MEMORANDUM OPINION
MORRISON,
Marc S. Barnes and Anne M. Barnes filed a joint income-tax return for tax year 2003. At all relevant times, the Barneses were husband and wife.
On June 3, 2008, respondent ("the IRS") issued the Barneses a statutory notice of deficiency, determining a deficiency in tax of $54,486, a section 6662(a)
On August 19, 2008, the Barneses timely petitioned the Tax Court for a redetermination of their income-tax deficiency for 2003. Their petition challenged four determinations made by the IRS: (1) the disallowance of a $123,006 Schedule E loss attributable to the Barneses' interest in Whitney Restaurants, Inc. ("Whitney"), an S corporation; (2) the rejection of the Barneses' assertion that they overreported, by $30,000, the gross receipts of a sole proprietorship reported on Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business; (3) the determination that the Barneses are liable for a section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty; and (4) the determination that the Barneses are liable for a section 6651(a)(1) late-filing addition to tax. At the time the case was submitted for decision, the Barneses conceded liability for the section 6651(a)(1) late-filing addition to tax.
Therefore, the issues remaining for decision are: (1) whether the Barneses were entitled to claim as a deduction $123,006 in passthrough losses from Whitney (we find that they were not so entitled); (2) whether the Barneses overreported Schedule C gross receipts by $30,000 (we find that they did not); and (3) whether the Barneses are subject to a section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty attributable to a substantial understatement of income tax (we find that they are).
We have jurisdiction pursuant to section 6214 to redetermine the deficiency and penalty determined in the notice of deficiency.
Background
The parties have submitted this case fully stipulated for decision under Rule 122.
Marc S. and Anne M. Barnes are Washington, D.C.-based entrepreneurs. During tax year 2003 the Barneses were engaged in several different lines of business, including restaurants, nightclubs, and event promotion. They engaged in these various businesses through several different business entities, including two S corporations (one of which was Whitney Restaurants, Inc.), and a wholly owned subchapter C corporation. The subchapter C corporation, Influence Entertainment, Inc., engaged in the business of event promotion. The Barneses also engaged in the business of event promotion via an unincorporated sole proprietorship whose earnings were reported directly on the Barneses' 2003 income-tax return.
The Barneses' 2003 joint income-tax return was prepared by an employee of the firm Sakyi & Associates.
Whitney Restaurants, Inc.
Whitney, known until 2001 as R.G.B., Inc., operated the Republic Gardens restaurant in Washington, D.C. The parties disagree over the Barneses' correct basis in their Whitney stock for tax year 2003 and whether their basis was sufficient to claim the disallowed $123,006 as a Schedule E deduction on their 2003 return. The IRS alleges that the Barneses erred in two respects when calculating basis: (1) they erroneously calculated an increase in basis of $22,282 for 1996 and (2) they failed to calculate a reduction in basis of $136,228.50 for 1997.
We begin with a brief overview of the relevant rules governing taxation of S corporation shareholders. In determining the tax liability of an S corporation shareholder for a particular year, one preliminary step is to calculate the shareholder's basis in S corporation stock for the purposes of section 1366(d)(1). That section places a limit on the amount of passthrough S corporation losses that are deducted or other otherwise taken into account in determining the shareholder's income in a given year. The limit is equal to the shareholder's basis in the S corporation stock.
Having ascertained the loss limit for the year, the next step is to determine how the shareholder's pro rata share of the S corporation's income or loss is taken into account in determining the shareholder's income. The S corporation is required to report to the shareholder his or her pro rata share of the S corporation's tax items, including income or loss, on a Schedule K-1, Partner's Share of Income, Credits, Deductions, etc. See sec. 6037(b). If the Schedule K-1 is incorrect, the shareholder must report the correct pro rata share of passthrough tax items.
S corporation shareholders must make further adjustments to basis to account for the pro rata share of income or loss required to be taken into account by the shareholder in calculating his or her tax liability. If the shareholder had passthrough income from the S corporation, basis is increased by the shareholder's pro rata share of the S corporation's income.
