that filing a legitimate return and paying the tax shown thereon as due could reveal a link to criminal activity had not disappeared. Petitioner has stipulated that he knew that he was required to *587 file returns and pay taxes for 1986 and 1987.
Based upon the clear link between petitioner's fear of criminal prosecution, and his deliberate attempt to evade paying his taxes, we infer that petitioner had the requisite fraudulent intent. The pressures that petitioner was under, and any sense that he was simply overwhelmed by events, do not rebut our conclusion, especially in light of the continuing nature of petitioner's fear of criminal prosecution. The combination of the other indicia of fraud and petitioner's fear that filing adequate returns and paying taxes for 1986 and 1987 would increase his vulnerability to criminal prosecution is clear and convincing evidence of fraudulent intent to evade paying taxes.
iii. Portion of underpayment attributable to fraud Once the underpayment is established, respondent need only establish that some portion stems from fraud, sec. 6653(b)(2);
Otsuki v. Commissioner , 53 T.C. 96">53 T.C. 96Meier v. Commissioner , 91 T.C. at 303b. Substantial underpayment of tax--section 6661 For 1986 and 1987, section 6661 authorizes an addition to tax of 25 percent of any underpayment if there has been a substantial understatement of income.
Pallottini v. Commissioner , 90 T.C. 498">90 T.C. 498Tweeddale v. Commissioner , 92 T.C. 501">92 T.C. 501Woods v. Commissioner , 91 T.C. 88">91 T.C. 88Estate of McClanahan v. Commissioner , 95 T.C. 98">95 T.C. 98Woods v. Commissioner, supra at 95supra under Issue 1 of this opinion, we have recalculated the understatements based upon the evidence presented by petitioner rebutting respondent's initially determined deficiency determinations.The underpayment against which the statute calculates the 25 percent addition is the understatement net of any prepayment credits, which in this situation is the withholding paid in each of the two years.
Id. at 99Bard v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo 1993-105">T.C. Memo. 1993-105c. Failure to pay estimated tax--section 6654 Respondent determined an addition to tax under section 6654(a) for petitioner's failure to pay estimated income tax. The addition is imposed at the rate determined by section 6621. 21*591 Imposition of the tax is mandatory where prepayments of the tax, either through withholding or by making estimated quarterly payments, do not satisfy the specified percentages of total liability required under the statute.
Grosshandler v. Commissioner , 75 T.C. 1">75 T.C. 1Swonder v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 1994-430Swonder v. Commissioner, supra Once respondent determines that petitioner is liable for the addition to tax under section 6654, the burden shifts to petitioner to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that respondent's determination was incorrect. Rule 142(a);
Register v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo 1988-390">T.C. Memo. 1988-390Petitioner presented no evidence on this issue. He did not pay any estimated income tax in either 1986 or 1987 beyond minimal withholding on the wages reported by Sam Gilbert Associates in 1986 and Fort Apache, Inc. in 1987. 22 Therefore, petitioner is liable for the addition to tax imposed by section 6654(a) for both years.
