Decision will be entered under
MORRISON,
After concessions by the parties, 1 the issues for decision are: (1) whether the Tinneys failed to report $101,963 of gross receipts on Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business; (2) whether the Tinneys are entitled to deduct $8,696 in Schedule C car and truck expenses disallowed in the notice of deficiency; (3) whether the Tinneys are entitled to $33,644 in miscellaneous itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, of their return; 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 93">*94 and (4) whether the Tinneys are liable for the accuracy-related penalty pursuant to
Some facts have been deemed admitted under
As reported on | IRS | Total after | |
Gross receipts from Travis | |||
Tinney's Schedule C business | $24,100 | $101,963 | $126,063 |
Gambling income | 10 | 2,240 | 2,250 |
Short-term capital gain | 42,466 | 112,376 | 154,842 |
Car and truck expense | |||
deductions (total): | 20,985 | (8,696) | 12,289 |
Mileage | 14,560 | (2,271) | 12,289 |
Insurance | 1,480 | (1,480) | -0- |
Repairs and maintenance | 4,945 | (4,945) | -0- |
Schedule A "other expenses" | 33,644 | (33,644) | -0- |
The case was tried in Tampa, Florida.
One procedural matter requires attention before we proceed to the merits of this case. When the case was called for trial, Amanda Tinney did not appear, nor was there any appearance on her behalf. Travis Tinney did appear. As Travis Tinney had no authority to represent his wife, and there was no other appearance by her or on her behalf, the Court will, on its own motion, dismiss her from this *95 case for lack of prosecution. A decision will be entered against Amanda Tinney for a deficiency 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 93">*96 and a penalty in the same amounts as those ultimately determined against Travis Tinney.
The taxpayer generally bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the IRS's determinations in the notice of deficiency are incorrect.
The Tinneys attached a Schedule C to their 2006 return for Travis Tinney's construction business Travis Tinney operated. They reported gross receipts of *96 $24,100. The facts deemed established show that the Tinneys failed to report $101,963 in gross receipts. 22013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 93">*97 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 93">*98
We hold that the Tinneys failed to report $101,963 in gross receipts for Travis Tinney's construction business.
On the Schedule C the Tinneys claimed deductions of $14,560 for car and truck expenses, $1,480 for insurance, and $4,945 for repairs and maintenance. These deductions—which total $20,985—related to an F-350 truck that Travis Tinney used for business purposes. According to the return, the $14,650 in the car *97 and truck category was equal to 32,720 miles multiplied by a business use percentage of 100%, multiplied by a standard mileage rate of 0.445 dollars per mile. The notice of deficiency allowed only a $12,289 deduction for the expenses for the F-350 truck, which was calculated using the mileage method. Thus, the notice of deficiency disallowed $2,271 of the $14,560 deduction the Tinneys claimed in the car and truck category, it completely disallowed the $1,480 deduction claimed for insurance, and it completely disallowed the $4,945 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 93">*99 deduction claimed for repairs and maintenance. The total disallowance was $8,696 (= $2,271 + $1,480 + $4,945).
The Tinneys presented no documentary evidence or testimony regarding the disallowed F-350 truck expenses. Therefore they have not met their burden of proof. 3 We hold that they cannot deduct the $8,696 in disallowed expenses.
On their Schedule A, the Tinneys entered $33,644 as "other expenses" under miscellaneous itemized deductions. A statement attached to the Schedule A gave the following details:
*98 | |
Seminars, travel & lodging | $15,120 |
Mileage—land investments | 8,010 |
Legal fees—land investments | 1,100 |
Listing fees—land investmen [sic] | 150 |
Telephone—land investments | 1,822 |
Fax line—land investments | 105 |
Internet—land investments | 390 |
Postage—land investments | 756 |
Hometown remodelers | 4,457 |
Parking | 8 |
Tolls | 281 |
Marketing—land investments | 1,167 |
Advertising | 278 |
Total | 33,644 |
At 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 93">*100 trial Travis Tinney testified that the $33,644 was the total expense of repairing and rehabilitating rental properties that the Tinneys owned. One of these properties, Travis Tinney testified, was 1315 Florida Avenue in St. Cloud, Florida. 4 He introduced no documents to support the deductibility of the $33,644 in expenses.
*99 To the extent the $33,644 constitutes travel expenses, no deduction is available because there is no evidence corroborating Travis Tinney's testimony.
The IRS determined that the Tinneys are liable for an accuracy-related penalty pursuant to
We hold that the Tinneys are liable for a
To reflect the foregoing,
1. The Tinneys reported $10 in gambling income on their return. The notice of deficiency determined that their gambling income was $2,250, resulting in an adjustment of $2,240. The Tinneys have conceded they had $2,250 in gambling income. The IRS has conceded that they are entitled to an itemized deduction for $2,250 in gambling expenses. This concession is reflected on page 41 of the transcript of the proceedings of February 10, 2012.
The Tinneys also reported $42,466 in short-term capital gains. The notice of deficiency determined they had short-term capital gains of $154,842, resulting in an adjustment of $112,376. The IRS conceded this adjustment and agrees with the amount reported on the return.↩
2. It has been deemed admitted that the bank deposits analysis the IRS performed showed that the Tinneys had unexplained bank deposits of $101,963 and that this amount should have been, but was not, reported as gross receipts. At the trial the Court told Travis Tinney that it would consider vacating its order deeming these facts established if it were shown that those facts should not be deemed admitted, but he did not challenge the accuracy of the deemed facts.
If a taxpayer fails to keep adequate records, the IRS may reconstruct the taxpayer's income by any reasonable method that clearly reflects income.
3. Truck expenses are subject to the strict substantiation requirements of
4. The income and expenses from rental properties are required to be reported on Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss,