It’s been a busy day for Ch J Kathleen (“TBS = The Big Shillelagh”) Kerrigan. After having cleared the QR codes for Glasshouse attendees, she announces the online arrival of posttrial briefs filed by Tax Court admittees and amici on and after 8/1/23. Drag-and-drop, here we come!

All hands, remember Rule 27: redact, redact, redact.

Earlier filings available from the Tax Court Copycats.

Perhaps my focus on chops (that is, penalties) has been too acute of late. It is possible to take a topic to the point of weariness, if not obsession. And I recognize that my readers have other and different issues to occupy their attention.

Still and all, is it only today’s vagaries of the Genius Baristas of Dawson’s Creek, that have blotted out the link to register for Judge Buch’s discovery seminar, as well as the transcript of his off-the-bencher in Michaelene J. Formanack, Docket No. 12846-22L, filed 5/5/23?

A docket search shows there were 18 (count ’em, 18) pages of transcript, detailing the $7500 Section 6673 chop, and the one-for-two Section 6702s. But none appear on the public opinions website, only the order directing Ms. Servoss to lay the bad news upon Michaelene.

Word to the Genius Baristas: Forget Bit.ly, and put the registration link where it will work. And put up the entire transcript of Judge Buch’s opinion in Michaelene’s case. Judge Buch deserves much better at your hands.

Edited to add: The opinion in Michaelene J Formanack is only 14 (count ’em, fourteen) pages, and the Genius Baristas found the handle, so it’s online now. IRS couldn’t find some documents, so one Section 6702 chop goes by the board, but Section 6702s for a Form 843 refund claim and a 1040X all-zeros are sustained, and Michaelene has a long record of protester jiving, so $7500 chop.

Still no registration link for 5/31/23.

It’s near enough thirty-five years since President Reagan left office, but his famous catchphrase lives on. “The seven most dangerous words in our language” are first set forth at the head hereof. IRS finds this out today once again, as Judge Morrison quashes beyond resuscitation IRS’ subpoena to one Steven Perlstein.

The case is Kirk Stevens & Shannon Stevens, Docket No. 2824-20, filed 5/4/23.

I’ve no idea who Mr. Perlstein might be, or what role, if any, he plays in Kirk’s & Shannon’s drama, nor does Judge Morrison tell us. But Kirk & Shannon definitely want Mr. Perlstein sequestered, impounded, and removed far from the clutches of the agents of the fisc.

“Petitioners seek an order from the Court quashing the subpoena. Petitioners seek other relief, to wit: finding that the Perlstein subpoena is invalid;  prohibiting respondent from further communications with Perlstein; prohibiting respondent from communicating that it might issue a subpoena to any foreign person or preparing and providing a subpoena to any foreign person; requiring respondent to answer the questions set forth in paragraph 24 of the motion and any other questions that the Court determines are necessary to evaluate respondent’s actions; and such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.” Order, at p. 1.

And that’s just for starters.

“… petitioners additionally request the Court exclude and prevent respondent from using in any manner in this case Perlstein’s informal interview, 148 pages of documents obtained by respondent from by Perlstein and described in the Reply (and any other statements, documents or information respondent might have obtained from Perlstein); and exclude the report of respondent’s expert, Dr. Levy,  because of its alleged extensive reliance on the allegedly improperly obtained interview from Perlstein.” Order, at p. 2.

Sounds like Mr. Perlstein spilled enough beans to put Heinz out of business.

IRS folds. They just wanted to help.

“Respondent concedes that the subpoena is unenforceable and claims that it was issued only so that Perlstein’s cost of traveling to the place of trial would qualify for reimbursement by respondent under respondent’s internal policies.” Order, at p. 1.

Makes sense, because Mr. Perlstein is residing in Israel, and place of trial is San Francisco, CA. Perlstein could blow all his frequent flyer miles and then some.

Howbeit, subpoena quashed, ruling reserved on the rest of the relief sought.

And No Registration Link

Those making personal appearances at The Glasshouse in the Stateless City need no longer provide personal information via the Denso Wave. Admin Order 2023-1 goes into effect today, May 5, 2023.

