Decision will be entered under
MORRISON,
Sec. | Sec. | Sec. | ||
2009 | $12,919 | $2,256.98 | $1,153.57 | $232.50 |
Petitioner timely filed a petition under
(1) the amount of petitioner's taxable Social Security benefits. We hold it is $11,244, the amount determined in the notice of deficiency, contingent on recomputation of modified adjusted gross income under
(2) the amount of petitioner's interest income. We hold it is $577, the amount determined2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*202 in the notice of deficiency;
*204 (3) the amount of petitioner's dividend income. We hold it is $62, the amount determined in the notice of deficiency;
(4) the amount of petitioner's capital gain income. We hold it is $525, the amount determined in the notice of deficiency;
(5) the amount of petitioner's gambling income. We hold it is $50,534, not $63,855 as determined in the notice of deficiency;
(6) whether petitioner is liable for the
(7) whether petitioner is liable for the
(8) whether petitioner is liable for the
Petitioner did not file a Federal income tax return for 2008. On October 18, 2010, respondent prepared a substitute for return for 2008 showing tax of $870,220.3
Nor did petitioner2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*203 file a return for 2009. The only payments of Federal income tax that he made for 2009 were $2,888 withheld from his gambling winnings. On February 21, 2012, respondent prepared a substitute for return for 2009, showing tax of $12,919 and credits of $2,888. On April 23, 2012, respondent mailed petitioner the notice of deficiency for 2009, which reflected the same amounts of taxable income, tax, and credits as did the substitute for return.
Under
In addition to the burden of proof, by which in this context we mean the burden of persuasion,
The burden of proof and the burden of production regarding the additions to tax are discussed separately
In the notice of deficiency respondent determined that petitioner received $13,228 of Social Security benefits and that 85%, or $11,244, was taxable. Petitioner acknowledged in his testimony that he received approximately $13,228 of Social Security benefits during 2009. However, he testified that it was "disingenuous" for respondent to determine that 85% of the benefits received was taxable.
In the notice of deficiency respondent determined that petitioner had interest income of $577. In his pretrial memorandum respondent contended more specifically that petitioner received "interest in the amounts of $121.00 and $456.00 from TD Bank N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, respectively". The sum of these two amounts is $577, the amount in the notice of deficiency. Respondent further contended that he is entitled to use third-party information to determine petitioner's income.
At trial respondent introduced a Form 1099-INT, Interest Income, from TD Bank reporting that petitioner earned $121 of interest income. Respondent also introduced a signature card for an account at TD Bank that indicated that the account holders were petitioner and his wife. The card was signed by both. It stated that the account was opened on March 18, 2006, with an opening deposit of $68,661.39. The card indicated that the "OWNERSHIP TYPE" was "Joint (Right of Survivorship)". The trial record contains2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*208 statements for the account (which reflect the names of both spouses) for the period January 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010. The statements show that there was no activity in the account except: (1) a payment for a safety deposit box, (2) interest accruals, and (3) two deposits. The first deposit was a $4,061.30 check to petitioner from Philadelphia Park (a *210 gambling establishment) dated June 13, 2009. The second deposit was a $8,453.31 check to petitioner's wife from Prudential dated January 15, 2010.
Respondent introduced no Form 1099-INT or any other records related to Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The trial record lacks any documentary evidence regarding interest income from Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania.
At trial the Court asked petitioner whether it was true, as respondent alleged in his pretrial memorandum, that he received $121 of interest income from TD Bank. Petitioner testified: "No. My wife's money."
The Court also asked petitioner whether it was true, as respondent alleged in his pretrial memorandum, that he received $456 of interest income from Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. Petitioner testified: "My wife's money, Your Honor. Same answer. I have no money." He later testified2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*209 that: "All of our accounts are joint."
The evidence establishes that petitioner and his wife had a bank account at TD Bank and that they earned $121 of interest income from that bank account. The only remaining issue to resolve is whether petitioner should include the $121 of interest in his gross income. For tax purposes, a taxpayer is attributed the portion of income from jointly held property that the taxpayer is entitled to under State law.
