- 38 - Section 61 includes in income "all income from whatever source derived", including income from an illegal source. James v. United States, 366 U.S. 213, 219-220 (1961); Commissioner v. Glenshaw Glass Co., 348 U.S. 426, 431 (1955). It is well settled that money obtained by means of embezzlement constitutes income to the perpetrator. Money received without recognition of an obligation to repay and without restriction as to its disposition is taxable when it is received, even though the taxpayer may be required to restore the money later. James v. United States, supra; North Am. Oil Consol. v. Burnet, 286 U.S. 417, 424 (1932); Solomon v. Commissioner, 732 F.2d 1459, 1460-1461 (6th Cir. 1984), affg. per curiam T.C. Memo. 1982-603. Moreover, an embezzler must include embezzled funds in income even though the funds are lent or given to another. Bailey v. Commissioner, 420 F.2d 777 (5th Cir. 1969), affg. 52 T.C. 115 (1969) (funds deposited into brother's account); Estate of Geiger v. Commissioner, 352 F.2d 221 (8th Cir. 1965), affg. T.C. Memo. 1964-153 (funds used to make loans and gifts to others); see also United States v. Lippincott, 579 F.2d 551 (10th Cir. 1978). A taxpayer restoring embezzlement income may deduct the repayment in the year repaid. James v. United States, supra at 220. Petitioners' argument that they did not have any unreported income from embezzlement before 1988 is focused on the disposition of the embezzled money after that money was depositedPage: Previous 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011