To reflect the foregoing,
An appropriate order will be issued denying petitioners' oral motion to dismiss in the case at docket No. 22457-91 .Decisions will be entered under Rule 155 .Table 1
Safra Bank--1985 Deposit/ Check/ Month Credit Debit Adjustment Explanation January - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - February - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - March - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - April - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - May - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - June - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - July - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - August - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - September - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - October - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - November - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - December $ 85,000 $ 50,000 $ 50,000 1. Deposit came from Len-Ed, of which Dublin was an owner. 2. $ 35,000 "loan" to Apache Power Boats and $ 15,000 to Team Apache "to pay expenses" Total 85,000 50,000 50,000 for year Adjustments 50,000 50,000 Net total 35,000 - 0 - *592 Table 2
Barnett Money Market Account--1985 Deposit/ Check/ Month Credit Debit Adjust- Explanation ment January $ 18,860.35 $ 11,176.89 - 0 - February 6,229.83 20,923.98 7,845.00 1. $ 4,000 to Miami Boat Show for Apache Powerboat. 2. $ 3,845 for Marina insur- ance (Fort Apache). March 1,824.19 4,731.08 - 0 - April 3,227.26 5,203.15 - 0 - May 4,012.70 9,733.40 2,733.40 1. $ 2,733.40 to sponsor of boat race. June 4,681.10 500.00 - 0 - July 21,179.70 2,930.22 - 0 - August 1,012.70 3,443.69 - 0 - September 2,352.34 6,294.90 - 0 - October - 0 - 2,873.00 - 0 - November 18,454.81 2,273.00 - 0 - 1. $ 17,518.84 is from an inheritance conceded by respondent in the notice of deficiency for tax year 1985. This amount is not included in adjustments, but deducted from income as nontaxable income in Table 5. December 19,249.67 19,387.40 18,887.40 1. $ 18,887.40 for furniture for Fort Apache/Team Apache. 2. $ 2,122.49 is traced to an inheritance conceded by respondent in the notice of deficiency. This amount is not included in the adjustments, but deducted from income as nontaxable income in Table 5. Total 101,084.65 89,470.71 29,465.80 for year Adjustments 29,465.80 29,465.80 Net total 71,618.85 60,004.91 - 0 - Table 3
Barnett Joint Checking--1985 Deposit/ Check/ Month Credit Debit Adjust- Explanation ment January $ 3,208.61 $ 2,832.71 - 0 - February 1,198.61 1,536.69 - 0 - March 3,767.12 5,017.69 - 0 - April 5,529.70 3,546.56 - 0 - May 3,592.03 4,620.54 - 0 - June 4,322.44 4,868.57 - 0 - July 2,185.03 2,286.76 - 0 - August 2,830.09 1,779.65 - 0 - September 2,313.98 3,628.08 - 0 - October 2,848.30 2,236.89 - 0 - November 2,559.63 1,409.10 - 0 - December 4,186.36 4,695.21 - 0 - Total 38,541.90 38,458.45 - 0 - for year Adjustments - 0 - - 0 - Net total 38,541.90 38,458.45 Table *593 4
Schedule C Reconstruction--1985 Bank Deposits Amount Explanation Barnett joint checking $ 38,541.90 Barnett money market 101,084.65 Safra Bank 85,000.00 224,626.55 Nontaxable Income Refunds/Reimbursements 2,753.00 1. These figures drawn from notice of deficiency for tax year 1985. Certificate of deposit 15,191.00 Transfers 3,000.00 Exchanges 1,250.00 Sale of house 20,000.00 Inheritance 19,641.00 2. Inheritance deposited into the Barnett money market account in November and December 1985. Sale of car 14,000.00 (75,835.00) Petitioner's Explanations Safra Bank 50,000.00 1. Table 1. Barnett money market 29,465.80 2. Table 2 Barnett joint checking - 0 - 3. Table 3 (79,465.80) Unexplained Bank Deposits 69,325.75 (Without taking into account stipulated sources of income) Wages 32,199.00 Less withholding (5,329.00) Less FICA (2,270.00) Net Wages (24,600.00) Other Sources of Income Interest income 11,777.00 State tax refund 3,468.00 (15,245.00) Net unexplained deposits 29,480.75 Table 5