And the Bit.ly registration link for Judge Ronald L. (“Ingenuity”) Buch’s long-awaited discovery webinar is broken. Sign up however you can. The fun starts 5/31/23.

Edited to add: QR is dead, long live QR! The Bit.ly link for Judge Buch’s webinar is still broken, but you can register via the QR code on the downloadable flyer.

Judge Ronald L. (“Ingenuity”) Buch, a brilliant lawyer, seems a modern-day descendant of Mark Twain’s lawyer-hero David Wilson. More so as David Wilson, Esq., was a citizen of Dawson’s Landing, and Judge Buch works out of Dawson’s Creek.

I draw the parallel because, beside legal acumen and outside-the-box thinking, Judge Buch, like Pudd’nhead Wilson, finds that “now and then a merchant got him to straighten out his books.” The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson, Ch. II.

Like Wilson’s heroic courtroom rescue of the Capello twins, Judge Buch rescues Faysal Warfa & Aisha Ibrahim, Docket No. 7562-19, filed 5/4/23 from some of Faysal’s sloppy bookkeeping.

To avoid any political inference being drawn, as this is a firmly nonpolitical blog, I will not talk about people like Faysal being those who made this country, including without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, my own ancestors and those, no doubt, of my readers, or the need for similar takers of entrepreneurial risks and willingness to work hard and long.

You can read Faysal’s CV at Transcript, pp. 4-5.

As usual, Faysal’s bookkeeping lagged behind his endeavors. People who build countries generally are too busy to keep books. And those who bankroll them, like Mr. Mowlid Hussein, tell somewhat sketchy tales of cash in envelopes, and then change their stories when the cash is too big to fit in the usual #10. Transcript, at p. 9.

Still, there are enough credible tales and bank statements to shore up Faysal’s story about his Ethiopian real estate and construction business that got halted by political instability.  So not all the money Faysal got was his, and therefore unreported income.

But Faysal couldn’t prove it all, despite his modest lifestyle (rented homes, a 2011 GMC truck in MN; must be the ultimate rustbucket), and no proof of reasonable cause. Judge Buch saves what he can, but the Rule 155 beancount may result in Section 6662(a) chops for Faysal & Aisha.

Fortunately for Jacob Bright, Docket No. 10095-22, filed 5/4/23, though his recordkeeping was defective, and the bespoke preparer to whom he turned for his unreviewed return for year at issue shunted Jake’s return to the preparer’s daughter, who was better at fiction than tax preparation, Jake hits the jackpot when Judge Ronald L. (“Ingenuity”) Buch takes Jake’s case.

Judge Ingenuity Buch, with diligence exemplified by such a distinguished career as his, and ingenuity that can only be applauded, wades through W-2Gs, and miscellaneous receipts from such high-class venues as Mystic Lake Casino, Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Minnesota, and Diamond Jo Worth Casino in Iowa. Transcript, at p. 4.

Jake gambled to supplement his income as a storm damage repairer, with the usual result. “His bank account records show that his account frequently had a low or negative balance in [year at issue]. Mr.  Bright recognizes and regrets the negative effect that gambling has had on his life.” Transcript, at p. 4.

Judge Buch wades through casino records, even though recognizing that slot wins below $1200 don’t make it onto the tallies. Jake was primarily a slotshot, the worst form of gambler, though he did bet sports and blackjack.

Out of the morass, Judge Ingenuity Buch finds the path trod by the Cohanim.

“Although the casino records do not capture the full picture, they provide a sufficient basis upon which we can make an estimate.  Because each casino’s records report Mr. Bright’s activity in a different way, our estimation method differs per casino.” Transcript, at p. 12.

At close of play, Jake is stuck with the winnings the preparer’s daughter put on the return he didn’t review, but he has $191,756 of losses allowed, and IRS drops the Section 6662 chops.

I know it would be shockingly illegal and Judge Buch would never think of it, but if Jake tips the dealers and the servers at the casinos, he should definitely tip out Judge Buch. Or maybe make an appropriate charitable donation. And join GA: twelve steps save lives.

Put the mint jelly (or the applesauce) back in the ZeroKing. Judge James S (“Big Jim) Halpern has taken the chop off the menu. For the vórspeise, see my blogpost “Why The Chop?” 3/13/23.

