2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 162">*162 PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.
PAJAK, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of
Respondent determined a deficiency of $ 7,041 in petitioners' 1999 Federal income tax.
The issue for decision is whether petitioners are entitled to deductions claimed on a Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, form.
Some of the facts in this case have been stipulated and are so found. Petitioners resided in Milford, Massachusetts, at the time they filed their petition.
Because petitioners have not complied with the substantiation requirements of section 7491(a)(2), 2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 162">*163 the burden of proof as to facts relevant to the deficiency remains on petitioners. Rule 142(a).
Petitioners timely filed their joint Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for 1999.
During 1999, petitioner Elliot Saffran (petitioner) operated a "data processing" business. On Schedule C, petitioner reported gross receipts of $ 90,038, total expenses of $ 70,562, and a net profit of $ 19,476. Petitioner claimed Schedule C deductions for car and truck expenses of $ 6,905, employee benefit programs of $ 8,328, pension and profit-sharing plans of $ 12,113, and "other expenses" of $ 8,741. The $ 8,741 amount comprised $ 3,645 for a computer, $ 1,726 for software, and $ 3,370 for parking fees and tolls.
Respondent disallowed $ 3,243 of the claimed car and truck expenses deduction. Respondent disallowed $ 8,328 of the claimed employee benefit programs expense deduction, and instead allowed $ 4,996 for self-employed health insurance. Respondent disallowed the deduction for pension and profit-sharing plans expense in full. Respondent disallowed the deduction for other expenses of $ 5,371 and instead allowed a depreciation deduction of $ 1,301 for the computer and software. Respondent2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 162">*164 recharacterized the health insurance deducted as "employee benefit programs of $ 8,328" as an adjustment to gross income and allowed 60 percent of that amount or $ 4,996 as a deduction. Respondent disallowed $ 5,371 of the claimed "other expenses".
Respondent disallowed $ 3,243 of petitioner's claimed $ 6,905 deduction for car and truck expenses. Petitioner submitted a so-called log listing his travel expenses. We are not required to accept petitioner's self-serving statements as gospel.
Petitioner claimed $ 8,328 on Schedule C under employee benefit plans. Petitioner introduced some documents which included checks that were not canceled and nondeductible items dated 1998, and which did not total the amount petitioner claimed on his return. We are not required to accept petitioner's generalized statements and decline to do so here without supporting evidence.
Respondent disallowed the $ 12,113 claimed deduction for pension and profit-sharing plans. At trial, petitioner presented no information or support for this deduction and admitted that he had "no more information". Petitioner provided no evidence that he paid any such expense. Therefore, we sustain respondent on this issue.
The "other expenses" deduction of $ 5,371 included the cost of a computer and software. Respondent disallowed the $ 5,371. However, respondent allowed a depreciation deduction of $ 1,301 for the computer and software. Petitioner provided no evidence that he was entitled to a greater deduction than allowed by respondent, nor did he prove that he properly elected to expense the computer and software under section 179. Again, we sustain respondent.
Contentions we have not addressed are irrelevant, moot, or without merit.
Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 162">*168 Tax Case Division.
Decision will be entered for respondent.