T.C. Memo. 2000-308



                      UNITED STATES TAX COURT



                 CHARLES A. MCGEE, Petitioner v.
          COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent



     Docket Nos. 9302-97, 5434-98.       Filed September 28, 2000.



     Charles A. McGee, pro se.

     Marshall R. Jones and Shuford A. Tucker, Jr., for

respondent.



              MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

     GERBER, Judge:   In notices of deficiency addressed to

petitioner, respondent determined deficiencies in and additions

to Federal income tax as follows:1




     1
       Respondent seeks additions to tax in amounts greater than
those set forth in the notices of deficiency under sec. 6214(a).
                                          - 2 -



In Docket No. 9302-97:
                                                               Accuracy
                                                                -related
                                Additions to Tax                Penalties
                          Sec.        Sec.         Sec.      Sec.      Sec.
Year   Deficiency      6651(a)(1) 6653(a)(1) 6653(b)(1)       6663   6662(a)
1988    $146,963       $10,062      $2,743       $75,364      ---      ---
1989      39,772         9,943        ---          ---      $20,069   $2,208
1990     224,046        56,011        ---          ---       91,597   20,383


In Docket No. 5434-98:
                                             Additions to Tax

                       Sec.        Sec.          Sec.          Sec.            Sec.
Year Deficiency     6651(a)(1) 6653(a)(1)(A) 6653(a)(1)(B) 6653(b)(1)(A)
6653(b)(1)(B)
                                                  1                        2
1987 $334,292       $11,533      $2,660                    $210,818
   1
     50% of the interest due on the portion of the underpayment attributable
to negligence.
   2
     50% of the interest due on the portion of the underpayment attributable
to fraud.

       After concessions,2 the issues for our consideration are:

(1) Whether petitioner’s 1987, 1988, and 1989 income tax returns

are valid returns of petitioner; (2) whether petitioner is liable

for increased deficiencies under section 6214(a)3 for his 1987,

1988, and 1989 tax years; (3) whether petitioner’s Schedule C,

Profit or Loss From Business, income was understated for the

1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 tax years; (4) whether petitioner



       2
       Respondent has conceded that petitioner is entitled to the
itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions,
of petitioner’s 1990 tax return. Respondent has also proposed to
increase the deductions for wages on petitioner’s Schedules C.
The parties have also stipulated that petitioner incurred a
capital loss of $9,844 on the sale of stock during 1990.
       3
       Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to
the Internal Revenue Code for the years in issue, and all Rule
references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
                              - 3 -

failed to report interest income for the 1987, 1988, 1989, and

1990 tax years; (5) whether petitioner is entitled to claim

losses for the 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 tax years attributable

to farming activities and for the 1990 tax year attributable to

“harness racing”; (6) whether petitioner failed to report capital

gain income for his 1988, 1989, and 1990 tax years; (7) whether

1990 gains and losses of McGee Landscaping are reportable on

petitioner’s 1990 individual income tax return; (8) whether

petitioner is liable for the failure to file addition and or the

negligence penalty for the 1987, 1988, and 1990 tax years; (9)

whether petitioner is liable for the civil fraud penalty for the

1987, 1988, and 1990 tax years; (10) whether petitioner is liable

for fraudulently failing to file a tax return for the 1989 tax

year;4 (11) whether the period for assessment has expired with

respect to the tax years under consideration; and (12) whether

the doctrine of double jeopardy, res judicata, or collateral

estoppel bars assessment for any of the years at issue.




     4
       Pursuant to sec. 6664(b), the penalties for fraud under
sec. 6663 and for negligence under sec. 6662 as determined in the
notice of deficiency do not apply for 1989 because petitioner
filed no return for that year. Rather the issue is whether the
penalty under sec. 6651(f) for fraudulent failure to file is
applicable for 1989. In the other years for which respondent has
determined penalties for both fraud and negligence, the
determinations are not duplicative because the determinations are
with respect to separate portions of the deficiencies in each
year. For example, the fraud penalty is determined for
unreported Schedule C income, and the negligence penalty is
determined for Schedule F, Profit or Loss From Farming, losses.
                                - 4 -

                           FINDINGS OF FACT5

     When his petitions were filed, petitioner Charles A. McGee

resided in Alabama.   At all pertinent times petitioner was a

self-employed attorney authorized to practice law in Alabama.

Petitioner received Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees

from the University of Alabama in 1972 and 1975, respectively.

Petitioner’s law school work included a course in Federal income

taxation.

     During 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990, petitioner was married to

Karen McGee.   From 1981 through 1990, petitioner filed only two

Federal individual income tax returns:     A joint 1980 income tax

return with Karen McGee, filed on March 18, 1983, and a joint

1986 income tax return with Karen McGee, filed on October 15,

1987.

Petitioner’s Tax Returns

     On November 27, 1990, respondent notified petitioner’s

representative of the initiation of an examination of

petitioner’s 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988 tax

years.   The scope of the audit was later broadened to include the

1989 and 1990 tax years.    On February 12, 1991, respondent

received documents purporting to be petitioner’s Federal income

tax returns for the 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and




     5
       The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are
incorporated by this reference.
                                 - 5 -

1989 tax years.    Respondent received petitioner’s 1990 Federal

income tax return on June 26, 1992.

     These documents were all prepared by Harold E. Grierson

(Grierson).    Grierson asked petitioner to furnish him with

information and records concerning all of petitioner’s income for

1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990.    Petitioner provided Grierson with

filled-out Federal tax forms (prior-year forms with the

preprinted years crossed out), and Grierson copied the amounts

that petitioner had entered on these forms in preparing the

documents.    Petitioner did not provide Grierson with any

supporting documentation for the amounts shown on the filled-out

tax forms he gave to Grierson.    Grierson did not verify the

figures and computations on the filled-out forms but instead

reviewed them only for internal consistency or placement on the

form.

     Petitioner did not sign the documents purporting to be his

1987, 1988, and 1989 individual Federal income tax returns.

Instead, petitioner’s employee, Merle Wilson (Wilson), signed

petitioner’s name on the documents.      Wilson routinely handled

banking transactions for petitioner, including the signing of his

checks and the endorsement of his deposits.      Wilson had never

signed petitioner’s tax returns before signing the 1987, 1988,

and 1989 tax returns.    Petitioner and Wilson did not discuss

Wilson’s signing the documents prior to her doing so, and

petitioner did not authorize Wilson to sign them.
                               - 6 -

Petitioner’s Criminal Tax Proceedings

     On November 27, 1996, petitioner was indicted in Federal

District Court for the Northern District of Alabama for one count

of willfully making and subscribing to an individual Federal

income tax return which he did not believe to be true and

correct.   On March 3, 1997, petitioner’s criminal trial began,

and on March 7, 1997, the jury returned a guilty verdict.    On

April 8, 1997, petitioner filed a Motion for New Trial, which was

granted on May 8, 1997.   On July 14, 1997, petitioner’s second

criminal trial began, and on July 21, 1997, the jury returned a

verdict of not guilty.