Income Calculation--1985 Amount Explanation Wages $ 32,199.00 Interest 11,777.00 State income tax refund 3,468.00 Unexplained bank deposits 29,480.75 1. From Table 4. Total income 76,924.75 Stipulated deductions (28,044.00) 2. All deductions listed herein either stipulated by the parties or drawn from the notice of deficiency for tax year 1985. Contributions 2,733.00 Sales tax 747.00 Real property taxes 3,483.00 Mortgage interest 21,501.00 Zero Bracket Amount (3,540.00) 3. Reduction in allowable itemized deductions as calculated in the notice of deficiency for tax year 1985. Personal exemptions 3,120.00 4. Three personal exemptions allowed in the notice of deficiency. (28,044.00) Taxable Income 48,880.75 Table *594 6
Safra Bank--1986 Deposit/ Check/ Month Credit Debit Adjust- Explanation ment January $ 30,768.33 $ 26,013.29 $ 19,123.29 1. $ 370.89 for freight delivery to Team Apache. 2. $ 2,355.80 insurance for the racing enterprises. 3. $ 1,396.60 for engine blocks. 4. $ 5,000 "loan" to Apache Boats, Inc. 5. $ 10,000 to pay for Fort Apache insurance. February - 0 - 37,208.44 35,025.44 1. $ 3,229 to pay balance on insurance installment. 2. $ 8,557.50 to pay for Fort Apache advertising. 3. $ 10,000 to pay next installment for insurance. 4. $ 9,000 to Emerson Allsworth Trust for legal services rendered. 5. $ 4,238.94 to Allsworth personally--exact reason unknown--probably to pay for land for the marina. Ben used Allsworth's Trust Account as a conduit for purchase of that land. March - 0 - 126.00 - 0 - April 505,000.00 155,000.00 155,000.00 1. $ 5,000 for offshore boat race purse for race that Ben sponsored. 2. $ 100,000 payment for forklifts used at Fort Apache 3. $ 50,000 to Ben's racing team. May - 0 - 240,914.18 217,434.00 1. $ 100,000 payment to Len-Ed Construction. This was one of the destinations for the $ 505,000 that Sam Gilbert, using LCP Associates, which was run by Dale Lyon and David Pierson, had deposited in the account that month, although the funds originated from Ben. 2. $ 5,000 for insurance costs. 3. $ 6,384 to Allsworth Trust Account for property purchased by Allsworth for Ben. 4. $ 3,500 to Allsworth Trust; legal services rendered. 5. $ 2,700 to repay a personal loan from Dublin, one of the owners of Len-Ed Construction, a beneficiary of funds from this account. 6. $ 9,980 to buy a boat. 7. $ 43,000 to pay rigger for Ben's race boats. 8. $ 5,370 for three airline tickets to Hong Kong so that petitioner could open new accounts for money laundering. 9. $ 12,500 for work on the boat just purchased. 10. $ 24,000 for legal services to Melvin Kessler (Kessler was involved in the laundering of $ 12 million in an operation involving banks in Lichtenstein). 11. $ 5,000 for insurance. June - 0 - 206,500.00 - 0 - July 165,000.00 71,814.17 69,435.00 1. $ 6,500 to Allsworth Trust for legal services. 2. $ 2,500 to Allsworth Trust for legal services. 3. $ 6,403 for insurance for the offshore boat race. 4. $ 2,090 to American Power Boat Assn. for an entry fee for race. 5. $ 28,742 for race expenses for the race that Ben was sponsoring. 6. $ 10,000 for electronics installed on one of Ben's Boats, the Apache Queen. 7. $ 10,000 to Apache Boats Inc. 8. $ 3,200 (five checks) to IRS for taxes owed by Superchief, Apache Boats, Inc., Apache Offshore Engineering, Apache Racing Team, Inc., and Fort Apache, Inc. 9. The deposits for this month are labeled in the bank deposit slip as having come from proceeds of Loan # 730-000-4195. August 35,000.00 46,742.19 43,226.22 1. $ 2,500 in two payments (to Nova University and Joe Sonken) for the building housing Apache Boats, Inc. 2. $ 11,726.22 for a helicopter lease for the offshore boat race. 3. $ 4,000 to furnish the interior of Apache Queen. 