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1. BRUNER v. COMMISSIONER, 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 246

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BRUNER v. COMMISSIONER

United States Tax Court

July 6, 1998, Filed

Tax Ct. Dkt. No. 23790-90

Reporter 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 246 *; T.C. Memo 1998-246; 76 T.C.M. (CCH) 40

ROSS WILLIAM BRUNER, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Disposition: [*1] An appropriate order will be issued and a decision will be entered for respondent.

Case Summary

Procedural Posture

Respondent Commissioner of Internal Revenue (IRS) determined deficiencies in petitioner taxpayer's 1987 and 1988 federal income taxes and determined that the taxpayer was liable for penalties under I.R.C. § 6651(a)(1) for failing to report income, penalties under I.R.C. § 6653(a)(1) for negligence; and penalties under I.R.C. § 6654(a) for failure to make estimated income tax payments for 1987 and 1988.

Overview The IRS received reports from the taxpayer's employer, a pension provider, and a securities brokerage firm that the taxpayer had received, respectively, wages, a pension, and had sold securities, receiving income from the sale. The taxpayer did not file federal income tax returns for 1987 and 1988.The IRS determined a deficiency in, additions to, and penalties on, his federal income taxes and the taxpayer sought a redetermination. In response to numerous questions by

counsel for the IRS, the taxpayer declined to offer any testimony relevant to the determination of his income for 1987 and 1988. His response to each question was "I stand in silence." The court sustained the determination of the IRS and held that the taxpayer failed to prove any error in its determinations. The court held that that the taxpayer failed to prove that his failure to file tax returns was not due to willful neglect or that such failure was due to reasonable cause. The court found that the reporting payers withheld taxes from the taxpayer's income sources and that the neither taxpayer made any estimated tax payments for 1987 or 1988, nor showed that any of the statutory exceptions were applicable.

Outcome The court sustained the determinations of the IRS, which determined deficiencies in, additions to, and penalties on, the taxpayer's 1987 and 1988 federal income taxes.

Syllabus

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Counsel: Ross William Bruner, pro se.

Rick V. Hosler, for respondent.

Judges: DINAN, SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE.

Page 2 of 5

Opinion by: DINAN

Opinion

DINAN, SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of section 7443A(b)(3) and Rules 180, 181, [*2] and 182. 1

Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income taxes and additions to tax for the years as follows:

Go to table1

Go to table2

The issues for decision are: (1) Whether petitioner received and failed to report income during the taxable years in issue; (2) whether petitioner is liable for the section 6651(a)(1) additions to tax for failure to file his 1987 and 1988 returns; (3) whether petitioner is liable for the section 6653(a)(1) additions to tax for negligence; (4) whether petitioner is liable for the section 6654(a) additions to tax for failure to make estimated income tax payments for 1987 and 1988; and (5) whether we should impose sanctions on petitioner [*3] pursuant to section 6673(a).

Petitioner resided in Tempe, Arizona, on the date the petition was filed in this case. No stipulations of fact were filed in this case.

TATT Companies International d.b.a. Pedus Security Service reported to respondent that it paid petitioner wages in the amounts of $<>11,541 and $<>8,482 during 1987 and 1988, respectively. The Department of the Air Force reported to respondent that it paid petitioner a pension annuity in the amount of $<>8,165 during 1988. Morgan Shareholder Services Trust Company of AMR Corporation (Morgan) reported to respondent that on February 13, 1987, petitioner sold some securities. Morgan reported that petitioner

1 Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the taxable years in issue. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

received "stock&bond" income in the amount of $<>56 as a result of the sale.

Petitioner did not file Federal income tax returns for his 1987 and 1988 taxable years.

Petitioner filed three bankruptcy petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona since filing his petition in this Court. In dismissing his third bankruptcy petition, the presiding judge concluded that petitioner is "a serial filer and that his action as a serial filer constitutes an abuse of the bankruptcy system."

[*4] The first issue for decision is whether petitioner received and failed to report income during the taxable years in issue.

Section 61(a) includes in gross income all income from whatever source derived including, but not limited to, compensation for services, gains from dealings in property, annuities, and pensions. Sec. 61(a)(1), (3), (9), (11).

Respondent's revenue agent, Shelby Bare, testified that respondent relied upon payer information returns which were received under the Information Returns Program (IRP) in making the determinations contained in the statutory notices of deficiency issued to petitioner in this case. Respondent submitted transcripts from his IRP master file which list the payers which reported payments to petitioner during 1987 and 1988.

At trial, petitioner failed to submit any credible evidence into the record. Cf. sec. 6201(d). He presented no documents and the following is the extent of his testimony:

The Court: State your name for the record, please.

Petitioner: Ross William Bruner.

The Court: And your current address?

Petitioner: I live at 5 East Cairo, Tempe, Arizona.

The Court: Very well. What did sic you have to say now to

convince the Court [*5] that the contents of the

statutory notice of deficiency are in error, Mr.

Bruner?

Petitioner: I have never received income, therefore, I stand

1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 246, *1

Page 3 of 5

in silence.

In response to numerous questions by respondent's counsel, petitioner declined to offer any testimony relevant to the determination of his income for 1987 and 1988. His response to each question was "I stand in silence."

Based on the record, we find that petitioner has failed to meet his burden of proving any error in respondent's determinations. Rule 142(a). Accordingly, we hold that petitioner received and failed to report income in the amounts determined by respondent for the taxable years in issue.

The second issue for decision is whether petitioner is liable for the section 6651(a)(1) additions to tax for failure to file his 1987 and 1988 returns.

