1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*35
F, a limited partnership, purchased a farm in 1981 for a contract price in the amount of $ 870,000. Pursuant to the contract, F was required to pay $ 205,000 to the seller upon closing. The remaining balance of the contract price, $ 665,000, was to be paid by F in five minimum annual installments of $ 11,500 plus a balloon payment due 6 years after the closing date of the outstanding balance remaining due under the contract. The contract did not provide for interest.
94 T.C. 473">*474 OPINION
Respondent determined deficiencies in and additions to petitioners' Federal income tax as follows:
Docket No. 26336-88, Thomas J. and Gloria J. Weis:
Additions to tax | |||||
Year | Deficiency | 2 Sec. 6653(a)(1) | Sec. 6653(a)(2) | Sec. 6659 | Sec. 6661 |
1982 | $ 6,855 | $ 343 | * | $ 558 | $ 1,249 |
1983 | 5,836 | 292 | 457 | 1,078 |
Docket No. 27525-88, Pat Savaiano:
Addition to tax | ||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6659 |
1983 | $ 4,527 | $ 387.60 |
Docket No. 27526-88, Pat Savaiano and Carol Savaiano:
Additions to tax | ||||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6653(a)(1) | Sec. 6653(a)(2) | Sec. 6659 |
1982 | $ 1,324 | $ 66.20 | $ 203.40 |
Docket No. 27527-88, Pat Savaiano and Ann M. Liszak, formerly Ann M. Savaiano:
Addition to tax | ||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6659 |
1981 | $ 9,387 | $ 1,209 |
Docket No. 30233-88, Thomas J. Weis and Gloria J. Weis:
Year | Deficiency |
1984 | $ 1,917 |
Docket No. 30235-88, Thomas W. McNamara and Rita J. McNamara:
Additions to tax | ||||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6653(a)(1) | Sec. 6653(a)(2) | Sec. 6659 |
1984 | $ 4,753 | $ 238 | $ 1,426 |
1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*37 In docket Nos. 27525-88, 27527-88, and 30235-88 respondent also determined an increased interest rate applied under
94 T.C. 473">*475 At the time of filing petitions in these cases, petitioners' residences were located as follows:
Docket No. | Petitioner(s) | Place of residence |
26336-88 | Thomas J. Weis and | Westchester, Illinois |
Gloria J. Weis | ||
27525-88 | Pat Savaiano | Glen Ellyn, Illinois |
27526-88 | Pat Savaiano and | Glen Ellyn, Illinois |
Carol Savaiano | ||
27527-88 | Pat Savaiano and | Glen Ellyn, Illinois |
Ann M. Liszak | and Missoula, Montana | |
(formerly Ann M. | (respectively) | |
Savaiano) | ||
30233-88 | Thomas J. Weis and | Westchester, Illinois |
Gloria J. Weis | ||
30235-88 | Thomas W. McNamara and | River Forest, Illinois |
Rita J. McNamara |
All further references to petitioners1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*38 are to Thomas J. Weis (Weis), Pat Savaiano (Savaiano), and Thomas W. McNamara (McNamara).
During the years at issue in their respective cases petitioners were limited partners in Fabyan Investments, Ltd. (Fabyan), an Illinois limited partnership. At issue in these cases are petitioners' distributive shares of Fabyan's losses during those years. Specifically, the issues for decision are: (1) Whether Fabyan deducted the correct amount of interest in the years at issue; (2) whether Fabyan correctly computed the depreciable basis of the property at issue; (3) whether petitioners in docket Nos. 26336-88, 27526-88, and 30235-88 are subject to the additions to tax for negligence under
Some of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated by reference. 94 T.C. 473">*476 For convenience, we have combined our findings of fact and opinion by issue.
Fabyan was formed to purchase approximately 120 acres of real property known as the McChesney Farm (the farm) located in DuPage County, Illinois. On January 9, 1981, Fabyan entered into a contract (the contract) to purchase the farm for $ 870,000.
Fabyan's purchase of the farm closed on April 16, 1981. Upon closing, Fabyan paid $ 187,500 to the sellers as a downpayment on the contract. This amount was in addition to earnest money in the amount of $ 17,500 paid by Fabyan on January 9, 1981.
Pursuant to the terms of the contract, the balance of the purchase price, $ 665,000, was to be paid by Fabyan to the sellers on or before April 16, 1987, in annual installments of not less than $ 11,500. If only the minimum annual installment was paid each year, the contract provided Fabyan would pay the contract's remaining balance as a balloon payment on April 16, 1987. The contract did not provide for the payment of interest.