4. $ 10,000 to the local offshore boat racing association for a boat race 5. $ 5,000 to Kate Bonner for legal services for Ben's enterprises (She was a criminal defense attorney who was later associated with Ben Kramer's criminal trial as one of his counsel). 6. $ 10,000 to pay an invoice for Apache racing. 7. The deposits for this month are listed on the deposit Memos as having come from the proceeds of loan # 730-000-4195. September 75,000.00 38,019.53 36,646.75 1. $ 6,000 to Allsworth Trust Account for either legal services or property purchased on account for Ben. 2. $ 1,985 for pilot services for helicopter. 3. $ 20,000 to an employee of Team Apache (which entity is unclear), given at Ben's behest, to buy out his retirement fund from another employer. 4. $543.90 for paperhanger for Marina. 5. $ 2,000 for the Apache Queen. 6. $ 4,000 to Allsworth Trust Account for legal services. 7. $ 2,117.85 for office furniture for the Marina. 8. The deposit is listed as a transfer from account number 939-0614467 "per letter in file" [signed] Jack Kramer. October 38,359.87 43,311.93 34,540.00 1. $ 20,000 for insurance for Fort Apache. 2. $ 2,500 for rent on building Apache Power Boats. 3. $ 3,200 for pictures of the offshore boat race. 4. $ 8,840 for cabinetry of the Marina Office. 5. A deposit slip for $ 12,000 lists that deposit as having come from account # 0614270 - not the same account number as the previous month. November - 0 - 20,220.50 10,720.50 1. $ 7,505.50 to Allsworth Trust Account for either legal services or property purchased on account for Ben. 2. $ 1,000 to the offshore boat association. 3. $ 1,215 to an air service for trip in conjunction with a boat race. 4. $ 1,000 to Allsworth Trust Account for services of some kind. December - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - Total 849,128.20 885,870.23 621,151.20 1. The total amount of for year all the deposits listed exceeds by $ 75,200 the amount listed in Schedule C of the notice of deficiency for tax years 1986 and 1987. Adjustments 621,151.20 621,151.20 Net total 227,977.00 264,719.03 *595 Table 7
Barnett Money Market Account--1986 Deposit/ Check/ Month Credit Debit Adjustment Explanation January $ 5,000.00 $ 3,980.98 - 0 - February 968.87 1,109.40 - 0 - March - 0 - 11,045.95 5,087.50 1. $ 5,087.50 paid balance for decorating services for Team Apache. April 1,887.74 2,698.00 - 0 - May 2,449.94 11,193.67 - 0 - June 1,887.74 1,876.00 - 0 - July 30,204.45 6,198.00 32,204.45 1. $ 30,204.45 is a Federal tax refund and nontaxable. 2. $ 2,000 paid for accounting services to the enterprise. August - 0 - 17,766.35 5,120.00 1. $ 3,620 for interior decoration of Ben's office. 2. $ 1,500 for office furniture for one of the Apache enterprises. September - 0 - 4,531.39 2,023.39 1. $ 2,023.39 for interior decoration of Ben's office. October 2,263.50 17,000.00 - 0 - November 100,900.00 44,328.58 - 0 - 1. There was single large deposit of unexplained origin. On the same day as the deposit, there was an outgoing funds transfer of $ 25,550. A check was written on the account the next day for $ 15,000. Petitioner offered no explanation. In 1987, however, there were more funds with an explanation from petitioner that were outgoing than were deposited. This partially explains the use of this large deposit. December - 0 - 11,795.00 - 0 - Total 145,562.24 133,523.32 44,435.34 1. The total amount of bank deposits is greater than that listed in Schedule C of the notice of deficiency for tax years 1986 and 1987 by $ 2,263.50. Adjustments 44,435.34 44,435.34 Net total 101,126.90 89,087.98 *596 Table 8
Barnett Joint Checking--1986 Deposit/ Check/ Month Credit Debit Adjustment Explanation January $ 4,473.38 $ 1,790.79 - 0 - February - 0 - 3,122.21 - 0 - March 1,953.57 2,230.17 - 0 - April 2,131.87 1,341.79 - 0 - May 3,507.00 1,310.24 - 0 - June 2,403.94 4,398.60 - 0 - July 3,177.88 3,068.53 - 0 - August 4,830.54 4,386.61 - 0 - September 1,611.62 2,567.52 - 0 - October 1,881.62 2,849.85 - 0 - November 22,500.00 7,395.13 - 0 - December - 0 - 12,920.34 - 0 - Total 48,471.42 47,381.78 - 0 - for year Adjustments - 0 - - 0 - Net total 48,471.42 47,381.78 1. Note that amount of bank deposits is $ 9.050 less than Schedule C, contained in the notice of deficiency for tax years 1986 and 1987. The difference cannot be explained by counting the beginning balance ($ 1,564.62). Table 9
