Decision will be entered under
KERRIGAN,
Addition to tax | Penalties | |||
2008 | $62,205 | $15,551 | $4,315 | -0- |
2009 | 38,416 | 9,604 | 1,740 | -0- |
2010 | 58,306 | 14,576 | 2,317 | $13,899 |
2011 | 45,618 | -0- | -0- | 22,877 |
2012 | 11,924 | -0- | -0- | 8,943 |
For tax years 2010-12 respondent determined as an alternative to the fraud penalty that petitioner was liable for an accuracy-related penalty under
After concessions the issues for our consideration are: (1) whether petitioner substantiated expenses underlying deductions on her Schedules C, Profit or Loss from Business, for tax years 2008-11; (2) whether petitioner2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*151 substantiated items underlying deductions on Schedules A, Itemized Deductions, for tax years 2011-12; (3) whether petitioner failed to report taxable income for tax years 2008-09; *154 (4) whether petitioner's filing status for tax years 2011-12 is single or married filing separately; (5) whether petitioner is liable for the
Some of the facts are stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein. Petitioner resided in Wisconsin when she filed her timely petition.
Petitioner is a psychiatrist. She graduated from John Hopkins Medical School and completed her residency at the University of Chicago. On April 15, 2002, the State of Illinois issued petitioner a medical license which expired on July 31, 2011, and has not been renewed. On December 21, 2010, the State of Wisconsin2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*152 issued petitioner a medical licence which expired on October 31, 2015, and has not been renewed.
*155 From January 2004 through December 2010 petitioner practiced medicine as an independent contractor for Associates in Psychiatric Medicine (APM) at its offices in Glenview, Illinois. Pursuant to her contract with APM, APM provided her with office space, office furniture, and administrative support services, including billing to patients and insurance companies. APM collected and deposited into its bank all proceeds from patients petitioner treated at APM's offices. APM kept 40% of those proceeds, distributing the remaining 60% to petitioner for her services. Each year APM issued her a Form 1099 MISC, Miscellaneous Income, for the 60% of fees distributed to petitioner.
Petitioner reported expenses related to the APM contract totaling $143,573, $155,703, $224,432, and $11,599 for tax years 2008-11, respectively, on her Schedules C. Petitioner's 2011 expenses reported on her Schedule C related to services she rendered at APM's offices in 2010 but did not receive payment for until 2011. Petitioner reported gross receipts of $214,888, $261,629, $314,237, and $10,384 for tax years 2008-11, respectively,2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*153 on her Schedules C. For tax year 2010 she reported $195,430 as office expenses. Respondent allowed a deduction for $142,249 of these office expenses.
During 2011 and 2012 petitioner worked for Ministry Medical Group and Ministry Health Care Group (Ministry) in Wisconsin. Her salary was above *156 $200,000 for each of those years. She provided Ministry with a temporary address in Wisconsin. Petitioner entered into a relocation assistance agreement with Ministry on October 19, 2010. She submitted expenses for temporary housing. To substantiate the expenses, petitioner provided Ministry with checks for rent and a security deposit made out to Louise Gustafson, her mother-in-law.
During early January 2011 petitioner and her husband lived at Mrs. Gustafson's lake house in Wisconsin. Petitioner provided Ministry a false rental agreement between her and Mrs. Gustafson. No rental agreement existed, and Mrs. Gustafson did not charge petitioner and her husband rent.
Since petitioner was a young child, she has been an amateur horsewoman. Petitioner sold horses before she started Big Dog Farms (BDF) in Wisconsin, and she thought she could sell horses as a business. Petitioner started BDF2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*154 for the purpose of breeding, selling, and showing horses. Petitioner began operating BDF no later than 2005. BDF's operations ceased in 2011. From 2005-11 petitioner did not maintain a separate bank account for BDF. BDF reported losses as follows:
*1572005 | ($30,207) |
2006 | (49,345) |
2007 | (58,556) |
2008 | (149,060) |
2009 | (93,500) |
2010 | (114,785) |
2011 | (86,466) |
Total | (581,919) |
Petitioner owned a horse, Gossip Girl, which she entered in various horse shows. For 2011 there are invoices for the cost of shipping horses. For tax years 2008-11 petitioner reported expenses related to BDF as follows on her Schedules C:
2008 | $149,715 |
2009 | 93,500 |
2010 | 115,500 |
2011 | 86,466 |
Petitioner reported gross receipts of $655 and $715 for tax years 2008 and 2010, respectively.
