- 48 - extent of accepting her reasonably based estimated cost of a speaker system and a receiver. She has claimed no larger costs than we have found, and, in any event, the record does not support our allowing her more. Although we suspect that the actual cost of goods sold was higher, we cannot make that estimate absent a demonstration “that at least the amount allowed in the estimate was in fact spent or incurred for the stated purpose. Until the trier [of fact] has that assurance from the record, relief to the taxpayer would be unguided largesse.” Williams v. United States, 245 F.2d 559, 560 (5th Cir. 1957); see Cohan v. Commissioner, 39 F.2d 540, 543-544 (2d Cir. 1930). Based on the foregoing, we hold that petitioner had unreported sales income from Brian and Ted P. and Howard S. in 1989 of $12,929 (i.e., $18,300 gross receipts less $5,371 in costs of goods sold). Respondent determined that petitioner had unreported income of $300 in 1989 from the sale of tickets and tapes to an individual named David M. In August of 1989, David M. wrote a check to petitioner individually for $300 for the purchase of tickets to the Broadway show “Phantom of the Opera”. Petitioner, however, has provided a receipt showing that she paid $300 for those tickets. She accordingly has no unreported income from thePage: Previous 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 Next
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