Schedule C Reconstruction--1986 Bank Deposits Amount Explanation Barnett joint checking $ 48,471.42 Barnett money market 145,562.24 Safra Bank 849,128.20 1,043,161.86 Nontaxable Income Transfers 37,300.00 1. These figures drawn from the notice of deficiency for tax years 1986 and 1987. 2. The notice of deficiency lists only $ 37,300 from transfers this year. The Safra account lists $ 62,000 in transfers from two different bank accounts. The other two accounts do not list any transfers. Loans - Safra Bank 200,000.00 3. Respondent conceded the nontaxable source of funds on its original Schedule C calculations in the notice of deficiency. These loans probably account for July and August deposits. Tax Refund 30,204.45 (267,504.45) Petitioner's Explanations Safra Bank 621,151.20 1. Table 6. Barnett money market 14,230.89 2. Table 7. This 1986 expenditures amount is less the $ 30,204.45 tax refund conceded by respondent and accounted for in "Nontaxable Income". Barnett money market 8,475.93 3. This reflects 1987 expenditures expenditures made in 1987 whose source was 1966 deposits. See Table 12. (643,858.02) Unexplained Bank Deposits 131,799.39 (Without taking into account stipulated sources of income) Stipulated Sources of Income Wages 34,020.00 Less withholding (6,788.00) Less FICA (2,432.00) Net Wages (24,800.00) Other Sources of Income Interest income 7,922.00 (7,922.00) Net unexplained deposits 99,077.39 *597 Table 10
Income Calculation--1986 Amount Explanation Wages $ 34,020.00 Interest 7,922.00 Unexplained bank deposits 99,077.39 1. From Table 9. Total income 141,019.39 Stipulated deductions (31,362.92) 1. All deductions listed herein were either stipulated by the parties or drawn from the notice of deficiency for tax years 1986 and 1987. Real property taxes 3,104.00 Mortgage interest 21,366.00 Personal interest 4,732.92 deduction Personal Exemptions 2,160.00 2. Two exemptions. (31,362.92) Taxable Income 109,656.47 Table 11
Safra Bank--1987 Deposit/ Check/ Month Credit Debit Adjustment Explanation January $ 400 - 0 - - 0 - 1. This deposit was made to correct a $ 372 overdraft that had existed since November. February - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - March - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - April - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - May - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - June - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - July - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - 2. Account closed in July. August - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - September - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - October - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - November - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - December - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - Total 400 - 0 - for year Adjustments - 0 - - 0 - Net total 400 Table 12
Barnett Money Market Account--1987 Deposit/ Check/ Month Credit Debit Adjustment Explanation January - 0 - $ 17,183.19 - 0 - February - 0 - 13,943.25 $ 2,500.00 1. $ 2,500 for Apache Power Boats building rental. March $ 1,495.00 9,990.00 3,200.00 1. $ 3,200 to Allsworth Trust Account for legal services rendered. April 2,680.00 7,393.81 6,950.93 1. $ 4,850.93 for taxes on Ben's house at Hibiscus. 2. $ 2,100 to Allsworth Trust Account for legal services rendered. May - 0 - 994.00 - 0 - June - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - July - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - August - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - September - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - October - 0 - 730.80 - 0 - November - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - December - 0 - - 0 - - 0 - Total 4,175.00 50,235.05 12,650.93 1. The source of funds for year for these checks for which petitioner makes explanations comes from the previous year's deposits, which were largely the remains of the November 1985 $ 100,900 deposit. Adjustments 12,650.93 12,650.93 Net total (8,475.93) 37,584.12 Table *598 13
