T.C. Summary Opinion 2012-20

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

PAUL MICHAEL GRITZ AND JANICE LEE GRITZ, Petitioners v.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket No. 26577-09S. Filed March 5, 2012.

Paul Michael Gritz, pro se.

Beth A. Nunnink, for respondent.

SUMMARY OPINION

RUWE, Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of section

7463 of the Internal Revenue Code in effect when the petition was filed. Pursuant
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to section 7463(b),1 the decision to be entered is not reviewable by any other court,

and this opinion shall not be treated as precedent for any other case. 

Respondent determined a $3,746 deficiency in petitioners’ 2006 Federal

income tax. The issue for decision is whether petitioners are entitled to deductions

claimed on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, greater than those respondent

allowed.

Background

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 the petition was filed, petitioners resided in California.

Petitioners timely filed their 2006 Federal income tax return. On Schedule A

petitioners claimed total itemized deductions of $83,211. Of that amount,

petitioners claimed $34,889 in job expense deductions and certain miscellaneous

deductions. Specifically, petitioners claimed deductions of $43 for tax preparation

fees (which respondent allowed), $9,500 for attorney’s and accountant’s fees, and

$28,795 for unreimbursed employee expenses. The parties stipulate that 

petitioners are not entitled to deduct the $9,500 in attorney’s and accountant’s fees,

1Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue

Code as amended and in effect for the year in issue, and all Rule references are to

the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
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which were claimed in error. At trial petitioners acknowledged that $8,750 of their

claimed unreimbursed employee expense deductions were in error.2 However,

petitioners contend that they are still entitled to deduct $7,045 and $13,000 in

expenses claimed on petitioner husband’s and petitioner wife’s Forms 2106,

Employee Business Expenses, respectively. Mr. Gritz claimed a deduction of

$4,895 for vehicle expenses using the standard mileage rate and $2,150 in

miscellaneous business expenses on Form 2106. On her Form 2106, Mrs. Gritz

claimed a deduction of $13,000 in unreimbursed business expenses. 

During 2006 Mr. Gritz was a pilot and Mrs. Gritz was an elementary school

teacher. Mr. Gritz was employed by Sunset Aviation (Sunset), which maintained

airfields throughout the “Bay Area” of California. In 2006 petitioners lived in

Sacramento, California, which Sunset considered to be part of the Bay Area. Mr.

Gritz could be assigned to fly out of any of Sunset’s airfields. Sunset reimbursed

Mr. Gritz for mileage expenses he incurred for travel between Sunset’s airfields. 

Therefore, petitioners’ reported vehicle mileage expenses relate only to the 

mileage expenses Mr. Gritz incurred while traveling between his home and Sunset’s

Bay Area airfields. 

2Petitioners reported $28,795 in unreimbursed employee expenses on

Schedule A. However, on Forms 2106-EZ, Unreimbursed Employee Business

Expenses, petitioners reported total expenses of only $20,045. 
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In order to substantiate Mr. Gritz’s mileage expenses for 2006, petitioners

provided a handwritten mileage worksheet and Mr. Gritz’s flight log for June 2006. 

The mileage worksheet indicates the number of miles Mr. Gritz drove to and from

airfields during 2006. The worksheet does not specify a business location. The

June 2006 flight log indicates that Mr. Gritz had flown 18 days during the month. 

The mileage log indicates that Mr. Gritz traveled 1,356 miles to “work” and 60

“other” miles during June 2006.

In addition to the $4,895 in vehicle expenses Mr. Gritz reported on his 2006

Form 2106-EZ, he also reported miscellaneous business expenses of $2,150 for a

cell phone, a fax machine, and the purchase of a new computer. To substantiate

these items, petitioners submitted only a handwritten “income tax worksheet” for

Mr. Gritz and a bank statement for the period from February 17 to March 16, 2006. 

Mr. Gritz prepared the worksheet “at the time [he] was preparing petitioners’ tax

submission”, and the information was taken from petitioners’ “Monthly Tax Receipt

File and Banking Statements.” Petitioners did not provide

any further documentation, such as receipts or invoices in support of Mr. Gritz’s

purchases and other expenses.

During 2006 Mrs. Gritz was employed as a second grade teacher. On her

2006 Form 2106-EZ, Mrs. Gritz deducted $13,000 in unreimbursed employee
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business expenses for the purchase of a computer, an Internet access card, and

various books, manuals, and school supplies that petitioners claim were necessary

for the performance of her duties as a teacher. Respondent allowed $2,150 of the

claimed expense deductions as reasonable and disallowed the remainder. Mrs.

Gritz elected to retain possession of the educational items she purchased rather than

seek reimbursement from her employer because she “considers it incumbent upon a

professional to maintain what she feel[s] necessary to conduct her

 profession.”

To substantiate Mrs. Gritz’s claimed deductions, petitioners submitted

another handwritten “income tax worksheet” for Mrs. Gritz and the previously

referenced bank statement. Petitioners did not provide any receipts or invoices

related to their purchases. 

