- 23 - Section 1401 imposes a tax on an individual's net earnings from self-employment. Self-employment income consists of gross income from any trade or business carried on by an individual less allowable deductions attributable to the trade or business. Sec. 1402(a). Respondent's determination that petitioner is liable for self-employment tax is presumed to be correct, and petitioner bears the burden of proving that it is erroneous. Rule 142(a); Kasey v. Commissioner, 33 T.C. 656, 660 (1960). At trial, petitioner testified that he was not employed during 1987 and 1988, nor does he recall having a job or an employer from 1980 through 1994. We have found that petitioner had unreported income in 1987 and 1988. Although petitioner has persuaded this Court that he did not earn the unreported income as an employee, he has not met his burden of proving that he did not receive the unreported income from self-employment. Thus, we find that petitioner is liable for self-employment tax on the unreported income as determined by respondent for 1987 and 1988. Issue 4. Additions to Tax Under Section 6654 Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for additions to tax under section 6654(a) for his failure to make estimated tax payments for 1987 and 1988. Subject to exceptions provided by statute, the imposition of the addition to tax is otherwise automatic if the amounts of the withholdings and estimated tax payments do not equal statutorily designated amounts. Niedringhaus v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. at 202; Grosshandler v. Commissioner, 75 T.C. 1, 20-21 (1980).Page: Previous 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011