- 14 - petitioner concedes that the burden of proof normally rests with the taxpayer. See Rule 142(a). Petitioner argues, however: This presumption of correctness does not apply and the burden of proof shifts to respondent where there is a showing by a petitioner that the determination of the deficiency set forth in the notice of deficiency was arbitrarily made. With respect to respondent's notice of deficiency for 1987, petitioner claims: "Respondent lost petitioner's 1987 tax return and calculated the 1987 notice of deficiency arbitrarily without knowledge of the actual income reported or taxes paid by petitioner in 1987." Petitioner claims that respondent's notice of deficiency is arbitrary and therefore should not be afforded the usual presumption of correctness. In addressing that contention, we note that the courts generally will not look behind the Commissioner's determination, even if it is based on hearsay or other evidence inadmissible at trial. Anastasato v. Commissioner, 794 F.2d 884, 886-887 (3d Cir. 1986), vacating T.C. Memo. 1985-101; Dellacroce v. Commissioner, 83 T.C. 269, 280 (1984); Suarez v. Commissioner, 58 T.C. 792, 813 (1972). However, where the notice of deficiency is shown to be arbitrary, that is sufficient to find for the taxpayer unless respondent adequately cures such arbitrariness. Helvering v. Taylor, 293 U.S. 507 (1935). Consequently, under the Rule in Golsen v. Commissioner, 54 T.C. 742 (1970), affd. 445 F.2d 985 (10th Cir. 1971), in cases appealable to the Court of Appeals for the ThirdPage: Previous 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Next
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