Hollingsworth v. Comm'r

WHERRY, Judge: This case is before the Court on a petition for redetermination of respondent's determination in a notice of deficiency that petitioner owed an income tax deficiency and a section 6662 penalty for his 2005 tax year. ¹ After concessions by the parties, ^2*300 the issues for determination are:

(1) Whether petitioner's distributions from his section 401(k) retirement savings account are taxable;

(2) whether petitioner received self-employment income in 2005;

(3) whether petitioner is entitled to a deduction for expenses claimed on Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business;

(4) whether petitioner is entitled to a deduction claimed on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, for charitable contributions within the meaning of section 170; and

(5) whether petitioner is liable for an accuracy-related penalty under section 6662(a).

Some of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulated facts, with accompanying exhibits, are hereby incorporated by this reference. At the time his petition was filed, petitioner resided in Miami, Florida.

In 2004, after losing his job, petitioner moved from New York to Miami. ^3*301 Petitioner moved to Miami in order "to try to put things back together again".

When petitioner first moved to Miami, he lived with his sister, Maria Sherrer (Ms. Sherrer). Although he would occasionally make contributions to household expenses, petitioner did not pay Ms. Sherrer any rent. Petitioner also sometimes helped Ms. Sherrer at her business, Sherrer and Sherrer Accounting and Tax Preparation Services, doing minor tasks such as filing, helping with advertising, inputting numbers into a computer, and taking basic information from Ms. Sherrer's clients. Petitioner was not compensated for his work at Ms. Sherrer's business.

After moving to Miami, petitioner became involved in the Out of the Ashes Foundation, Inc. (foundation), a charitable organization that works with inner-city children. During 2005 petitioner was a member, director, and employee of the foundation. Ms. Sherrer was president of the foundation. Petitioner donated small amounts of cash to the foundation throughout 2005 but kept no records of these contributions.

Petitioner explained that in approximately July 2005 he started a multifaceted business called Xcluseif, *302 Inc., which was incorporated during the 2005 tax year but has since been dissolved. ⁴ We take judicial notice of the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations' Web site, which reports that the articles of incorporation for Xcluseif were filed on July 19, 2005, and that Xcluseif was administratively dissolved for failing to file an annual report on September 15, 2006. ⁵

Petitioner attempted to get a "Tax ID number" for Xcluseif but did not succeed. ⁶ Petitioner intended to operate various businesses through Xcluseif including putting drink *303 machines at various locations, providing a UPS shipping center, selling things on eBay, and tutoring.

When petitioner first started Xcluseif, he was still living with Ms. Sherrer and performed most of the work for Xcluseif on his computer at Ms. Sherrer's house. Ms. Sherrer explained that petitioner eventually opened an outlet for Xcluseif on Biscayne.

Petitioner paid the expenses attributable to Xcluseif out of his personal account and with his personal credit cards. While petitioner claimed that he kept records of these expenses, he did not provide this Court with any of the records, stating at trial that he was unaware that they were requested or that Xcluseif was being audited.

In 2005, because of his financial difficulties and, according to petitioner, Hurricane Katrina, he made two withdrawals from his section 401(k) retirement savings account (401(k) account) for a total distribution of $16,951. According to petitioner, most of the distributed money "went toward paying off the loans [he] had *304 taken in previous years against it * * * the small amount that remained was in part used to make ends meet during that time."

Ms. Sherrer prepared petitioner's 2005 tax return, for which petitioner claimed to have paid her $650 in 2006. ⁷ Ms. Sherrer's highest degree is an associate's degree in accounting from Miami Jacobs College. Ms. Sherrer is not herself a certified public accountant, but she "[makes] sure that one is attached to [her] office". Petitioner's 2005 Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, was filed electronically on February 6, 2006. Three items on the Form 1040 are relevant in this case.

First, petitioner claimed a business loss of $19,570 that was due to Xcluseif. On the attached Schedule C petitioner reported gross receipts of $1,500 and total expenses of $21,070, leading *305 to the $19,570 loss. Petitioner listed the gross receipts and expenses from Xcluseif as income and expenses from self-employment on Schedule C of his individual return because it seems "the most appropriate thing to do" since Xcluseif did not have a Tax ID number and he did not see a way to separate himself and his personal expenses from Xcluseif.

