Boneparte v. Comm'r

2015 T.C. Memo. 128, 110 T.C.M. 39, 2015 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 136
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJuly 13, 2015
DocketDocket No. 2452-14
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2015 T.C. Memo. 128 (Boneparte v. Comm'r) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Boneparte v. Comm'r, 2015 T.C. Memo. 128, 110 T.C.M. 39, 2015 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 136 (tax 2015).

Opinion

JAMES BONEPARTE, JR., Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Boneparte v. Comm'r
Docket No. 2452-14
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 2015-128; 2015 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 136;
July 13, 2015, Filed

Decision will be entered for respondent.

*136 James Boneparte, Jr., Pro se.
Kathleen K. Raup, for respondent.
KERRIGAN, Judge.

KERRIGAN
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

KERRIGAN, Judge: Respondent determined a deficiency of $13,187 and a penalty of $2,637 under section 6662(a) with respect to petitioner's Federal income tax for tax year 2010. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code (Code) in effect for the year at issue, and all Rule *129 references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. We round all monetary amounts to the nearest dollar.

After concessions,1*137 the issues for consideration are whether petitioner: (1) was a professional gambler during 2010, entitling him to deduct his gambling losses and expenses on his amended Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business; (2) was entitled to deductions on his amended Schedule A for medical transportation expenses under section 213(a) and for $25,000 of gambling losses; (3) is entitled to deduct several nonbusiness bad debts; (4) is liable for a 10% additional tax under section 72(t); and (5) is liable for an accuracy-related penalty under section 6662(a).

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts are stipulated and are so found. Petitioner received mail at a post office box in New Jersey at the time the petition was filed.

Petitioner was employed full time by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) as a tunnel bridge agent. During 2010 he generally *130 worked from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., working four days on, two days off, four days on, two days off, five days on, two days off.

Petitioner did not maintain a permanent residence. Instead, he kept a storage locker in New Jersey where he would keep his personal belongings. Generally, after his shift at the Port Authority was over, he would drive approximately 125 miles to Atlantic City and check in at a casino hotel to stay the night and gamble. If he had work at the Port Authority the next day, he would depart at 10 a.m. to return to the Port Authority to perform his duties.

During 2010 petitioner gambled in casinos and at horse racetracks.*138 At the casinos his preferred game was baccarat, but he also played slots as well as other table games. He gambled primarily in Atlantic City, but he also gambled at other venues across New Jersey, Nevada, California, Arizona, Maryland, Florida, and Connecticut. He did not keep a contemporaneous written log of wins and losses for any of his gambling activities. Rather, he would keep a running ledger in his head. Some of the casinos would also track his gambling activity, but they would provide only averages over time rather than precise amounts.

While petitioner was gambling in Atlantic City, he became friends with another frequent gambler. The two would discuss strategy, and the friend taught *131 petitioner about some aspects of the gambling world. They would travel together to various destinations to gamble.

On August 25, 2010, petitioner fractured his right wrist while at the Port Authority. Although he was unable to work for the rest of the year, he continued to receive his full salary because he was injured on the job. Petitioner's wrist injury required a visit to the emergency room on the day of the injury and at least 10 more visits to the hospital for treatment. With respect to his*139 wrist injury, petitioner's employer's insurance paid his medical bills but not his transportation costs. Petitioner also visited the dentist in 2010.

During 2010 petitioner defaulted on a loan of $12,178 from his qualified retirement plan.

Original 2010 Tax Return

Petitioner timely filed his 2010 Form 1040. He reported income of $92,310. This income comprised $76,779 from his wages, $3,353 from his tax refund, and $12,178 as a deemed distribution from his qualified retirement plan. He did not report any gambling winnings. He claimed various Schedule A deductions totaling $66,297. These deductions included a medical expense deduction, a home mortgage interest deduction, a State and local tax deduction, a charitable contribution deduction, and miscellaneous deductions. He did not deduct any *132 gambling losses. He reported a total tax liability of $4,156. This liability included a 10% additional tax under section 72(t) of $1,218 for the deemed retirement plan distribution.

On September 4, 2012, respondent sent petitioner a letter explaining that petitioner's 2010 tax return had been selected for audit and requesting documentation to support the claimed Schedule A deductions.

Amended 2010 Tax Return

On September*140

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2015 T.C. Memo. 128, 110 T.C.M. 39, 2015 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 136, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/boneparte-v-commr-tax-2015.