Court Opinion

ID: 4625022
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-21 02:56:21.489156+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:56:37.750266
License: Public Domain

Richard A. Ench v. Commissioner.Ench v. CommissionerDocket No. 69685.United States Tax CourtT.C. Memo 1962-161; 1962 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 150; 21 T.C.M. (CCH) 894; T.C.M. (RIA) 62161; June 28, 1962*150  Held: 1. Respondent's use of increase in net worth and nondeductible expenditures method of computing petitioner's income approved and opening net worth determined. 2. Trade accounts receivable and payable not includible as petitioner's assets and liabilities, respectively, in a net worth computation of a cash basis taxpayer. 3. No part of the deficiency in any year was due to fraud with intent to evade tax and deficiency for the year 1947 is barred by the statute of limitations. 4. Additions to tax under section 291(a) and 294(d)(1)(A), I.R.C. 1939, approved; additions to tax under section 294(d)(2), I.R.C. 1939, not approved.  Anthony R. Amabile, Esq., for the petitioner. Arthur Pelikow, Esq., for the respondent.  BLACK *151  Memorandum Findings of Fact and Opinion The respondent has determined deficiencies in income tax and additions to tax under sections 291(a), 293(b), 294(d)(1)(A) and 294(d)(2), Internal Revenue Code of 1939, for the taxable years 1946, 1947, and 1948, as follows: Additions to TaxYearDeficiency§ 291(a)§ 293(b)§ 294(d)(1)(A)§ 294(d)(2)1946$25,456.04$2,545.60$12,728.02$2,730.04$1,623.02194779,822.2440,167.708,187.104,852.26194812,468.076,234.04688.08The taxable year 1949 is involved because petitioner sustained a net operating loss in that year, which loss was carried back to 1947 and allowed as a net operating loss deduction. The respondent disallowed part of the net operating loss claimed by petitioner. The issues presented for decision are: (1) Whether the income of petitioner is properly reconstructed by respondent's computation of net worth plus nondeductible expenditures for the years 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1949 and specifically whether trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable are includible in the net worth of a cash basis taxpayer.  (2) Whether*152  all or part of the deficiencies in income tax, if any, for each of the years 1946, 1947, and 1948 are due to fraud with intent to evade tax. (3) Whether assessment and collection of any deficiency for the year 1947 is barred by the statute of limitations. Findings of Fact Some of the facts were stipulated and the stipulation of facts, together with the exhibits attached thereto, is incorporated herein by this reference. Petitioner, an individual residing in Paterson, New Jersey, filed individual income tax returns for the taxable years 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1949 with the collector of internal revenue, Newark, New Jersey. Petitioner, trading as Rae Construction Company, was engaged in the construction of public and private roads and sewers. From 1946 through 1949, petitioner was also the principal officer and major stockholder of Brooks-Ench Ready Mixed Concrete Corporation. In 1949, petitioner formed the Ench Equipment Corporation and transferred certain fixed assets to that corporation. Petitioner operated his business from an office in his home in Paterson until 1949 when he transferred part of his operations to the offices of Brooks-Ench Ready Mixed Concrete Corporation*153  in Paterson. The office in his home was partially destroyed by fire in 1955 and certain business records were destroyed.  Petitioner employed various bookkeepers to maintain his books and records under the part-time supervision of his sister. The bookkeepers were all qualified to keep simple business records but they were not, at all times, given complete information for recordation concerning petitioner's business operations so that the books and records were not up-to-date and contained certain errors and omissions. Petitioner was grossly negligent in failing to provide necessary information to his bookkeepers so that a proper record of his business activities could be maintained. Petitioner also employed various accountants to prepare his income tax returns. The accountants did not audit his books but prepared his tax returns based on the information contained in petitioner's faulty records. In certain instances omissions in gross income were discovered by the accountants by checking petitioner's bank statements and the additional amounts revealed were included in petitioner's tax returns. Petitioner ignored the advice of his accountants as to the necessity of keeping accurate*154  business records and he continued through the periods here involved to permit his books to be maintained in a negligent manner.  A cash receipts books, a cash disbursements book, an accounts receivable ledger, checkbooks, deposit slips, and a job file were maintained by petitioner, none of which was accurate and they could not be completely reconciled with each other. Petitioner's income tax returns for 1945 and 1946 were prepared on a cash basis of accounting. For 1947, petitioner's income tax return was prepared and filed on the accrual basis without receiving respondent's permission. Petitioner filed his tax returns for 1948 and 1949 on the cash basis. On occasion petitioner acquired machinery and equipment in exchange for services rendered during the taxable years here involved and the income was not reported. In 1950, petitioner applied for a Reconstruction Finance Corporation loan and he was required to submit a 5-year financial history which included detailed lists of machinery and equipment. As of December 31, 1945, the unadjusted bases for office furniture, and machinery and equipment were $1,253.14 and $57,085.13, respectively. The accumulated depreciation reserves*155  with respect to office furniture and machinery and equipment were $603.41 and $37,233.21, respectively, on the same date. Petitioner had an investment in Investors Syndicate in the amount of $2,250 as of December 31, 1945, which he continued to own on December 31, 1949. Loans receivable were due petitioner from employees in the amount of $1,758.28 on December 31, 1945. On December 31, 1949, petitioner had $20 due from employees. Petitioner had approximately $2,500 in U.S. Treasury Bonds, Series E, as of December 31, 1945, which he continued to own on December 31, 1949. The bonds were lost or stolen in 1951. When bidding on municipal construction jobs petitioner was required to accompany his bids with certified bid deposit checks. On December 31, 1945, petitioner had a certified bid deposit check outstanding in the amount of $1,400 which was an asset of petitioner. All other certified checks issued by petitioner in 1945 had been returned to him and were redeposited in petitioner's bank account in that year. In 1946 and 1947, petitioner paid $34,075 to George Brooks as sales commissions; $1,500 was paid in 1946 and the balance in 1947. The commissions constituted ordinary and*156  necessary business expenses. The computation of net worth prepared by respondent and attached to the deficiency notice is as follows: COMPUTATION OF NET WORTHDecember 31, 1945December31, 19461. U.S. Trust$ 22,874.87$ 13,465.002. First National Bank3. U.S. Trust - Payroll Acct.4. Bid Deposits1,400.001,250.005. Deposits1,000.0050.006. Employee Loan Acct.7. Accts. Receivable51,306.638. Deferred Income9. Investments10. Investment in Ready Mix Co.29,127.3211. Land Minnisink Road7,000.0012. Land - West Paterson954.19954.1913. Land - Water Street500.00500.0014. Land - Miscellaneous15. Bldgs. - Water Street4,067.804,067.8016. Bldgs. - Depr. reserve$ 603.4117. Furniture & Fixtures1,277.1418. Furniture & Depr.19. Machinery & Equipment58,338.2795,944.1720. Machinery Depr. reserve37,233.2121. Auto Trucks28,232.8033,084.3322. Auto Trucks - Depr. reserve11,933.4423. Prepaid License24. Prepaid Insurance25. Prepaid Expense26. Exchange27. Exchange Ready Mix28. Suspense29. Due from Ench Equip. Co.30. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #131. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #232. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #333. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #434. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #535. Deposits Payable2,200.0036. Employees Withholding758.2637. Social Security accrued179.3238. Unemployment Insurance accrued179.3239. Accrued F.U.T.A.40. Accounts payable41. Notes payable4,875.0042. Land & Bldgs. - Belmont Ave. 66,995.3043. Land & Bldgs. - Belmont Ave., Depr.reserve1,036.7544. Land & Bldgs. - Marshall St.7,000.0045. Land & Bldgs. - Marshall St., Depr.reserve500.0046. Capital - December 3171,824.52$131,323.23$131,323.23$238,026.58*157 COMPUTATION OF NET WORTHDecemberDecember 31, 194731, 19461. U.S. Trust$ 28,845.962. First National Bank3. U.S. Trust - Payroll Acct.1,781.924. Bid Deposits9,104.445. Deposits50.006. Employee Loan Acct.175.007. Accts. Receivable50,308.558. Deferred Income$ 51,306.639. Investments10. Investment in Ready Mix Co.29,127.3211. Land Minnisink Road12. Land - West Paterson954.1913. Land - Water Street500.0014. Land - Miscellaneous15. Bldgs. - Water Street4,067.8016. Bldgs. - Depr. reserve698.320$ 793.2317. Furniture & Fixtures1,715.6018. Furniture & Depr.612.33802.6919. Machinery & Equipment103,186.9220. Machinery Depr. reserve43,981.5856,098.3521. Auto Trucks42,928.3422. Auto Trucks - Depr. reserve15,601.5521,269.9323. Prepaid License24. Prepaid Insurance25. Prepaid Expense26. Exchange112.3327. Exchange Ready Mix28. Suspense270.5629. Due from Ench Equip. Co.30. