Whitney v. Commissioner

1990 T.C. Memo. 163, 59 T.C.M. 258, 1990 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 145
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMarch 27, 1990
DocketDocket No. 35674-87
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1990 T.C. Memo. 163 (Whitney 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
Whitney v. Commissioner, 1990 T.C. Memo. 163, 59 T.C.M. 258, 1990 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 145 (tax 1990).

Opinion

FOYCE S. WHITNEY, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Whitney v. Commissioner
Docket No. 35674-871
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1990-163; 1990 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 145; 59 T.C.M. (CCH) 258; T.C.M. (RIA) 90163;
March 27, 1990
Foyce S. Whitney, pro se.
Christa Gruber, for the respondent.

BUCKLEY

MEMORANDUM OPINION

BUCKLEY, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of section 7443A(b) of the Internal Revenue Code*147 and Rules 180, 181, and 182. 2 Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's 1984 Federal income tax of $ 3,559 and additions to tax under section 6653(a)(1) of $ 276.15, section 6653(a)(2) of 50 percent of the interest due on $ 3,559, and section 6651(a)(1) of $ 161.33.

After concessions, 3 the issues for decision are (1) whether petitioner is entitled to deduct Schedule C expenses in excess of that allowed by respondent; (2) whether petitioner is entitled to deduct claimed charitable contributions in excess of that allowed by respondent; (3) whether petitioner is entitled to deduct work clothing expenses in excess of that allowed by respondent; (4) whether petitioner is liable for additions to tax for negligence under section 6653(a)(1) and (a)(2); and (5) whether petitioner is entitled to a claimed overpayment of $ 2,918.

*148 Some of the facts are stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by reference. Petitioner resided at Chicago, Illinois, when he filed his petition herein. For purposes of clarity, we deal with the facts and law relevant to each issue separately.

Schedule C Expenses. During 1984 petitioner worked for Chicago Transit Authority as a bus driver. Through the end of 1983 petitioner sold Watkins Products on a part-time basis. He purchased the products wholesale and then sold them to customers. He traveled to his customers, using his car. In connection with this activity, petitioner used three rooms of his five room apartment but did not use them exclusively for business. Although petitioner did not carry on a trade or business of selling Watkins Products at any time during 1984, he claimed Schedule C business expenses of $ 10,200 of which respondent disallowed $ 9,700.

At trial, petitioner stated that he was not in the trade or business of selling Watkins Products during 1984. However, petitioner contended that during 1984 he had a part-time business selling scrap metal. Respondent, on the other hand, contends that*149 petitioner was not carrying on a part-time scrap metal business during 1984, therefore petitioner is not entitled to his claimed deductions.

Petitioner rented a garage in 1984 for $ 600. Petitioner worked on his two cars, a 1967 Ford and a 1978 Pinto, at the garage. He sold as scrap his old car parts such as fenders, starters and batteries. The only evidence in the record shows gross receipts from his alleged scrap metal business of $ 3.25. As substantiation of expenses incurred in connection with his alleged scrap metal business, petitioner offered receipts for expenses such as gas, car and trailer rentals, automobile part supplies, tire repair, the purchase of his 1967 Ford, and vacuum cleaner.

Section 262 provides that except for express allowance, no deductions shall be allowed for personal, living or family expenses. Section 162(a) allows a deduction for all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business. Whether activities carried on by an individual can be characterized as those of a trade or business under section 162(a) is a question of fact. Ford v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 1300, 1307 (1971), affd. *150 487 F.2d 1025 (9th Cir. 1973); Corbett v. Commissioner, 55 T.C. 884, 887 (1971). To constitute a trade or business, the activity must be pursued by the taxpayer in good faith, with regularity, and for the production of income for his livelihood. Commissioner v. Groetzinger, 480 U.S. 23 (1987). In order for an expenditure to be deductible as a business expense, such expenditure must relate to activities which amount to the present carrying on of an existing business. Estate of Rockefeller v. Commissioner, 83 T.C. 368, 374 (1984), affd. 762 F.2d 264 (2d Cir. 1985). Petitioner bears the burden of proof. Rule 142(a).

Petitioner has failed to meet his burden of proof. Petitioner did not establish that he was in the trade or business of selling scrap metal part-time. Petitioner worked on his cars and sold the old parts as scrap.

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Related

Commissioner v. Groetzinger
480 U.S. 23 (Supreme Court, 1987)
John C. Ford v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
487 F.2d 1025 (Ninth Circuit, 1973)
Yeomans v. Commissioner
30 T.C. 757 (U.S. Tax Court, 1958)
Mortrud v. Commissioner
44 T.C. 208 (U.S. Tax Court, 1965)
Saltzman v. Commissioner
54 T.C. 722 (U.S. Tax Court, 1970)
Corbett v. Commissioner
55 T.C. 884 (U.S. Tax Court, 1971)
Ford v. Commissioner
56 T.C. 1300 (U.S. Tax Court, 1971)
Estate of Rockefeller v. Commissioner
83 T.C. No. 24 (U.S. Tax Court, 1984)
Neely v. Commissioner
85 T.C. No. 56 (U.S. Tax Court, 1985)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1990 T.C. Memo. 163, 59 T.C.M. 258, 1990 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 145, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/whitney-v-commissioner-tax-1990.