Eugene D. Lanier, Inc. - Page 13

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               Petitioners bear the burden of proving that respondent's               
          determination of FMV is incorrect.1  Rule 142(a); Estate of                 
          Gilford v. Commissioner, 88 T.C. 38, 51 (1987); Burbage v.                  
          Commissioner, 82 T.C. 546, 560 (1984), affd. 774 F.2d 644 (4th              
          Cir. 1985).  A transaction between a sole shareholder and his               
          corporation is not an arm's-length transaction and is subject to            
          special scrutiny.  Ingle Coal Corp. v. Commissioner, 174 F.2d               
          569, 571 (7th Cir. 1949), affg. 10 T.C. 1199 (1948); Estate of              
          Schneider v. Commissioner, 88 T.C. 906, 938 (1987), affd. 855               
          F.2d 435 (7th Cir. 1988); Yamamoto v. Commissioner, 73 T.C. 946,            
          954 (1980), affd. without published opinion 672 F.2d 924 (9th               
          Cir. 1982).                                                                 
               Respondent now contends that the Corporation is deemed to              
          have recognized income under section 311 in the amount of                   
          $196,532 due to the sale of the Property ($620,000 FMV less the             
          Corporation's adjusted basis).  Respondent also argues that the             
          Laniers must recognize additional income under sections 301 and             
          316 in the amount of $195,000 ($620,000 FMV less the purchase               
          price).  Petitioners, on the other hand, maintain that the FMV of           
          the Property was $425,000.  On that basis, petitioners argue that           
          they did not receive a constructive dividend.  Petitioners                  

               1  In response to petitioners' argument, we observe that the           
          fact that respondent has reduced the claimed valuation of the               
          Property from that set forth in the notices of deficiency,                  
          without more, does not suffice to relieve petitioners of the                
          burden of proof on this issue.  Estate of Smith v. Commissioner,            
          57 T.C. 650, 656 (1972), affd. 510 F.2d 479 (2d Cir. 1975).                 




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