Martin H. Droz - Page 11

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          Mark IV helmet at issue to the museum.  Nor do they dispute that            
          the museum qualifies as a charitable organization.  The only                
          dispute is the fair market value of that helmet.                            
               Petitioner contends that, as of the date he donated the Mark           
          IV helmet at issue to the museum, its fair market value was                 
          $76,700.  Respondent determined in the notice of deficiency she             
          issued to petitioner for 1991 that petitioner did not substan-              
          tiate the charitable contribution deduction he reported in his              
          1991 return that was based on that claimed value.  On brief,                
          respondent contends that, based on the record in this case, the             
          fair market value of the Mark IV helmet at issue was between $300           
          and $500 as of the time petitioner donated it to the museum.                
               The fair market value of property that is the subject of a             
          charitable contribution is an issue of fact to be determined from           
          an examination of the entire record.  Zmuda v. Commissioner, 79             
          T.C. 714, 726 (1982), affd. 731 F.2d 1417 (9th Cir. 1984).  In              
          arriving at that determination, the Court will weigh its judgment           
          heavily against the taxpayer who is responsible for any deficien-           
          cies in the proof required to substantiate the value claimed.               
          Id.                                                                         
               The only testimonial evidence relating to petitioner's                 
          claimed valuation of the Mark IV helmet at issue is petitioner's            
          testimony.  As stated above, we are unwilling to rely on that               
          testimony.  Even assuming arguendo that we were willing to rely             





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