McGee Landscaping, Inc.

     McGee Landscaping, Inc. (McGee Landscaping), was

incorporated in DeKalb County, Alabama, on March 27, 1986.    No

election under section 1362 was filed with respect to McGee

Landscaping.   During the years at issue, petitioner was the sole

owner of McGee Landscaping.   On his financial statement dated

July 27, 1989, petitioner represented himself as the president

and the owner of the stock of McGee Landscaping.   On his

financial statement dated July 31, 1989, petitioner represented

his ownership of McGee Landscaping as the ownership of

“Securities & Investments”.   McGee Landscaping had three separate

bank accounts.
                               - 7 -

Petitioner’s Bank Accounts

     During the years at issue, petitioner maintained a clients’

trust account, numbered 055-0086-9 (Trust Account 1), at First

State Bank of DeKalb County (First State) in connection with his

law practice.   During the years at issue, petitioner maintained a

clients’ trust account, number 035-3980-6 (Trust Account 2), at

Central Bank (now known as Compass Bank) in connection with his

law practice.   During the years at issue, petitioner maintained a

business checking account, numbered 055-0374-4 (the Business

Account), at First State in connection with his law practice.

During 1987, 1988, and 1989, petitioner maintained a checking

account, numbered 056-0531-8 (the Personal Account), at First

State.   During 1989 and 1990, a checking account, numbered 055-

0820-7, was maintained in connection with the business of McGee

Landscaping (the McGee Landscaping Account), at First State.

1987 Deposits

     On April 22, 1987, the law firm of Hare, Wynn, Newell and

Newton issued check number 1295 payable to petitioner in the

amount of $305,270 as a referral fee.   On May 7th or 8th, 1987,

$233,210 of the proceeds from check number 1295 was deposited

into the Personal Account by Wilson, $2,500 of the proceeds was

received in cash by Wilson, and $69,560 of the proceeds was used

by Wilson to purchase a cashier’s check payable to the Tennessee

Valley Authority.   This cashier’s check was not delivered to the

payee but instead was deposited into the Personal Account on
                               - 8 -

August 3, 1987.   Petitioner did not report the proceeds of check

number 1295 on his 1987 tax return.

     On August 28, 1987, the DeKalb County, Alabama Circuit Clerk

issued check number 1883 payable to petitioner in the amount of

$50,000 as a fee earned in connection with the settlement of a

case.   On November 10, 1987, check number 1883 was deposited by

Wilson into petitioner’s Personal Account.    Petitioner did not

report the proceeds of check number 1883 on his 1987 tax return.

     On August 28, 1987, the Alabama Circuit Clerk issued check

number 1886 payable to petitioner in the amount of $278,982 as a

fee earned in connection with the settlement of a case.    Wilson

endorsed petitioner’s name to check number 1886 and gave it to

petitioner’s mother.   Petitioner did not report the proceeds of

check number 1886 on his 1987 tax return.

     During 1987, unexplained deposits of $95,855 were made to

petitioner’s bank accounts and were not reported on his 1987 tax

return.   During 1987, petitioner deposited $331,575 into the

Business Account.   Petitioner reported gross receipts of $314,424

on his 1987 Schedule C.

1988 Deposits

     Respondent determined that during 1988 petitioner made

withdrawals totaling $749,227 by and for the benefit of himself

from Trust Account 1 and Trust Account 2.    Respondent also

determined that petitioner redeposited $185,992 of these

withdrawals back into Trust Accounts 1 and 2 during 1988.
                                - 9 -

     During 1988, $367,895 was deposited into the Business

Account.    Of this amount, $202,266 represented transfers from

Trust Account 1 and Trust Account 2.    Petitioner reported gross

receipts of $327,852 on his 1988 Schedule C.

1989 Deposits

     Respondent determined that during 1989 petitioner made

withdrawals from Trust Account 1 and Trust Account 2 totaling

$269,191.    Respondent also determined that during 1989, $190,860

of these withdrawals was redeposited into Trust Account 1 and

Trust Account 2.

     During 1989, $505,464 was deposited into the Business

Account.    Petitioner reported gross receipts of $287,986 on his

1989 Schedule C.

1990 Deposits

     During 1990, petitioner earned a fee of $100,000 for

representing Marvin Barron in certain legal matters.    Of this

amount, $6,504 was deposited into the Business Account.    Of the

remaining $93,496, $12,000 was deposited in the McGee Landscaping

Account, $40,000 was used to make a repayment on a loan owed by

petitioner, and $41,496 was used to make a repayment on another

loan owed by petitioner.

     During 1990, $1,135,338 was deposited into the Business

Account.    Petitioner reported gross receipts of $711,960 on his

1990 Schedule C.
                                 - 10 -

     During the years at issue, petitioner did not receive any

inheritances, legacies, or devises.

Interest Income

     Petitioner sold property to Randy Weldon and Faust Daniels

and took back a note and mortgage on the property.     Respondent

determined that petitioner received interest from the following

sources during the years at issue.

                         1987      1988      1989     1990
Faust Daniels           $1,724    $5,165    $5,151    $5,134
Randy Weldon             5,188     5,179     5,170     5,159
Bill Doufexius           1,703
       Total             8,615    10,344    10,321    10,293

     Petitioner reported interest income of $5,247, $5,195,

$5,136, and $10,072 on his 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 tax

returns.

Sale of Property

     Trucks

     In 1988, petitioner purchased 50 trucks used to haul and

spread salt.     Twenty-five of the trucks were used to haul salt

and had dump beds.     The remaining 25 trucks were spreader trucks

that were used to spread salt on the roads.     The trucks that

contained dump beds cost $3,500 more apiece than the unbedded

trucks.    Petitioner paid $411,984 for the trucks, and incurred

fix-up costs of $28,775 in 1988 and $120,230 in 1989.

