Christy v. Commissioner

1993 T.C. Memo. 156, 65 T.C.M. 2369, 1993 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 158
United States Tax Court·Decided April 12, 1993·No. Docket No. 4335-92·Unpublished

Opinion

RICHARD F. CHRISTY, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Christy v. Commissioner
Docket No. 4335-92
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1993-156; 1993 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 158; 65 T.C.M. (CCH) 2369;
April 12, 1993, Filed

*158 Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

For petitioner: William Henry Christy.
For respondent: Frank D. Armstrong.
DINAN

DINAN

MEMORANDUM OPINION

DINAN, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of section 7443A(b)(3) and Rules 180, 181, and 182. 1

Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income taxes and additions to tax as follows:

Additions to Tax
YearDeficiencySec. 6653(a)(1)(A)Sec. 6653(a)(1)(B)
1987$ 4,760$ 2381
1988 5,552 ----
1989 6,154 ----

After concessions, the issues remaining for decision are: (1) Whether petitioner is entitled to deduct*159 "ordinary and necessary" expenses for travel "while away from home" in the pursuit of a trade or business within the meaning of section 162(a)(2); (2) whether petitioner is entitled to deduct certain claimed expenses in connection with a trade or business; and (3) whether petitioner is liable for additions to tax pursuant to section 6653(a)(1)(A) and (B).

Some of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulations of fact and accompanying exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. Petitioner resided in Asheville, North Carolina, at the time the petition was filed.

1. Travel expenses

During the years 1987, 1988, and 1989, petitioner regularly worked as a caddie for several professional golfers on the PGA tour. The work site (PGA tour event) changed weekly. As a result, petitioner traveled by automobile to many locations across the United States. For the years 1987, 1988, and 1989, petitioner worked 33, 31, and 29 tournaments, respectively.

In 1984, petitioner occupied a room in the home of his brother, Robert H. Christy, Jr., in Asheville, North Carolina. There was no formal rental agreement. Although petitioner paid no rent, he did pay his portion of utilities, *160 phone bill, and food. In exchange, he was entitled to live in the basement of the house that his brother rented from their parents. In April 1985, petitioner's brother married, vacated their parents' house which was sold and purchased a condominium. Petitioner moved in with his brother and sister-in-law and continued the same living arrangement.

During the tax years in question, petitioner maintained a room in his brother's (Robert Christy) condominium in Asheville, North Carolina, where he kept his belongings while he was on tour. Petitioner did not pay his brother rent during these years. Substantiation of expenses claimed is not challenged by respondent. Instead, the respondent contends that petitioner did not have a "tax home" from which he could have been away. The record reveals that petitioner registered his automobile in North Carolina and also maintained his voter registration there.

In 1987, petitioner began working as a caddie on PGA tours. This required extensive travel from city to city. He estimates that he caddied for approximately 8-10 golfers per year. Petitioner testified that his automobile was essential for traveling from one tour to the next. Tours*161 usually lasted for a week and he would have a minimal amount of time to travel to the next tour.

Petitioner's exhibits show that the monies paid to his brother during the tax years in question were around $ 500 per year. This figure does not include the phone bill allocations. Presumably these amounts have been deducted by petitioner on Schedule C since he testified that most of his time spent in Asheville was spent on the phone trying to schedule more business. Even if the phone expenses were included in the yearly amount of payments made to his brother, the figure would rise to only approximately $ 1,000 annually. In addition to the payments made by petitioner to his brother, he would care for his brother's son, do housework, and run errands.

Petitioner claimed the following as "away from home" expenses on Schedule C of his income tax return for the years 1987, 1988, and 1989, in connection with his caddying:

Item198719881989
Car/Truck$  5,025

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Christy v. Commissioner, 1993 T.C. Memo. 156, 65 T.C.M. 2369, 1993 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 158 (tax 1993).

1993 T.C. Memo. 156 (Christy v. Commissioner) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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