Kamil F. and Nagwa Gowni - Page 31

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          also Estate of Mason v. Commissioner, 64 T.C. 651, 656 (1975),              
          affd. 566 F.2d 2 (6th Cir. 1977).  When a taxpayer fails to keep            
          adequate books and records, the Commissioner is authorized to               
          determine the existence and amount of the taxpayer’s income by              
          any method that clearly reflects income.  Sec. 446(b); Mallette             
          Bros. Const. Co. v. United States, 695 F.2d 145, 148 (5th Cir.              
          1983); Webb v. Commissioner, 394 F.2d 366, 371-372 (5th Cir.                
          1968), affg. T.C. Memo. 1966-81; see also Holland v. United                 
          States, 348 U.S. 121, 131-132 (1954).  The Commissioner’s                   
          reconstruction of a taxpayer’s income need only be reasonable in            
          light of all surrounding facts and circumstances.  Schroeder v.             
          Commissioner, 40 T.C. 30, 33 (1963); see also Giddio v.                     
          Commissioner, 54 T.C. 1530, 1533 (1970).  The Commissioner is               
          given latitude in determining which method of reconstruction to             
          apply when taxpayers fail to maintain adequate books and records.           
          Boyett v. Commissioner, 204 F.2d 205, 208 (5th Cir. 1953), affg.            
          a Memorandum Opinion of this Court dated Mar. 14, 1951; Kenney v.           
          Commissioner, 111 F.2d 374, 375 (5th Cir. 1940), affg. a                    
          Memorandum Opinion of this Court dated July 28, 1938; Petzoldt v.           
          Commissioner, 92 T.C. 661, 693 (1989).  The method of                       
          reconstruction employed by the Commissioner is not invalidated              
          solely because the Commissioner’s income determination may not be           
          completely correct.  DiLeo v. Commissioner, supra at 868; see               
          also Marcello v. Commissioner, 380 F.2d 494, 497 (5th Cir. 1967),           






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