- 18 - accounting does not clearly reflect income, then the method used shall be the method, which, in the Commissioner’s opinion, clearly reflects income. Sec. 446(b); see Palmer v. United States, supra at 1312. Respondent is afforded great latitude in determining a taxpayer’s liability and is entitled to use any reasonable method to reconstruct a taxpayer’s income, especially where a petitioner refuses to cooperate in ascertaining her income. Petzoldt v. Commissioner, supra; Giddio v. Commissioner, 54 T.C. 1530, 1533 (1970). Petitioner did not provide any evidence regarding her liability, and respondent was able to acquire petitioner’s bank records only by summons. Respondent used the bank deposits method to determine that petitioner earned the income attributed to her in the statutory notices of deficiency for 1999 and 2000. “Where the Commissioner’s method of calculating income is rationally based, courts afford a presumption of correctness to the Commissioner’s determination.” Palmer v. United States, supra at 1312. “The use of the bank deposit method for computing income has long been sanctioned by the courts.” Estate of Mason v. Commissioner, 64 T.C. 651, 656 (1975)(and cases cited thereat), affd. 566 F.2d 2 (6th Cir. 1977). “A bank deposit is prima facie evidence of income, and respondent need not prove a likely source of that income.” Tokarski v. Commissioner, 87 T.C.Page: Previous 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011