Miriam Lawrence - Page 24

                                                 - 24 -24                                                     
            case, what the Appeals officer considered to be critical                                      
            information was not provided to Agent Red.  Haddad's reports were                             
            not prepared until after the close of Agent Red's examinations.                               
                  Petitioners contend that a similar issue, involving items of                            
            omitted income, was raised and conceded by the Government in a                                
            prior examination of Abraham's income tax return for an earlier                               
            year.  Petitioners argue that it was unreasonable for respondent                              
            to once again pursue the issue.  There is nothing in the record,                              
            however, that indicates the level of Abraham's cooperation during                             
            a prior examination or what explanations were provided.  In any                               
            event, our view of the significance of a prior examination                                    
            differs from petitioners'.  We note that in his July 23, 1991,                                
            initial appointment letter to the Abrahams, Agent Red                                         
            acknowledged that it might be unproductive to examine matters                                 
            that had been previously considered and resolved.  We do not view                             
            unexplained bank deposits to fit within the category of                                       
            previously examined matters referred to in that letter.                                       
                  Petitioners' attack on the reasonableness of respondent's                               
            position is severely undermined by their failure to cooperate                                 
            with Agent Red during the examinations.  Cf. Inman v.                                         
            Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1996-16.  Agent Red requested, and was                               
            entitled to receive, explanations for the transactions reflected                              









Page:  Previous  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011