Robert F. v. Comm'r

MEMORANDUM OPINION

HALPERN, Judge: By notice of deficiency (the notice), respondent determined a deficiency of $ 3,135 in petitioners' Federal income tax for 2005. In that year, petitioners settled a credit card debt. After concessions, the issues for decision are whether petitioners had $ 8,768 of discharge of indebtedness income arising from that settlement and whether they may deduct the $ 2,126 fee they paid to the agency that negotiated that settlement. ¹ We find that petitioners had $ 8,768 of discharge of indebtedness income and that they may not deduct the fee.

Unless otherwise stated, section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for 2005 and Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

Some facts are stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts, with accompanying exhibits, is incorporated herein *202 by this reference. All exhibits in the record are joint exhibits and, although this case did go to trial, neither side presented witnesses.

We round all dollar amounts to the nearest dollar.

At the time they filed the petition, petitioners resided in Arizona. Petitioners are husband and wife.

Robert F. Melvin (petitioner) had a credit card account with Chase Manhattan Bank USA, NA (Chase). In May 2005, Arbitronix, Inc. (Arbitronix), negotiated a settlement with Chase on behalf of petitioner, whereby Chase agreed to accept $ 4,579 in full satisfaction of petitioner's balance of $ 13,084. ² Arbitronix charged petitioner a fee of 25 percent of the $ 8,505 savings, or $ 2,126. ³ Chase issued petitioner Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt, which stated $ 8,768 as the amount of debt canceled.

In June 2007, respondent timely issued the notice. In September *203 2007, petitioners amended their 2005 Federal income tax return to include $ 8,768 of discharge of indebtedness income.

At trial, petitioners conceded that they had $ 8,768 of discharge of indebtedness income. At that time, they moved to amend their pleadings to include the claim that they should be able to deduct the fee paid to Arbitronix. Respondent did not object, and we granted the motion. ⁴ See Rule 41.

On brief, petitioners state: "The issuance of a Form 1099-C by * * * Chase * * * in the amount of $ 8,768 is * * * dispositive of [neither] the existence of, nor the amount of, cancellation of indebtedness income as described in IRC section 61(a)(12)." Petitioners argue that "this is a case of a disputed debt or contested liability." Petitioners claim that because "some charges *204 * * * were erroneous" and the "interest, fees and penalties were invalid", they hired Arbitronix to be their agent and to contest the sum Chase alleged they owed. Petitioners argue that the settlement is the "amount of debt to be recognized for tax purposes" and that the "excess of the original (disputed) debt over * * * [the settlement] should be disregarded for both accounting and tax purposes." Because Chase accepted the settlement "as full satisfaction of the disputed debt", petitioners conclude that there should be "no tax consequence to the Petitioners upon payment."

On brief, petitioners also argue that, if we find that petitioners had discharge of indebtedness income, they should be permitted to deduct the fee paid to Arbitronix. Petitioners concede, however, that they are not entitled to deduct the fee under section 162 or 212. Instead, they argue that "part and parcel of the 'income' assessed through I.R.C. section 61(a)(12) is the reduction or offset of the amount so calculated due to amounts * * * [that] do not provide a benefit".

First, respondent observes that petitioners amended their 2005 Federal income tax return to include $ 8,768 of discharge *205 of indebtedness income and that petitioners conceded at trial that in 2005 they had $ 8,768 of discharge of indebtedness income. Respondent argues that petitioners are bound by their concession and may not contest the discharge of indebtedness income.

Second, respondent argues that, even if petitioners did not concede that they received discharge of indebtedness income, petitioners have failed to satisfy their burden of proving that they disputed the underlying liability and that they did not have $ 8,768 of discharge of indebtedness income.

Third, respondent denies that petitioners are entitled to any deduction with respect to the fee paid to Arbitronix, arguing that petitioners have failed to satisfy their burden of proof.

Respondent argues that petitioners are precluded from denying that they had discharge of indebtedness income because they conceded the issue. We agree with respondent. See Church of Scientology v. Commissioner, 83 T.C. 381, 524 (1984) ("[A] concession in open court * * * [is] the equivalent of a stipulation."), affd. 823 F.2d 1310 (9th Cir. 1987). Nonetheless, we address petitioners' argument and find that petitioners have failed to introduce credible *206 evidence that they disputed the debt.

Petitioners bear the burden of proof. See Rule 142(a). ⁵ Petitioners argue that, through Arbitronix, petitioner contested his debt to Chase. The mere fact that Chase settled for less than the full amount of petitioner's debt, however, is insufficient to establish that the debt was disputed. See, e.g., Rood v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1996-248, affd. without published opinion 122 F.3d 1078 (11th Cir. 1997). At trial, petitioners neither testified nor called witnesses to testify. Thus, the evidence in this case consists of only the stipulated exhibits. Petitioners do not specify which exhibits support their position. The only exhibits that could support their position are the Arbitronix invoice, the letter from Chase confirming the settlement, and the credit card statements, and we find that none does. The Arbitronix invoice describes the debt forgiven as "savings" and the letter from Chase confirming the settlement states that if Chase did not receive the $ 4,579 payment before a certain date, then the "offer" would no longer be "valid". Neither the invoice nor the letter in any way indicates the debt was disputed. Moreover, the credit card statements *207 reflect substantial purchases and cash advances and clearly illustrate how petitioners accrued the debt to Chase. Petitioners have not suggested which charges were "erroneous" and have not explained which interest, fees, and penalties were "invalid". Petitioners have failed to satisfy their burden of proving that there was a dispute as to either the amount or the enforceability of their debt to Chase. For that reason, we find that petitioners have $ 8,768 of discharge of indebtedness income for 2005.

We also agree with respondent that petitioners may not deduct the fee paid to Arbitronix. Unless specifically excluded by a provision of the Internal Revenue Code, all income is subject to tax. See, e.g., Commissioner v. Glenshaw Glass Co., 348 U.S. 426, 430, 75 S. Ct. 473, 99 L. Ed. 483, 1955-1 C.B. 207 (1955). Moreover, petitioners must show the specific authority for any deduction they claim. See, e.g., New Colonial Ice Co. v. Helvering, 292 U.S. 435, 440, 54 S. Ct. 788, 78 L. Ed. 1348, 1934-1 C.B. 194 (1934) ("Obviously, therefore, a taxpayer seeking a deduction must be able to *208 point to an applicable statute and show that he comes within its terms."). Petitioners concede they are not entitled to deduct the fee under section 162 or 212. ^6*209 Petitioners assert that the authority for their deduction is section 61(a)(12) itself; that is, the section that requires them to include discharge of indebtedness income in gross income. Petitioners suggest that they received no monetary benefit from the cancellation of the debt and for that reason argue that they should be allowed to offset their "'phantom' income" with the "loss" they suffered when they paid the fee. ⁷ We cannot agree with petitioners. Section 61(a)(12) manifestly does not provide for any kind of deduction. Petitioners have failed to satisfy their burden of proof, and we deny them any deduction for the fee.

Petitioners have $ 8,768 in discharge of indebtedness income for 2005. They may not deduct the fee paid to Arbitronix.

Decision will be entered for respondent.