MEMORANDUM OPINION
FOLEY, Judge: The issues for decision are whether 168 Garment, Inc. 1 (168 Garment), and Lang Thi Ngo (Ms. Ngo) failed to report income and are liable for the
Background
In 1997, pursuant to California law, Ms. Ngo incorporated 168 Garment, which performed sewing services for various garment manufacturers. Ms. Ngo was the company's sole shareholder, and Tho Cong Huynh (Mr. Huynh), her son, was the office assistant.
In 2000 and 2001, 168 Garment maintained a business2006 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 22">*23 checking account at Citizens Business Bank (Citizens account). Ms. Ngo and Mr. Huynh were the only individuals with signature authority over the Citizens account. During 2000 and 2001, respectively, petitioners deposited $ 511,376, and $ 417,761 into the Citizens account, and 168 Garment reported these amounts on its Federal income tax returns related to those years. During this period, Ms. Ngo and Mr. Huynh visited Matt's Liquor at least 60 times to cash checks payable to 168 Garment (i.e., totaling $ 120,610 in 2000 and $ 219,394 in 2001). The proceeds from these checks were not reported on Ms. Ngo's or 168 Garment's Federal income tax returns. In 2001, Ms. Ngo endorsed 45 of the 60 checks (i.e., totaling $ 173,022) cashed at Matt's Liquor, and Mr. Huynh endorsed the remaining 15 checks (i.e., totaling $ 46,372).
Revenue Agent Vivek Gupta (Agent Gupta) was in charge of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit of 168 Garment's and Ms. Ngo's tax returns. Agent Gupta repeatedly attempted to contact Ms. Ngo, but she did not respond. Agent Gupta was subsequently contacted, however, by petitioners' tax attorney, Bob Appert, who provided Agent Gupta with bank statements, canceled checks, 2006 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 22">*24 and a disbursement journal relating to 168 Garment. Upon review of this information, Agent Gupta concluded that 168 Garment's records did not account for the checks cashed at Matt's Liquor and petitioners failed to report as income the proceeds of these checks.
On March 5, 2004, respondent issued 168 Garment a notice of deficiency relating to its 2000 taxes. In the notice, respondent determined that 168 Garment failed to report income, failed to substantiate various expenses, and was liable for the
On June 14, 2004, respondent issued 168 Garment a notice of deficiency determining that 168 Garment understated its 2001 gross receipts and was liable for the
On September 15, 2004, Ms. Ngo, while residing in Temple City, California, and 168 Garment, whose principal place of business was in South El Monte, California, filed their respective petitions. On March 10, 2005, respondent filed separate answers with respect to Ms. Ngo's and 168 Garment's petitions. On August 9, 2005, this Court, pursuant to
Discussion
At calendar call on September 19, 2005, respondent filed three motions to dismiss for lack of prosecution relating to docket Nos. 9243-04, 17152-04, and 17153-04, yet petitioners did not appear at trial or submit a response. Thus, we will grant all three motions. See
At trial and by facts deemed stipulated, pursuant to
To reflect the foregoing,
Appropriate orders of dismissal and decisions2006 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 22">*28 will be entered for respondent.
1. Cases of the following petitioners are consolidated herewith: Lang Thi Ngo, docket No. 17152-04; and 168 Garment, Inc., docket No. 17153-04.↩
2. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
3. The penalty applies to the portion of 168 Garment's underpayment that is attributable to a substantial understatement of income tax.