PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.
RUWE,
Respondent determined a $ 4,190 deficiency in petitioners' Federal income tax for 2004 and an $ 838 accuracy-related penalty under
The issues for decision are whether petitioners are entitled to net their gambling losses against their gambling winnings in computing adjusted gross income and whether they are liable for a
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated by this reference. Petitioners resided in Williamstown, New Jersey, at the time they filed their petition.
During 2008 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 19">*20 2004, petitioner Thomas Dawson was employed full time as a building inspector, and petitioner Christine Dawson was employed full time as a registered nurse.
During 2004, petitioners gambled at casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Most of petitioners' gambling consisted of playing $ 5- or $ 10-pull slot machines. Neither petitioner was a professional gambler. Their combined jackpots received from Atlantic City casinos in 2004 totaled $ 208,420; however, their combined gambling losses for 2004 exceeded the $ 208,420 jackpots that they won. In other words, petitioners' gambling activities during 2004 resulted in a net loss.
On their 2004 Federal income tax return, petitioners reported adjusted gross income of $ 145,694 which did not include any of the jackpots. Petitioners did not claim deductions on their 2004 return for any of their gambling losses. Petitioners did not report their gambling jackpots and losses because their gambling activities failed to produce net winnings in 2004.
After examining petitioners' 2004 return, respondent determined that petitioners' casino jackpots were gambling winnings and increased petitioners' adjusted gross income by $ 208,420. Respondent also determined 2008 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 19">*21 that petitioners were entitled to itemized deductions for gambling losses of $ 208,420.
While respondent allowed itemized deductions for gambling losses in the same amount that he increased petitioners' adjusted gross income, the increase in adjusted gross income triggered certain limitations on other deductions. As a result, respondent disallowed a $ 490 tuition deduction, disallowed job-related and miscellaneous expenses of $ 4,178, decreased total itemized deductions by $ 6,267, and disallowed a $ 6,200 deduction for personal exemptions. These adjustments, based on respondent's adjustment to petitioners' adjusted gross income, are computational adjustments required by law.
In their petition, petitioners claim that it makes no sense to increase their adjusted gross income because their gambling activities produced a net loss for 2004. Petitioners are contesting only the propriety of increasing their adjusted gross income. They have not contested the accuracy of the computational adjustments that flow from increasing their adjusted gross income.
Gross income includes all income from whatever source derived, including gambling income. See
With regard to respondent's determination that petitioners are liable for the accuracy-related penalty under
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code (Code) in effect for the year in issue.↩