Aside from two exceptions, the parties do not dispute this description of the relevant statutory provisions. The Barneses offer the following interpretations of the applicable rules: (1) basis increases for amounts reported by a shareholder as his or her pro rata share of passthrough S corporation income, even where the reported income amount is not actually the shareholder's pro rata share of the S corporation's income for that year; and (2) basis is not reduced for passthrough S corporation losses that the shareholder did not report on his or her return and did not claim as a deduction, despite being required to do so by section 1366(a)(1). As we decide below, the Barneses' interpretations are incorrect.
In 1995 the Barneses acquired a 50% interest in Whitney by making a $44,271 contribution of capital. No other transactions affected the Barneses' basis in their Whitney stock for the purposes of the section 1366(d)(1) limitation for 1995. Consequently, at the end of 1995, and for the purposes of the section 1366(d)(1) limitation on passthrough losses for 1995, the Barneses had a basis of $44,271 in their Whitney stock. Whitney operated at a loss in 1995. The Barneses' pro rata share of that loss, as reported on a Schedule K-1 Whitney issued to the Barneses, was $66,553. The parties do not dispute that $66,553—the amount reported on the Schedule K-1—is the Barneses' correct pro rata share of Whitney's losses for 1995. The parties also agree that, for 1995, the correct amount of the Barneses' deduction for passthrough losses from Whitney was $44,271 (the amount of their basis in the Whitney stock).
In 1996, the Barneses made no contributions of capital to Whitney. No other transactions took place that affected the Barneses' basis in the Whitney stock for purposes of the section 1366(d)(1) limitation for 1996. Consequently, the parties agree that the Barneses' basis in the Whitney stock for the purposes of the section 1366(d)(1) limitation was zero.
The Barneses agree that they made no contributions of capital to Whitney in 1996; that no other transactions took place that would have affected their basis in the Whitney stock for purposes of the section 1366(d)(1) limitation for 1996; that their basis in the Whitney stock, for purposes of the loss limitation for 1996, was zero; and that they had a 1995 suspended loss of $22,282. The Barneses also do not dispute that the $136,228.50 passthrough loss reported on the Schedule K-1 was their correct pro rata share of Whitney's 1996 losses. However, as we noted above, the Barneses reported income from Whitney of $22,282 on their 1996 income-tax return. Basis calculations the Barneses submitted in their brief suggest they calculated that their basis increased by the $22,282 they reported as income from Whitney on their 1996 return.
The parties agree that at the beginning of 1997 the Barneses' basis in the Whitney stock was zero. In 1997 the Barneses made a $278,000 contribution of capital to Whitney. As a result of this contribution, the Barneses' basis in the Whitney stock, for purposes of the section 1366(d)(1) limitation on the deduction of losses for 1997, was $278,000 (equal to zero, increased by the amount of the $278,000 contribution). Both parties agree that no other transactions affected the Barneses' basis in their Whitney stock for 1997 for purposes of the section 1366(d)(1) limitation. According to the Schedule K-1 Whitney issued to the Barneses, their pro rata share of Whitney's 1997 loss was $52,594. The parties do not dispute that $52,594—the amount reported on the Schedule K-1—is the Barneses' correct pro rata share of Whitney's losses for 1997 and that the same amount—$52,594—is the correct amount of the Barneses' deduction for Whitney's 1997 loss. In addition, the $22,282 suspended loss for 1995 and the $136,228.50 suspended loss for 1996 were deemed to be incurred with respect to the Barneses for 1997. The Barneses claimed a deduction for $52,594 in passthrough losses attributable to Whitney on their 1997 tax return. On their 1997 return the Barneses did not claim a deduction for the $22,282 loss suspended in 1995
For the next five years the Barneses continued to make contributions of capital and Whitney continued to report almost exclusively losses. The following table summarizes the Barneses' contributions and their pro rata share of Whitney's income or loss for tax years 1998 through 2002:
The parties do not dispute that the shares of income or loss reported on the Schedules K-1 are correct. There is also no dispute that the Barneses correctly reported their pro rata share of income and loss from Whitney on their income-tax returns for tax years 1998 through 2002
At the beginning of 2003, as the IRS contends, the Barneses had a basis of $107,282.93 in their Whitney stock and no suspended losses attributable to Whitney.