Fabyan made the following payments1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*40 under the contract:
Payment date | Amount paid |
May 24, 1982 | $ 11,500 |
May 28, 1983 | 11,500 |
May 18, 1984 | 11,500 |
May 28, 1985 | 11,500 |
June 4, 1986 | 11,500 |
During all relevant years, Fabyan was an accrual basis taxpayer. As imputed interest on the unpaid balance of the contract price, Fabyan deducted the following amounts:
Imputed interest | |
Tax year | deduction claimed |
1981 | $ 49,116.90 |
1982 | 49,116.90 |
1983 | 48,267.48 |
1984 | 49,116.90 |
Respondent disallowed the deductions claimed by Fabyan, determining the amount of interest deduction allowable for the years at issue to be: 94 T.C. 473">*477
Imputed interest | |
Tax year | deduction allowable |
1981 | |
1982 | $ 3,735 |
1983 | 3,735 |
1984 | 3,735 |
The first issue for decision is whether Fabyan deducted the correct amount as interest expense for the years at issue. Petitioners have the burden of proof on this and all issues before us in these cases.
In general, interest paid or accrued on indebtedness during a taxable year is deductible under
The parties agree the contract for the farm's purchase comes within the purview of
Petitioners acknowledge1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*42
94 T.C. 473">*478 Respondent argues interest imputed under the contract is determinable by reference to
We agree with respondent. Petitioners' interpretation of
The language of
(1) In general. -- * * * this section shall apply to any payment on account of the sale or exchange of property which constitutes part or all of the sales price and which is (A) under which some or all of the payments are due more than one year after the date of such sale or exchange, and (B) under which, using a rate provided by regulations prescribed by the Secretary for purposes of this subparagraph, there is total unstated interest. [Emphasis added.]
the term "total unstated interest" means, with respect to a contract for the sale or exchange of property, an amount equal to the excess of --
94 T.C. 473">*479 (1) the sum of the payments to which this section applies which are due under the contract, over
(2) the sum of the present values of such payments and the present values of any interest payments due under the contract.
The amount treated as interest under
is determined by multiplying each payment to which such section applies by a fraction, the numerator1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*45 of which is the total unstated interest under the contract, and the denominator of which is the total of all the payments to which
In the case at hand,
With respect to 1982, 1983, and 1984, Fabyan may deduct1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*46 as imputed interest only a pro rata portion of the
Payment due | |||||
under the | Present value | Present value | |||
Year | contract | 5 factor | of payments | ||
1982 | $ 11,500 | X | .93351 (9-15 mos.) | = | $ 10,735 |
1983 | 11,500 | X | .87144(21-27) | = | 10,022 |
1984 | 11,500 | X | .81350(33-39) | = | 9,355 |
1985 | 11,500 | X | .75941 (45-51) | = | 8,733 |
1986 | $ 11,500 | X | .70892 (57-63) | = | $ 8,153 |
1987 | 607,500 | X | .66178 (69-75) | = | 402,031 |
665,000 | 449,029 | ||||
Total payments due under the contract | $ 665,000 | ||||
Less: total present value of payments | 449,029 | ||||
Total unstated interest | 215,971 |
94 T.C. 473">*480 Total unstated interest = percent of each payment made which is imputed to be interest
Total payments due under contract
215,971/665,000 = 32.4768 percent
Imputed | ||||
Sec. 483 | Imputed interest | interest | ||
Year | payments | percentage | expense | |
1981 | 0 | 0 X .324768 | = | 0 |
1982 | $ 11,500 | $ 11,500 X .324768 | = | $ 3,735 |
1983 | 11,500 | 11,500 X .324768 | = | 3,735 |
1984 | 11,500 | 11,500 X .324768 | = | 3,735 |
This is the method used by respondent in determining the amount of interest deduction allowable for the years at issue. Accordingly, we sustain respondent's determination on this issue.
The farm was originally comprised of five parcels: A, B, C, D, and E. Fabyan purchased an additional parcel of the farm, parcel F, for $ 3,000 per acre in 1982. Only parcels A and B contained improvements (collectively the improvements), consisting of a frame single-family residence (the frame residence), a brick single-family residence (the brick residence), and a one-story metal "butler" building (the butler building).
Prior to the anticipated closing date, April 16, 1981, Savaiano hired DiPentino & Associates (DiPentino) to appraise the land and improvements on parcels A and B. DiPentino issued an appraisal report (the DiPentino report) on March 20, 1981. DiPentino appraised the fair market 94 T.C. 473">*481 value1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*48 of the raw land in parcels A and B to be $ 262,500 or $ 10,500 per acre.
