Walker v. Commissioner

1992 T.C. Memo. 416, 64 T.C.M. 255, 1992 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 438
United States Tax Court·Decided July 22, 1992·No. Docket No. 8614-90·Unpublished

Opinion

VERA M. WALKER, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Walker v. Commissioner
Docket No. 8614-90
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1992-416; 1992 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 438; 64 T.C.M. (CCH) 255;
July 22, 1992, Filed

*438 Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

For Vera M. Walker, pro se.
For Respondent: Roderick H. Fillinger.
GALLOWAY

GALLOWAY

MEMORANDUM OPINION

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

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

Additions to Tax
Sec.Sec.
YearDeficiency6653(a)(1)(A)6653(a)(1)(B)
1986$   820$ 41.001
19871,86793.35

After concessions 1 by petitioner, the issues for decision are: (1) Whether petitioner is entitled to deductions claimed in excess of the amounts allowed by respondent for (a) Schedule C automobile expenses in 1986 and 1987, (b) Schedule E rental depreciation expenses in 1986 and 1987, and (c) Schedule E rental painting expense in the year 1987; (2) whether petitioner is entitled to dependency exemptions*439 claimed for (a) her brother in 1986 and 1987, and (b) her mother and nephew in the year 1987; and (3) whether petitioner is liable for the above additions to tax.

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. Petitioner resided at 5067 Coad Drive, in Cincinnati, Ohio, during the years in issue and at the time she filed her petition in this case.

Petitioner was 48 years of age at the time of trial and the oldest of 10 children. Petitioner's oldest sibling, Samuel Walker, Jr., died about 5 months before the date of the trial. The other siblings pertinent*440 to this proceeding are petitioner's brother Oliver Walker, and sisters Evelyn Walker and Valencia Walker, mother of nephew Antwan Walker.

Petitioner owns a 3-story building located at 216 E. Liberty Street, Cincinnati (the E. Liberty building). During the taxable years, petitioner operated a family clothing store part-time on the ground floor of the E. Liberty building. New and used clothing was sold at this store. The upper floors of the E. Liberty building contained apartments which were rented to tenants.

At the time of trial, petitioner had worked full-time as an income tax office auditor for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for 14 years. This position involved examination of tax returns filed by individual taxpayers required to substantiate their claimed business, nonbusiness, and rental expense deductions. Prior to her current position, petitioner had worked at the IRS as a secretary. Petitioner has a high school education. When she was assigned to the office auditor's position, petitioner was required to take accounting classes at the University of Cincinnati Evening College.

Petitioner had conferences and opportunities to present her objections to respondent's *441 adjustments at both the audit examination level and with respondent's Appeals Office. The notice of deficiency was prepared by an Appeals conferee. As trial commenced, petitioner initially advised the Court that she did not bring with her any records to substantiate expenses remaining in dispute since these records had previously been presented to the IRS. When advised that the disputed items in issue must be substantiated again in this Court, petitioner conceded her claim to certain deductions in each year, as previously noted. Petitioner then requested from the Court, and was granted, an additional day to provide certain bank and other records she claimed would verify the disputed deductions remaining in issue.

1. (a) Schedule C Automobile Expenses - 1986, 1987

Respondent advised the Court that petitioner had been allowed a deduction for local 1987 auto expenses based on petitioner's records, including a mileage log. These records disclosed that petitioner's Dodge Caravan station wagon, purchased in 1986, was used in 1987 for business purposes 79 percent of the total time. No auto expenses were allowed for 1986 since petitioner furnished no mileage log or other records*442 for that year from which allowable business auto expenses could be calculated. Respondent did, however, allow petitioner a first year

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Walker v. Commissioner, 1992 T.C. Memo. 416, 64 T.C.M. 255, 1992 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 438 (tax 1992).

1992 T.C. Memo. 416 (Walker v. Commissioner) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Elliott v. Commissioner
40 T.C. 304 (U.S. Tax Court, 1963)
Gajda v. Commissioner
44 T.C. 783 (U.S. Tax Court, 1965)
Stafford v. Commissioner
46 T.C. 515 (U.S. Tax Court, 1966)
Rude v. Commissioner
48 T.C. 165 (U.S. Tax Court, 1967)
Seraydar v. Commissioner
50 T.C. 756 (U.S. Tax Court, 1968)
Labay v. Commissioner
55 T.C. 6 (U.S. Tax Court, 1970)
Bixby v. Commissioner
58 T.C. 757 (U.S. Tax Court, 1972)
Sooy v. Commissioner
10 B.T.A. 493 (Board of Tax Appeals, 1928)
Levitz v. Commissioner
11 T.C.M. 915 (U.S. Tax Court, 1952)