For 2003 Whitney reported a large loss. According to the Schedule K-1 Whitney issued to the Barneses for that year, their share of the loss was $276,289. Neither party disputes that the amount reported on the Schedule K-1 is the Barneses' correct pro rata share of the loss. On Schedule E of their 2003 income-tax return, the Barneses deducted $276,289 in passthrough losses attributable to their interest in Whitney. In its notice of deficiency, the IRS determined that $123,006 of the deduction was not permissible because the Barneses had insufficient basis. According to IRS calculations, the Barneses' basis, for purposes of the section 1366(d)(1) limitation for 2003, was $153,282.93. Therefore, the IRS argues, the Barneses had sufficient basis to deduct only $153,282.93 of the 2003 loss. The remainder—$123,006, rounded to the nearest whole number—was disallowed. The Barneses dispute this determination. They claim their 2003 stock basis, for purposes of the section 1366(d)(1) limitation, was $311,793.43.
By way of summary, the IRS correctly contends that the Barneses' basis in the Whitney stock for each of the years 1995 through 2003 is properly calculated as follows:
The Barneses disagree. They claim that their basis in the Whitney stock is properly calculated as follows:
Influence Entertainment, Inc., and the Sole Proprietorship
During 2003, the Barneses engaged in the business of event promotion
The second event-promotion business was conducted by Anne Barnes's wholly owned C corporation, Influence Entertainment, Inc. We refer to this entity as "Influence Entertainment". On its Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, for 2003, Influence Entertainment reported gross receipts of $619,666. The Barneses did not submit any evidence regarding how Influence Entertainment calculated its gross receipts or what items were included in the $619,666.
During 2003 Influence Entertainment organized a concert series called "Latin Rock en Espanol" at Dream Nightclub in Washington, D.C. Influence Entertainment signed a related sponsorship agreement with Anheuser-Busch, Inc. According to the agreement, dated April 21, 2003, Influence Entertainment would be paid a sponsorship fee of $30,000 to advertise Anheuser-Busch as the "exclusive alcohol and non-alcohol malt beverage sponsor" at a minimum of six "Latin Rock" concerts. Influence Entertainment received a $60,000 check, dated June 4, 2003, from Anheuser-Busch, Inc. The Barneses contend that half of this amount, $30,000, was payment for services rendered by Influence Entertainment, and that the remaining $30,000 was payment for services rendered by the sole proprietorship. According to the Barneses, the full amount of the payment, $60,000, was erroneously included in gross receipts of the sole proprietorship, resulting in a $30,000 overstatement of its gross receipts. The IRS disputes this contention.
Discussion
I. Burden of Proof
In proceedings before the Tax Court, the taxpayer generally bears the burden of proving that the IRS's determinations in a notice of deficiency are erroneous.
On April 29, 2009, the Barneses filed a motion to shift burden of proof, requesting that the burden be imposed on the IRS pursuant to section 7491. On May 11, 2009, we denied that motion without prejudice. When the case was called for trial on June 10, 2009, the Barneses renewed their motion. We deny this motion because the Barneses have not presented credible evidence with respect to any factual issue. Whether the Barneses had sufficient basis in their S corporation stock to claim as a Schedule E deduction $123,006 in passthrough losses from Whitney is a legal question that we resolve by applying the law to the stipulated facts. Consequently, the allocation of the burden of proof has no bearing on that legal issue. As for the Barneses' other claims—that their failure to claim as a deduction for 1997 a $136,228.50 passthrough loss from Whitney gives rise to an NOL that is available to offset gross income in 2003,
II. Disallowance of the Schedule E Deduction
In its notice of deficiency the IRS disallowed $123,006 of Schedule E losses attributable to the Barneses' interest in Whitney. It determined that, after properly adjusting basis in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, the Barneses did not have sufficient basis in their Whitney stock in 2003 to deduct the disallowed $123,006 portion of Whitney's 2003 passthrough losses.
The Barneses offer several theories as to why the IRS's determination is incorrect. We address each argument in turn.
