Robert D. Grossman, Jr. - Page 146

                                       - 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 family                





Page:  Previous  79  80  81  82  83  84  85  86  87  88  89  90  91  92  93  94  95  96  97  98  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011