2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 25">*25 PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.
GOLDBERG, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of
Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's Federal income tax of $ 3,815 for the taxable year 1999.
The issues for decision are (1) whether petitioner is liable for the alternative minimum tax (AMT) in the amount determined by respondent, and (2) whether petitioner is (a) entitled to deductions in addition to those claimed on his return, and/or (b) entitled to recharacterize as business expense deductions any of the itemized deductions2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 25">*26 that he claimed on his return.
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. Petitioner resided in San Diego, California, on the date the petition was filed in this case.
Petitioner filed a Federal income tax return for taxable year 1999 which was dated April 20, 2002. On this return, he reported wage and salary income of $ 69,432, and he claimed itemized deductions totaling $ 56,531. The itemized deductions he claimed were for State and local taxes of $ 4,617, interest of $ 441, charitable contributions of $ 5,924, employee business expenses of $ 38,062, tax preparation fees of $ 100, and vehicle and boat depreciation of $ 8,776.1 Petitioner did not report liability for the AMT in any amount. In the notice of deficiency, respondent's sole adjustment was his determination that petitioner was liable for AMT of $ 3,815. Respondent did not adjust any of petitioner's claimed itemized deductions, nor did respondent determine that any additions to tax or penalties were applicable.
2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 25">*27 The first issue for decision is whether petitioner is liable for the AMT in the amount determined by respondent. Petitioner argues that respondent's calculation of the AMT is in error, but he does not single out any specific aspect of that calculation. We have reviewed respondent's calculation and conclude that it is in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. This calculation, and the underlying provisions of the Code, can be summarized as follows:
Taxable income reported by petitioner $ 10,151
Miscellaneous itemized deductions claimed by petitioner 36,773
Itemized deduction for taxes paid claimed by petitioner 4,617
Exemption deduction claimed by petitioner 2,750
________
Alternative minimum taxable income under sec. 55(b)(2) 1 54,291
2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 25">*28 Exemption amount pursuant to sec. 55(d)(1)(B)
________
Taxable excess under sec. 55(b)(1)(A)(ii)
Tentative minimum tax under sec. 55(b)(1)(A)(i) (in this
case equal to 26% of the taxable excess) 5,341
Regular tax under sec. 55(c)(1) as reported by petitioner (1,526)
AMT liability under sec. 55(a)
FOOTNOTE TO TABLE
n1The adjustments to taxable income required in this case to calculate alternative minimum taxable income are found, respectively, in sec. 56(b)(1)(A)(i) and (ii) and (E).
END OF FOOTNOTE TO TABLE
We sustain respondent's determination in the notice of deficiency.
The second issue for decision is whether petitioner is (a) entitled to deductions in addition to those claimed on his return, and/or (b) entitled to recharacterize as business expense deductions any of the itemized deductions that he claimed on his return.2 Petitioner argues that he is entitled to the changes which he made to his filed return on a Form2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 25">*29 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Tax Return. Petitioner submitted this form to the IRS in April 2003, following the issuance of the notice of deficiency underlying this case. On the form, petitioner claimed a variety of changes to the information on his original return. First, he added a Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, on which he claimed zero gross income and a loss of $ 28,379 for a business named "Maritime Ventures" engaged in the business of "Antique Dealer". Petitioner also decreased his claimed itemized deductions by $ 11,328 to $ 45,203, due in whole or part to his recharacterization of certain expenses -- which he claimed on his original return as itemized deductions -- as business expenses on the Schedule C. Respondent has not accepted any amounts reported by petitioner on the amended return.
Under
A taxpayer must keep records sufficient to establish the amounts of the items required to be shown on his Federal income tax return.
In his opening statement at trial, petitioner argued that the following2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 25">*31 is the nature of his Schedule C business:
My antique shop association in Redwood City was with Antiques on
Broadway. My association here was with the Trolley Shop Antiques
in Lemon Grove in the mid 90s and at the present time on the
Internet. My future plans of the business include use of a to-
be-restored fire engine for rent or lease to movies, parties and
promotions.
Petitioner's testimony concerning the business can be summarized as follows. During the year at issue, petitioner's business consisted of a rented space in an antique market. Petitioner would open his retail space on one day each month in order to conduct his business, but his merchandise was available at other times for viewing and possibly sales by another merchant. Petitioner has had no sales or other income from this business in any year, aside from sales in 1999 which "wouldn't have been over $ 100".
Petitioner did not present the Court with any documentary evidence concerning either the existence of the Schedule C business or the nature or amount of the claimed expenses. The amounts reported on the amended return merely represent petitioner's assertions and2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 25">*32 are not evidence that petitioner was engaged in any business or that he incurred any of the expenses. The only evidence provided by petitioner concerning the Schedule C business is his own self- serving, uncorroborated testimony, which we do not accept as credible evidence that a bona fide business existed or that he incurred the additional expenses. Because petitioner has presented no substantiation of the business or any of the expenses, we conclude that he is not entitled to any additional deductions and that he is not entitled to recharacterize any of the original deductions.
Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small Tax Case Division.
Decision will be entered for respondent.
1. The deductions for the employee business expenses and tax preparation fees were reduced by $ 1,389 pursuant to the sec. 67(a) floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions.↩
1. The deductions for the employee business expenses and tax preparation fees were reduced by $ 1,389 pursuant to the sec. 67(a) floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions.↩
2. The recharacterization of itemized deductions as business expense deductions would change petitioner's AMT liability under sec. 55(a).↩
3. In the absence of substantiation or credible evidence regarding this issue, the burden of proof remains on petitioner to show the existence of the business and his entitlement to the deductions. Sec. 7491(a); Rule 142(a).↩