A. Adjustments to Basis
First, the Barneses dispute the IRS's determination that they lacked sufficient basis to claim as a deduction their full $276,289 pro rata share of passthrough losses from Whitney on their 2003 income-tax return. According to the IRS, the Barneses made two errors in calculating basis in their Whitney stock before tax year 2003: (1) in 1996 the Barneses increased basis by $22,282 in putative passthrough income, despite the fact that the Schedule K-1 Whitney issued to them for that year reflected a passthrough loss of $136,228.50; and (2) in 1997 the Barneses failed to reduce basis to account for $136,228.50 in passthrough losses that they were required to take into account in that year but failed to claim as deduction on their return.
1. Upward Basis Adjustment in 1996
The IRS takes the position that the Barneses' basis in the Whitney stock did not increase by $22,282 in 1996. It contends that, under section 1367, there is no upward basis adjustment for amounts that are erroneously reported by the shareholder as passthrough income but that do not correspond to the shareholder's actual pro rata share of passthrough income. The Barneses seem to argue, without citation of authority, that the upward basis adjustment was appropriate because they reported $22,282 in passthrough income on their 1996 return. We agree with the position of the IRS.
Pursuant to section 1366(a)(1)(A), S corporation shareholders take into account their "pro rata share" of the S corporation's income when calculating their income-tax liability. A shareholder's pro rata share of income is equal to the S corporation's income multiplied by the proportion of the corporation's total shares owned by the shareholder during the year in which the income was earned.
Under section 1367(a)(1)(A), an S corporation shareholder increases basis in S corporation stock by his or her pro rata share of passthrough income for the year, i.e. the income items described in section 1366(a)(1)(A). Whitney issued a Schedule K-1 to the Barneses for tax year 1996, the accuracy of which the Barneses do not dispute. That Schedule K-1 does not reflect any 1996 passthrough income. It reports a loss, of which the Barneses' pro rata share was $136,228.50. Therefore, we hold that the Barneses had no passthrough income items attributable to Whitney in 1996, but, instead, had a passthrough loss of $136,228.50 for that year. The fact that they reported $22,282 of passthrough income on their return is irrelevant. Section 1367(a)(1)(A) provides only for basis adjustments which correspond to the shareholder's pro rata share of income. It does not provide for basis to be adjusted for passthrough items reported by shareholders on their returns. Because the Barneses had no passthrough income from Whitney for 1996, their basis did not increase by $22,282 in that year.
2. Failure To Make Downward Basis Adjustment for 1997
Recall that the Barneses' basis, for purposes of the limitation on deduction of passthrough losses from Whitney for 1997, was $278,000 and that there was a passthrough loss from Whitney to the Barneses for 1997 of $52,594, and a suspended loss carried forward from 1996 of $136,228.50.
Pursuant to section 1366(a)(1)(A), shareholders of an S corporation take into account a pro rata share of the S corporation's losses in calculating their annual tax liabilities. A shareholder's "pro rata share" of losses is equal to the S corporation's loss multiplied by the proportion of the S corporation's total shares owned by the shareholder during the year in which the loss was incurred.
S corporation shareholders must make various adjustments to basis in their S corporation stock. When a shareholder makes a contribution of capital to the S corporation, the shareholder increases basis in the S corporation stock by the amount of the contribution.
According to the IRS, section 1367(a)(2)(B) requires an S corporation shareholder to reduce basis by any losses that he or she is required to take into account under section 1366(a)(1)(A). Basis is reduced, the IRS contends, even if the shareholder does not actually claim the passthrough losses on his or her return. Therefore, the IRS argues, the Barneses' basis was reduced by $136,228.50 for 1997 because of the $136,228.50 loss suspended in 1996 that the Barneses were required to take into account as a deduction for 1997.
The Barneses offer a different interpretation of the applicable statutes. Section 1367(a)(2)(B), they argue, requires basis reduction only for losses that the S corporation shareholder reports on his or her tax return and claims as a deduction when calculating tax liability. Because they did not report the $136,288.50 loss for 1996 and they did not claim it as a deduction on their return for 1997 when they had adequate basis, the theory goes, the Barneses' basis was never reduced by the amount of that loss. According to the Barneses' calculations,
The plain language of sections 1366 and 1367 supports the IRS's interpretation.
