Curt K. Cowles, Petitioner-appellant, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent-appellee, 949 F.2d 401 (10th Cir. 1991)

This is an appeal from the tax court's determination of substantial tax liability for the years 1979 and 1982 and imposition of various tax penalties for the year 1982. The primary issue for our review is whether the transactions entered into between Mr. Cowles and the partnership had economic substance or whether they were sham transactions designed to produce tax deductions for the investor, Mr. Cowles.

We agree with the tax court's analysis the transactions had no economic substance, and it is clear from the record Mr. Cowles could not and did not have any realistic, legitimate nontax financial or business purpose for investing in the partnership as structured. Therefore, we AFFIRM the tax court's ruling.

Because we uphold the tax court's decision based on its finding a sham transaction, we do not discuss its holding with regard to the Rule-of-78's accounting issue. However, we do agree with the tax court on all its rulings. Consequently, we also AFFIRM the tax court's imposition of various tax penalties under I.R.C. §§ 6661, 6653, and 6621.