2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 90">*90 PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.
DEAN, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of
Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income taxes and accuracy-related penalties as follows:
Penalty | ||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6662(a) |
2000 | $ 10,235 | $ 1,994.80 |
2001 | 8,265 | 1,275.80 |
After a concession, 1 the issues remaining for decision are whether petitioner: (1) Received unreported income during 2000 and 2001; (2) is entitled to deductions on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, in excess of those allowed2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 90">*91 by respondent for 2000 and 2001; and (3) is liable for accuracy-related penalties for 2000 and 2001.
Background
The stipulation of facts and the exhibits received into evidence are incorporated herein by reference. Petitioner resided in Coral Springs, Florida, at the time the petition was filed.
For 2000, petitioner paid a return preparer to complete her Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. On the return, petitioner reported $ 63,885 in wages and $ 7,318 of Federal tax withheld. Petitioner reported no other income for 2000. Petitioner signed the return without reviewing it when it was presented to her by her preparer. Petitioner described him as a "professional".
On her 2000 Schedule A, petitioner reported $ 20,014 of medical and dental expenses, $ 3,353 of real estate taxes, $ 8,621 of mortgage interest, $ 4,0002004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 90">*92 of charitable contributions and $ 18,719 of miscellaneous business expenses.
1. Petitioner's Income
Respondent received Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, from third-party payors reporting that petitioner received the following wages during 2000:
Vendor | Amount |
Vitas Healthcare | $ 38,401 |
Harrison Group | 2,224 |
Sunshine Companies II | 6,181 |
Memorial Healthcare System | 9,938 |
Holy Cross Long Term Care | 9,945 |
Total | 66,689 |
Respondent also received information from third-party payors reporting additional payments to petitioner. Fidelity Investments issued two Forms 1099-B, Proceeds From Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions, reporting $ 5,097 in stock proceeds paid to petitioner. Sunrider International issued a Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, reporting nonemployee compensation of $ 936. First Union National Bank and Washington Mutual Bank each issued a Form 1099-INT, Interest Income, reporting interest income of $ 74 and $ 11, respectively. Fiserv Securities issued a Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions, reporting $ 570 of capital gain dividends and $ 58 of ordinary dividends.
2. Petitioner's Deductions
Respondent received a Form 1098, Mortgage2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 90">*93 Interest Statement, issued by Market Street Mortgage for 2000 reporting that petitioner paid $ 11,006 in mortgage interest. Respondent allowed petitioner a mortgage interest deduction for this higher amount. Respondent also allowed petitioner's reported deduction for real estate taxes. Petitioner's remaining deductions were disallowed due to lack of substantiation.
3. Accuracy-Related Penalty
Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for an accuracy-related penalty under
For 2001, petitioner again retained the same preparer. On her Form 1040, she reported $ 56,621 in wages and $ 2,024 of income from capital gains. Petitioner also reported $ 8,386 of Federal tax withheld. She reported no other income for 2001. Petitioner did not review the return before signing and mailing it.
On her 2001 Schedule A, petitioner reported $ 20,044 of medical and dental expenses, $ 3,353 of real estate taxes, $ 8,621 of mortgage interest, $ 4,000 of charitable contributions and $ 18,132 of miscellaneous business expenses.
1. Petitioner's Income
Respondent received Forms W-2 from third-party payors reporting that petitioner2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 90">*94 received the following wages during 2001:
Vendor | Amount |
Kindred Nursing Centers | $ 10,403 |
Vitas Healthcare | 15,551 |
Memorial Healthcare System | 40,092 |
Holy Cross Long Term Care | 976 |
Total | 67,022 |
Respondent also received information from third-party payors reporting additional payments to petitioner. Washington Mutual Bank issued a Form 1099-INT reporting interest income of $ 21. Fiserv Securities issued both a Form 1099-DIV reporting $ 19 of capital gain dividends and Form 1099-B reporting $ 2,000 of stock proceeds.
2. Petitioner's Deductions
Respondent received Forms 1098 issued by Market Street Mortgage and Alliance Mortgage for 2001 reporting that petitioner paid $ 4,551 and $ 6,333, respectively in mortgage interest. Respondent allowed petitioner a mortgage interest deduction for this higher amount. Respondent also allowed petitioner's reported deduction for real estate taxes. Petitioner's remaining deductions were disallowed due to lack of substantiation.
3. Accuracy-Related Penalty
Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for an accuracy-related penalty under
Discussion
Generally, the Commissioner's determinations2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 90">*95 of unreported income in a notice of deficiency are presumed correct, and the taxpayer has the burden of proving that those determinations are erroneous. See
Petitioner did not call any witnesses or otherwise introduce any evidence to show error in respondent's determinations of her proper income tax liability. Petitioner, in fact, made no argument that respondent's adjustments are incorrect. She feels she was misled by her return preparer. The Court finds that petitioner has failed to meet her burden and, subject to a concession by respondent, sustains respondent's determination with respect to the 2000 and 2001 unreported income.
Petitioner has not provided any evidence to substantiate an allowance of itemized deductions in excess of those allowed by respondent. Respondent's determination is sustained.
Under
Respondent determined petitioner is liable for an accuracy-related penalty pursuant to
No penalty shall be imposed if it is shown that there was reasonable cause for the underpayment and the taxpayer acted in good faith with respect to the underpayment.
The evidence in the record shows that petitioner failed to report substantial amounts of income for her 2000 and 2001 tax years. Petitioner made no effort to review the returns before signing them and blamed her return preparer for the omissions.
Taxpayers have a duty to read a return and to make sure all items are included.
Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small Tax Case Division.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered under Rule 155.
1. Respondent concedes that petitioner reported $ 936 of nonemployee compensation from Sunrider International and the corresponding self-employment tax.↩