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #131. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #232. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #333. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #447,321.8734. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #54,000.0035. Deposits Payable36. Employees Withholding1,801.30490.7037. Social Security accrued300.31534.5538. Unemployment Insurance accrued300.30988.7139. Accrued F.U.T.A.303.3440. Accounts payable30,078.0341. Notes payable42. Land & Bldgs. - Belmont Ave. 643. Land & Bldgs. - Belmont Ave., Depr.reserve44. Land & Bldgs. - Marshall St.45. Land & Bldgs. - Marshall St., Depr.reserve46. Capital - December 31123,424.26213,091.27$238,026.58$324,450.80$324,450.80*158 COMPUTATION OF NET WORTHDecember 31, 1948December31, 19491. U.S. Trust$ 16,253.87$ 652.582. First National Bank62.003. U.S. Trust - Payroll Acct.1,360.591,015.414. Bid Deposits12,000.00500.005. Deposits1,050.0085.006. Employee Loan Acct.175.0020.007. Accts. Receivable75,017.8761,063.578. Deferred Income9. Investments1,100.0010. Investment in Ready Mix Co.29,127.3229,127.3211. Land Minnisink Road12. Land - West Paterson954.19954.1913. Land - Water Street500.0014. Land - Miscellaneous2,690.41Metal -3,000.0015. Bldgs. - Water Street4,067.80Buildings16. Bldgs. - Depr. reserve$ 888.1417. Furniture & Fixtures1,715.602,010.6018. Furniture & Depr.991.4319. Machinery & Equipment118,677.1220. Machinery Depr. reserve61,536.1821. Auto Trucks46,591.7222. Auto Trucks - Depr. reserve28,328.3223. Prepaid License271.5024. Prepaid Insurance1,027.9625. Prepaid Expense140.0026. Exchange112.3327. Exchange Ready Mix228.3428. Suspense29. Due from Ench Equip. Co.78,280.3330. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #124,683.0132,683.0131. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #27,000.004,200.0032. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #33,650.4112,574.7133. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #447,061.5724,370.4534. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #59,049.313,141.7135. Deposits Payable36. Employees Withholding1,414.2037. Social Security accrued697.2838. Unemployment Insurance accrued347.4439. Accrued F.U.T.A.394.0340. Accounts payable61,417.3141. Notes payable42. Land & Bldgs. - Belmont Ave. 643. Land & Bldgs. - Belmont Ave., Depr.reserve44. Land & Bldgs. - Marshall St.45. Land & Bldgs. - Marshall St., Depr.reserve46. Capital - December 31247,023.25$403,037.58$403,037.58$255,209.22*159 COMPUTATION OF NET WORTHDecember31, 19491. U.S. Trust2. First National Bank3. U.S. Trust - Payroll Acct.4. Bid Deposits5. Deposits6. Employee Loan Acct.7. Accts. Receivable8. Deferred Income9. Investments10. Investment in Ready Mix Co.11. Land Minnisink Road12. Land - West Paterson13. Land - Water Street14. Land - Miscellaneous15. Bldgs. - Water Street16. Bldgs. - Depr. reserve17. Furniture & Fixtures18. Furniture & Depr.$ 1,194.9219. Machinery & Equipment20. Machinery Depr. reserve21. Auto Trucks22. Auto Trucks - Depr. reserve23. Prepaid License24. Prepaid Insurance25. Prepaid Expense26. Exchange27. Exchange Ready Mix28. Suspense29. Due from Ench Equip. Co.30. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #131. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #232. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #333. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #434. Loans Rec. - Ready Mix #535. Deposits Payable36. Employees Withholding120.0037. Social Security accrued228.4038. Unemployment Insurance accrued348.3239. Accrued F.U.T.A.176.7940. Accounts payable10,984.8841. Notes payable1,500.0042. Land & Bldgs. - Belmont Ave. 643. Land & Bldgs. - Belmont Ave., Depr.reserve44. Land & Bldgs. - Marshall St.45. Land & Bldgs. - Marshall St., Depr.reserve46. Capital - December 31240,655.91$255,209.22*160  As of December 31, 1945, petitioner had $152,636.79 in trade accounts receivable for construction services rendered by him in 1945 and prior years. On the same date petitioner owed $8,367.96 as trade accounts payable. On December 31, 1948, petitioner had loans receivable of $12,971.59 due from Brooks-Ench Ready Mixed Concrete Corporation which were incorrectly included by respondent in petitioner's trade accounts receivable for that year. For the years 1946 and 1948 the parties executed valid waivers extending the period of limitation within which an assessment of income tax could be made beyond the date on which the notice of deficiency herein was mailed to petitioner. No waiver was