For tax years 2010 and 2011 petitioner reported expenses related to a grill cleaning business on her Schedules C. Schedule C for tax year 2010 reports the business as Momentum Enterprises. Petitioner reported expenses of $17,050 and $14,000 for this business on her 2010 and 2011 Schedules C, respectively.
Petitioner claimed itemized deductions on her Schedules A related to real estate taxes paid, charitable contributions,2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*155 and unreimbursed employee expenses for tax years 2011 and 2012.
On petitioner's 2011 and 2012 income tax returns she claimed deductions of $3,000 and $7,026, respectively, for real estate taxes paid. Respondent disallowed these deductions in full.
On petitioner's 2011 and 2012 income tax returns she claimed deductions of $5,000 and $12,589, respectively, for charitable contributions. Respondent disallowed these deductions in full.
On petitioner's 2011 return she claimed a deduction of $4,200 for unreimbursed employee expenses. Respondent disallowed this deduction in full.
During tax years 2008 and 2009 petitioner deposited six checks into her personal checking account. In 2008 she deposited checks for $3,000 and $2,000, and in 2009 she deposited checks for $975, $40, $1,600 and $1,112 into her personal checking account. Petitioner failed to report these amounts as taxable income on her 2008 and 2009 returns.
On January 29, 2011, petitioner married James Gustafson in Lake County, Illinois. At this time petitioner was employed by Ministry. On January 30, 2011, petitioner submitted a benefit change form to add Mr. Gustafson to her medical plan. During 2011-132017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*156 petitioner made payroll contributions for health insurance consistent with the premium charged for an employee spouse plan.
On or about October 8, 2013, petitioner submitted a benefits change form to her employer to remove Mr. Gustafson as her spouse and drop his medical coverage effective January 1, 2014. On December 17, 2014, petitioner submitted a benefits change form to her employer to remove Mr. Gustafson as the beneficiary of her life insurance policy.
Petitioner filed her 2011 and 2012 tax returns as a single filer. When respondent audited petitioner's returns, she provided the revenue agent with a *160 copy of a judgment for dissolution of marriage from the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Lake County, Illinois (Lake County court), showing that petitioner had divorced Mr. Gustafson in late 2011. The Lake County court has no record of her divorce. Mr. Gustafson did not participate in any divorce proceedings in the Lake County court. The dates on the documents petitioner provided the revenue agent are inconsistent with the internal practice of the Lake County court. On petitioner's document the date of the "filed" stamp is earlier than the date of the judge's signature, which contradicts2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*157 the court's practice to stamp a document filed on the day the judge signs it or at a later date. The case numbers shown on the decree belong to a couple other than petitioner and Mr. Gustafson. The document has microfilm markings, and documents for 2011 were not microfilmed. The petition for divorce filed in the Lake County court included the signature of Mr. Gustafson, but he did not sign the document.
On the date of trial petitioner and Mr. Gustafson were still married. Mr. Gustafson had filed petitions for divorce in the Circuit Court, Family Court Branch 3, for Portage County, Wisconsin (Portage County circuit court), in 2015 and 2016. He filed a petition again in 2016 because the 2015 case was dismissed. In August 2015 petitioner signed under penalty of perjury a financial disclosure *161 statement with the Portage County circuit court. This document reports September 2014 as the date of separation.
Petitioner did not file timely her tax returns for tax years 2008-10. She filed her 2008-10 returns on August 10, 2011, December 15, 2011, and March 1, 2012, respectively. Petitioner prepared her own returns. Her Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for 20112017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*158 and 2012 requested refunds of $41,392 and $8,551, respectively.
