2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 130">*130 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 a deficiency in petitioner's Federal income tax of $ 5,453 for 2002.
The issues for decision are: (1) Whether petitioner is entitled to dependency exemption deductions; (2) whether petitioner is entitled to head of household filing status; and (3) whether petitioner is entitled to child tax credits.
Background
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and exhibits received into evidence are incorporated herein by reference. At the time the petition2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 130">*131 in this case was filed, petitioner resided in Warren, Michigan.
During 2002, petitioner lived with his mother, Genevieve Onorati; his sister, Samantha Wray; and his aunt, Catherine Onorati (Ms. Onorati).
On his 2002 Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, petitioner claimed four dependents: His daughter, ZJ; 1 his son, JO; his nephew, AR; and his aunt, Ms. Onorati.
Camille Jefferson (Ms. Jefferson) is ZJ's mother. During 2002, Ms. Jefferson had physical custody of ZJ the entire year. ZJ spent weekends with petitioner. Petitioner did not attach a Form 8332, Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents, to his return regarding ZJ. 2
2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 130">*132 Lashandra Marsh (Ms. Marsh) is JO's mother. Both petitioner and Ms. Marsh claimed JO as a dependent for the 2002 tax year. Petitioner paid child support for JO during 2002 but did not have custody of the child. Petitioner did not attach a Form 8332 to his return regarding JO.
AR, petitioner's nephew, spent weekends with petitioner but did not live with him. AR's mother had custody of him. Petitioner took AR and JO to "Fun Factory, Chuck E. Cheese, movies, things of that nature." At trial, petitioner did not know AR's birth date.
Ms. Onorati lived with petitioner at his mother's house during 2002. She is disabled and received Federal disability payments of $ 7,344 during 2002. Petitioner does not have any receipts to demonstrate any amounts he may have spent to care for her.
Respondent issued a notice of deficiency determining that petitioner is not entitled to claim head of household filing status, dependency exemption deductions, or child tax credits for 2002 because he failed to substantiate his claims.
Discussion
Deductions are a matter of legislative grace, and taxpayers must maintain adequate records to substantiate the amount of any deductions or credits claimed.
Section 7491 does not apply here because petitioner has failed to substantiate his deductions and provide evidence other than his own testimony. See sec. 7491(a)(2).
1. Dependency Exemption Deductions
To qualify for a dependency exemption deduction, a taxpayer must establish2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 130">*134 the total support cost expended on behalf of a claimed dependent from all sources for the year and demonstrate that he or she provided more than half of this amount. See
The term "support" includes food, shelter, clothing, medical and dental care, education, and the like.
Petitioner did not provide any evidence of total support for the children and his aunt. He provided no evidence other than his testimony regarding any amounts he2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 130">*135 may have expended to care for ZJ, JO, AR, or Ms. Onorati. The Court sustains respondent's determination that petitioner is not entitled to dependency exemption deductions for ZJ, JO, AR, or Ms. Onorati in 2002.
2. Head of Household Filing Status
Respondent determined that petitioner is not entitled to
3. Child Tax Credits
A taxpayer may be entitled to a credit against tax with respect to each "qualifying child".
As stated supra, the Court has sustained respondent's determination that petitioner is not entitled to a dependency exemption deduction for ZJ, JO, or AR. Thus, petitioner fails the first prong of the test of
Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small Tax Case Division.
Decision will be entered for respondent.