DiPentino used a "cost approach" for purposes of appraising the improvements. DiPentino's "cost approach" can be summarized as follows:
First, compute the "estimated replacement cost" of the improvement under consideration. Replacement cost is defined in the DiPentino report as "the present cost of replacing the improvement with one of equal quality."
Second, subtract from the estimated replacement cost an amount representing "accrued depreciation." This step entails estimating the physical deterioration for the subject improvements by considering the improvements' then present condition and their then remaining economic life. Based on those estimates, DiPentino judged the improvements to have accrued an estimated percentage of physical deterioration. The improvements' estimated replacement costs were then reduced by that percentage to arrive at the "estimated depreciated replacement cost" for each of the improvements. To that amount DiPentino adds an amount for "the estimated depreciated value" of other miscellaneous improvements attendant to the improvement under consideration. The result is an "indicated1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*49 value" for the improvement.
Using its cost approach, DiPentino appraised the improvements as follows:
Frame residence | |
Estimated replacement cost | $ 53,736 |
Less: Accrued depreciation estimated at 50 percent | -26,868 |
Estimated depreciated replacement cost for improvement | 26,868 |
Plus: Estimated depreciated value of miscellany | +3,000 |
Indicated value | 29,868 |
Rounded to nearest thousand | 30,000 |
Brick residence | |
Estimated replacement cost | $ 147,700 |
Less: Accrued depreciation estimated at 65 percent | -96,000 |
Estimated depreciated replacement cost for improvement | 51,700 |
Plus: Estimated depreciated value of miscellany | +3,000 |
Indicated value | 54,700 |
Butler building | |
Estimated replacement cost | $ 25,600 |
Less: Accrued depreciation estimated at 66 percent | -16,896 |
Indicated value | 8,704 |
Rounded to nearest hundred | 8,700 |
94 T.C. 473">*482 Under the contract, Fabyan and the seller allocated the contract price of $ 870,000 among the five parcels involved as follows:
Parcel | Assigned value |
A | $ 96,000 |
B | 109,000 |
C | 202,573 |
D | 86,184 |
E | 376,243 |
870,000 |
This allocation of the contract price was made without regard to the DiPentino report.
Upon closing, 1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*50 legal title to parcels A and B passed to Fabyan. Legal title to parcels C, D, and E was to be conveyed to Fabyan upon payment of the remainder of the contract price. However, Fabyan was entitled to take immediate possession of the entire farm.
Even though the farm's purchase did not close until April 16, 1981, Fabyan's income tax returns for the years at issue represent the farm was placed in service by Fabyan on January 9, 1981. Fabyan claimed depreciation deductions for the improvements in the following amounts:
Tax year | Depreciation claimed |
1981 | $ 26,760 |
1982 | 22,300 |
1983 | 20,070 |
1984 | 17,840 |
The depreciation deductions claimed were computed by using an adjusted basis for the improvements in the amount of $ 223,000.
We must decide the correct depreciable basis for the improvements. In general, the depreciable basis of property is its cost.
Despite the values assigned the different parcels by Fabyan under the contract, petitioners assert the raw land of parcels A and B had a fair market value of $ 262,500 on the date of purchase. That amount was the value assigned to the raw land of those parcels by the DiPentino report. Petitioners next assert the raw land in parcels C, D, and E had a fair market value of $ 4,000 per acre, or $ 380,000. The total fair market value of the raw land of the farm, petitioners opine, equals the sum of those two figures, $ 642,500. Petitioners subtract that amount from the purchase price of the farm, which petitioners assert is $ 870,000, to arrive at a purported fair market value, i.e., an alleged depreciable basis, for the improvements on the date of acquisition in the amount of $ 227,500, an amount even greater than the depreciable basis originally claimed on Fabyan's returns, $ 223,000.
Respondent asserts parcels A and B and the improvements thereon were purchased by petitioners1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*52 for a lump sum in the amount of $ 205,000. That was the total amount paid by Fabyan, as of the contract's closing, as earnest money and downpayment. Respondent reasons, since Fabyan obtained legal title to parcels A and B upon closing, Fabyan's purchase price for those parcels was $ 205,000. As further support for his position, respondent points to the allocation under the contract of the contract price among the five parcels purchased.