Respondent issued numerous information document requests and one summons to petitioner. Respondent's revenue agent had difficulty setting up a meeting with her. It took approximately 10 months to schedule a meeting. Meetings were often rescheduled or postponed. Petitioner did not provide the agent with documents that would support the returns. Petitioner told the revenue agent that she filed her 2008 return late because of the death of her father in 2009. Petitioner's father died on April 3, 2008.
Generally, the Commissioner's determinations in a notice of deficiency are presumed correct, and the taxpayer bears the burden of proving that those determinations are erroneous.
Deductions are a matter of legislative grace, and a taxpayer must prove his or her entitlement to a deduction.
For tax years 2008-11 petitioner claimed deductions for numerous expenses related to her medical practice at APM. Her contract with APM covered her office space, office furniture, and administrative support services expenses. Her Schedules C reported car and truck expenses, utilities, office expenses, answering service expenses, supplies, and legal and professional expenses.2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*160 Petitioner offered no testimony explaining how these expenses were work related and provided no evidence substantiating these expenses. Respondent's disallowance of expense deductions allegedly related to petitioner's medical practice at APM is sustained.
A taxpayer may not fully deduct expenses for an activity under
To be engaged in a trade or business within the meaning of
A taxpayer must conduct the activity with the requisite profit motive or intent for the activity to be considered a trade or business.
The pertinent regulations set forth a nonexhaustive list of factors that may be considered in deciding whether the taxpayer had a profit objective. These factors include: (1) the manner in which the taxpayer carries on the activity; (2) the expertise of the taxpayer or his advisers; (3) 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 elements of personal pleasure or recreation.
We do not believe it necessary to analyze each of the factors enumerated in
Carrying on an activity in a businesslike manner may indicate a profit objective.
Consultation with experts may indicate a profit motive.
An expectation that assets used in an activity may appreciate in value may indicate a profit motive.
A history of substantial losses may indicate that the activity is not conducted for profit.
Substantial income from sources other than the activity may indicate that an activity is not engaged in for profit, particularly if the losses from the activity generate substantial tax benefits and there are personal or recreational elements involved.
After considering all the applicable facts and circumstances, we conclude that petitioner did not operate BDF with the actual and honest objective of making a profit. Petitioner is not entitled to deductions for her BDF-related expenses that she reported on her Schedules C for 2008-11.
For tax years 2010 and 2011 petitioner reported numerous expenses related to her alleged grill cleaning business, Momentum Enterprises. Petitioner testified that Momentum Enterprises was a business but that her adviser told her not to claim it as one. Petitioner did not produce evidence supporting these expenses. *169 However, petitioner provided two bills of sale for a trailer that was purportedly used for the grill cleaning2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*165 business. The bills of sale appear to be for the same trailer, and it appears that at least one of the bills of sale may have been altered. Petitioner conceded this issue in her posttrial brief. Respondent's disallowance of deductions for these expenses is sustained.
A charitable contribution shall be allowable as a deduction only if verified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
For noncash contributions, a taxpayer must maintain for each contribution a receipt from the donee showing the name of the donee, the date and location of the contribution, and a description of the donated property in detail reasonably sufficient under the circumstances.
Petitioner did not substantiate her charitable contributions for tax years 2011 and 2012. Respondent's disallowance of these deductions is sustained.
For 2011 petitioner claimed a deduction of $4,200 for unreimbursed employee expenses. A taxpayer must show the relationship between2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*167 the *171 expenditures and his or her employment.
Respondent contends that petitioner failed to report income of $5,000 and $3,727 for tax years 2008 and 2009, respectively.2 Respondent made these adjustments using the specific-item method of reconstructing income.3The specific-item method is an indirect method of income reconstruction that consists of evidence of specific amounts of income received by a taxpayer and not reported on the taxpayer's return.
A taxpayer's filing tax status determines the rate of income tax owed by a taxpayer.
There is no credible evidence that petitioner and Mr. Gustafson were not married at the end of tax years 2011 and 2012. Mr. Gustafson testified credibly that he is still married to petitioner. Under penalty of perjury petitioner signed a financial disclosure statement reporting her separation from her husband as of September 2014. Petitioner's divorce documents are not records of the Lake *173 County court. Petitioner's employment records for 2011 and 2012 include Mr. Gustafson as her spouse for the purpose of employee benefits. We conclude that petitioner's correct filing status for tax years 2011 and 2012 is married filing separately.