     Petitioner sold some of the trucks during 1988, 1989, and

1990.   Petitioner sold 12 trucks with dump beds in 1988 for

$137,285.     Petitioner’s basis in the 12 trucks was $126,780.   In
                               - 11 -

1989, petitioner sold 13 trucks for $187,661.    Twelve of the

thirteen trucks sold in 1989 had beds.    Petitioner’s basis in the

13 trucks sold in 1989 was $174,977.    Petitioner’s 1989 tax

return, however, reflected the sale of only 9 trucks.    In 1990,

petitioner sold two unbedded trucks for $21,818.    Petitioner’s

basis in the two trucks sold in 1990 was $20,458.    Petitioner’s

1990 tax return, however, did not report any truck sales.

Respondent verified the unreported truck sales by personal

contact with the parties who purchased the trucks.

     Sipsey Harbor

     In 1986, petitioner purchased real property located on the

Sipsey River in Winston County, Alabama (Sipsey Harbor).    Sipsey

Harbor consisted of 41 lots.   On August 28, 1988, petitioner

issued an undated warranty deed for Sipsey Harbor to Ann M.

Burdick and Tarrie H. Hyche.   Tarrie Hyche paid off his debt to

petitioner in 1991.

     Petitioner was the grantor on deeds to two Sipsey Harbor

lots, which were recorded in the Winston County property records

in 1989, and was the grantor on deeds to four Sipsey Harbor lots,

which were recorded in 1990.   On petitioner’s financial

statements dated July 27, 1989 and July 31, 1989, petitioner

represented himself as the owner of 30 Sipsey Harbor lots worth

$450,000.

     On April 17, 1990, petitioner executed a real estate

mortgage with respect to Sipsey Harbor, which covered all but six
                                - 12 -

of the Sipsey Harbor lots.     Under the real estate mortgage,

petitioner was indebted to First State Bank of DeKalb County for

$150,000.

     During 1989, petitioner received $30,000 from the sale of

the two Sipsey Harbor lots.     Petitioner’s basis in the two Sipsey

Harbor lots sold in 1989 was $6,394.     During 1990, petitioner

received $70,000 from the sale of the four Sipsey Harbor lots.

Petitioner’s basis in the four Sipsey Harbor lots sold in 1990

was $15,985.    No information concerning Sipsey Harbor or any

Sipsey Harbor lot is included on petitioner’s 1987, 1988, 1989,

or 1990 tax return.

Farming and Harness-Racing Activities

     For each of the years at issue, petitioner claimed

substantial losses relating to a farm whose principal product was

grain.    Petitioner and his family performed most of the labor at

his farm.     Petitioner himself did the planting and plowing.

Each Schedule F, Profit or Loss From Farming, bearing

petitioner’s name and reflecting the periods from 1981 through

1990 claimed a net loss.     The aggregate claimed net losses

totaled $984,221.     For 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987,

the claimed net losses from farming exceeded the net profit

reported from petitioner’s law practice.

     In 1990, petitioner also claimed losses relating to harness

racing.     Petitioner claimed breeding fees, dues, stakes,

harnesses, and entry fees as expenses.
                              - 13 -

Notices of Deficiency

     Respondent determined petitioner’s gross receipts from his

law practice for the 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 tax years by

using the bank deposits method and by adding various specific

items.   Specifically, respondent included (1) deposits to the

Business Account; (2) certain withdrawals from Trust Account 1

and Trust Account 2; and (3) certain specific items of unreported

income that were not deposited to the Business Account, Trust

Account 1, or Trust Account 2.   Respondent’s analysis showed

that, for each of the years, petitioner had substantial deposits

in excess of the income that he reported on his return.

Respondent issued notices of deficiency to petitioner with

respect to his 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 tax years.    In the

notices of deficiency, respondent determined that petitioner had

deficiencies in tax for the 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 tax years

in the amounts of $334,292, $146,963, $39,772, and $224,046,

respectively.   Respondent also determined additions to tax or

penalties for fraud, negligence, and failure to file.

                              OPINION

     We note at the outset that petitioner did not file a post-

trial brief in this case.   Rule 151(a) provides, in part, that

“Briefs shall be filed after trial or submission of a case,

except as otherwise directed by the presiding Judge.”    This Court

has long recognized the importance of filing a brief.    See Klein
                               - 14 -

v. Commissioner, 

(1927); Stringer v. Commissioner,

(1985), affd. 

(4th Cir. 1986).

      The importance of a brief is underscored in a case such as

the one currently before us where the contentions advanced by

petitioner are ill-defined and his testimony is vague and largely

unhelpful.    At the close of the trial, petitioner was

specifically requested by the Court to include and explain in his

opening brief each item that respondent used in reconstructing

petitioner’s income with which he disagreed.    Petitioner,

however, failed to file a brief.6   When a party fails to file a

brief altogether, such failure has been held by this Court to

justify the dismissal of all issues as to which the nonfiling

party has the burden of proof.    See Stringer v. 

.    While we are unwilling to enter a default judgment

against petitioner in this case for failure to file a brief, we

view his failure as an indication of petitioner’s tenuous

position with regard to the issues in question.

A.   Validity of Petitioner’s Tax Returns

      Section 6061 requires that an individual income tax return

be signed “in accordance with forms or regulations prescribed by

the Secretary.”    In order for an agent to sign an individual

income tax return for a taxpayer, it must be done in a manner

authorized by U.S. Treasury Regulations.    See sec. 1.6061-1(a),


      6
       As an experienced trial attorney, petitioner’s failure to
file a brief is especially egregious.
                               - 15 -

Income Tax Regs.    A duly authorized agent may sign a return if

the taxpayer is prevented from doing so by reason of disease or

injury, continuous absence from the United States, or upon

written request to the local Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

District Director, if the District Director determines that good

cause exists for permitting the agent to make the return.    See

sec. 1.6012-1(a)(5), Income Tax Regs.

     In the present case, petitioner did not sign his 1987, 1988,

or 1989 tax returns.    Instead, Wilson, petitioner’s employee,

signed the returns.    Wilson was not authorized by petitioner to

sign the returns.    Furthermore, even if she had been so

authorized, none of the circumstances enumerated in sec. 1.6012-

1(a)(5), Income Tax Regs., existed.     Thus, she could not validly

sign petitioner’s individual income tax returns.    Therefore,

because the 1987, 1988, and 1989 returns were not signed by

petitioner or an authorized agent pursuant to sec. 1.6061-1(a),

Income Tax Regs., they do not constitute returns of petitioner.7

B. Jurisdiction To Determine an Increased Deficiency Under
Section 6214(a)

     Respondent treated petitioner’s 1987, 1988, and 1989 tax

returns as valid returns of petitioner at the time the notices of


     7
       Although we have found that the 1987, 1988, and 1989
returns were not proper returns that would begin the period
within which respondent could assess tax, nevertheless the
returns are evidence of what petitioner represented to his return
preparer. In that regard, petitioner stipulated these documents
and did not object to their being part of the record. As such,
the returns constitute admissions.
                               - 16 -

deficiency were issued.   Accordingly, the 1987, 1988, and 1989

deficiencies were computed giving petitioner credit for reporting

certain amounts of income.    Evidence during trial, however,

established that the documents were never signed by petitioner

and were not valid returns.    After determining that petitioner

did not file returns in 1987, 1988, and 1989, however, respondent

contends that petitioner’s deficiencies for the 1987, 1988, and

1989 tax years are greater than those determined in the notices

of deficiency due to petitioner’s failure to file returns for

those years.   Thus, respondent seeks increased deficiencies and

additions to tax in greater amounts than those set forth in the

notices of deficiency.