Section 1367(a)(2)(B) provides that basis in S corporation stock is reduced by "items of loss and deduction described in subparagraph (A) of section 1366(a)(1)". Section 1366(a)(1) provides as follows:
Therefore, one of the items described in section 1366(a)(1)(A) is a shareholder's pro rata share of the S corporation's losses. The shareholder's "pro rata share" includes both current-year losses and—by virtue of section 1366(d)(2)—suspended prior-year losses that the shareholder was precluded from taking into account for the prior year by section 1366(d)(1). See sec. 1366(a)(1), (d). Section 1366(d)(2) provides that losses that are disallowed with respect to a shareholder by reason of section 1366(d)(1) "shall be treated as incurred by the corporation in the succeeding taxable year with respect to that shareholder."
Because of their 1997 contribution of capital and the corresponding increase in basis, the Barneses had sufficient basis in their Whitney stock in tax year 1997 to take into account their full $136,228.50 share of Whitney's 1996 loss, which had been previously disallowed by section 1366(d)(1). That loss was an item described in section 1366(a)(1)(A) with respect to the Barneses for 1997 because section 1366(a)(1)(A) required the loss to be taken into account in determining the Barneses' correct tax for that year. Therefore, the IRS was correct in determining that, pursuant to section 1367(a)(2)(B), the Barneses' basis in their Whitney stock was reduced for 1997 by the amount of the $136,228.50 loss.
B. Tax Benefit Rule
The Barneses argue that, even if both the IRS's interpretation of section 1367 and its basis calculations are correct, the exclusionary component of the tax benefit rule permits the Barneses to claim the benefit in 2003 of the suspended loss they did not report as a deduction in 1997.
The tax benefit rule is a judicially created principle intended to remedy some of the inequities that would otherwise result from the annual accounting system used for federal income-tax purposes.
The inclusionary component of the tax benefit rule would not require the Barneses to include in gross income for 2003 any amount deducted in a prior taxable year and subsequently recovered. Therefore, neither component of the tax benefit rule applies and section 111(a) does not provide for an exclusion from the Barneses' income for 2003.
C. Net Operating Loss
Finally, the Barneses contend that, even if the IRS is correct with respect to basis in the Whitney stock, their failure to claim $136,228.50 in passthrough losses on their 1997 return caused them to incorrectly calculate their net operating loss (NOL) for that year.
Defined generally, an NOL is the excess of allowable deductions over gross income for a given tax year. Sec. 172(c). In calculating the NOL amount for individual taxpayers, only certain deductions, including passthrough S corporation losses, are considered.
The Barneses claim that they are entitled to a net operating loss deduction on their 2003 income-tax return. The ultimate source of the NOL deduction sought by the Barneses for 2003 is their NOL for 1997. The Barneses do not explain how the trial record supports their argument, and we observe that the record is missing the following information necessary to establish their entitlement to a 2003 NOL deduction:
Although the Barneses allude to a theory that a time bar affects the 1997 tax year, they have not provided a factual basis for carrying a 1997 NOL all the way forward to their 2003 tax return. For its part, the IRS argues that the Barneses' NOL argument should be rejected because of the dearth of supporting evidence and should not even be considered because the Barneses waited until after trial to raise this contention. We agree with both of the IRS's contentions and so reject the Barneses' NOL argument.
III. Overstatement of Gross Receipts for the Sole Proprietorship
The Barneses claim that a $60,000 check, written by Anheuser-Busch to Influence Entertainment and deposited by Influence Entertainment in its bank account, was erroneously reported in the gross receipts of the sole proprietorship. They contend that only half of the $60,000 was earned by the sole proprietorship and that the other half was earned by Influence Entertainment. To support this contention, the Barneses rely on the June 4, 2003, check from Anheuser-Busch, Inc., and an invoice attached to that check. The check was made out to "Influence Entertainment" for $60,000. A copy of this check, which is canceled, appears to show that it was deposited in a bank account owned by Influence Entertainment, and a bank statement for Influence Entertainment reflects a $60,000 deposit on June 5, 2003. An invoice from Anheuser-Busch, also dated June 4, 2003, was attached to the check. It identifies "Influence Entertainment" as the vendor and lists two items: "Sponsorship Mkt" for $30,000 and "Sponsorship1 Mkt", also for $30,000. According to the Barneses, the fact that Anheuser-Busch divided the total $60,000 payment into two, separate $30,000 invoice items indicates that $30,000 was for services Influence Entertainment rendered and $30,000 was for services the sole proprietorship rendered. Therefore, they contend that the sole proprietorship's income was $30,000 less than the amount they reported on their 2003 return.
