Chandler v. Commissioner

1993 T.C. Memo. 512, 66 T.C.M. 1214, 1993 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 523
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Chandler v. Commissioner. Read the opinion of the Court — 62 T.C.M. 634
United States Tax Court·Decided November 9, 1993·No. Docket No. 26425-91·Unpublished

Opinion

EVERETT A. CHANDLER, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Chandler v. Commissioner
Docket No. 26425-91
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1993-512; 1993 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 523; 66 T.C.M. (CCH) 1214;
November 9, 1993, Filed

*523 Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

Everett A. Chandler, pro se.
J. Scott Broome, for respondent.
GUSSIS

GUSSIS

MEMORANDUM OPINION

GUSSIS, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of section 7443A(b)(3) and Rules 180, 181 and 182. All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the year in issue. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's 1987 Federal income tax in the amount of $ 3,104 and additions to tax under section 6651(a) in the amount of $ 182 and under section 6653(a)(1)(A) and (B) in the amounts of $ 294 and 50 percent of the interest due on $ 3,026, respectively.

The issues for decision are: (1) Whether petitioner received unreported Schedule C income of $ 8,153.78; (2) whether petitioner is subject to additional self-employment tax pursuant to section 1401; (3) whether petitioner is entitled to Schedule C deductions in amounts greater than those conceded by respondent; (4) whether petitioner is entitled to Schedule A deductions in amounts greater than those conceded by respondent; (5) whether petitioner is liable for a section *524 6651(a) addition to tax; and (6) whether petitioner is liable for the section 6653(a)(1)(A) and (B) additions to tax for negligence.

Some of the facts have been stipulated and they are so found. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated by this reference. At the time the petition herein was filed petitioner resided in Cleveland, Ohio.

Petitioner was an attorney in 1987. He reported gross income of $ 25,000 on Schedule C of the joint return filed with his wife. Respondent determined that petitioner had additional Schedule C income in the amount of $ 8,153.78. Petitioner has the burden of showing that respondent's determination is incorrect. Rule 142(a).

Section 446(b) grants to respondent the authority to recompute a taxpayer's income if the method used by the taxpayer in determining his other taxable income does not clearly reflect income. Pursuant to the authority granted in section 446(b), respondent used the bank deposit method of calculating income and determined that petitioner received additional Schedule C income of $ 8,153.78. The bank deposit method is an acceptable method for recomputing income. Parks v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 654, 658 (1990).*525 Petitioner argues generally that the $ 8,153.78 is not income, but rather represents campaign contributions he received and used for campaigning during a bid for a Cleveland Municipal Court judgeship. He also contends in a conclusory manner that some portion of this amount represented proceeds generated in the course of his law practice. Taxpayers are required to keep records sufficient to determine their income tax liability. Sec. 6001. Petitioner, however, offered no documentation whatsoever to substantiate his arguments. With respect to the purported campaign contributions, he testified that he could not find his records for 1987, and that he was unable to obtain documentation from the County Board of Elections verifying the amount of campaign contributions he received. Petitioner gave no persuasive explanation for his inability to obtain his campaign records from the County Board of Elections. Under these circumstances, we are not required to accept petitioner's uncorroborated self-serving testimony, Tokarski v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 74, 77 (1986). On this record, we find that petitioner received additional unreported Schedule C income in*526 1987 in the amount of $ 8,153.78. Respondent is sustained.

Respondent disallowed Schedule A miscellaneous expenses claimed by petitioner in the amount of $ 3,784.75. Petitioner offered no persuasive evidence with respect to an item of $ 81 included in miscellaneous expenses. Respondent is therefore sustained as to this item. The remaining disallowed deductions of $ 3,703.75 include an expenditure of $ 203.75 attributable to petitioner's wife. The unreimbursed expenses consist of vehicle expenses and moneys expended for parking, tolls, and local transportation. Respondent concedes that the amount of $ 203.75 is deductible. Respondent maintains that petitioner has failed to substantiate the remaining $ 3,500 in unreimbursed employee expenses. For years after 1985, a deduction for transportation expenses is allowed only if the taxpayer meets the strict substantiation requirements of section 274(d). See Holmes v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1993-387. To prevail, petitioner must substantiate each separate expenditure for the use of automobile and related transportation costs, the amount of business use and total use (i.e., mileage) of the automobile, *527 the date of the expenditure or use, and the business purpose for the expenditure or use. Sec. 1.274-5T(b)(6), Temporary Income Tax Regs., 50 Fed. Reg. 46016 (Nov. 6, 1985). It is evident on this record that petitioner has failed to meet the requisite substantiation requirements with respect to his transportation costs. The only evidence introduced at trial to support petitioner's claim was a purported summary of automobile mileage (the summary).

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Chandler v. Commissioner, 1993 T.C. Memo. 512, 66 T.C.M. 1214, 1993 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 523 (tax 1993).

1993 T.C. Memo. 512 (Chandler v. Commissioner) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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