     Section 6214(a) provides that this Court shall have

jurisdiction to redetermine the correct amount of the deficiency

even if the amount so redetermined is greater than the amount

determined by the Commissioner in the notice of deficiency if the

Commissioner asserts a claim at or before the hearing or

rehearing.   Consistent with the general mandate of section

6214(a), this Court generally will only exercise its jurisdiction

over an increased deficiency where the matter is properly

pleaded.   See Estate of Petschek v. Commissioner, 

,

271-272 (1983), affd. 

(2d Cir. 1984); Markwardt v.

Commissioner, 

, 997 (1975).

     Rule 41(b)(1), however, provides that when an issue not

raised in the pleadings is tried with the express or implied
                              - 17 -

consent of the parties, that issue is treated in all respects as

if it had been raised in the pleadings.   Thus, where respondent

raises an issue that could result in an increased deficiency

without formally amending his pleading and that issue is tried

with petitioner’s express or implied consent, the requirement in

section 6214(a) that respondent make a claim for the increased

deficiency is satisfied.   See Woods v. Commissioner, 

,

93 (1988).

     In his trial memorandum, respondent asserted a claim for

amounts greater than those stated in the notices of deficiency,

based on his belief that petitioner did not sign his tax returns

and therefore did not file valid returns.   A relatively large

portion of petitioner’s trial testimony addressed this issue.

Thus, petitioner was aware that respondent disagreed with

petitioner’s position regarding the validity of his tax returns.

Petitioner could have raised an objection to respondent’s

assertion either in his trial memorandum, during trial, or in his

posttrial brief.   He did not, however, submit a trial memorandum

or file a posttrial brief, and he did not raise any objection

during trial.

     Under the foregoing circumstances, we do not believe

petitioner was either surprised or disadvantaged by respondent’s

claim that petitioner is liable for increased deficiencies.

Thus, we conclude that respondent has asserted a claim for an

increased deficiency as required by section 6214(a).
                              - 18 -

C.   Unreported Schedule C Income

      Every taxpayer is required to maintain adequate records of

taxable income.   See sec. 6001.    When respondent audited

petitioner’s 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 income tax returns,

petitioner failed to provide sufficient records from which a

determination could be made of petitioner’s gross receipts.    In

the absence of adequate records, respondent performed a bank

deposits analysis, under which he determined that petitioner had

made deposits in excess of the reported gross receipts.

      In cases where taxpayers have not maintained business

records or where their business records are inadequate, the

courts have authorized the Commissioner to reconstruct income by

any method that, in the Commissioner’s opinion, clearly reflects

income.   See sec. 446(b); Parks v. Commissioner, 

, 658

(1990).   The Commissioner’s method need not be exact but must be

reasonable.   See Holland v. United States, 

(1954).

      The bank deposits method for computing unreported income has

long been sanctioned by the courts.     See Factor v. Commissioner,

, 116 (9th Cir. 1960), affg. T.C. Memo. 1958-94;

DiLeo v. Commissioner, 

, 867 (1991), affd. 

(2d Cir. 1992).   Bank deposits are prima facie evidence of

income.   See Tokarski v. Commissioner, 

, 77 (1986).

Where the taxpayer has failed to maintain adequate records as to

the amount and source of his or her income and the Commissioner

has determined that the deposits are income, the taxpayer must
                              - 19 -

show that the determination is incorrect.   See Rule 142(a);

Welch v. Helvering, 

, 115 (1933).

     In calculating petitioner’s income using the bank deposits

method, respondent considered deposits to the Business Account

and made a downward adjustment for any withdrawals from the Trust

Accounts that were deposited to the Business Account in order to

prevent duplication.8   Respondent’s method of computing

petitioner’s law practice income insured that petitioner was not

taxed on receipts that constituted loan proceeds or other

nontaxable receipts by eliminating such deposits from the

computation.   Respondent’s method further insured that petitioner

was not taxed twice on receipts that were properly reportable at

places on petitioner’s returns other than on the law practice

Schedule C.

     Petitioner admitted both in his pleadings and during trial

that some income had been unreported.   In all of the tax years at

issue, there were discrepancies between what was deposited into

petitioner’s Business Account and what was reported as gross

receipts on petitioner’s tax returns.   During 1987, 1988, 1989,

and 1990, the amounts of gross deposits to the Business Account

were $331,575, $367,895, $505,464, and $1,135,338, respectively.


     8
       For example, in 1988 respondent made a $749,227 upward
adjustment to petitioner’s 1988 income for certain withdrawals
from the Trust Accounts. That adjustment, however, was offset by
two downward adjustments: One in the amount of $202,266 for
interaccount transfers and one in the amount of $185,992 for
repayments to the Trust Accounts.
                                - 20 -

The amounts of gross receipts reflected on the Schedules C

attached to the 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 returns were $314,424,

$327,852, $287,986, and $711,960, respectively.

     In addition to these discrepancies, other items of income

were not disclosed to petitioner’s return preparer and were not

reflected on any tax returns.    First, during 1988, 1989, and

1990, certain withdrawals were made from Trust Accounts 1 and 2

that represented taxable income to petitioner.     Second, during

1987 and 1990, certain fees earned by petitioner were not

deposited into any of the accounts maintained by petitioner in

connection with his law practice.    During 1987 alone, the

unreported specific items total $634,252, while petitioner

reported only $314,424 of gross receipts.

     Petitioner admits to receiving the unreported income, yet

alleges that the 1987 unreported income items were subsequently

deposited into the Business Account.     Petitioner, however,

presented no evidence supporting this allegation.     In addition,

these items that were allegedly deposited into petitioner’s

Business Account were never entered into the receipt books of

petitioner’s law practice.   Furthermore, petitioner offered no

credible evidence that any of the unexplained deposits were from

a nontaxable source.   In short, petitioner has not shown that

respondent’s income reconstruction is incorrect.     Accordingly,

respondent’s determinations are sustained.
                                - 21 -

D.   Interest Income

      Under section 61, interest income is includable in income.

See sec. 61(a)(4).     Respondent determined that during 1987, 1988,

1989, and 1990, petitioner received interest income in amounts

that exceeded what was reflected on his tax returns.    Petitioner

admitted that he did not reflect interest income received from

Faust Daniels for the 1988 and 1989 tax years.    Petitioner,

however, alleged that some of the interest income that he failed

to reflect was actually included in the gross receipts of his law

practice.   Petitioner further alleged that his secretary

inadvertently included the entire payment--principal and

interest--as taxable income, and therefore his income was

overstated.

      As an initial matter, we note that petitioner has failed to

present any evidence that interest income was actually reported

on Schedule C.   If, however, interest income was reported on

Schedule C, a separate adjustment for interest income could

result in petitioner’s being taxed twice on the same income.

Respondent’s method of computing petitioner’s correct Schedule C

income, however, eliminated the possibility of such duplication

by subtracting interest income from the computation of law

practice income.   We further note that the only evidence that

both principal and interest were included in taxable income is
                                - 22 -

petitioner’s own testimony, which we find to be self-serving and unconvincin

      Accordingly, interest income in the amounts of $8,615,

$10,344, $10,321, and $10,293 is includable in petitioner’s

income for the 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 tax years,

respectively.

E.   Net Loss Deductions for Farming and Harness-Racing Activities

      Section 183(a) provides that if a taxpayer’s activity

constitutes an activity not engaged in for profit, expenses

arising out of the activity are allowed as deductions only as

provided in section 183(b).   Section 183(c) defines an activity

not engaged in for profit as “any activity other than one with

respect to which deductions are allowable for the taxable year

under section 162 or under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 212.”

      The test for determining whether an individual is carrying

on a trade or business under section 183 is whether the

taxpayer’s actual and honest objective in engaging in the

activity is to make a profit.    See Dreicer v. Commissioner, 

, 645 (1982), affd. without opinion 

(D.C.

Cir. 1983); sec. 1.183-2(a), Income Tax Regs.

      Section 1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs., sets forth a

nonexclusive list of factors to be considered in determining

whether an activity is engaged in for profit.   The relevant

factors are:    (1) The manner in which the taxpayer carries on the

activity; (2) the expertise of the taxpayer or his advisers; (3)
                              - 23 -

the time and effort expended by the taxpayer in carrying on the

activity; (4) the expectation that assets used in the activity

may appreciate in value; (5) the success of the taxpayer in

carrying on other similar or dissimilar activities; (6) the

taxpayer’s history of income or losses with respect to the

activity; (7) the amount of occasional profits, if any, which are

earned; (8) the financial status of the taxpayer; and (9) the

presence of elements of personal pleasure or recreation.   Not all

of these factors are applicable in every case, and no one factor

is controlling.   See sec. 1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs.   Although

these factors are helpful in ascertaining a taxpayer’s objective

in engaging in the activity, no single factor, nor the existence

of even a majority of the factors, is controlling.   See Keanini

v. Commissioner, 

, 46 (1990).   We now apply these

factors to petitioner’s farming and harness-racing activities.

     Farming Activities

     Petitioner did not present any evidence regarding the manner

in which he operates his farm.   He generally stated that he did

the plowing and the planting, and that while he did have some

help, he and his family did almost all of the labor in what he

described as an “extensive farming operation that didn’t turn out

to be very profitable.”   He did not present any explicit evidence

regarding how much time he spent on his farming activities,
                               - 24 -

though he did say that he was too busy with other activities to

take care of the farm.

     Each Schedule F from 1981 to 1990 reflected a net loss,

totaling $984,221.    While petitioner stated that he has always

farmed and that “this wasn’t a hobby farm like a lot of people”,

we have been unable to find any evidence establishing that

petitioner engaged in the farming activities with the intention

of making a profit.

     During trial, petitioner alluded to the fact that the IRS

wrote to him or Mr. Grierson, his return preparer, stating that

$455,000 worth of Schedule F losses could be used for the first

year that there was taxable income.     Neither petitioner nor Mr.

Grierson, however, was able to produce any document from the IRS

regarding the availability of any Schedule F losses.    Indeed, Mr.

Grierson admitted that the conversation regarding the Schedule F

losses may have been between himself and petitioner rather than

between himself and the IRS.

     Based on petitioner’s testimony and the lack of any evidence

regarding the manner in which he conducted his activity, we find

that petitioner has not established that making a profit was his

primary objective.    Furthermore, petitioner has also failed to

substantiate the claimed losses.    Accordingly, we sustain

respondent’s determinations regarding petitioner’s Schedule F net

loss deductions for the 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 tax years.
                              - 25 -

     Harness Racing

      Petitioner’s testimony regarding harness racing consisted of

the following:

      This horse thing was a matter of--I wanted to grow
      colts. I ended up having to pull * * * some horses--
      these were harness horses too, by the way; they’re not
      thoroughbreds. They’re like the old fairs that people
      used to have. You might be familiar with the Ohio
      Fair, which has got the little brown jug, and all the
      farmers would have harness horses that pulled the carts
      to go. That’s the kind of horses that I had, and
      started out trying to have a brood mare band and of
      course, that didn’t fare very well either. * * *

      Other than this testimony, petitioner alluded to the death

of a horse and some insurance payment.   However, in the absence

of any explanation by petitioner elaborating on this, we are

unable to determine what, if anything, this has to do with his

harness-racing activities.   In short, petitioner failed to

present any evidence that he engaged in the activity for profit.

Furthermore, petitioner also failed to substantiate the claimed

losses.   Accordingly, respondent’s determinations with respect to

petitioner’s claimed “harness-racing” losses for 1990 are

sustained.

F.   Capital Gain

      Gains on the sale of property are taxable under section 61,

and the gain is computed by reference to the excess of the amount

realized over the adjusted basis provided in section 1011.    See

sec. 1001.   We must determine whether petitioner reported the
                               - 26 -

correct amount of capital gain on the sale of Sipsey Harbor lots

and the sale of trucks.

     Sipsey Harbor

     Petitioner contends that he sold Sipsey Harbor in one

transaction, while respondent contends that the Sipsey Harbor

lots were disposed of in several transactions.

