Diercks v. Commissioner

MEMORANDUM OPINION

CHIECHI, Judge: Respondent determined the following deficiencies in, and additions to, petitioner's Federal income tax:

The issues for decision are:

(1) Did petitioner have unreported income for each of the years at issue? We hold that he did.

(2) Is petitioner liable for self-employment tax for each of the years at issue? We hold that he is.

(3) Is petitioner liable for the addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1) for each of the years*364 at issue? We hold that he is.

(4) Is petitioner liable for the addition to tax under section 6654(a) for each of the years at issue? We hold that he is.

Petitioner resided at Sparks, Nevada, at the time the petition was filed.

Petitioner did not file a U.S. income tax return for any of the years 1987 through 1992.

During the years 1987 through 1992, petitioner worked and earned income. However, he failed to keep records of the type or amount of work he performed, or of the amount of income he received from his work, during those years.

During the years at issue, petitioner was married and had three children who lived with him and his wife, Bonnie Diercks (Ms. Diercks), at their residence (residence) and who attended school. During those years, petitioner owned an automobile, and he, Ms. Diercks, and their three children sought medical treatment as required. During the years at issue, rent paid on petitioner's residence equaled at least $ 725 a month, and utilities were paid at that residence. In an application to rent that petitioner signed on March 13, 1989, petitioner indicated that "current monthly income" was $ 3,000.

During 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991, Ms. Diercks received*365 annual wages in the amounts of $ 2,725, $ 6,362, $ 12,748, and $ 20,929, respectively.

Petitioner bears the burden of proving that respondent's determinations in the notice of deficiency (notice) are erroneous. Rule 142(a); .

Section 6001 requires all taxpayers to maintain sufficient records to enable respondent to determine their correct tax liabilities. In the absence of adequate books or records, "the computation of taxable income shall be made under such method as, in the opinion of the Secretary, does clearly reflect income." Sec. 446(b). The choice of method to be used in reconstructing income lies with respondent. , affg. ; , affd. in part and revd. in part on another issue .

In the notice, respondent used the Bureau of Labor Statistics to reconstruct petitioner's income. This Court and other courts have approved the use of*366 those statistics as an acceptable and reasonable method of reconstructing income. E.g., , affg. ; .

Petitioner admitted at trial that he worked and earned income during the years at issue, but he claimed that he earned no more than $ 500 during each of those years. However, petitioner acknowledged at trial that during the years at issue he and his family lived at a residence for which the rent paid equaled at least $ 725 a month. He also admitted that utilities were paid at that residence. In addition, petitioner acknowledged at trial that during the years at issue he owned an automobile and that other normal living expenses were paid for him and his family.

We found petitioner's testimony, which was at times vague and evasive, to be suspect. We question petitioner's testimony that he earned no more than $ 500 during each of the years at issue. ²

*367 On the record before us, we find that petitioner failed to prove error in respondent's determinations that he had income in the amounts determined in the notice for each of the years 1987 through 1992. We further find on that record that petitioner failed to show that he is not liable for each of the years at issue for (1) the addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1), (2) the addition to tax under section 6654(a), and (3) self-employment tax, as determined in the notice. Accordingly, we sustain respondent's determinations in the notice.

To reflect the foregoing,

Decision will be entered for respondent.