The evidence also establishes that petitioner or his wife earned $456 of interest from Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. During his testimony he stated that the bank account was his wife's money. We took this to be an implicit acknowledgment that the account existed and paid $456 of interest. Thus, on the basis of his testimony we find that he or his wife earned $456 of interest from a bank account at Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The evidence also establishes that the account at Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania was a joint account. Unlike the history of the account at TD Bank, the history of the account at the Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania reveals no records to suggest that it is a joint account. However, petitioner testified that all of his and his wife's financial accounts are joint accounts. In this regard, we find that his testimony is credible. We infer from this testimony that the amounts in the Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania account could be withdrawn by either him or his wife. Therefore the account is a joint account.
We conclude that petitioner must include in his gross income the $577 of interest earned on the two bank accounts.
In the notice of deficiency respondent determined that petitioner had dividend income of $62. At trial respondent introduced a Form 1099-DIV from Morgan Stanley indicating that petitioner and his wife, through a brokerage account held in joint tenancy, earned $62.56 of dividend income. Respondent also introduced a brokerage statement from Morgan Stanley for the account (which also stated that the account was held in joint tenancy)2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*214 showing that $62.56 in dividend income was earned on the account. The Court asked petitioner whether he received the dividend income. He initially testified: "It's my wife's money." *215 But as he continued to testify, he acknowledged that the Morgan Stanley account was a joint account. "In that sense, it's both our money," he testified.
In
The brokerage statements for the account bear the names of both petitioner and his wife. They state the account was held in joint tenancy. We infer that either petitioner or his wife could have withdrawn money from the brokerage account. Therefore it is a joint account.
As to petitioner's ownership portion of the Morgan Stanley account, we cannot calculate his or his wife's net contributions. The record contains statements for the account only for the2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*215 year 2009, not for any earlier period. Furthermore, the statements do not show that any deposits or withdrawals were made in 2009. And petitioner's testimony that the account is his wife's money is not credible. We therefore hold that he has failed to prove that his ownership *216 portion is less than the 100% assumed by respondent's position.7 We hold that he is the 100% owner of the Morgan Stanley account and that he is entitled to 100% of the dividend income from the account. Therefore petitioner must include in his income $62 of dividends.
In the notice of deficiency respondent determined that petitioner had capital gain income of $525. A Form 1099-B, Proceeds From Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions, from Morgan Stanley reports that petitioner and his wife had gross proceeds from exchanges of $525.14. The Form 1099-B relates to the same account that produced the dividend income, a joint account about which there is insufficient2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*216 evidence to determine the respective net contributions of petitioner and his wife. For reasons given
Gross income includes all income from whatever source derived, including gambling.
In the notice of deficiency respondent determined that petitioner had gambling winnings of $63,855. The notice of deficiency did not reveal how the $63,855 was calculated or from what evidence it was derived. In his pretrial memorandum respondent asserted that during 2009 petitioner received "wagering income in the amounts2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*217 of $1,265.00, $61,722.00, and $868.00 from the New York Racing Association, Parx Casino & Racing (formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack & Casino), and Melbourne Greyhound Park L.L.C. respectively." (The sum of the three numbers in the pretrial memorandum, $1,265 + $61,722 + $868, is $63,855, the gambling winnings determined in the notice of deficiency.) Respondent *218 asserted in his pretrial memorandum that he was entitled to use third-party information to determine petitioner's income.