executed for the year 1947. No part of any deficiency in income tax for the years 1946, 1947, and 1948 is due to fraud with intent to evade tax. Opinion Net Worth Computation  BLACK, Judge: The deficiencies determined herein by respondent result from a reconstruction of income by the net worth and nondeductible expenditures method. As we have stated in our Findings of Fact, petitioner's books and records were negligently maintained and there can be no question whatsoever, we think, of respondent's*161  right to determine petitioner's income by the net worth method. The testimony established that certain books and records kept by petitioner would have been sufficient to satisfy normal business record standards except for the fact that petitioner neglected and failed to present necessary information to his bookkeepers. The records were unreliable at best. Consequently, we find that respondent had the right to determine petitioner's income by a computation of net worth plus nondeductible expenditures. Certain adjustments to respondent's computation, however, are in issue. Respondent concedes that petitioner is entitled to an additional amount of $500 as an asset in the opening net worth on December 31, 1945. This $500 represents a deposit for the purchase of land on Minnisink Road. In addition, we have set forth in the Findings of Fact our conclusions as to certain disputed valuations of assets and liabilities to be included in the computation. We have found that respondent's determinations of the amounts for machinery and equipment, office furniture, bid deposit checks outstanding, petitioner's investments in Series E bonds and in Investors Syndicate, and depreciation reserves for*162  machinery and equipment and office furniture were correct. We accept petitioner's evidence to the effect that petitioner had made a number of small personal loans to his employees and that the outstanding amount of the loans on December 31, 1945, totaled $1,758.28. We also find that the payments made by petitioner to George Brooks as sales commissions in 1946 and 1947 constituted ordinary and necessary business expenses in the respective amounts paid in those years. The only other issue with respect to the computation of income by the net worth method concerns petitioner's trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable. Petitioner had $152,636.79 in trade accounts receivable due him on December 31, 1945, for prior services rendered by him in his construction business. Petitioner also shows accounts payable in the amount of $8,367.96 owing on the same date. Petitioner contends that these trade accounts should be included in the opening net worth as assets and liabilities, respectively. Respondent in his computation of net worth accompanying the notice of deficiency includes accounts receivable and accounts payable in all the years except in the opening net worth. Respondent*163  now contends that accounts receivable and accounts payable should not be included in any year and to this extent concedes certain adjustments in the net worth computation. At the hearing of this proceeding respondent's counsel made the following statement: The net worth statements show, for the years 1947, 1948 and 1949, trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable. With respect to these items, respondent at this time will concede that they should not be included in the net worth computation with one exception: For the taxable year 1948, the item of $75,017.87 should read $62,046.48. That item of seventy-five thousand dollars includes a loan receivable of $12,971.39 which should not be eliminated from the net worth computation. Effect will be given to this concession of respondent under Rule 50. Petitioner argues that a net worth computation is technically an accrual basis of accounting and that all of petitioner's assets and liabilities should be considered in the computation regardless of the method of accounting employed. Respondent now contends that petitioner filed his returns for the years 1945 and 1946 on the cash basis and that inclusion of trade accounts receivable*164  and trade accounts payable would have the effect of converting petitioner's cash basis of accounting to an accrual basis. We hold for the respondent on this issue. Petitioner was a cash basis taxpayer and filed his returns on the cash basis except for 1947, when he filed on the accrual basis without applying for permission to change his method of accounting. A net worth computation is not a method of accounting; it is not a substitute for either the cash or the accrual basis of accounting or any other recognized method of keeping books,  Morris Lipsitz, 21 T.C. 917">21 T.C. 917 (1954), affd.   220 F. 2d 871 (C.A. 4, 