2004 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 146">*146 Judgment entered for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
PAJAK, Special Trial Judge: Respondent determined a deficiency of $ 1,755 in petitioner's 2000 Federal income tax. Unless otherwise indicated, section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the year in issue.
This Court must decide: (1) Whether petitioner had unreported gambling income, and (2) whether the inclusion of such income reduced petitioner's earned income credit.
Some of the facts in this case have been stipulated and are so found. Petitioner resided in Chicago, Illinois, at the time she filed her petition.
On Form 1040, U.S. Individual Tax Return, for taxable year 2000, petitioner reported $ 11,835 in wage income. Petitioner did not report any other income. Petitioner also claimed head of household filing status, two dependency exemptions, and the standard deduction. Petitioner claimed the earned income credit (EIC) in the amount of $ 3,888.
Respondent received five Forms W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, for taxable year2004 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 146">*147 2000, four from Hollywood Casino Aurora in the amounts of $ 2,500, $ 2,000, $ 1,800, and $ 1,440, respectively, and one from Showboat Marina Casino Partnership in the amount of $ 1,440, for a total of $ 9,180. From these Forms W-2G, respondent determined that petitioner had unreported gambling income of $ 9,180 for taxable year 2000. Accordingly, respondent increased petitioner's adjusted gross income to $ 21,015 and decreased petitioner's EIC by $ 1,755.
Petitioner stipulated that she received gambling winnings in the amount of $ 9,180 during taxable year 2000. In the notice of deficiency, respondent allowed petitioner a deduction for itemized deductions, including gambling losses equal to her gambling winnings.
We find that the unreported $ 9,180 of gambling winnings is includable in petitioner's adjusted gross income for the taxable year 2000. As a result, petitioner's adjusted gross2004 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 146">*148 income was properly increased from $ 11,835 to $ 21,015. There is no argument or evidence from petitioner that she was in the trade or business of gambling. Thus her gambling losses are deductible only as itemized deductions, not from gross income, in arriving at adjusted gross income. Her gambling winnings therefore result in a dollar-for-dollar increase to her adjusted gross income.
Unfortunately for petitioner, the EIC is based upon modified adjusted gross income as defined for
Decision will be entered for respondent.