- 89 - economic benefits from the corporation without expectation of payment therefor, Ireland v. United States, 621 F.2d at 735; United States v. Smith, 418 F.2d 589, 593 (5th Cir. 1969), and opinions there cited, and whether the company-provided benefits made available to the shareholders were primarily of a personal nature rather than in the business interests of the corporation. Ireland v. United States, 621 F.2d at 735; Loftin and Woodard, Inc. v. United States, 577 F.2d at 1215-1217. The fact that certain payments are not deductible by a corporation as business expenses, does not automatically result in income to that corporation’s shareholder. The disallowed expenses also must represent an economic gain or benefit to the shareholder. See Dolese v. United States, 605 F.2d 1146, 1152 (10th Cir. 1979); Falsetti v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 332, 356-357 (1985); Ashby v. Commissioner, 50 T.C. 409, 418 (1968). Whether a shareholder received a constructive dividend is a question of fact. Loftin and Woodard, Inc. v. United States, 577 F.2d at 1215. See generally, Bittker and Eustice, Federal Income Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders, par. 8.05[8] at 8-48 (6th ed. 1994). The disputed items we deal with in the fraud portion of the opinion are predominantly travel expenses. Where respondent has succeeded in establishing that the travel was by petitioner, Betsy, and the children to a vacation resort or for a familyPage: Previous 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 Next
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