Pelowski v. United States

605 F. Supp. 65, 56 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 6222, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23018
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedJanuary 30, 1985
DocketC82-1793
StatusPublished

This text of 605 F. Supp. 65 (Pelowski v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pelowski v. United States, 605 F. Supp. 65, 56 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 6222, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23018 (N.D. Ohio 1985).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WHITE, District Judge.

This action arises under the Internal Revenue Laws of the United States, the Court having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1340 and 1346(a). The matter was tried before the Court and the Court having heard the testimony of witnesses and having examined the exhibits and briefs submitted by counsel, makes this memorandum and order which constitutes the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law.

The following facts were stipulated by the parties:

Plaintiffs filed a joint U.S. Individual Tax Return (Treasury Form 1040) for 1978. Plaintiffs paid the tax shown due on the return.

On their 1978 return, plaintiffs claimed, in pertinent part, deductions of $2,006 as employee business expenses and $270. as unreimbursed entertainment expenses. Plaintiffs failed to report on their 1978 return a grant received from Lake Erie College by James F. Pelowski in the amount of $10,000. Plaintiffs reported a $4,000 distribution received by Barbara Pelowski from the Testamentary Trust of Seabury S. Gould IV.

Plaintiffs’ 1978 return was examined by the Internal Revenue Service. As a result, a deficiency assessment of tax was made against the plaintiffs in the amount of $4,816 on September 7, 1981.

By two payments received October 5, 1981, and February 22, 1982, plaintiffs paid the deficiency assessment of tax.

On October 6, 1981, plaintiffs filed an Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (Treasury Form 1040X) (claim for refund # 1) with the Internal Revenue Service claiming a refund of the tax paid in *67 response to the deficiency assessment, as well as the tax attributable to the inclusion in gross income of $4,000 received by Barbara G. Pelowski in 1978 from the Testamentary Trust of Seabury S. Gould, IV.

By letter dated January 13, 1982, plaintiffs’ claim for refund # 1 was denied.

On January 13, 1983, plaintiffs filed an Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (Treasury Form 1040X (Claim for refund # 2) with the Internal Revenue Service claiming a refund of the tax paid in response to the deficiency assessment, as well as the tax attributable to the inclusion in gross income of $4,000 received by Barbara Pelowski in 1978 from the Testamentary Trust of Seabury S. Gould, IV.

The Internal Revenue Service has failed to act upon plaintiffs’ claim for refund # 2.

During 1978 Michigan State University was an “educational organization” as described in 26 U.S.C. § 170(b)(l)(A)(ii) and an “educational institution” as defined by 26 C.F.R. § 1.117-3(b).

During 1978, James F. Pelowski was a “candidate for a degree” as defined by 26 C.F.R. § 1.117—3(c).

$10,000 GRANT

In 1978 James Pelowski received a $10,-000 grant from Lake Erie College. These payments were awarded after seven years of employment. Mr. Pelowski attended Michigan State University (MSU) with this grant. During the period of time he was a student at MSU he took a leave of absence from Lake Erie College. He had no obligation to return to Lake Erie College after he completed his Ph.D. work. During the time he was at MSU he was not employed at Lake Erie College. The Lake Erie College did not select the curriculum for his Ph.D. thesis. While at MSU he received no benefits from Lake Erie College. No reports on his progress were given to his former employer.

26 U.S.C. § 117 provides that gross income does not include any amount received as a fellowship grant. However there are certain exceptions. Pertinent to this case is 26 C.F.R. § 1.117-4(c) which states:

“The following payments or allowances shall not be considered to be amounts received as a scholarship or a fellowship grant for the purpose of § 117:
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of § 1.117-2, any amount paid or allowed to, or on behalf of, an individual to enable him to pursue studies or research, if such amount represents either compensation for past, present, or future employment services or represents payment for services or represents payment for services which are subject to the direction or supervision of the grantor.
(2) Any amount paid or allowed to, or on behalf of, an individual to enable him to pursue studies or research primarily for the benefit of the grantor.”

Upon examination of the facts set forth above, the Court concludes that the $10,000 does not represent compensation for past, present or future employment services.

In addition, the second exception does not apply to the facts of this case. The evidence does not show that plaintiff’s studies were primarily for the benefit of Lake Erie College.

EMPLOYEE BUSINESS EXPENSE

The second issue is whether plaintiffs are entitled to claim as a business expense $2,006. This sum consists of rent payments of $1,875 and utility bills of $131 incurred while Mr. Pelowski was attending MSU.

An important consideration in determining whether to allow this deduction is whether it be classified as a business expense or educational expense. Plaintiffs’ tax return shows they listed these deductions as a business expense on form 2106, Employee Business Expenses. (Joint Exhibit 1). Plaintiffs explain in their reply to defendant’s Post Trial Brief that the deduction was listed under business expenses because there is no room on form 2106 under Part III for listing of educational expenses.

*68 The law in the 6th Circuit is that grounds on which a claim for a tax refund is made must be specifically set forth in the claim for refund or the Court is without jurisdiction to consider the claim in a tax refund suit. However, Internal Revenue was on notice that plaintiffs deductions for rent and utilities were in connection with education. Under the section for occupation in which expenses were incurred on form 2106 plaintiff answered scholarship grant. His employer was Lake Erie College. There is no place on the form to list educational expenses nor are there directions on what to do if you have educational deductions.

26 C.F.R. 1.162-5(e) provides:

“Travel away from home. (1) If an individual travels away from home primarily to obtain education the expenses of which are deductible under this section, his expenditures for travel, meals, and lodging while away from home are deductible.

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Bluebook (online)
605 F. Supp. 65, 56 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 6222, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23018, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pelowski-v-united-states-ohnd-1985.