The Barneses did not submit evidence on how they calculated the $168,997 that they reported as gross receipts from their sole proprietorship. Consequently, there is insufficient evidence that the $60,000 check was included in the $168,997 amount. Because we find that the Barneses have not satisfied their burden of proof, we sustain the determination of the IRS as to this issue.
IV. Accuracy-Related Penalty
In the notice of deficiency, the IRS determined that the Barneses are liable for a section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty of $10,897. The IRS asserts that this penalty is appropriate because the Barneses substantially understated their income-tax liability for 2003.
Under section 7491(c), the IRS bears the burden of production with respect to penalties. In order to meet this burden, the IRS must come forward with sufficient evidence that it is appropriate to impose a particular penalty.
Section 6662(a) imposes a penalty of 20% of any underpayment attributable to a substantial understatement of income tax. See sec. 6662(a), (b)(2). In general, an understatement of income tax is the excess of the amount required to be shown on the taxpayer's return for a given year over the amount actually shown on the return.
The IRS has satisfied its burden of production. The Barneses understated their 2003 income-tax liability by $54,486.
The Barneses assert a number of defenses. They argue first that they are not liable for a section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty due to a substantial understatement of income tax because there was substantial authority for their failure to reduce basis in the S corporation stock. Any understatement of income tax attributable to a position for which there was substantial authority is excluded in determining whether there was a substantial understatement of income tax.
We find that there was not substantial authority for the Barneses' treatment of their basis in the Whitney stock. The Barneses have not identified any authorities which support their position but have offered only their incorrect interpretation of sections 1366 and 1367. While their interpretation is not frivolous, it is not a sufficiently well-reasoned construction of the applicable statute to qualify as "substantial authority" for their position.
Next, the Barneses assert that they are not liable for an accuracy-related penalty because they acted with reasonable cause and in good faith. The section 6662(a) penalty does not apply to any portion of an underpayment of tax with respect to which there was reasonable cause and the taxpayer acted in good faith. See sec. 6664(c)(1); sec. 1.6664-4(a), Income Tax Regs. Whether the taxpayer acted with reasonable cause and in good faith is determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all pertinent facts and circumstances. Sec. 1.6664-4(b)(1), Income Tax Regs. An honest misunderstanding of fact or law that is reasonable in light of the knowledge, experience, and education of the taxpayer may constitute reasonable cause and good faith.
The Barneses assert that, because the provisions at issue here are complex, their failure to appropriately adjust basis in their Whitney stock was just such a reasonable mistake. However, statutory complexity alone does not constitute reasonable cause.
Finally, the Barneses argue that they are not liable for an accuracy-related penalty because they relied on professional tax advice in preparing their return. Reliance on the advice of a professional adviser may be evidence of reasonable cause and good faith, provided the taxpayer's reliance was reasonable under the circumstances. Sec. 1.6664-4(b)(1), (c)(1), Income Tax Regs. Such reliance is reasonable if the taxpayer can demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, that (1) the adviser was a competent professional with expertise sufficient to justify reliance, (2) the taxpayer provided necessary and accurate information to the adviser, and (3) the taxpayer relied in good faith on the judgment of the adviser.
The Barneses' 2003 return was prepared by an employee of the firm Sakyi & Associates. The Barneses assert on brief that this firm "held itself out as a professional preparer", that they relied on the firm, and that the firm's advice was erroneous. But they did not support these assertions with testimony or documentary evidence. We need not, and do not, conclude from the fact that the Barneses hired Sakyi that the firm was solely responsible for errors on the return: the firm's ability to advise the Barneses and prepare their return may have been limited by inadequate information or erroneous basis calculations from prior tax years. Consequently, we find the Barneses have not carried their burden of proof with respect to their reasonable cause and good faith defense.
We have considered all arguments, and contentions not addressed are meritless, irrelevant, or moot.
To reflect the foregoing,
FootNotes
According to basis calculations the Barneses submitted, they calculated a $22,282 reduction in basis for the 1995 suspended loss in 1996. See infra p. 20.
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