Respondent next asserts the improvements had a fair market value on the date of purchase equal to their indicated value as appraised by the DiPentino report. That is, respondent asserts the improvements' fair market value is computed as follows:
Indicated value frame residence | $ 30,000 |
Indicated value brick residence | 54,700 |
+Indicated value butler building | +8,700 |
Improvements' indicated value | $ 93,400 |
Respondent also contends the land in parcels A and B had a fair market value of $ 262,500, as appraised by the DiPentino report. With these appraised values, respondent computes the fair market value of the improvements and 94 T.C. 473">*484 the raw land comprising parcels A and B to be a total of $ 355,900 on April 16, 1981. Respondent1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*53 concludes the alleged cost of parcels A and B, $ 205,000, should be allocated to arrive at a depreciable basis for the improvements as follows:
lump sum payment X value of depreciable property/value of entire property = depreciable basis
$ 205,000 X $ 93,400/$ 355,900 = $ 53,799
We do not agree with either party entirely. Petitioners make several errors in determining the fair market value of the improvements on the date of acquisition. First, petitioners allocate the entire contract price for the farm, $ 870,000, between the farm's land and the improvements. Doing so ignores the element of interest imputed under the contract and deducted by Fabyan.
Second, petitioners provide no evidence supporting their assertion that the land in parcels C, D, and E had a fair market value of $ 4,000 per acre on the date of acquisition. Although petitioners point to the subsequent purchase of parcel F for $ 3,000 per acre as support for their position, petitioners provide no evidence showing the land in parcels C, D, and E to be worth the asserted $ 1,000 more per acre than the land in parcel F. The only evidence presented on this point was the self-serving testimony of one of the petitioners, 1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*54 someone we find is not qualified to render such an opinion.
On the other hand, we do not agree with respondent that the purchase price for parcels A and B was $ 205,000. Although Fabyan received legal title to those parcels upon closing and after paying to the sellers $ 205,000, this amount is not necessarily the purchase price for those parcels. The purchase of parcels A and B was an integrated part of the contract concerning the purchase of the entire farm. It would not be proper in this case to separate the purchase of parcels A and B from the purchase of parcels C, D, and E. The contract must be viewed as an integrated whole and the purchase price under the contract must be allocated accordingly, among the imputed interest, the improvements, and the five parcels of raw land involved.
94 T.C. 473">*485 Further, we give no credence to the values assigned by Fabyan and the seller under the contract to the various parcels comprising the farm. We find those values were ascribed by the parties to the contract without consideration of the DiPentino report, and without any relation to economic reality. The DiPentino report appraised a value for parcels A and B, including the improvements, 1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*55 in the amount of $ 355,900. The contract assigns a value of only $ 205,000 to those parcels. Further, the allocation ignores the interest imputed with respect to the payments deferred under the contract.
Since the DiPentino report was "for the purpose of estimating the Market Value" of parcels A and B, we find the term "indicated value" in that report is synonymous with fair market value. We further find the DiPentino report to be the best evidence in this case of the fair market value of the improvements on the date of acquisition. Accordingly, we accept the DiPentino report's valuation of the improvements as a reasonable estimate and find the fair market value of the frame residence, the brick residence, and the butler building to be $ 93,400 ($ 30,000, $ 54,700, and $ 8,700, respectively) as of April 16, 1981. We also find Fabyan paid a purchase price for the improvements equal to their fair market values on the date of acquisition. 6
Weis, a certified public accountant, maintained Fabyan's records and prepared Fabyan's tax returns for taxable years 1981 through 1984. Weis's duties included providing Fabyan's partners with information concerning such partners' respective distributive shares of Fabyan's income, gain, loss, and deductions.
94 T.C. 473">*486 Savaiano and McNamara did not have any responsibility with respect to Fabyan's bookkeeping or tax return preparation. However, because McNamara is an attorney, Weis asked him whether it was proper to compute interest on an accrual basis ratably over the life of the contract. McNamara had no expertise in tax and asked a member of the tax department of his law firm, Larry D. Blust (Blust), to research the issue. Blust reported to McNamara, and McNamara to Weis, that imputed interest should be deducted on an economic accrual basis. That was the method used by Weis when filing Fabyan's tax returns for 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984.
Weis reported on his Federal income tax returns for the years at issue his distributive share of Fabyan's income, gain, loss, and deductions, based on his own computation for those items. During the years at issue in their1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*57 cases, Savaiano and McNamara reported on their respective Federal income tax returns a distributive share of Fabyan's income, gain, loss, and deductions, as those items were reported to them by Weis on Fabyan's behalf.
