Ed and Patricia A. Montgomery - Page 13




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          do not find to be reliable.4  Petitioners did not produce a                 
          single item of corroborating evidence, such as a ledger, time               
          log, bank account record, receipt, or invoice.                              
               Petitioners have not shown that petitioner and SFIS were               
          involved in any activity with continuity and regularity, and they           
          have not shown that any of the objective factors enumerated above           
          demonstrate an intent to profit.  We therefore find that SFIS was           
          not engaged in a trade or business and is not entitled to any               
          business expense deductions.  Sec. 162(a); Commissioner v.                  
          Groetzinger, supra.  With no underlying trade or business, SFIS             
          is limited to the deductions allowed by respondent pursuant to              
          section 183(b).  Sec. 183(a), (c).                                          
          Negligence                                                                  
               In the notice of deficiency, respondent determined that                
          petitioners are liable for accuracy-related penalties under                 
          section 6662(a) of $595 in 1996 and $704.40 in 1997.  This                  
          determination is based upon the adjustments made with respect to            
          the disallowed SFIS losses.  By amended answer, respondent seeks            
          to increase the penalties to $1,071 in 1996 and $1,270 in 1997.             
          This increase is based upon the unreported income from the                  
          litigation proceeds.                                                        


          4Petitioner testified that SFIS has been engaged in a                       
          variety of activities, including real estate and sales of pre-              
          paid calling cards, gold coins, “a vitamin-type product that kind           
          of replaces Viagra”, and a “program for debt freedom”.                      






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