Don C. and Judy Montgomery - Page 20

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             items.  As a result of respondent's concessions, there is                
             no deficiency for 1990.                                                  
                  In their post-trial briefs, petitioners argue that                  
             respondent's determination that petitioner received                      
             unreported income from H&B "is inherently arbitrary and                  
             excessive on its face".  Petitioners argue that                          
             respondent's determination is therefore not entitled to the              
             presumption of correctness, and respondent bears the burden              
             of proving "that the petitioners had unreported income."                 
                  Generally, a taxpayer bears the burden of proving                   
             that the Commissioner's determination of a deficiency is                 
             erroneous.  See Rule 142(a).  All Rule references are to                 
             the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.  However,                 
             in a case such as this, in which the Commissioner                        
             determines that a taxpayer realized unreported income,                   
             the Commissioner must provide a minimal evidentiary                      
             foundation for the deficiency determination before the                   
             presumption of correctness attaches to it.  See Erickson                 
             v. Commissioner, 937 F.2d 1548, 1551 (10th Cir. 1991),                   
             affg. T.C. Memo. 1989-552; Weimerskirch v. Commissioner,                 
             596 F.2d 358, 361 (9th Cir. 1979), revg. 67 T.C. 672                     
             (1977); Herbert v. Commissioner, 377 F.2d 65, 71 (9th Cir.               
             1966), revg. T.C. Memo. 1964-223; Estate of Dickerson v.                 
             Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1997-165; Siebert v. Commissioner,              





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