     Sipsey Harbor consisted of 41 lots.   In 1988, petitioner

issued an undated warranty deed for Sipsey Harbor to Ann Burdick

and Tarrie Hyche.    Yet on his financial statements dated July 27,

1989 and July 31, 1989, petitioner represented himself as the

owner of 30 Sipsey Harbor lots worth $450,000.   Thus, despite the

warranty deed issued by petitioner to Tarrie Hyche in 1988,

petitioner still considered himself the owner of 30 Sipsey Harbor

lots in July 1989.

     In 1989, petitioner was the grantor on deeds to two Sipsey

Harbor lots, which were recorded in the Winston County property

records.   In 1990, petitioner was the grantor on deeds to four

Sipsey Harbor lots, which were recorded in the Winston County

property records.    Thus, rather than disposing of Sipsey Harbor

in one transaction, petitioner disposed of his interest in two

Sipsey Harbor lots in 1989 and four Sipsey Harbor lots in 1990.

No sales are reflected on petitioner’s 1989 or 1990 return, nor

is there any evidence to corroborate petitioner’s alleged

disposition of petitioner’s entire interest in Sipsey Harbor.
                                - 27 -

     Petitioner contends that the sale was not reported on any

returns because it was an installment sale that was not

completely paid off until 1991.     We disagree with petitioner’s

characterization and treatment of the transaction.       Petitioner

produced no evidence that the sale of any Sipsey Harbor lot was

structured as an installment sale.       Petitioner failed to

introduce any type of mortgage note between himself and Ann

Burdick or Tarrie Hyche evidencing payments for the Sipsey Harbor

lots.     Petitioner failed to elaborate on the sale of the six lots

in 1989 and 1990.     Petitioner also failed to explain why no

portion of any proceeds of the sales of those six lots or any

other lots were reported on any of his returns.       In short,

petitioner offered no explanation for his complete failure to

report any Sipsey Harbor transaction.       Accordingly, we sustain

respondent’s determination with regard to petitioner’s capital

gain from the sale of Sipsey Harbor.

     Trucks

        Petitioner sold several trucks during the years in issue.

Respondent verified the number of sales of petitioner’s trucks by

contacting the parties who purchased the trucks.       Respondent

determined that petitioner sold 13 trucks in 1989, but

petitioner’s 1989 return reflects the sale of only 9 trucks.

Respondent determined that petitioner sold two trucks in 1990,

but petitioner’s 1990 return did not reflect any truck sales.
                                - 28 -

      Petitioner failed to offer any explanation as to why he

failed to report the sale of four trucks in 1989 and two trucks

in 1990.   Accordingly, we sustain respondent’s determinations

regarding petitioner’s capital gains from the sale of trucks in

1989 and 1990.

G.   McGee Landscaping

      The resolution of whether petitioner is allowed to report

the 1990 gains and losses of McGee Landscaping on his individual

return depends on whether the corporate form of McGee Landscaping

is respected for Federal income tax purposes.   Generally, the

gains and losses of a corporation which has not filed an election

under section 1362 are not reportable on the shareholder’s

individual income tax return.

      Petitioner must show that his landscaping business was not

operated as a corporation.   See Brints v. Commissioner, T.C.

Memo. 1989-457.   Courts have observed that taxpayers are free to

organize their affairs as they choose, but that those tax

consequences must be accepted regardless of whether their choice

precluded the benefit of some other route that they might have

chosen to follow but did not.    See Commissioner v. National

Alfalfa Dehydrating & Milling Co., 

(1974).

      McGee Landscaping was incorporated in DeKalb County,

Alabama, in 1986.   During the years at issue, petitioner was the

sole owner of McGee Landscaping.    Petitioner chose to conduct the
                                - 29 -

business in a corporate form and chose not to file an election

for S corporation treatment under section 1362.     McGee

Landscaping was held out as a corporation, and petitioner

presented no evidence that McGee Landscaping was, in fact,

petitioner’s alter ego.

     While a taxpayer may challenge the form of a transaction if

necessary to avoid unjust results, we can find no injustice in

characterizing McGee Landscaping as a corporation and not as a

sole proprietorship or passthrough entity.     See Spector v.

Commissioner, 

(5th Cir. 1981), revg. 

(1979).   Indeed, the Supreme Court has established a general rule

that the separate existence of a corporation is to be respected

for tax purposes.     See Moline Properties v. Commissioner, 

(1943).

     Petitioner was free to run McGee Landscaping as he saw fit

and chose to operate it as a separate corporate entity.

Petitioner simply cannot retrospectively disavow the form in

which he chose to operate his landscaping business in order to

obtain certain tax benefits.    Petitioner has failed to present

any evidence indicating that McGee Landscaping did not possess a

separate existence.    Accordingly, we decline to disregard the

corporate form of McGee Landscaping.     Therefore, the gains and

losses of McGee Landscaping are not reportable on petitioner’s

individual income tax return.
                               - 30 -

H.   Additions to Tax and Penalties

      Failure To File

      Section 6651(a)(1) provides for an addition to tax of 5

percent of the tax required to be shown on the return for each

month or fraction thereof for which there is a failure to file,

not to exceed 25 percent.

      To avoid the additions to tax for filing late returns, a

taxpayer must show (1) that the failure to file did not result

from willful neglect, and (2) that the failure to file was due to

reasonable cause.   See United States v. Boyle, 

, 245

(1985).    If the taxpayer does not meet his burden, the imposition

of the addition to tax is mandatory.     See Heman v. Commissioner,

(1959), affd. 

(8th Cir. 1960).

      Petitioner failed to file returns for 1987 and 1988, and

petitioner’s 1990 return was filed more than 4 months late, which

would result in the imposition of the maximum 25-percent rate for

1987, 1988, and 1990.   Petitioner stated that Mr. Perry handled

the bank records and checks associated with his law practice but

that Mr. Perry’s office burned down, and he died in either 1988

or 1989.   Therefore, petitioner claims he had trouble

reconstructing the records.   Petitioner, however, failed to

present any evidence that a fire destroyed petitioner’s records,

preventing him from filing returns.     Accordingly, we view

petitioner’s testimony as self-serving and unconvincing and find
                                - 31 -

that petitioner has not presented evidence that he had a

reasonable cause for not filing his 1987, 1988, and 1990 returns.