The trial record contains Forms W-2G issued by Philadelphia Park, a gambling establishment. The table below summarizes the dollar amounts and dates on these Forms W-2G:
Amount of | |||||
Federal | bet | ||||
income | handwritten | ||||
Gross | tax | Net | on form by | ||
1/10/09 | 1/10/09 | $1,296.76 | -0- | $1,296.76 | 1$518.40 |
1/10/09 | 1/10/09 | 1,051.44 | -0- | 1,051.44 | (1) |
1/18/09 | 1/18/09 | 1,407.06 | -0- | 1,407.06 | Obscured |
1/24/09 | 1/24/09 | 953.47 | -0- | 953.47 | 336.00 |
1/24/09 | 1/24/09 | 4,722.54 | -0- | 4,722.54 | 403.20 |
2/7/09 | 2/7/09 | 1,329.38 | -0- | 1,329.38 | 504.00 |
2/7/09 | 2/9/09 | 954.62 | -0- | 954.62 | 616.00 |
2/28/09 | 2/28/09 | 602.52 | -0- | 602.52 | 302.40 |
3/7/09 | 3/7/09 | 1,346.30 | -0- | 1,346.30 | 352.80 |
2/28/09 | 3/7/09 | 629.60 | -0- | 629.60 | 432.00 |
3/14/09 | 3/14/09 | 847.80 | 2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*218 -0- | 847.80 | Obscured |
3/7/09 | 3/14/09 | 1,059.54 | -0- | 1,059.54 | 648.00 |
3/14/09 | 3/16/09 | 4,918.94 | -0- | 4,918.94 | 352.80 |
4/4/09 | 4/4/09 | 861.82 | -0- | 861.82 | 126.00 |
4/4/09 | 4/11/09 | 1,937.19 | -0- | 1,937.19 | 504.00 |
4/11/09 | 4/11/09 | 721.26 | -0- | 721.26 | 403.20 |
4/25/09 | 4/25/09 | 2,558.59 | -0- | 2,558.59 | 504.00 |
6/13/09 | 6/13/09 | 5,441.30 | $1,360 | 4,081.30 | 294.00 |
6/20/09 | 6/27/09 | 705.70 | -0- | 705.70 | 252.00 |
7/4/09 | 7/4/09 | 1,317.60 | -0- | 1,317.60 | 360.00 |
7/19/09 | 7/19/09 | 708.60 | -0- | 708.60 | 518.40 |
8/15/09 | 8/15/09 | 2,312.40 | -0- | 2,312.40 | 363.00 |
8/22/09 | 8/22/09 | 1,256.05 | -0- | 1,256.05 | 216.00 |
8/29/09 | 8/29/09 | 4,273.00 | -0- | 4,273.00 | 450.00 |
8/30/09 | 8/30/09 | 1,146.93 | -0- | 1,146.93 | 403.20 |
9/5/09 | 9/5/09 | 1,123.46 | -0- | 1,123.46 | 0.00 |
9/7/09 | 9/7/09 | 816.20 | -0- | 816.20 | 352.80 |
9/12/09 | 9/14/09 | 6,112.93 | 1,528 | 4,584.93 | 648.00 |
9/19/09 | 9/19/09 | 705.98 | -0- | 705.98 | 504.00 |
9/19/09 | 9/19/09 | 1,185.73 | -0- | 1,185.73 | 504.00 |
9/26/09 | 9/26/09 | 931.50 | -0- | 931.50 | 313.60 |
10/3/09 | 10/3/09 | 1,653.11 | -0- | 1,653.11 | 504.00 |
10/10/09 | 10/10/09 | 683.37 | -0- | 683.37 | 201.60 |
10/23/09 | 10/23/09 | 871.46 | -0- | 871.46 | 235.20 |
11/14/09 | 11/14/09 | 801.43 | -0- | 801.43 | 302.40 |
11/6/09 | 11/14/09 | 735.80 | -0- | 735.80 | 392.00 |
12/12/09 | 12/12/09 | 1,759.60 | -0- | 1,759.60 | 504.00 |
Total | 61,740.98 | 2,888 | 58,852.98 | 213,321.00 |
*219 1 This $518.40 amount appears intended to cover both this $1,296.76 winning and the $1,054.44 winning below.
2 The $13,321.00 total does not include obscured amounts. Respondent's2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*219 brief puts the same total at $13,270.
The gross winnings shown on the Forms W-2G from Philadelphia Park are $61,740.98, slightly greater than the $61,722 that respondent referred to in his pretrial memorandum as the gross winnings at Philadelphia Park.
The trial record contains no documentary evidence regarding petitioner's gambling activity at New York Racing Association.
The trial record contains one Form W-2G issued by Melbourne Greyhound Park L.L.C. This form has a "date won" of February 14, 2009, gross winnings of $868, and Federal income tax withheld of zero. There is no place on the form for the date cashed or the net winnings. No handwritten notation for the amount of the bet appears on the form.