Fraud is an intentional wrongdoing on the part of a taxpayer with the specific2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*169 purpose to evade a tax believed to be owed.
If the Commissioner establishes that any portion of the underpayment is attributable to fraud, the entire underpayment shall be treated as attributable to fraud and subject to a 75% penalty, unless the taxpayer establishes that some part *174 of the underpayment is not attributable to fraud.
Fraudulent intent may be inferred from various kinds of circumstantial evidence, or "badges of fraud", including, but not limited to, the consistent understatement of income, filing false documents, including false income tax returns, engaging in illegal activities, concealing assets, engaging in extensive dealings in cash, implausible or inconsistent explanations of behavior, inadequate records, and failure to cooperate with tax authorities.
We have sustained respondent's determination of petitioner's deficiencies for tax years 2010-12. Respondent has therefore satisfied the burden of proving an underpayment of tax for tax years 2010-12. We must determine whether petitioner's underpayments were due to fraud.
Respondent contends that petitioner claimed false deductions of $53,181 for office expenses related to APM on her 2010 Schedule C. Respondent contends that petitioner claimed a deduction for office expenses related to APM that she did not pay. For 2010 respondent allowed petitioner2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*171 to claim some APM-related office expenses as deductions, but not all of them. We agree that petitioner's expenses were not substantiated, but there is not clear and convincing evidence that petitioner had fraudulent intent with respect to this deduction. Her lack of records does not necessarily mean petitioner inflated those expenses with an intent to avoid Federal income tax.
For tax years 2011-12 respondent contends that petitioner claimed false deductions that offset her income and caused underpayments and a false filing status that reduced her tax rate and caused underpayments.
Filing false documents with the Internal Revenue Service constitutes an "affirmative act of misrepresentation sufficient to justify the fraud penalty."
Petitioner repeatedly underreported her income for all tax years at issue and failed to maintain records to substantiate her deductions. There was a consistent pattern of overstated deductions. This pattern of overstating deductions is evidence of fraud.
Petitioner was not a credible witness. Her testimony was inconsistent. She was uncooperative during the audit process. Petitioner testified that she gave the *177 revenue agent documents supporting her returns, but the revenue agent credibly testified that she did not. The record includes documents which are false. The maxim "falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus"4 applies to the actions and testimony of petitioner. Her testimony conflicts with other testimony and evidence. If she was not truthful about her filing status, it leads us to conclude that she was not truthful about the various deductions she claimed for tax years 2011-12.
For tax years 2011-12 petitioner claimed numerous deductions on Schedules A and C, which resulted in her requesting a refund. Petitioner's repeated concealment of income by overstating deductions exemplifies a pattern of fraudulent behavior,2017 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150">*173 and her explanations are implausible and unpersuasive.
Petitioner provided Ministry with false checks and a false rental agreement in order to receive reimbursement for relocation expenses. A taxpayer's willingness to defraud another in a business transaction may point towards a *178 willingness to defraud the Government.
Respondent has shown by clear and convincing evidence that petitioner is liable for the fraud penalty under
The Commissioner bears the burden of production with respect to the applicability of an accuracy-related penalty.
Respondent has met the burden of production and has established that petitioner failed to maintain adequate records for her claimed deductions on Schedules A and C for tax years 2008-10 and that she failed to report income for tax years 2008 and 2009. Petitioner has not shown any reasonable cause for those failures.
Under
We have considered the other arguments of the parties, and they are either without merit or need not be addressed in view of our resolution of the issues.
*181 To reflect the foregoing,
1. James T. Runyon represented petitioner at trial.↩
2. Respondent has made a concession and adjustments since issuing the notice of deficiency.↩
3. The Commissioner must establish a rational foundation for the assessment to preserve the presumption of correctness.
4. False in one thing, false in all. Black's Law Dictionary 720 (10th ed. 2014).↩