Court Opinion

ID: 4592120
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-20 19:07:15.564199+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:50:48.760917
License: Public Domain

David E. Ringler v. Commissioner, Respondent.Ringler v. CommissionerDocket Nos. 32284, 37778.United States Tax Court1952 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 129; 11 T.C.M. 772; T.C.M. (RIA) 52234; July 28, 19521952 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 129">*129  Held: Petitioner fraudulently understated his taxable income.  James A. Scott, Esq., for the respondent.  VAN FOSSAN Memorandum Opinion VAN FOSSAN, Judge: The respondent determined deficiencies in income tax and additions to the tax, as follows: Docket No. 3228450% FraudAdditionalDeficiency25%Penalty perIncrease in50% Fraudper NoticeDelinquencyNotice ofDeficiencyPenalty perof Defi-Penalty -Deficiency -per AmendedAmendedYearciency291(a)293(b)AnswerAnswer1943$2,849.87$712.47$1,424.94NoneNone19441,834.43917.22$ 409.81$204.9119452,233.491,116.75198.3699.1819461,615.55807.7886.8743.4419471,065.42532.711,873.81936.91Docket No. 3777850% FraudYearDeficiencyPenalty1948$ 199.00$ 99.5019492,975.411,487.71The increased deficiencies and penalties were duly claimed by respondent, as provided by statute. Although duly notified of the place and date of hearing, petitioner did not attend the hearing and offered no proof. Respondent thereupon moved for judgment as to those items1952 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 129">*130  on which the petitioner had the burden of proof, i.e., the several deficiencies and the addition to the tax of 25 per cent for the year 1943 for failure to file a return. There being no countervailing evidence on these items, and the burden being on petitioner, respondent is sustained as to all of the deficiencies and the addition to the tax for 1943. Having the burden of proof of matter affirmatively pleaded and on the question of fraud, the respondent proceeded with the proof. For the years 1944 to 1949, inclusive, petitioner filed returns which showed no liability in tax, as appears in the following tabular statement: Net IncomeTax LiabilityYearPer ReturnPer Return1944$ 540.00 None1945(1,040.00)None1946485.88 None1947(3,924.00)None1948(1,973.00)None1949( 506.00)NonePetitioner knew his returns were incorrect. His records were incomplete and inadequate. In this situation, respondent determined petitioner's net worth, the increase in net worth, and the total additions to income, as follows: As ofDecember 31194219431944194519461947Net worth -end of year$7,246.05$15,021.03$22,324.96$30,135.96$36,760.38$43,839.28Increase innet worth7,774.987,303.937,811.006,624.427,078.90Gross IncomeComputed10,349.989,203.939,711.008,524.428,978.90Gross IncomeReportedNo. Ret.540.001,040.00485.883,924.00TotalAdditions toIncome10,349.988,663.9310,751.008,038.5412,902.901952 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 129">*131  In a financial statement dated June 9, 1947, petitioner represented his net worth to be $43,000 as of that date. By Amended Answer, respondent asserted additional deficiencies and penalties. The issues arising from the above facts, as to which respondent has the burden of proof, are: (1) Were the petitioner's real estate gains in the years 1944 to 1947, inclusive, taxable at ordinary income rates rather than as capital gains, with the result that the deficiencies should be increased for such years? (2) Should the petitioner's taxable net income for the year 1947 be further increased by $4,300 to reflect the purchase price of certain property not included as an asset in respondent's net worth calculations? (3) Is the petitioner liable for 50 per cent fraud penalty for each of the years 1943 to 1949, inclusive? As to issue No. 1 above, the proof submitted by respondent is not sufficient to establish the issue raised. Accordingly, we are unable to find from the evidence that petitioner's real estate gains are taxable at ordinary income rates rather than as capital gains. In issue No. 2, the same situation obtains. The proof submitted does not establish respondent's position1952 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 129">*132  and accordingly on this issue we find for petitioner. Issue No. 3 relates to the charge of fraud as to all of the years. Fraud must be proved by clear and convincing evidence. Respondent has established that petitioner knew that he was required to file correct income tax returns and that he knew that the returns filed were incorrect. Respondent relies chiefly on the increases in petitioner's net worth to establish his case. This method has often been used successfully in the establishment of fraud. The undisputed facts above set out convince us beyond any doubt that petitioner knowingly, deliberately, and with fraudulent intent, understated his income in each of the taxable years and therefore that petitioner should suffer the penalty of an addition of 50 per cent to his tax liability. If petitioner had any countervailing evidence, it was his duty and privilege to present it. This he did not do. We accordingly find on clear and convincing evidence that petitioner, with intent to evade tax due and to defraud the Government, was guilty of understating his income for each of the taxable years 1943 to 1949, inclusive. The additions to the tax are justified and respondent is sustained. 1952 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 129">*133  Decisions will be entered under Rule 50.