Barnett Joint Checking--1987 Deposit/ Check/ Month Credit Debit Adjust- Explanation ment January $ 11,290.50 $ 8,929.50 - 0 - February 4,245.40 5,403.47 - 0 - March 2,131.92 3,966.59 - 0 - April 4,342.50 3,109.65 - 0 - May 1,047.50 4,067.93 - 0 - June 10,745.44 4,045.92 - 0 - July 8,154.44 9,450.52 - 0 - August - 0 - 2,817.45 - 0 - September - 0 - 945.85 - 0 - October 3,439.00 4,515.70 - 0 - November 4,269.70 3,363.18 - 0 - December 154,928.94 155,151.45 $ 150, 1. This is the $ 150,000 loan 000.00 from petitioner's sister- in-law conceded by respondent. The monthly statement reports a $ 150,000 check written on the same day as a $ 150,000 deposit. Total 204,595.34 205,767.21 150,000.00 2. This is exactly $ 10,000 for year more than respondent reported in Schedule C income in the notice of deficiency for tax years 1986 and 1987 as coming from this account. Adjustments 150,000.00 150,000.00 Net total 54,595.34 55,767.21 Table 14
Schedule C Reconstruction--1987 Bank Deposits Amount Explanation Barnett joint checking $ 204,595.34 Table 13. Barnett money market 4,175.00 Table 12. Safra Bank 400.00 Table 11. 209,170.34 Petitioner's Explanations Safra Bank - 0 - 1. Table 11. Barnett money market 4,175.00 2. To account for the balance carried forward from 1986, $ 8,475.93 allocated to 1986 (the amount that exceeds 1987 deposits). The rest is allocated to 1987. Barnett joint checking 150,000.00 3. Table 13. (154,175.00) Unexplained Bank Deposits 54,995.34 (Without taking into account stipulated sources of income) Wages 17,000.00 Less withholding (3,077.00) Less FICA (1,215.00) Net Wages (12,708.00) Other Sources of Income Interest income 388.00 (388.00) Net unexplained deposits 41,899.34 1. Respondent and petitioner stipulated that the unexplained bank deposits for 1987 were $ 36,088. The record supports $ 41,899.34 of unexplained deposits. The $ 8,450 properly allocated to 1986 does not explain the difference. We calculate petitioner's 1987 income using the smaller amount stipulated by the parties. *599 Table 15
Income Calculation--1987 Amount Explanation Wages $ 17,000.00 Interest 388.00 Unexplained bank deposits 36,088.00 1. Amount stipulated by the parties (see explanation in Table 14). Total income 53,476.00 Stipulated deductions (23,394.00) 1. The deductions listed herein were either stipulated or drawn from the notice of deficiency for tax years 1986 and 1987. Real property taxes 6,594.00 Mortgage interest 13,000.00 Personal exemptions 3,800.00 2. Two exemptions. (23,394.00) Taxable Income 30,082.00 Footnotes
1. Although the petition in the case at docket No. 22457-91 was filed on behalf of petitioners Jack S. Kramer and Maxine C. Kramer, Jack S. Kramer and Jack J. Kramer are the same person.↩
2. Mr. Soltz filed the original petitions on behalf of petitioners in both cases. At trial, he made an oral motion in the case at docket No. 22457-91 to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction as to Maxine C. Kramer. Mr. Soltz died after trial without filing a brief on behalf of petitioners.↩
3. Although at trial Mr. Kaplan entered his appearance on behalf of Jack J. Kramer in the case at docket No. 22785-90, he represented petitioner only as a transitional figure after Mr. Soltz's illness and eventual death; he did no substantive work on petitioner's case and eventually withdrew as counsel.↩
