2003 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 48">*48 PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.
VASQUEZ, Judge: This case was heard pursuant to section 7463. 1 The decision to be entered is not reviewable by any other court, and this opinion should not be cited as authority.
Respondent determined a deficiency of $ 2,341 in petitioner's Federal income tax. The issues for decision are whether, during the 2000 taxable year (year at issue), petitioner is entitled to (1) a dependency exemption deduction, 2 (2) head- of-household filing status, and (3) the earned income credit (EIC).
2003 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 48">*49 Background
[3] Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. At the time she filed the petition, petitioner resided in Wolf Creek, Montana.
Petitioner was born in 1981. Petitioner has three biological children: Jacob, Rebekah, and Michael. The father of these children is not involved with them, nor does the father claim these children as dependents. Petitioner does not receive assistance from the State to support these children.
In 1999, petitioner purchased from her father a 2-acre tract of land within his 20-acre ranch. During the year at issue, petitioner lived with her children in a cabin located on this 2-acre tract. Petitioner paid the monthly expenses, which included expenses for propane and gas for the generators to provide electricity.
Petitioner's family has picked nuts for about 15 years. Petitioner has led this activity for the last 5 or 6 years. During the nut-picking season, petitioner and her children go to Utah or Nevada to pick nuts and stay in a small trailer. Petitioner then sells the nuts on a cash basis and2003 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 48">*50 earns about $ 10,000 per season. During the year at issue, petitioner also worked at Goodwill Industries, Denny's Restaurant, and Southern Utah Pecan Ranch.
On her 2000 tax return, petitioner filed under "Head of household" filing status and claimed her stepbrother, Brendin Sliwinski, and her stepsister, Anna Sliwinski, as dependents. Petitioner reported $ 10,150 on the Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, as self-employment income from the nut picking, and $ 3,780 in wages. After claiming the EIC, petitioner claimed a refund of $ 2,341.
In the notice of deficiency, respondent determined that petitioner was not the custodial parent of the claimed dependents, changed her filing status to "Single", disallowed her Schedule C self-employment income, and denied her claim to the EIC. 3 As a result, respondent denied petitioner's refund. Petitioner filed a timely petition disputing respondent's determinations.
2003 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 48">*51 After the petition was filed, petitioner filed an amended tax return in which she claimed two of her biological children, Rebekah and Michael, as dependents. Petitioner received the birth certificates and Social Security numbers for Rebekah and Michael after she filed her original tax returns. The birth certificates state that Rebekah was born on October 27, 1998, and Michael was born on October 30, 2000.
Discussion
[10] At trial, petitioner conceded that she is not entitled to dependency exemption deductions for her stepbrother and stepsister. Petitioner, however, argues that she is entitled to dependency exemption deductions for two of her biological children, Rebekah and Michael, and is entitled to the EIC. Petitioner bears the burden of proof. 4 Rule 142(a). As an initial matter, we found petitioner's testimony to be credible.
2003 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 48">*52 Dependency Exemption Deduction
A dependent is an individual listed in
We conclude that Rebekah and Michael are dependents of petitioner because they are the daughter and son, respectively, of petitioner, as shown by their birth certificates, and petitioner credibly testified that she provided more than half of their support in 2000.
Head-of-Household Filing Status
In order to qualify for head-of-household filing status, petitioner must satisfy the requirements of
We conclude that petitioner qualifies for head-of- household filing status because she is not married or a surviving spouse, her home was a household that constituted for more than one- half of 2000 the principal place of abode for her son and daughter, Michael and Rebekah, respectively, and petitioner credibly testified that she provided over half the cost of maintaining her household.
Earned Income Credit
A "qualifying child" includes a child who satisfies the relationship test, has the same principal place of abode as the taxpayer for more than one-half of the taxable year, and satisfies the age requirements.
Respondent argues that petitioner is not allowed the EIC, however, because petitioner did not prove that she made the income, specifically the $ 10,150 of self-employment income, to support the claimed EIC.
We found petitioner's testimony to be credible and sufficient to establish that she earned $ 10,150 of self-employment income through her nut picking to support the claimed EIC. This testimony is corroborated by an invoice which reports that petitioner received income from nut picking during the year at issue.
In reaching our holdings herein, we have considered all arguments made, and to the extent not mentioned above, we conclude them to be moot, irrelevant, or without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered for petitioner.
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. At trial, petitioner raised for the first time that she is entitled to a dependency deduction for two of her biological children. As a general rule, we do not consider an issue raised for the first time at trial because it has not been properly pleaded.
3. The notice of deficiency reports that the year at issue is 2001. We note that the year at issue is 2000 as shown on petitioner's tax return, the petition, and forms attached to the notice of deficiency (i.e., Form 4549-CG-S, Income Tax Examination Changes; Form 886-A, Explanation of Items). Further, the notice of deficiency was issued on May 5, 2001.↩
4. Petitioner did not argue that the burden of proof should be shifted pursuant to sec. 7491(a). Further, we do not find that the resolution of this case depends on which party has the burden of proof. We resolve the issues on the basis of a preponderance of evidence in the record.↩