1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 211">*211 An appropriate order and decision will be entered for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
COLVIN, JUDGE: This matter is before the Court on respondent's motion for summary judgment. For reasons stated below, 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 211">*212 we grant respondent's motion.
Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioners' Federal income tax for 1992 of $8,758 and determined that petitioners are liable for the accuracy-related penalty for negligence under
References to petitioner are to Sharif M. Battikhi. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the year in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
BACKGROUND
Petitioners are married and lived in San Diego, California, when they filed their petition.
In the notice of deficiency, respondent determined that petitioner received $34,824 in unreported income in 1992. After concessions, respondent now contends that petitioner received $28,887.90 in unreported income in 1992.
About 5 months before trial, we served the parties with notice setting this case for trial at a session in San Diego. Soon thereafter, respondent asked petitioners to provide information and invited them to attend a pretrial conference. Petitioners1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 211">*213 did not respond to that letter. Respondent also gave petitioners a copy of their monthly bank statements for 1992 and a copy of the revenue agent's bank deposits analysis showing how the agent reconstructed petitioners' income.
Respondent invited petitioners to attend pretrial conferences three other times. Petitioners did not attend any of them. Instead, petitioners gave affidavits to respondent to support their position. Petitioners contended that some of the bank deposits were nontaxable because petitioners wired the amounts to orphans in the Middle East. However, petitioners gave no documents to respondent to corroborate this claim, and the affidavits were inconsistent with the bank statements in amounts and dates. The bank statements did not show that any of the amounts had been wired.
Respondent filed a request for admissions and mailed it to petitioners about 3 months before the case was calendared for trial. Paragraphs 1 through 26 requested admissions about petitioner's self- employment, residence, 1992 tax return, and bank account activity, and an admission that they made no nontaxable deposits in their bank accounts other than those identified by respondent. Paragraphs 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 211">*214 27 through 41 requested admissions about the total amount that petitioners deposited in all of their bank accounts, that the total amount was compensation to petitioner, and that petitioners failed to report compensation due to negligence. Petitioners did not respond to respondent's request for admissions. Each statement in a request for admissions served on a party is deemed admitted unless a response is served on the requesting party within 30 days after service of the request.
Petitioners moved without explanation to withdraw the deemed admissions more than 2 months after respondent filed and served the request, and about 1 month before trial. Petitioners' accountant helped them to prepare their motion. Petitioners did not deny receiving the request for admissions. In their motion, petitioners admitted paragraphs 1 through 26 of respondent's request for admissions and denied paragraphs 27 through 41. Petitioners offered no explanation for their admissions or denials. We denied petitioners' motion.
In the request for admissions, respondent stated that petitioner is self-employed as a "Cheikh, 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 211">*215 or man of the cloth, at a mosque in San Diego, California." Petitioners admitted the truth of that statement.
Petitioners did not attend the calendar call.
DISCUSSION
Petitioners did not respond to respondent's request for admissions within 30 days after respondent served the request for admissions or explain why they did not.
(c) Response to Request: Each matter is deemed admitted unless, within 30 days after service of the request or within such shorter or longer time as the Court may allow, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the requesting party (1) a written answer specifically admitting or denying the matter involved in whole or in part, or asserting that it cannot be truthfully admitted or denied and setting forth in detail the reasons why this is so, or (2) an objection, stating in detail the reasons therefor. The response shall be signed by the party or the party's counsel, and the original thereof, with proof of service on the other party, shall be filed with the Court. A denial shall fairly meet the substance of the requested admission, and, when good faith requires that a party qualify an answer 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 211">*216 or deny only a part of a matter, such party shall specify so much of it as is true and deny or qualify the remainder. An answering party may not give lack of information or knowledge as a reason for failure to admit or deny unless such party states that such party has made reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable by such party is insufficient to enable such party to admit or deny. A party who considers that a matter, of which an admission has been requested, presents a genuine issue for trial may not, on that ground alone, object to the request; such party may, subject to the provisions of paragraph (g) of this Rule, deny the matter or set forth reasons why such party cannot admit or deny it. An objection on the ground of relevance may be noted by any party but it is not to be regarded as just cause for refusal to admit or deny.
Petitioners' responses in their motion to withdraw deemed admissions did not comply with
Petitioners admit the following facts. Petitioner is a self-employed "Cheikh, or man of the cloth," 1 in San Diego, California. During 1992, he received compensation for his services in that capacity. During 1992, petitioners had checking and savings accounts at Wells Fargo Bank. Petitioners also had a checking account at Bank of America in 1992. They had no other bank accounts. We deem the following facts to be admitted. Petitioners deposited in their bank accounts a total of $28,887.90, all of which was compensation to petitioner for his services in 1992. Petitioners received but did not report $36 in interest income in 1992. Petitioners reported gross receipts of $7,255 from petitioner's business on Schedule C of petitioners' income tax return for 1992.
We may grant summary judgment if the pleadings, answers to interrogatories, depositions, admissions, affidavits, and any other acceptable materials show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and a decision may be rendered as a matter of law.
We conclude that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that respondent is entitled to a decision as a matter of law on the issue of petitioners' unreported income.
C. WHETHER1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 211">*219 PETITIONERS ARE LIABLE FOR THE ACCURACY-RELATED PENALTY UNDER
Respondent determined that petitioners are liable for the accuracy-related penalty for negligence for 1992 under
Taxpayers are liable for a penalty equal to 20 percent of the part of the underpayment to which
Petitioners did not argue that they are not liable for the accuracy-related penalty in their response to respondent's motion for summary judgment. We treat this as a concession by petitioners.
We conclude that petitioners are liable for the accuracy- related penalty for 1992 under
To reflect respondent's concession and the foregoing,
An appropriate order and decision will be entered for respondent.
1. The record does not describe petitioner's position further.↩