Second, petitioner included in gross income his 401(k) account distributions of $16,951 and claimed a corresponding Schedule A deduction of $16,951 as "Unreimbursed employee expenses". ⁸ Petitioner claimed the $16,951 itemized deduction because he "was aware that some regulations had been issued by the government regarding expenses to offset the issues with Katrina. * * * [However, he was] not sure about the details of those exemptions or exclusions." Ms. Sherrer was not aware of any specific 2005 provision allowing petitioner to exclude the 401(k) account distributions from gross income and stated that while she remembered "some kind of credit" she could not "remember exactly what it" was.

Third, *306 petitioner claimed a Schedule A deduction of $4,284 for asserted charitable contributions to the foundation. Petitioner "was under the impression that charitable donations were always tax deductible". Ms. Sherrer relied on a document from the foundation in claiming the charitable contribution deduction. The document contained: (1) The name "Out of the Ashes Foundation", (2) a date of January 6, 2006, (3) a statement that petitioner donated $4,725 in cash, and (4) the following statement: "The above total represents all contributions received during the year 2005". The document did not contain petitioner's name or the specific 2005 dates on which petitioner made contributions and in what individual amounts. In December 2009 Ms. Sherrer obtained a second document from the foundation which was identical to the first except that the line for the donor which was previously blank now contained petitioner's name. Both documents indicated they were sent by "Dr. Carlton Fisher, Chairman" and contained the hand-printed initials "C.F." When respondent attempted to call the telephone number listed on both documents as the foundation's, respondent reached Ms. Sherrer's tax preparation service.

Petitioner *307 believed that at the time his 2005 tax return was prepared, it was fair and accurate. On November 4, 2008, respondent issued a notice of deficiency showing a deficiency in income tax of $8,883 and a section 6662(a) penalty of $1,776.60. Respondent's adjustments to petitioner's 2005 income tax return which remain unresolved include: (1) Disallowing petitioner's $21,070 of Schedule C expenses; (2) disallowing petitioner's $16,951 Schedule A deduction for unreimbursed employee expenses; (3) disallowing petitioner's $4,284 Schedule A deduction for charitable contributions; and (4) determining a section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty of $1,776.60.

On or about January 7, 2010, petitioner faxed to respondent a signed Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for petitioner's 2005 tax year. On the Form 1040X, petitioner: (1) Removed both the income and expenses on Schedule C relating to Xcluseif under the belief that they should be reported on a separately filed Federal income tax return; ⁹ (2) claimed a charitable contribution deduction of $5,509, a $1,225 increase from the $4,284 which was deducted on the original Form 1040; and (3) removed the $16,951 itemized deduction related *308 to his 401(k) account distributions, stating on the Form 1040X, Explanation of Changes: "REMOVE IRA DISTRIBUTION KATRINA EXCLUSION OF $16,951". ¹⁰

Trial was held on January 13, 2010, in Miami, Florida. Additional discrepancies about the alleged 2005 charitable contributions to the foundation arose at trial. Petitioner testified that he donated at least $4,700, an amount which he considered to be a fair deduction as it was actually less than the true amount.

Respondent did not amend his answer to accommodate the amended tax return nor indicate that he would accept the amended tax return. Therefore, we decide petitioner's case on the basis of the *309 record and his original tax return. See Colvin v. Commissioner, 122 Fed. Appx. 788, 790 (5th Cir. 2005) ("even if the Commissioner had a legal duty to accept the amended return, it would have no impact on the deficiencies upheld by the Tax Court, because they were issued before * * * [the taxpayer] attempted to submit his amended return, and amended returns do not vitiate deficiencies that have already been issued."), affg. T.C. Memo. 2005-67. Furthermore, "the Internal Revenue Code does not explicitly provide either for a taxpayer's filing, or for the Commissioner's acceptance of an amended return; instead, an amended return is a creature of administrative origin and grace." Badaracco v. Commissioner, 464 U.S. 386, 393, 104 S. Ct. 756, 78 L. Ed. 2d 549 (1984).