The trusty attorney for Alberto Delgado & Virginia Delgado, Docket No. 13919-19S, filed 5/4/23, fessed up “… that at least one of their arguments lacked merit: ‘Petitioners . . . alleged (in error) that the validity of the Notice was called into question under Scar because the Notice failed to identify the source of the $25,312 in unreported income reflected therein.’ (Emphasis added.).” Order, at p. 1.(Apostrophes as in original).

Petitioners and trusty attorney further replied to Judge Big Jim’s OSC: “Nevertheless, they claim: ‘[T]hey had genuine doubts about the validity and genesis of the deficiency reflected in the Notice. On the assumption that the Court might disagree, they argue: ‘Petitioners’ case fits those cases in which the Penalty’s deterrent purpose is best achieved via a warning rather than a punitive fine.” Order, at p. 1. (Apostrophes as in original).

So just this once, Judge Big Jim relents.

“We will, in this instance, give petitioners the benefit of the doubt and not impose upon them an I.R.C. section 6673(a)(1) penalty.” Order, at p. 2.

I’m not claiming that said trusty attorney, much less Judge Big Jim, reads my blog. I have neither pride of authorship nor claim to any authority, however attenuated.

But I can say I’m happy with the result.

Noel Coward’s 1942 classic gives me today’s title. Getting a partnership interest in exchange neither for cash nor property, but for services rendered or to be rendered is taxable to the recipient per Section 721, unless Rev. Proc. 93-27, 1993-2 C.B. 343, intervenes. That promulgation provides that if only a profits interest, and not a capital interest, is bestowed on the servant, no taxable gain results.

A profits interest supposes that, were the partnership liquidated eo instante as the grant of the partnership interest to servant, the servant would get nothing. This is the source of the famous “carried interest” beloved of hedgefundies.

Judge Christian N. (“Speedy”) Weiler recognizes ES NPA Holding, LLC, Joseph NPA investment, LLC, Tax Matters Partner, T.C. Memo. 2023-55, filed 5/3/23, as the good and faithful servant when it gets an interest in some consumer lending operations.

It’s a rather complicated buy of Joshus, a/k/a Joshua, s/a/k/a Josh Landy’s (no apparent relation of STJ Adam B. (“Sport”) Landy) operations, whereby ES gets 30% of the restructured bundle. Judge Speedy Weiler needs a couple diagrams (hi, Judge Holmes) to tell the tale, so see T. C. Memo. 2023-55, at pp. 4-7.

If the Islanders had run these plays, they might still be in the playoffs.

Howbeit, the whole question is what was the worth of the bundle as restructured with ES onboard, having contributed neither cash nor property.

IRS claims ES provided no services, and if it did, it got a profits interest because its share was worth a lot more than ES claimed, hence cash out at liquidation.

ES claims Section 7491 BoP shift, but Judge Speedy Weiler speedily shifts to preponderance of evidence, and ES wins anyway.

ES did provide services.

“Considering the text of Revenue Procedure 93-27 § 4, the evidence supports a finding that ES NPA directly (or through its principals), before and after formation, provided services to or for the benefit of the partnership in a partner capacity or in anticipation of being a partner. It is undisputed that the material assets of this partnership are held in NPA, LLC, and the activities ES NPA performed were to and for the benefit of the future partnership. It is of no material consequence that ES NPA’s interest in NPA, LLC is held indirectly through IDS, which is a mere conduit since the liquidation rights in the class C units in both IDS and NPA, LLC are identical. This partnership came about only through ES NPA and NPA, Inc.’s joint ownership of IDS and their ownership interest in NPA, LLC. Other relevant elements here evidencing that the application of Revenue Procedure 93-27 is proper are the presence of entrepreneurial risk and the receipt of a profits interest in the capacity as a partner. Thus, it is entirely reasonable to conclude that ES NPA’s receipt of the class C units meets the intended parameters of Revenue Procedure 93-27 § 4.” T. C. Memo. 2023-55, at p. 12.

OK, but what was the partnership worth at the instant ES got its interest? Our old pal willing buyer and BFF willing seller come in holding hands. It falls to judges to weigh, balance, learn, mark, and inwardly digest the lucubrations of dueling experts.

