Stussy v. Comm'r

2003 T.C. Memo. 232, 86 T.C.M. 220, 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 231
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedAugust 4, 2003
DocketNo. 4088-02
StatusUnpublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 2003 T.C. Memo. 232 (Stussy 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
Stussy v. Comm'r, 2003 T.C. Memo. 232, 86 T.C.M. 220, 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 231 (tax 2003).

Opinion

DIETER STUSSY, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Stussy v. Comm'r
No. 4088-02
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 2003-232; 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 231; 86 T.C.M. (CCH) 220; T.C.M. (RIA) 55255;
August 4, 2003, Filed
Stussy v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1997-293, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 344 (T.C., 1997)

*231 Decision for Commissioner, in part, and for taxpayer, in part.

Dieter Stussy, pro se.
Angelique M. Neal, for respondent.
Laro, David

LARO

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

LARO, Judge: Petitioner petitioned the Court to redetermine a $ 2,983 deficiency in his 1998 Federal income tax. Following concessions by respondent, we are left to decide:

1. Whether petitioner may deduct interest paid on his personal income tax liability. We hold he may not.

2. Whether petitioner may deduct charitable contributions claimed for expenditures made to his personal residence which were allocable to space used exclusively by a section 501(c)(3) organization named the Jan Stussy Foundation (Foundation). We hold he may not.

3. Whether petitioner may deduct at the standard mileage rate his automobile expenses connected to the determination of his personal income tax liability. We hold he may.

Unless otherwise indicated, section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue. Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. Dollar amounts are rounded.

             FINDINGS OF FACT

Some facts were stipulated. The*232 stipulated facts and the accompanying exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. We find the stipulated facts accordingly. Petitioner resided in Los Angeles, California, when his petition was filed.

During 1998, petitioner resided in a single family residence (residence). The residence measured 2,085 square feet and was titled in the name of the Stussy Family Trust (Trust). Petitioner's father, Jan Stussy (Dean Stussy), was the Trust's beneficial owner up until his death on July 31, 1990. Dean Stussy was an active professional painter, and he was the Dean of the School of Art at the University of California at Los Angeles. 1 Dean Stussy resided in the residence until his death.

The Foundation is a section 501(c)(3) organization that was formed in 1990. The Foundation is responsible for storing, cataloging, and selling the paintings and other artwork of Dean Stussy (collectively, Dean Stussy artwork). The Foundation began storing the Dean Stussy artwork*233 at the residence at or about the time the Foundation was formed and continued to store the Dean Stussy artwork there throughout the subject year. The Dean Stussy artwork stored at the residence included approximately 100 pieces which measured 4 feet by 8 feet and approximately 1,000 pieces which measured 4 feet by 4 feet. The Foundation valued its Dean Stussy artwork at $ 820,934 as of December 31, 1998.

Pursuant to a "Deed of Gift and License" dated April 30, 1990, Dean Stussy made two gifts to the Foundation. The first gift was the Dean Stussy artwork. The second gift was a license to the exclusive use of four rooms (collectively, rooms) in the residence. The rooms, none of which during the subject year were used by petitioner for personal purposes, totaled 900 square feet. Petitioner was not entitled to collect from the Foundation any rent on the rooms, and the Foundation was liable for only the payment of insurance.

During 1998, petitioner paid the following expenses with respect to the residence: Insurance of $ 841, utilities of $ 1,729, homeowner's association dues of $ 30, pest control of $ 478, and repairs and maintenance of $ 1,704 (to replace a water heater, to clear brush*234 around the perimeter of the residence, and to repair the furnace). Petitioner allocated these expenses to the Foundation using a percentage allocation and claimed a charitable contribution for the portion of the allocated expenses. Petitioner did not receive any written acknowledgment from the Foundation for any contributions purportedly made to the Foundation by petitioner during 1998. Nor did the Foundation report its receipt of any contributions during 1998.

During 1998, petitioner drove 275.1 miles for which he claims a miscellaneous itemized deduction at the standard mileage rate. The breakdown of these miles was: 165.5 miles for petitioner's copying and filing of his personal Federal and State income tax returns, 82.7 miles for petitioner's meetings with Internal Revenue Service personnel related to the examination of his personal income tax returns, 14.5 miles for petitioner's trip to the Santa Monica law library, and 12.4 miles for petitioner's copying of a document entitled "Response to AG of IRS Investigation".

Petitioner's 1998 Federal income tax return included 2 Schedules C, Profit or Loss From Business. One of these schedules was for petitioner's return preparation*235 business. This Schedule C reported $ 550 of gross receipts and a net loss of $ 20. The other Schedule C listed the proprietor as "D. Stussy, as successor per IRC section 691(b)

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Bluebook (online)
2003 T.C. Memo. 232, 86 T.C.M. 220, 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 231, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stussy-v-commr-tax-2003.