Furthermore, petitioner has not shown that his failure to file

was not due to willful neglect.     Accordingly, we sustain

respondent’s determination with respect to the section 6651(a)

additions to tax.9

     Fraud

     Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for

additions to tax for fraud under sections 6653(b), 6651(f), and

6663.     Respondent seeks to apply (1) the section 6653(b)(1)(A)

and (B) additions to the 1987 adjustment for unreported gross

receipts; (2) the section 6653(b)(1) addition to the 1988

adjustments for unreported gross receipts, unreported capital

gains and unreported interest income; (3) the section 6651(f)

addition for the 1989 fraudulent failure to file an income tax

return;10 and (4) the section 6663 addition for the 1990

adjustments for unreported gross receipts, unreported capital

gains, and unreported interest income.




     9
       Respondent concedes that no addition to tax under sec.
6651 for the 1987 and 1988 tax years will be assessed with
respect to the portion of the underpayment that is attributable
to fraud. See sec. 6653(d).
     10
       Under sec. 6664(b), the civil fraud penalty of sec. 6663
determined in the notice of deficiency does not apply because
petitioner did not file a 1989 return. Rather, the fraud
delinquency penalty of sec. 6651(f) applies.
                              - 32 -

     For 1987, section 6653(b)(1)(A) imposes an addition to tax

if any part of an underpayment of tax required to be shown on a

return is due to fraud, in the amount of 75 percent of the

portion of the underpayment which is attributable to fraud.

Section 6653(b)(1)(B) imposes an addition to the tax in the

amount of 50 percent of the interest due with respect to the

portion of the underpayment which is attributable to fraud.

Section 6663(a), as applicable for 1990, provides that if any

part of an underpayment is due to fraud there shall be added to

the tax an amount equal to 75 percent of the portion of the

underpayment which is attributable to fraud.   Section 6651(f), as

applicable for 1989, imposes an addition to the tax for the

fraudulent failure to file an income tax return.   The addition to

the tax is 15 percent initially and an additional 15 percent for

each portion of a month thereafter, up to a maximum of 75

percent.   To determine whether petitioner’s failure to file his

return was fraudulent, we apply the same elements used when

considering the imposition of the addition to tax and the penalty

for fraud under section 6653(b)(1) and section 6663(a).   See

Clayton v. Commissioner, 

, 653 (1994).

     Fraud is defined as an intentional wrongdoing designed to

evade tax believed to be owing.   See Edelson v. Commissioner, 

, 833 (9th Cir. 1987), affg. T.C. Memo. 1986-223.

Respondent bears the burden of proving fraud and must establish
                              - 33 -

it by clear and convincing evidence.   See Rule 142(b).    Thus, we

do not bootstrap a finding of fraud upon a taxpayer’s failure to

disprove the Commissioner’s deficiency determination.      See Parks

v. Commissioner, 

, 660-661 (1990).

     In order to satisfy this burden, respondent must show (1)

that an underpayment exists, and (2) that the taxpayer intended

to evade taxes known to be owing by conduct intended to conceal,

mislead, or otherwise prevent the collection of taxes.     See

fraud is a question of fact to be resolved

upon consideration of the entire record.    See DiLeo v.

Commissioner, 

, 874 (1991).     Fraud is never presumed

and must be established by independent evidence of fraudulent

intent.   See Edelson v. 

.    Fraud may be shown

by circumstantial evidence because direct evidence of the

taxpayer’s fraudulent intent is seldom available.    See Gajewski

v. Commissioner, 

, 199 (1976), affd. without published

opinion 

(8th Cir. 1978).   The taxpayer’s entire

course of conduct may establish the requisite fraudulent intent.

See Stone v. Commissioner, 

, 224 (1971).

     To decide whether the fraud penalty is applicable, courts

consider several indicia of fraud, or “badges of fraud”, which

include: (1) Understatement of income; (2) inadequate books and

records; (3) failure to file tax returns; (4) implausible or

inconsistent explanations of behavior; (5) concealment of assets;
                               - 34 -

(6) failure to cooperate with tax authorities; (7) filing false

Forms W-4; (8) failure to make estimated payments; (9) dealing in

cash; (10) engaging in illegal activity; and (11) attempting to

conceal illegal activity.   See Bradford v. Commissioner, 

, 307 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-601; Recklitis v.

Commissioner, 

, 910 (1988).   This list is

nonexclusive.    See Miller v. Commissioner, 

, 334

(1990).

     With regard to whether respondent has shown that an

understatement exists, petitioner himself admitted that certain

items of income were not reported on his tax returns.   In

addition, clear and convincing evidence establishes that

petitioner underreported his gross receipts, interest income, and

capital gains.   Accordingly, we find that respondent has met his

burden of proving an underpayment by clear and convincing

evidence.

     In this case, petitioner has willfully failed to file timely

tax returns for the 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 taxable years.      At

the time the audit commenced in late 1990, petitioner had not

filed returns for the 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988,

or 1989 tax years.   This is persuasive evidence of fraud.   See

Marsellus v. Commissioner, 

(5th Cir. 1977), affg.

T.C. Memo. 1975-368.
                               - 35 -

     Petitioner was fully aware of his obligation to file tax

returns.   His only apparent explanation for his delinquency in

filing returns for the years at issue is that he believed that

his Schedule F losses would completely offset his taxable income

for all of those years.   This explanation lacks credibility.

  Petitioner, although currently unlicensed,11 is an experienced

attorney who studied Federal income taxation in law school.     We

find it totally unbelievable that an experienced attorney such as

petitioner who was engaged in several businesses (law practice,

McGee Landscaping, etc.) did not know of his legal duty to file

accurate and timely returns.   The fact that petitioner filed only

one timely return during the 1980’s establishes a long pattern of

substantial and consistent underreporting of income.

     Petitioner also actively concealed his income by routing

several unusually large fees around his receipt books and

business bank accounts.   He also failed to deposit many items

into any account, business or personal.   Petitioner contends that

the omissions were accidental and that there was no fraudulent

intent involved.   We would be more apt to believe petitioner if

the omissions had a random quality to them.   However, this is

simply not the case.   The fees that petitioner failed to record

in his business records or deposit in his Business Account were


     11
       On Jan. 29, 1999, the Alabama Supreme Court suspended
petitioner from the practice of law in the courts of Alabama for
a period of 3 years.
                               - 36 -

in the amounts of $305,270, $50,000, $278,982, and $100,000.    We

think it is unlikely that petitioner “accidentally” routed only

his largest fees around his Business Account.   The sheer size of

the omissions for all years supports a finding that the omissions

were intentional rather than accidental.   The fact that

petitioner deposited these checks into personal accounts or

endorsed them over to family members made it difficult for

respondent to trace the proceeds to petitioner and is indicative

of an intent to evade taxes.   Petitioner’s attempt to blame his

office staff and former return preparer for these omissions of

income is weak and implausible.