But Joshus-Joshua-Josh got on the stand, and we should all have such witnesses, whatever their names are.

“Determining credibility is the province of the Court, and we find the testimony of Mr. Landy, a neutral third-party regarding the nature of the transaction at issue, to be credible and unbiased. We find nothing in the record to dispute a finding that the transaction was arm’s-length and bona fide. We decline to adopt respondent’s expert’s opinion of value.” T. C. Memo. 2023-55, at p. 16.

Value zero. ES wins deficiency, and chops go by the board. Moreover, if you’re setting up, or defending, a carried-interest case, this opinion has good stuff.

It was a Torts 101 standby in my young day (and probably still is). In damage suits by persons bitten by an alleged vicious dog, the owner/defendant was allowed to prove that the dog had never bitten anyone before, hence the owner was not on notice of the dog’s alleged propensity, so not required to curb same.

My readers, probably as bored as I am with my retelling of the random imposition of (or refraining from imposing) Section 6673 frivolity chops, have probably already begun rolling their eyes as I tell the tale of Tammy Louise Blaszak, Docket No. 34180-21, filed 5/2/23, an off-the-bencher from STJ Peter (“HB”) Panuthos.

Tammy Louise is one who “advances frivolous constitutional and statutory arguments that her wages are not income subject to federal income tax purposes and that because of her status as a ‘state national’, the IRS does not have any authority over her.” Transcript, at p. 8.

Of course STJ Panuthos “advised petitioner that she might become liable for a penalty under section 6673 and explained the circumstances for the application of that penalty. Despite the Court’s admonishment, petitioner has persisted.” Transcript, at p. 8.

No Section 6673 chop, however.

 IRS asks for and gets the Section 6662(a) five-and-ten if the Rule 155 beancount bears it out.

I note STJ Panuthos didn’t impose the Section 6673 frivolity chop, notwithstanding that “(I)n a prior order, served August 18, 2022, petitioner was admonished for advancing frivolous arguments and we noted that petitioner was involved in a federal district court case in the Western District of Michigan where she was again warned for making similar frivolous arguments.  Blaszak v. United States, No. 1:21-CV-1093, (W.D. Mich. June 10, 2022).” Transcript, at p. 8.

I did note Judge Buch’s grant of a bye to George Luniw, notwithstanding his extensive frivolity record, 5/2/23. See my blogpost “Please Read My Blog,” 4/18/23. And for Judge James S (“Big Jim”) Halpern’s OSC without warning to trusty attorney for the Delgados for some unspecified “intercourse” with IRS at exam, see my blogpost “Why the Chop?” 3/13/23.

Again I have to beg that I be not misunderstood. Judges have to run their own courtrooms. Disruptive behavior and timewasting maneuvers need to be squelched on the spot. I don’t like restrictive guidelines proposed by those who never tried a case to a verdict or represented a live client. But I would propose a one-bite rule for frivolites: one clear warning, explaining the reasons and the consequences for further clowning. If no repentance, then the chop.

Interest on US Savings Bonds is taxable. This should surprise no one, but Anthony Vennard Hitchman, T. C. Sum. Op. 2023-18, filed 5/2/23, thought the bond he inherited from his late father got a step-up in basis for the interest accrued thereon, so he only owed the interest accrued from when he inherited until when he cashed it in.

STJ Diana L (“Sidewalks of New York”) Leyden puts Anthony wise.

“Interest on U.S. savings bonds is fully taxable. Treas. Reg. § 1.61-7(b)(3). A taxpayer who owns a U.S. savings bond can elect to report the income on his federal income tax return. Id. Under section 454(a) a bond owner for whom the entire interest is includible in income at the maturity of the bond may elect to treat the annual interest as income. An election is made simply by including the interest as income on a tax return, and that election is binding for all subsequent years. I.R.C.  § 454(a). If no such election is made, the interest accumulates, and when the bond matures, the accumulated interest is taxable in the year the bond matures or is redeemed. I.R.C. § 454(c) (flush language).” T. C. Sum. Op. 2023-18, at p. 5.

His late father never having so elected (Taishoff says “who does?”), Anthony gets hit for the whole boat.