As explained above, the Forms W-2G issued by Philadelphia Park include handwritten notations of the amounts petitioner bet. He testified that before Philadelphia Park sent the Forms W-2G to respondent, Philadelphia Park allowed him to write the amounts of his bets on the forms. We find his testimony on this point credible. Thus, the Forms W-2G respondent received (and which appear in the2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*220 trial record) showed the amounts that petitioner claimed he bet. The total bets written on the Forms W-2G, not including two forms on which the amount is obscured, is $13,321.
The Court asked petitioner whether it was true that, as respondent alleged in his pretrial memorandum, petitioner had wagering income of $1,265 from New *221 York Racing Association. He testified that he did not know because "[t]hey" had sent him "a whole bunch of stuff and conveniently forgot to take off the bet, which was clearly marked on the * * * 1099 I get."
The Court asked petitioner whether it was true that, as respondent alleged in his pretrial memorandum, he had wagering income of $868 from Melbourne Greyhound Park. He testified that he had gambled at Melbourne Greyhound Park. He did not challenge respondent's position about the amount of his gambling income from Melbourne Greyhound Park.
In his posttrial brief respondent concedes that the amounts petitioner wrote on Philadelphia Park's Forms W-2G as his bets should offset the gambling winnings from Philadelphia Park in calculating petitioner's gross income. Respondent asserts2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*221 that the amounts of bets recorded on the Forms W-2G total $13,270. Respondent acknowledges that the gross winnings from Philadelphia Park reflected on the Forms W-2G before the reduction for the amount of the bets are $61,741, not the $61,722 alleged in respondent's pretrial memorandum. Despite proving this extra $19 of gambling winnings from Philadelphia Park, respondent continues to assert in his brief that the original $63,855 gambling-related *222 adjustment in the notice of deficiency is correct (before accounting for bets). This assertion is made in the eighth finding of fact requested by respondent, which is: "Petitioner had unreported wagering income in the amount of $50,585.00 for the taxable year 2009." Arithmetically, $50,585 equals $63,855 (the original amount of wagering income determined in the notice of deficiency) minus $13,270 (the amount of the bets, according to respondent). Although there are inconsistent calculations later in the brief,
Respondent alleges petitioner received gambling income from three separate gambling establishments: Philadelphia Park, New York Racing Association, and *223 Melbourne Greyhound Park. We examine each of the three alleged sources of gambling income.
The first alleged source of gambling income is Philadelphia Park. For this source of gambling income, the trial record contains copies of the Forms W-2G showing the amounts of petitioner's winnings. Petitioner's testimony acknowledged that he gambled at Philadelphia Park. And he did not raise any legitimate question about the accuracy of the gross winnings amounts reflected on those forms.
The second alleged source of gambling income is New York Racing Association. Respondent alleged in his pretrial memorandum that petitioner2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*224 earned $1,265 in gambling income from this source and suggested that this amount of income was recorded in an information return from New York Racing Association. However, respondent did not offer the information return into evidence. The Court asked petitioner whether respondent's allegation was correct. He testified that he did not know because the information return failed to account for the amount he bet. Although his answer was ambiguous, we interpret his answer to be that New York Racing Association likely did issue a Form W-2G and that the form likely did reflect that he won $1,265--an amount calculated without reduction by the amount he bet. As suggested by his testimony that "[t]hey conveniently forgot to take off his bet", petitioner's argument with the use of the Form W-2G from New York Racing Association is that the $1,265 did not reflect *225 the amount that he bet. He is therefore not suggesting that the Form W-2G upon which the $1,265 amount is based is incorrect.
The third alleged source of gambling income is Melbourne Greyhound Park. Petitioner acknowledged in his testimony that he gambled at the Park. He did not raise any questions about the accuracy of the Form W-2G reflecting that he had gross winnings of $868. We hold that his income from Melbourne Greyhound Park L.L.C. is $868.
In summary, we hold that petitioner earned gambling income of $50,534:2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*226 $48,401 (from Philadelphia Park) + $1,265 (from New York Racing Association) + $868 (from Melbourne Greyhound Park).
Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for the
The Commissioner bears the burden of production for the
Once the Commissioner has satisfied his burden of production, the burden of proof is on the taxpayer to show that imposing the addition to tax is improper, for example, because the failure to file the return was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.