     Furthermore, petitioner failed to provide any explanation

for the underreporting of interest income and capital gains.

With regard to petitioner’s capital gains adjustment relating to

the Sipsey Harbor transactions, the evidence supports the finding

that six lots of Sipsey Harbor were sold in 1989 and 1990.

Petitioner argued that he disposed of Sipsey Harbor in a single

transaction and that he was reporting the sale under the

installment method.   Petitioner, however, did not report the

Sipsey Harbor transaction on any tax return.    Regardless of which

accounting method petitioner chose to utilize regarding the

transaction, petitioner offered no explanation for his complete

failure to report any Sipsey Harbor transaction.   Petitioner also
                              - 37 -

neglected to explain why he failed to report interest income and

the sale of trucks.

     We agree with respondent that the failure to file a 1989

return and the underreporting of gross receipts, interest income,

and/or capital gains in 1987, 1988, and 1990 is attributable to

fraud.   The record shows that petitioner engaged in a pattern of

failing to file returns and underreporting income.    Petitioner

failed to keep adequate records and concealed income by routing

large checks into personal accounts or endorsing them and giving

them to family members.   Petitioner, as an experienced attorney,

possessed sufficient education and knowledge of his duty to file

tax returns and report income.   He provided implausible

explanations and failed to present any credible evidence that the

omissions of income were accidental.

     Based on the foregoing, we hold that respondent has

established by clear and convincing evidence that petitioner’s

underpayments due to the underreporting of gross receipts,

interest income and capital gains for the 1987, 1988, and 1990

tax years, and his failure to file a return for 1989, are

attributable to fraud with the intent to evade tax.    Accordingly,

respondent’s determination that petitioner is liable for the

additions to tax under section 6653(b)(1)(A) and (B) for the 1987

taxable year, section 6653(b)(1) for the 1988 taxable year,
                               - 38 -

section 6651(f) for the 1989 taxable year, and section 6663 for

the 1990 taxable year is sustained.

     Negligence

     Respondent contends that the negligence addition to tax

under section 6653(a) for the 1987 and 1988 taxable years and the

negligence penalty under section 6662(a) for the 1990 taxable

year apply to the portions of the deficiencies in tax that are

not subject to the fraud addition to tax (namely, the Schedule F

losses, the underreported interest income in 1987, and the

Schedule C landscaping and harness-racing losses in 1990).12    The

portions of the deficiencies against which the negligence

additions to tax and negligence penalty were determined relate

primarily to unsubstantiated claimed Schedule C and Schedule F

expenses.

     Section 6653(a)(1)(A) and (a)(2), as applicable for 1987,

imposes an addition to tax if any part of an underpayment of tax

required to be shown on a return is due to negligence or

disregard of rules or regulations in the amount of 5 percent of

the portion of the underpayment which is not attributable to

fraud.    Section 6653(a)(1)(B) imposes an addition to the tax in

the amount of 50 percent of the interest due with respect to the

portion of the underpayment which is attributable to negligence


     12
       Under sec. 6664(b), the negligence penalty determined in
the notice of deficiency does not apply for 1989 because
petitioner did not file a 1989 tax return.
                               - 39 -

and not attributable to fraud.   Section 6662(a) and (b)(1), as

applicable for 1990, imposes a penalty of 20 percent on the

portion of an underpayment of tax required to be shown on a

return which is attributable to negligence or disregard of rules

or regulations.

     Negligence is the lack of due care or failure to do what a

reasonable and ordinarily prudent person would do under the

circumstances.    See Neely v. Commissioner, 

, 947

(1985).   The negligence addition to tax and the negligence

penalty will apply if, among other things, the taxpayer fails to

maintain adequate books and records with regard to the items in

question.   See Crocker v. Commissioner, 

, 917 (1989).

Petitioner claimed Schedule F and Schedule C loss deductions with

respect to activities which he could not establish he engaged in

for profit.   He also failed to produce records substantiating the

expenses which allegedly produced the losses.   Because of

petitioner’s failure to maintain such records, we conclude that

petitioner is liable for the negligence additions to tax and

negligence penalty relating to the above items.

I.   Petitioner’s Legal Arguments

      Statute of Limitations

      The notice of deficiency that relates to petitioner’s 1988,

1989, and 1990 tax years was issued on February 7, 1997.     The

notice of deficiency that relates to petitioner’s 1987 tax year
                                - 40 -

was issued on December 19, 1997.     As discussed above, petitioner

failed to sign his tax returns and filed no valid returns for the

1987, 1988, or 1989 tax years.     In addition, we have found fraud

for portions of the 1987 and 1988 deficiencies and all of the

1989 deficiency.    Therefore, under section 6501(c)(1) and (3),

respondent was not barred by the statute of limitations from

issuing the notices of deficiency with respect to those years.

With respect to the 1990 tax year, petitioner’s underpayments for

that year were fraudulent, to the extent determined above.

Accordingly, respondent was not barred by the statute of

limitations with respect to the 1990 tax year under section

6501(c)(1).

     Double Jeopardy, Res Judicata, and Collateral Estoppel

     In his pleadings, petitioner argues that the determinations

for each year are barred by double jeopardy, res judicata, and

collateral estoppel.     We find petitioner’s arguments to be wholly

without merit.     Petitioner’s acquittal on a criminal section

7206(1) charge does not preclude, under the doctrines of double

jeopardy, res judicata, or collateral estoppel, respondent from

litigating petitioner’s civil liability for a deficiency in tax

and additions to tax for failure to file, negligence, and fraud

with respect to the same tax years.

     There is a higher standard of proof in criminal proceedings

(beyond a reasonable doubt) than there is in the civil proceeding
                              - 41 -

(preponderance of the evidence or clear and convincing evidence),

so that failure of proof in the criminal proceeding does not

necessarily lead to the conclusion that there will be a failure

of proof herein.   See Kenney v. Commissioner, 

(5th

Cir. 1940); Traficant v. Commissioner, 

, 510-511 n.9

(1987), affd. 

(6th Cir. 1989).   Accordingly, the

affirmative defenses of res judicata and collateral estoppel are

unavailable to petitioner.   In addition, there is no double

jeopardy in determining a civil addition to tax for fraud even

though a person has been indicted and tried for tax evasion.     See

Ianniello v. Commissioner, 

, 183-185 (1992).

     We have considered all other arguments of the parties, and

to the extent not addressed herein we find them to be either

moot, meritless, or irrelevant.

     To reflect concessions of the parties,

                                    Decisions will be entered

                               under Rule 155.