Jerry S. Payne - Page 12




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                                       OPINION                                        
          I.  Burden of Proof                                                         
               A.  Introduction                                                       
               Petitioner’s argument that respondent bears the burden of              
          proof with respect to the constructive dividend and liquidating             
          dividend issues ostensibly raises two additional issues:  (1)               
          whether such argument, initially set forth in petitioner’s post-            
          trial opening brief, is timely and (2), if timely, whether it is            
          sustainable on the ground that respondent’s determinations are              
          arbitrary and, therefore, invalid.  For the reasons set forth in            
          subsections B and C of this section I, we find it unnecessary to            
          resolve those issues or even to assign the burden of proof with             
          respect to the constructive dividend and liquidating dividend               
          issues.                                                                     
               B.  The Constructive Dividend and Liquidating Dividend                 
               Issues Are Resolved on the Basis of Agreed Facts                       
               The facts upon which we base our decision with respect to              
          both the constructive dividend and liquidating dividend issues              
          are not in dispute.                                                         
                    1.  Constructive Dividend Issue                                   
               In the notice, respondent determined that petitioner                   
          received constructive dividends equal to the entire amount                  
          charged to 2618's general ledger account entitled “Business                 
          Promotion/Travel”.  Respondent has conceded the deductibility of            
          the amounts charged to that account in excess of amounts                    





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