Reasonable cause excusing a failure to timely file exists if the taxpayer exercised ordinary business care and prudence but nevertheless was unable to file the return by the deadline.
The
Respondent determined that petitioner2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*229 is liable for the
The Commissioner has the burden of producing evidence that the addition to tax under
Petitioner did not file a return for the 2009 tax year. However, respondent prepared a substitute for return.11 The substitute for return2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*231 qualifies as a return for purposes of
The amount shown as tax on the substitute for return prepared by respondent--before accounting for payments and credits and before the substitution required by
The correct tax for 2009 is less than $12,919 because respondent has conceded that petitioner's gambling income is less than the gambling income reflected on the substitute for return. Accordingly, under
The next question to consider is whether petitioner paid the amount of tax shown on the return (after that amount is substituted with the lower amount of correct tax pursuant to
June 16, 2008 | $10,000 |
July 7, 2008 | 10,000 |
Jan. 6, 2008 | 500 |
Apr. 13, 2009 | 500 |
June 10, 2009 | 500 |
Dec. 11, 2006 | 2000 |
Feb. 21, 2007 | 1,500 |
May 8, 2007 | 750 |
June 29, 2007 | 750 |
Sept. 8, 2007 | 750 |
May 2, 2008 | |
Total | $39,750 |
However, petitioner did not introduce any evidence, beyond his testimony, that he made the payments.122016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 201">*233 He introduced no checks written to respondent. He introduced no letters directing respondent how to apply the payments. And when the Court asked petitioner for which tax years the payments described in the table should be applied, he could not say. Respondent introduced his own records showing that petitioner made no payments against his 2009 tax liability. We find that petitioner made no payments against his 2009 liability.
*234 We conclude that respondent has met his burden of production under
Respondent does not bear the burden of proof for the "reasonable cause" exception to the
Respondent determined petitioner is liable for the
The
For purposes of
The record shows that petitioner had a "required annual payment" for the 2009 tax year. A required annual payment is the lesser of two amounts. Respondent, in his notice of deficiency, calculated that the first amount was $12,919. According to the statutory formula, the first amount is 90% of the tax shown on the return for 2009 (or if no return is filed, 90% of the correct tax for such year).
*238 Each of the four required installments is one-fourth of the "required annual payment" amount.
The
In reaching our holdings, we have considered all arguments made, and, to the extent not mentioned, we conclude that they are moot, irrelevant, or without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, in effect for the year at issue. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. Petitioner resided in Pennsylvania when he filed the petition. Therefore, an appeal of our decision in this case would go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit unless the parties designate another circuit in writing.
3. The tax year before the Court is 2009. The record does not reveal how the IRS determined the tax for 2008.↩
4. The right of survivorship is the right of each owner to automatically inherit the entire property upon the death of the other owner.
5. Petitioner has not presented clear and convincing evidence that he and his wife intended to own their account at TD Bank other than in proportion to their respective net contributions.
6. As with the account at TD Bank, petitioner has not presented clear and convincing evidence that he and his wife intended to own their account at Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania other than in proportion to their respective net contributions.
7. Petitioner has not presented clear and convincing evidence that he and his wife intended to own their Morgan Stanley brokerage account other than in proportion to their respective net contributions.
8. The gain from exchange of property is equal to the amount realized minus the taxpayer's adjusted basis.
9. The instructions are found on the Internet at
10. The amount of the addition to tax calculated in the notice of deficiency was $1,153.57. The notice stated that this was the amount that had accrued as of the date of the notice of deficiency, April 23, 2012. The notice of deficiency stated that the "penalty rate" used for calculating the addition to tax was 11.5%. Conceptually the penalty rate is the product of 0.5% and the number of months for which the taxpayer failed to pay. For petitioner, then, 11.5% was the product of 0.5% and 23 months, because 11.5% = (0.5%) × (23 months).
11. Respondent introduced evidence that he filed a substitute for return meeting the requirements for such a return under
12. Petitioner moved for the admission of a list containing the dates and payment amounts into evidence. The Court did not admit the list. For one thing, petitioner failed to demonstrate the list was not barred by the antihearsay rule of
13. We hold that petitioner is liable for both the