1. Equals 50 percent of interest due on the entire deficiency.
1. 50 percent of the statutory interest applicable on $ 338,783 and $ 69,997 for 1986 and 1987, respectively, from the due date of the return to the date of assessment of the tax or, if earlier, the date of the payment.↩
1. Equals 50 percent of interest due on the amount of the deficiency.↩
1. 50 percent of the statutory interest applicable on $ 287,224 and $ 7,290 for 1986 and 1987, respectively, from the due date of the return to the date of assessment of the tax or, if earlier, the date of the payment.↩
4. Concurrently with the issuance of this opinion, we deny petitioners' oral motion at trial to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction as to petitioner Maxine C. Kramer in the case at docket No. 22457-91.↩
5. Ben's share of these funds was $ 4 million. The other $ 8 million came from his partners in the drug smuggling enterprise, Randy Lanier and "Tommy", also known as George Brock. By his own testimony, petitioner was to control the laundering of these funds. Petitioner and Ben met Tommy in New York in Sept. 1983 to convince Tommy to invest in the Bell Gardens Bicycle Club, Inc., discussed
infra↩ .6. Petitioner, as discussed
infra pp. 13-14, would later testify at the criminal trial of Michael Gilbert and Fainsbert as a Government witness. Many of the findings for this background story of petitioner's involvement in Ben's money laundering activities are drawn from petitioner's testimony at this trial in 1993 and his similar testimony at the civil forfeiture trial adjunct to his own criminal trial in 1991. Transcripts of petitioner's testimony from those trials were made part of the record in the trial of the cases at hand.7. In addition to signing petitioner's 1985 Form 1040 as return preparer, Forman performed services for Ben's various criminal enterprises, not the least of which was evaluating the investment decisions concerning the card club, in which Ben and his associates, with petitioner's assistance, invested $ 12 million.↩
8. Allsworth, petitioner's longtime friend, served as attorney to Ben's criminal enterprises, for which he was well paid from petitioners' Safra Bank account (see
infra pp. 16-17), especially in 1986. Allsworth was listed as President of Hallandale Residential Properties, Inc., the entity created to hold legal title to the house that served as Ben's personal residence. Allsworth also was listed as the registered agent for the various entities associated with the racing boat enterprise describedinfra↩ .9. Super Chief South came into existence in Aug. 1985 and was dissolved just 15 months later in Nov. 1986. Super Chief, Inc., was created in Jan. 1984 and not dissolved until 1992, well after Ben, petitioner, and all of the others had been arrested, tried, and convicted on various smuggling and money laundering charges.↩
10. Ben's attempts to conceal his ownership of the marina and the card club destroyed his ability to later liquidate and recover his interests. None of the entities that legally owned the marina or the card club reflected Ben's ownership interest as initially arranged with Sam Gilbert. The "safeguards" for Ben's interests that Sam Gilbert put into place included holding the resignation letters of the principals of Marina Bay Associates and LCP Associates. But, as petitioner testified, the only real safeguard was Ben's trust in Sam Gilbert. This meant that Ben had no recourse but to accept the consequences when the Gilberts reneged on their various arrangements with him. The Gilberts had the upper hand until Federal agents seized the various assets, beginning with the marina in Aug. 1987. See
infra↩ pp. 11-12.11. Petitioner prepared to relocate to California to such a degree that Michael Gilbert even leased a house for him. About this time, in April 1984, petitioner broke his ankle in a boating accident aboard one of Ben's new offshore power boats. The severity of his injury effectively postponed petitioner's further preparations to move to California for several months. Whether the injury itself genuinely caused the change in petitioner's eventual plans or merely served as a convenient excuse to keep him out of California and away from the card club is unclear from the record.
12. Petitioner testified at the civil forfeiture trial adjunct to his criminal trial that he lied at the deposition to protect Allsworth, his longstanding friend and attorney for Ben's criminal enterprise.
However, as he testified at the civil forfeiture trial on cross-examination, petitioner was also apparently concerned about the possible effects of his testimony on any possible criminal indictment that could result against Maxine as well as on his own exposure to further criminal prosecution.
Cross-examination at the civil forfeiture trial also brought out that petitioner also lied to conceal the $ 9.5 million left in limbo in Europe in the aftermath of petitioner's abortive attempts to recover the card club investment. At the Fainsbert-Michael Gilbert criminal trial, he also testified to this lie.