1955), certiorari denied  350 U.S. 845">350 U.S. 845 (1955). The net worth analysis should utilize an accounting method consistent with the taxpayer's system. This view was adopted by the First Circuit in  Scanlon v. United States, 223 F. 2d 382 (C.A. 1, 1955), wherein the court stated: This court agrees that it is not improper to exclude from such net worth estimate such items as accounts receivable and accounts payable, which are not attributable to the defendant's current income (income being that income which is reportable by a taxpayer on a cash*165  basis). * * * The respondent is justified in applying the net worth method, not to change the taxpayer's accounting method but to obtain a measurement of his income, cf.   Charles F. Bennett, 30 T.C. 114">30 T.C. 114 (1958);  Clark v. Commissioner, 253 F. 2d 745 (C.A. 3, 1958); and  United States v. O'Connor, 273 F. 2d 358 (C.A. 2, 1959). We hold that trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable should be excluded from the net worth computation for all the years here involved as the respondent concedes. Petitioner's loans receivable, however, are attributable to his current income and should be included in the net worth computation. *Petitioner orally conceded at trial that the amounts determined by respondent for other assets and liabilities shown in the computation were correct and there is no dispute as to the amounts determined by respondent for personal living expenses. Fraud  We come next to the issue of fraud. The computation*166  of increases in net worth plus nondeductible expenditures for the taxable years here involved shows substantial yearly net worth increases in excess of reported income. However, the additions to tax for fraud determined by the respondent can only be imposed if there is an intentional wrongdoing with the intent to evade a tax believed to be owing. Based on the record presented here, we are of the opinion that the petitioner was grossly negligent in the supervision and maintenance of his record-keeping system. He left the preparation of his tax returns to accountants who did nothing more than rely on his faulty records. Certainly, petitioner was at fault and his business suffered because of his careless maintenance of records. But we are convinced that petitioner's tax difficulties arose solely from his faulty records and we do not find sufficient evidence to support the imposition of additions to tax for fraud. Lax methods of bookkeeping do not necessarily indicate fraud,  Williamson Milling Co., 5 B.T.A. 814">5 B.T.A. 814 (1926), and  Walter M. Ferguson, Jr., 14 T.C. 846">14 T.C. 846 (1950), nor is proof of negligence in any degree a substitute for specific evidence of wrongdoing,  Mitchell v. Commissioner, 118 F. 2d 308*167  (C.A. 5, 1941), reversing  40 B.T.A. 424">40 B.T.A. 424, followed on remand,  45 B.T.A. 822">45 B.T.A. 822 Supp. Op. (1941). Petitioner was haphazard and careless in his business responsibilities and his approach to his responsibilities for filing accurate income tax returns was equally careless. We believe that all of the income he failed to report was due to this careless approach without any specific fraudulent intent to evade tax. Accordingly, we do not approve the additions to tax for fraud determined by respondent. Since no waiver was executed by petitioner for 1947 and in the absence of a finding of fraud, the statute of limitations bars the collection of deficiencies for that year. For the years 1946 and 1948 where petitioner did execute waivers we approve the assessment of deficiencies as modified by the findings presented herein. With reference to the addition to tax under section 291(a), I.R.C. 1939, for delinquent filing of return in the amount of $2,545.60 for 1946, the Commissioner states in his deficiency notice as follows: It has been determined that the penalty shown herein for failure to make and file a return within the time prescribed by law, provided by section*168  291(a) of the 1939 Internal Revenue Code, is applicable for the taxable year ended December 31, 1946. There is no evidence in the record to show that the Commissioner erred in imposing this addition to tax; the Commissioner is therefore sustained. With respect to the additions to tax determined under section 294(d) of the 1939 Code only those additions owing under section 294(d)(1)(A) are approved and those under section 294(d)(2) are disapproved in accordance with  Commissioner v. Acker, 361 U.S. 87">361 U.S. 87. Decision will be entered under Rule 50.  Footnotes*. The words "not attributable" were replaced by the word "attributable" and the words "net worth" were added to this sentence by an official order of the Tax Court dated July 30, 1962, and signed by Judge Black.↩