In general, determination of a taxpayer's tax liability is presumed correct, and the taxpayer bears the burden of proving that the Commissioner's determination is improper. Rule 142(a); Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111, 115, 54 S. Ct. 8, 78 L. Ed. 212, 1933-2 C.B. 112 (1933). ^11*310

Petitioner made two withdrawals from his 401(k) account in 2005, for a total distribution of $16,951. Petitioner included $16,951 in income on both his original and amended returns. ^12*311 Statements made in a tax return signed by a taxpayer may be treated as admissions. Lare v. Commissioner, 62 T.C. 739, 750 (1974), affd. without published opinion 521 F.2d 1399 (3d Cir. 1975). Therefore, we treat petitioner's inclusion of $16,951 in income on both returns and removal of the $16,951 itemized deduction on his amended return as an admission. ¹³ Accordingly, we sustain respondent's adjustment on this issue. ^{14*312 *313}

Petitioner listed the gross receipts and expenses of Xcluseif on the Schedule C attached his original return. On his amended return, petitioner omitted both the gross receipts and the expenses. ^15*314

Petitioner asserts that it was proper to remove the revenue and expenses related to Xcluseif from his individual tax return because they should be reported on a separate Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return. Respondent urges the opposite—that the revenue and expenses relating to Xcluseif should be reported as due to self-employment on Schedule C of petitioner's individual tax return. We agree with respondent that Xcluseif should be disregarded and the income and expenses *315 attributed to petitioner individually.

A corporation is to be respected as a taxable entity separate and distinct from its owners where the corporation either is organized for a business purpose or carries on a business after incorporation. Serot v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1994-532 (citing Moline Props., Inc. v. Commissioner, 319 U.S. 436, 438-439, 63 S. Ct. 1132, 87 L. Ed. 1499, 1943 C.B. 1011 (1943)), affd. 74 F.3d 1227 (3d Cir. 1995). While a taxpayer is free to adopt various forms of doing business, the entity must have been organized for a substantial business purpose or actually engage in substantive income-producing activity in order to be recognized as a separate taxable entity. See Pate v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2008-272 (citing Commissioner v. Culbertson, 337 U.S. 733, 743, 69 S. Ct. 1210, 93 L. Ed. 1659, 1949-2 C.B. 5 (1949)), affd. in part and remanded in part 364 Fed. Appx. 917 (5th Cir. 2010).

Xcluseif was incorporated on July 19, 2005. Petitioner claims Xcluseif had $1,500 of revenue and $21,070 of expenses during the 2005 tax year. Yet petitioner failed to prove either that the revenue and expenses were not his and belonged to Xcluseif or that the revenue and expenses dated from after July 19, 2005, and not before. While petitioner argued that a Form 1120 should *316 be filed for Xcluseif's 2005 tax year, as of the date of trial, a Form 1120 had not been filed.

Petitioner admitted that he never received a Tax ID number for Xcluseif. Petitioner never filed an annual report for Xcluseif. It is unclear what Xcluseif's principal business purpose was. The record does not establish whether Xcluseif ever had a place of business; and petitioner acknowledged that "in the end [Xcluseif] never really got off the ground". Petitioner paid for Xcluseif's expenses out of his personal account and stated he "didn't see any way to, to separate [himself] and [his] own expenses, personal expenses, from the things that [he] spent on Xcluseif."

We conclude that Xcluseif had no separate legal existence from petitioner and therefore will not be recognized as a separate entity for Federal tax purposes. We sustain respondent's determination that revenue and expenses attributable to Xcluseif are properly classified as due to self-employment and should be reported on petitioner's individual tax return. Since we hold petitioner had self-employment income, petitioner is also subject to self-employment taxes and is entitled to a deduction for one-half of the tax amount. ¹⁶ See *317 sec. 164(f).