Section 6651(a)(1) imposes an addition to tax for failure to timely file a return, unless the taxpayer establishes that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. "Reasonable cause" requires the taxpayer to demonstrate that he exercised ordinary business care and prudence and was nonetheless unable to file a return within the prescribed time. United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 245-246 (1985). [*6] "Willful neglect" means a conscious, intentional failure or reckless indifference. Id. at 246. The addition to tax equals 5 percent of the tax required to be shown on the return if the failure to file is for not more than 1 month, with an additional 5 percent for each additional month or fraction of a month during which the failure to file continues, not to exceed a maximum of 25 percent. Sec. 6651(a)(1).

Based on the record, we find that petitioner has failed to prove that his failure to file his returns was not due to willful neglect or that such failure was due to reasonable cause. We therefore hold that petitioner is liable for the section 6651(a)(1) additions to tax.

The third issue for decision is whether petitioner is liable for the section 6653(a)(1) additions to tax for negligence.

We first review the language of section 6653(a)(1) which is applicable to petitioner's 1987 taxable year. With respect to tax returns the due date for which is after December 31, 1986, section 6653(a)(1)(A) provides for an addition to tax equal to 5 percent of the entire underpayment of tax if any part of the underpayment is due to negligence or intentional disregard [*7] of rules

or regulations. Furthermore, section 6653(a)(1)(B) provides for an addition to tax equal to 50 percent of the interest payable with respect to the portion of the underpayment which is attributable to negligence or intentional disregard of rules or regulations.

We next review the language of section 6653(a)(1) which is applicable to petitioner's 1988 taxable year. With respect to returns the due date for which is after December 31, 1988, section 6653(a)(1) provides that if any part of any underpayment required to be shown on a return is due to negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, there shall be added to the tax an amount equal to 5 percent of the underpayment.

We have defined negligence under section 6653 as a lack of due care or failure to do what a reasonable and ordinarily prudent person would do under the circumstances. Neely v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 934, 947 (1985). Petitioner bears the burden of proving that no part of the underpayments for the years in issue is due to negligence or intentional disregard of rules or regulations. Rule 142(a); Luman v. Commissioner, 79 T.C. 846, 860-861 (1982).

Based on the [*8] record, we find that petitioner's entire underpayments for 1987 and 1988 are due to negligence and his intentional disregard of the rules or regulations which require him to report his income. Accordingly, we hold that petitioner is liable for the section 6653(a)(1)(A) and (B) additions to tax for 1987 and the section 6653(a)(1) addition to tax for 1988.

The fourth issue for decision is whether petitioner is liable for the section 6654(a) additions to tax for failure to make estimated income tax payments for 1987 and 1988.

Unless the taxpayer demonstrates that one of the statutory exceptions applies, imposition of the section 6654(a) addition to tax is mandatory where prepayments of tax, either through withholding or by making estimated quarterly tax payments during the course of the taxable year, do not equal the percentage of total liability required under the statute. Sec. 6654(a); Niedringhaus v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 202, 222 (1992). Petitioner bears the burden of proving his entitlement to any exception. Habersham-Bey v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 304, 319-320 (1982).

The reporting payers withheld taxes from petitioner's income [*9] sources in the amounts of $<>189 and $<>659 for 1987 and 1988, respectively. Petitioner did

1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 246, *5

Page 4 of 5

not make any estimated tax payments for 1987 or 1988, nor has he shown that any of the statutory exceptions are applicable in this case. We therefore hold that petitioner is liable for the section 6654(a) additions to tax for 1987 and 1988.

The fifth issue for decision is whether we should impose a penalty on petitioner pursuant to section 6673(a).

Whenever it appears to this Court that proceedings before it have been instituted or maintained by the taxpayer primarily for delay or the taxpayer's position in such proceeding is frivolous or groundless, the Court, in its discretion, may require the taxpayer to pay to the United States a penalty not in excess of $<>25,000. Sec. 6673(a)(1)(A) and (B). A position maintained by a taxpayer in the Tax Court is frivolous "if it is contrary to established law and unsupported by a reasoned, colorable argument for change in the law." Coleman v. Commissioner, 791 F.2d 68, 71 (7th Cir. 1986). A penalty is properly imposed when the taxpayer knew or should have known that his claim or argument was frivolous. Hansen v. Commissioner, 820 F.2d 1464, 1470 (9th Cir. 1987). [*10]

The amended petition filed in this case alleges that respondent erred in the statutory notices of deficiency "in holding that or proceeding as if the Petitioner is a person made liable to the income tax imposed by the Code."

The other allegations of fact listed in petitioner's amended petition and the arguments contained in his trial memorandum convince us that petitioner is using this Court as a stage for presenting his misguided interpretation of the United States Constitution and the Federal income tax laws.

Petitioner has caused this Court to waste its limited resources on stale taxpayer protests which he knew or should have known are without merit.

In view of the foregoing, we will exercise our discretion under section 6673(a) and require petitioner to pay a penalty to the United States in the amount of $<>1,000.

To reflect the foregoing,

An appropriate order will be issued and a decision will be entered for respondent.

1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 246, *9

Page 5 of 5

Table1 (Return to related document text)

Additions to Tax

Yea r

Deficiency Sec. 6651(a)(1) Sec. 6653(a)(1)

198 7

$ 1,004 $ 251 ---

198 8

1,759 275 $ 88

Table1 (Return to related document text)

Table2 (Return to related document text) Additions to Tax

Year Sec. 6653(a)(1)(A) Sec. 6653(a)(1)(B) Sec. 6654(a) 198 7

$ 50.20 * $ 48.20

198 8

--- --- 95.00

Table2 (Return to related document text)

End of Document

* 50% of the interest due on the deficiency.

1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 246, *10