Chiu v. Commissioner

1997 T.C. Memo. 199, 73 T.C.M. 2679, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 234
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedApril 30, 1997
DocketDocket No. 5197-95
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1997 T.C. Memo. 199 (Chiu v. Commissioner) 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
Chiu v. Commissioner, 1997 T.C. Memo. 199, 73 T.C.M. 2679, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 234 (tax 1997).

Opinion

DAVID W. CHIU, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Chiu v. Commissioner
Docket No. 5197-95
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1997-199; 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 234; 73 T.C.M. (CCH) 2679;
April 30, 1997, Filed

*234 Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

David W. Chiu, pro se.
Jason M. Silver, for respondent.
GALE

GALE

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

GALE, Judge: Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's 1990 Federal income taxes in the amount of $ 15,211.20 and additions to tax under section 6651(a) 1 and section 6654(a) in the amounts of $ 3,081.80 and $ 790.55, *235 respectively.

After concessions, the issues for decision are as follows: *236 (1) Whether funds withdrawn by petitioner from a qualified individual retirement account (IRA) are includable in his gross income, and if so, whether petitioner is subject to a 10-percent additional tax on early distributions under section 72(t). We hold that the funds are includable and that petitioner is subject to the 10-percent additional tax under section 72(t). (2) Whether petitioner is allowed deductions for moving expenses, real estate taxes, home mortgage interest, *237 charitable contributions, and trade or business expenditures. We hold that petitioner has substantiated the deduction for home mortgage interest in the amount of $ 7,414.77. We hold that the remainder of the aforementioned deductions are not allowed. (3) Whether petitioner is liable for*238 an addition to tax for failure to timely file his 1990 Federal income tax return under section 6651(a)(1). We hold that he is. (4) Whether petitioner is liable for an addition to tax for failure to pay estimated income tax under section 6654(a). We hold that he is.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. We incorporate by this reference the stipulation of facts and attached exhibits. At the time of filing the petition, petitioner resided in San Gabriel, California.

Petitioner was born in China in 1950 and came to the United States in 1970. Petitioner received a bachelor of science degree in engineering in the United States and, after graduation, took graduate courses in business and corporate finance.

In 1986, petitioner commenced employment with Varian Associates, Inc. (Varian), in Palo Alto, California. Petitioner's 1990 Federal income tax return correctly lists his W-2 wage income for the 1990 taxable year from Varian as $ 35,181, from which amounts were *239 withheld for Federal income tax purposes.

In the fall of 1990, petitioner moved from San Francisco to *240 Los Angeles where he remained for approximately 3 weeks before moving to Hong Kong. Petitioner*241 arrived in Hong Kong on November 28, 1990. Petitioner did not move to Hong Kong in connection with a job transfer or to accept new employment and did not become an employee of any business while in Hong Kong. At the time petitioner moved to Hong Kong, he intended to start a business of his own, although he did not have specific plans to start any particular business. On his 1990 Federal income tax return, petitioner claimed a deduction for moving expenses in connection with the moves to Los Angeles and to Hong Kong in the amount of $ 3,184, of which $ 500 was estimated as the cost of his move to Los Angeles.

On November 28, 1990, petitioner withdrew $ 17,558 from a U.S. bank, representing money from an IRA established on his behalf by Varian (VarianIRA). On December 18, 1990, petitioner transferred $ 23,000 from the Bank of America to an account at a branch of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corp. located in Hong Kong.

While in Hong Kong, petitioner undertook steps to develop a computer software package designed to handle currency exchange transactions. Petitioner intended to market the software package once developed. On Schedule C of his 1990 Federal income tax return, petitioner*242 claimed a deduction of $ 2,618 consisting of expenses for advertising, bad debts, commissions and fees, depreciation and/or section 179 expenses, and meals and entertainment. Petitioner returned to the United States for approximately 1 month in 1991 in order to purchase a computer system for use in the development of the software package. Petitioner returned to the United States on a permanent basis in October of 1992.

Petitioner signed his 1990 Federal income tax return on April 1, 1995, and the return was stamped received at the Internal Revenue Service Center in Fresno, California, on July 8, 1995. On his 1990 Federal income tax return, petitioner reported his filing status as single and claimed Schedule A deductions in the amount of $ 2,046 for State and local income taxes, $ 1,130 for real estate taxes, $ 5,760 for home mortgage interest, and $ 2,568 for charitable contributions, in addition to the previously outlined Schedule C deductions totaling $ 2,618 and the deduction for moving expenses in the amount of $ 3,184.

OPINION

There are two evidentiary matters we must address at the outset. First are the objections raised by respondent in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the stipulation*243 of facts to the admission of Joint Exhibits 3-C and 4-D. Joint Exhibit 3-C consists of a copy of a "Statement of AssetVantage Account" from the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corp. dated December 1, 1990, bearing petitioner's name and an account number (AssetVantage Account).

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1997 T.C. Memo. 199, 73 T.C.M. 2679, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 234, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chiu-v-commissioner-tax-1997.