Deductions are a matter of legislative grace, and taxpayers bear the burden of proving entitlement to any claimed deduction. Rule 142(a); INDOPCO, Inc. v. Commissioner, 503 U.S. 79, 84, 112 S. Ct. 1039, 117 L. Ed. 2d 226 (1992). Taxpayers are required to identify each deduction available and show that they have met all requirements as well as to keep books or records to substantiate all claimed deductions. Roberts v. Commissioner, 62 T.C. 834, 836-837 (1974).

After holding, see supra part III, that petitioner must include the *318 revenue and expenses attributable to Xcluseif as due to self-employment on his individual tax return, we must determine which, if any, of the $21,070 of claimed expenses petitioner is allowed to deduct.

Section 162(a) authorizes a deduction for "all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business". A trade or business expense is ordinary for purposes of section 162 if it is normal or customary within a particular trade, business, or industry and is necessary if it is appropriate and helpful for the development of the business. Commissioner v. Heininger, 320 U.S. 467, 471, 64 S. Ct. 249, 88 L. Ed. 171, 1944 C.B. 484 (1943); Deputy v. Du Pont, 308 U.S. 488, 495, 60 S. Ct. 363, 84 L. Ed. 416, 1940-1 C.B. 118 (1940).

The evidence is unclear as to what Xcluseif's business actually entailed, and thus the Court has no way to determine which expenses are ordinary and necessary. And even if petitioner demonstrated that the alleged expenses were ordinary and necessary to Xcluseif's business, he did not substantiate them. The record consists only of petitioner's unsupported testimony. He claims he kept records, but they are not a part of the record in this case. Where taxpayers do not substantiate their reported expenses, *319 the Commissioner is not arbitrary or unreasonable in determining that the claimed deductions should be denied. See Roberts v. Commissioner, supra at 837. ¹⁷ Accordingly, we sustain respondent's adjustment disallowing petitioner's Schedule C expenses of $21,070.

While petitioner claims he is entitled to a Schedule A deduction for his charitable contributions to the foundation, he has been inconsistent as to what amount he contributed, claiming $4,284 on his original return, $5,509 on his amended return, and $4,700 at trial. Additionally, the document from the foundation that Ms. Sherrer *320 used to claim the charitable contribution deduction listed $4,725 as petitioner's charitable contribution.

Section 170(a)(1) allows a deduction for contributions to charitable organizations defined in section 170(c). Section 170(f)(8) provides recordkeeping requirements for certain charitable contributions. Specifically, section 170(f)(8)(A) provides: "No deduction shall be allowed under subsection (a) for any contribution of $250 or more unless the taxpayer substantiates the contribution by a contemporaneous written acknowledgment of the contribution by the donee organization that meets the requirements of subparagraph (B)." ¹⁸The written acknowledgment must include: (1) The amount of the cash contribution, (2) whether the donee organization provided any goods or services in consideration of the donation, and (3) if so, a description and good faith estimate of the value of those goods or services. Sec. 170(f)(8)(B). A written acknowledgment is contemporaneous if it is obtained by the taxpayer on or before the earlier of: (1) The date the taxpayer files the original return for the taxable year of the contribution or (2) the due date (including extensions) for filing the original return *321 for the year. Sec. 170(f)(8)(C); sec. 1.170A-13(f)(3), Income Tax Regs.

Petitioner relies on two different documents from the foundation to substantiate his charitable contribution deduction. The first document has a date of January 6, 2006, and does not contain petitioner's name. The second was received in December 2009 and is identical to the first except that it does contain petitioner's name. ¹⁹

Both documents fail the requirements of section 170(f)(8) because they fail to state whether the foundation provided any *322 goods or services in consideration for petitioner's charitable contribution. See Friedman v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2010-45 (stating that the statement under section 170(f)(8)(B)(ii) that no goods or services were provided by the donee in exchange for the contribution is necessary for a charitable contribution deduction); Kendrix v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2006-9 (denying a charitable contribution deduction because the receipt failed to state whether the donee provided any goods or services in consideration); Castleton v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2005-58 (denying a charitable contribution deduction for reasons including that the receipt failed to state whether the donee provided goods or services), affd. 188 Fed. Appx. 561 (9th Cir. 2006). ^20*323

Because petitioner failed to substantiate his charitable contributions, he is not entitled to a charitable contribution deduction. Accordingly, we sustain respondent's adjustment with regard to this issue.