We must decide whether respondent was correct in determining the additions to tax for negligence under
The additions to tax imposed by
Fabyan's returns for the years at issue are informational returns only and could never have
With respect to petitioners' 1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*59 individual income tax returns, we examine each petitioner's liability under
We find Weis relied on the advice of Blust concerning the interest to be imputed under the contract for purposes of preparing and filing Fabyan's 1982 and 1983 tax returns. That advice was again relied upon by Weis when filing his income tax returns for those years. Accordingly, Weis is not subject to the addition to tax for negligence under
Weis did not rely on the advice of another when computing Fabyan's depreciation deductions for 1982 and 1983. Weis independently computed those deductions for Fabyan using a depreciable basis for the improvements which was not supported by any of the information available to Weis when1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*60 preparing Fabyan's returns. We find 94 T.C. 473">*488 Weis acted negligently in doing so, especially in light of Weis' access to the DiPentino report's conclusions concerning the improvements' indicated values, i.e., the improvements' fair market values. Weis' negligence in preparing Fabyan's returns carries over to Weis' preparation of his income tax returns for the years at issue. Accordingly, in docket No. 26336-88 we hold Weis is subject to the addition to tax under
Savaiano provided Weis with DiPentino's appraisal of the improvements. Weis in turn provided Savaiano with information concerning Savaiano's distributive share of Fabyan's deductions for interest and depreciation. Savaiano reasonably relied upon the information provided by Weis concerning those deductions and Weis' supposed expertise in tax matters. The underpayment resulting with respect to Savaiano's 1982 taxable1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*61 year was the result of his reliance upon the information provided by Weis. Such underpayment was not the result of any negligence on the part of Savaiano. Accordingly, in docket No. 27526-88 we hold Savaiano is not subject to the additions to tax under
McNamara also relied upon the information provided him by Weis concerning McNamara's distributive share of Fabyan's income, gain, loss, and deductions when filing his 1984 tax return. McNamara further relied upon the advice of Blust in believing Weis properly computed Fabyan's interest deduction. Such reliance on the advice of experts makes the additions to tax under
The next issue for decision is whether petitioners in docket Nos. 26336-88, 27525-88, 27526-88, 27527-88, and 30235-88 are subject to the addition to tax under
The amount of the addition to tax under
The addition to tax under
In the cases at bar, Fabyan claimed the improvements had a value of $ 227,000. We determined the improvements' total value was $ 93,400. The claimed value for the improvements, $ 227,000, is 243 percent of the amount determined1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*63 to be the correct value for the improvements. Accordingly, the amount of the addition to tax under
We must next decide whether respondent was correct in determining the
94 T.C. 473">*490 The amount of the addition to tax imposed by
Respondent determined petitioners in docket No. 26336-88 were subject to the addition to tax under
Weis' only argument with respect1990 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 35">*65 to this issue is that substantial authority exists for deducting the interest imputed under
Finally, we must decide whether petitioners in docket Nos. 27525-88, 27527-88, and 30235-88 are subject to increased interest under
In docket Nos. 27525-88, 27527-88, and 30235-88, we determined a valuation overstatement existed for purposes of the addition to tax under
To reflect the foregoing,
1. Cases of the following petitioners are consolidated herewith: Pat Savaiano, docket No. 27525-88; Pat Savaiano and Carol Savaiano, docket No. 27526-88; Pat Savaiano and Ann M. Liszak, formerly Ann M. Savaiano, docket No. 27527-88; Thomas J. Weis and Gloria J. Weis, docket No. 30233-88; and Thomas W. McNamara and Rita J. McNamara, docket No. 30235-88.↩
2. All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended and in effect for the years at issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, unless otherwise indicated.↩
*. 50 percent of the interest due on that portion of the understatement attributable to negligence.↩
3.
4. See H. Rept. 749, 88th Cong., 2d Sess. (1964), 1964-1 C.B. (Part 2) 196; S. Rept. 830, 88th Cong., 2d Sess. (1964), 1964-1 C.B. (Part 2) 605.↩
5.
6. With these values attributed to the improvements, the contract price for the farm can be allocated as follows:
Unstated interest | $ 215,971 |
Improvements | 93,400 |
Raw land of entire farm | 560,629 |
Total contract price | 870,000 |
The parties agree the value assigned to the raw land in parcels A and B by DiPentino, $ 262,500, is correct. Accordingly, the value of the raw land in parcels C, D, and E must equal $ 298,129 ($ 560,629 - $ 262,500). This amount represents a value for the land in parcels C, D, and E equal to $ 3,138.20 per acre ($ 298,129/95 acres), a value closely approximate to the value assigned per acre to the land in parcel F.↩
7. See
8. See the authorities relied on by respondent in