Sullivan Granite Constr. Co. v. Commissioner

*704OPINION.

The original returns of the petitioner for the years 1920 and 1921 were clearly in error. Certain capital expenditures were charged to expense and deducted from gross income. The petitioner’s books of account relating to the years 1920 and 1921 were destroyed as the result of a fire on January 9, 1922. Although the petitioner reported net losses for the years 1920 and 1921 of $7,463.34 and $20,191.87, respectively, the respondent has determined net income for those years, based upon a percentage of bank deposits, of $12,766.28'and $15,503.59, respectively. Although we are satisfied that the original returns are incorrect, the method of determining net income used by the respondent appears to have been entirely arbitrary.

The deficiency notice sent by the Commissioner to the petitioner under date of September 17,1925, shows that the petitioner’s surplus, determined by the revenue agent, at January 1, 1920, was $6,749.46 *705and at January 1, 1921, was $1,096.30. During the year 1920 the petitioner paid a cash dividend of $5,000. This is some indication that the dividend paid during the year was out of surplus and that the petitioner did not operate at a profit during the year. The petitioner’s income-tax return for 1920, as above indicated, showed a net loss of $7,463.34. The respondent has been able to detect errors in the return of $5,393.89. The net loss was overstated therefore by the amount of $5,393.89. The correction of this error would not indicate that the petitioner operated at a profit during the year 1920. It paid salaries to its two principal officers of $10,400. We are of the opinion that it had no net income for 1920.

Although the petitioner after the destruction of its books of account in January, 1922, obtained from the bank in which it deposited its funds the amount of its deposits and the checks drawn against them, the pay roll, the interest paid, and notes paid, none of this evidence has been submitted to the Board. The petitioner’s return for 1921 shows that dividends were paid during the year amounting to $10,000. Since the petitioner had-practically no surplus at the beginning of the year and since dividends must be assumed to have been paid out of earnings, there is reason to believe that the petitioner had a net income for 1921. The respondent has determined the net income for the year to have been $15,503.58 and in the absence of competent evidence showing that the net income was a different amount or that there was no net income the determination of the Commissioner as to the deficiency for the year 1921 must be and is sustained.

Judgment will be entered on 15 days’’ notice, under Rule 50.