Under section 7491(c), respondent bears the burden of production with respect to petitioner's liability for the section 6662(a) penalty. This means that respondent "must come forward with sufficient evidence indicating that it is appropriate to impose the relevant penalty." See Higbee v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. 438, 446 (2001).

Section 6662(a) imposes an accuracy-related penalty of 20 percent on any underpayment that is attributable to causes specified in subsection (b). Respondent *324 asserts two causes justifying the imposition of the penalty: Negligence and a substantial understatement of income tax. Sec. 6662(b)(1) and (2).

"[N]egligence" is "any failure to make a reasonable attempt to comply with the provisions of * * * [the Internal Revenue Code]". Sec. 6662(c). Under caselaw, "'Negligence is a lack of due care or failure to do what a reasonable and ordinarily prudent person would do under the circumstances.'" Freytag v. Commissioner, 89 T.C. 849, 887 (1987) (quoting Marcello v. Commissioner, 380 F.2d 499, 506 (5th Cir. 1967), affg. on this issue 43 T.C. 168 (1964) and T.C. Memo 1964-299), affd. 904 F.2d 1011 (5th Cir. 1990), affd. 501 U.S. 868, 111 S. Ct. 2631, 115 L. Ed. 2d 764 (1991). Negligence can also include any failure by the taxpayer to keep adequate records and to substantiate items properly. Sec. 1.6662-3(b)(1), Income Tax Regs. A substantial understatement of income tax is an understatement that exceeds the greater of $5,000 or 10 percent of the tax required to be shown on the return. Sec. 6662(d)(1)(A).

There is an exception to the section 6662(a) penalty when a taxpayer can demonstrate: (1) Reasonable cause for the underpayment and (2) that the taxpayer acted in good faith with respect *325 to the underpayment. Sec. 6664(c)(1). Regulations promulgated under section 6664(c) further provide that the determination of reasonable cause and good faith "is made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all pertinent facts and circumstances" with the most important factor being the extent of the taxpayer's effort to assess the taxpayer's proper tax liability. Sec. 1.6664-4(b)(1), Income Tax Regs.

Petitioner was negligent and substantially understated his 2005 tax liability. Petitioner believed that when the tax return was prepared, it was "a fair and accurate way to report it", yet for most of the issues on the return "I feel unqualified to comment." When asked why he took certain positions in his tax return, petitioner was vague and uninformed. He stated he deducted his 401(k) account distributions because "the government had issued that statement about Katrina", but he was unsure whether he was actually entitled to the deduction. He deducted his charitable contributions because he "was always of the opinion that charitable contributions were deductible". He failed to include the $189 New York State tax refund in income for "no particular reason". Further, petitioner failed *326 to substantiate his claimed expenses and deductions.

Petitioner relied on his sister to prepare his tax return, but she was also vague and unsure of the law. ^21*327 She could not remember why the 401(k) account distributions were deducted on the original return. She indicated that she had gone over Katrina relief issues with Stuart Gladsden, a certified public accountant she consulted with but did not remember details; she was unsure whether she applied 2005 law when preparing petitioner's return; and she could not remember any of the documents or receipts she used in preparing the return and "never really noticed that [petitioner's] name was not on the first" document from the foundation used in claiming the charitable contribution deduction.

On the basis of the above, respondent has met his burden of production with regard to the section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty and petitioner has failed to meet the burden of proof with regard to the section 6664(c)(1) exception. Therefore, we sustain respondent's imposition of a section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty for petitioner's 2005 tax year.

The Court has considered all of petitioner's contentions, arguments, requests, and statements. To the extent not discussed herein, we conclude that they are meritless, moot, or irrelevant.

To reflect the foregoing,

Decision will be entered under Rule 155.