13. Petitioner denied that the Government offered him inducements for his actual testimony at the Fainsbert/Michael Gilbert criminal trial. He testified that the Government would make a "recommendation" only to the judge about his future incarceration.↩
14. The payroll checks from SGA, while not necessarily for services rendered, did provide support for petitioner during 1983-86.↩
15. The tables summarize the inflows and outflows for the three accounts, petitioner's explanations for some of these transactions, and respondent's concessions on others.↩
1. From Table 5.↩
2. From Table 10.
3. From Table 15.↩
16. These differences and the failure of those exhibits to fully substantiate the amounts that respondent presents in the notices of deficiency bring up the issue of who bears what burden, especially in regard to the accuracy of the computations in the notice of deficiency.
Judge Tannenwald, in his concurring opinion in
Llorente v. Commissioner , 74 T.C. 260">74 T.C. 260649 F.2d 152">649 F.2d 152 (2d Cir. 1981), wrote that "All of the decided cases are in agreement that the presumption of correctness of a notice of deficiency does not cause the notice to be evidence as such, and, that, at least initially, the taxpayer has the burden of proof." (Citations omitted.) He later wrote that "This Court has consistently made it clear that, even in cases involving unreported income, we will only shift to respondent the burden of coming forward with evidence".O'Reilly v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 1994-61Weimerskirch v. Commissioner , 596 F.2d 358">596 F.2d 35867 T.C. 672">67 T.C. 672 (1977), the Commissioner failed to produce any records to "substantiate the computations made by the IRS agent", which was one component of a decision by the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to require some linkage between the taxpayer's unreported income and alleged illegal activity.The situation here is somewhat different. Respondent made deficiency determinations and then conceded certain items. She also stipulated to the bank exhibit records, thus satisfying her burden of coming forward with evidence. A problem arises because that evidence does not match the determinations in the notices of deficiency, and respondent's brief does not explain the differences. However, for the reasons described above, the burden of proof has not shifted from petitioner.↩
17. As discussed
supra pp. 20-2218. "Each taxpayer should carefully prepare his return and set forth fully and clearly the information required to be included therein. Returns which have not been so prepared will not be accepted as meeting the requirements of the Code."
Sec. 1.6011-1(b), Income Tax Regs.↩ 19. The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recently reaffirmed the principle of
Helvering v. Mitchell , 303 U.S. 391">303 U.S. 391Thomas v. Commissioner , 62 F.3d 97 (4th Cir. 1995)T.C. Memo. 1994-128 ; see alsoMcNichols v. Commissioner , 13 F.3d 432">13 F.3d 432Helvering v. Mitchell, supra T.C. Memo 1993-61">T.C. Memo. 1993-61 ;United States v. Alt , 83 F.3d 779">83 F.3d 779United States v. Halper , 490 U.S. 435">490 U.S. 435United States v. Brennick , 908 F. Supp. 1004">908 F. Supp. 1004Helvering v. Mitchell in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions inUnited States v. Halper, supra , Montana DOR v. Kurth Ranch , 511 U.S. 767">511 U.S. 767Austin v. United States , 509 U.S. 602">509 U.S. 602Mitchell inHalper andKurth Ranch "strongly indicates that the Court did not intend to overturnHelvering [v. Mitchell] sub silentio ");Ianniello v. Commissioner , 98 T.C. 165">98 T.C. 165↩20. This $ 250,000 may have been additional income to petitioner in 1987 if he received the funds to pay his attorney in that year. Although the record is somewhat ambiguous about the exact date that petitioner paid his attorney or received the funds to do so, petitioner did pay Ben's attorney in Nov. 1987.
Even if respondent could establish receipt of the $ 250,000 in 1987, she has not asserted an increased deficiency pursuant to sec. 6214(a). Accordingly, we have not considered this in discussing the amount of the unreported income for 1987.↩
21. The rate is the short-term Federal rate for the applicable period plus 3 percentage points. Sec. 6621(a)(2) and (b).
22. See
infra↩ Tables 9 and 14 in appendix.
Document Info
Docket Number： Docket Nos. 22785-90, 22457-91.
Citation Numbers： 72 T.C.M. 1270, 1996 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 529, 1996 T.C. Memo. 513
Judges： BEGHE
Filed Date： 11/19/1996
Precedential Status： Non-Precedential
Modified Date： 4/17/2021