Discussion

As a general rule, the Commissioner’s determinations are presumed correct,

and the taxpayer bears the burden of proving that those determinations are

erroneous. Rule 142(a); INDOPCO, Inc. v. Commissioner, 503 U.S. 79, 84 

(1992); Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111, 115 (1933). The burden of proof may

shift to the Commissioner in certain circumstances if the taxpayer introduces

credible evidence and establishes that he substantiated items, maintained required
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records, and fully cooperated with the Commissioner’s reasonable requests. Sec.

7491(a)(1) and (2)(A) and (B). Petitioners have neither asserted that the burden of

proof has shifted to respondent nor provided adequate substantiation of the 

expense deductions claimed on their 2006 Federal income tax return. Therefore, 

the burden of proof remains with petitioners. Deductions are a matter of 

legislative grace, and the taxpayer bears the burden of proving that he or she is

entitled to any deduction claimed. Rule 142(a); New Colonial Ice Co. v. 

Helvering, 292 U.S. 435, 440 (1934); Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. at 115. This

includes the burden of substantiation. Hradesky v. Commissioner, 65 T.C. 87, 89

(1975), aff’d per curiam, 540 F.2d 821 (5th Cir. 1976); see sec. 6001; sec. 1.6001-

1(a), Income Tax Regs. (requiring taxpayers to maintain sufficient records to 

permit verification of deductible expenses). 

I. Mr. Gritz’s Automobile-Related Expenses

Section 162(a) allows a taxpayer to deduct all the ordinary and necessary

expenses paid or incurred in carrying on a trade or business. Personal expenses,

however, generally are not deductible. Sec. 262(a). Section 162(a)(2) allows a

deduction for ordinary and necessary traveling expenses paid in the carrying on of 

a trade or business during the taxable year, which may include the cost of 

operating a passenger automobile to the extent that it is used in a trade or business. 
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See Heuer v. Commissioner, 32 T.C. 947, 953 (1959), aff’d per curiam, 283 F.2d

865 (5th Cir. 1960); Rev. Proc. 93-51, 1993-2 C.B. 593. Taxpayers, however, 

must maintain records sufficient to substantiate deductions claimed. See Hradesky

v. Commissioner, 65 T.C. at 89; see also sec. 1.6001-1(a), Income Tax Regs. In 

the case of automobile expenses, section 274(d) disallows any deductions unless 

the taxpayer substantiates by adequate records or by sufficient evidence

corroborating the taxpayer’s own statement: (1) the amount of the expense; (2) the

time and place of the expense; and (3) the business purpose of the expense. See

Oswandel v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2007-183. 

It is well settled that, as a general rule, the expenses of traveling between

one’s home and his place of business or employment constitute commuting 

expenses which are nondeductible personal expenses, while the costs associated

with travel between work assignments are deductible. See Fausner v.

Commissioner, 413 U.S. 838 (1973); Commissioner v. Flowers, 326 U.S. 465

(1946); Feistman v. Commissioner, 63 T.C. 129 (1974); Heuer v. Commissioner, 

32 T.C. 947; see also secs. 1.162-2(e), 1.262-1(b)(5), Income Tax Regs. 

Petitioners have not contended that Mr. Gritz’s residence served as an office. As a

pilot for Sunset, Mr. Gritz could be assigned to fly out of any of Sunset’s airfields,

and he was reimbursed for any mileage expenses incurred on account of his travel
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between Sunset’s airfields. Petitioners’ claimed mileage expense deduction relates

only to the mileage Mr. Gritz incurred while traveling between his residence and the

Bay Area airfield he was flying in or out of that day. Therefore, the mileage 

for Mr. Gritz’s trips between his residence and Sunset’s airfields relates to his

commute to and from work and, consequently, is a personal and nondeductible

commuting expense. See Sheldon v. Commissioner, 50 T.C. 24, 27 (1968). 

Accordingly, we find that the expenses Mr. Gritz incurred while driving from

petitioners’ residence to Sunset’s airfields are personal and nondeductible. See

Keeler v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1992-172, aff’d without published opinion, 

5 F.3d 528 (5th Cir. 1993).

II. Mr. Gritz’s Miscellaneous Business Expenses 

Taxpayers must keep adequate records, and their business expenses must be

ordinary and necessary. Secs. 162, 6001. As an employee, a taxpayer must show

that the expenses were in connection with the performance of services as an

employee. Sec. 1.162-17, Income Tax Regs. To substantiate Mr. Gritz’s claimed 

expenses, petitioners submitted only a handwritten “income tax worksheet” for 

Mr. Gritz and a bank statement for one month. Petitioners did not provide any

receipts or invoices for the claimed items. In addition, the entries in the lone bank

statement petitioners provided failed to correspond to the expenditures listed in 
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their self-prepared “income tax worksheet”. Mr. Gritz claimed nonmileage 

business expenses of $2,150. However, his “income tax worksheet” lists 

$2,877.08 as the nonmileage business expense total. Petitioners have offered no

explanation for the discrepancy. Furthermore, the amounts included on Mr. 

Gritz’s worksheet do not actually add up to the total amount listed on the

worksheet’s last page. 

 Petitioners failed to substantiate that any of the claimed expenses were

ordinary and necessary expenses directly related to Mr. Gritz’s employment or that

they were otherwise deductible. Because petitioners have not provided the Court

with evidence sufficient to indicate that any of the remaining claimed expenses 

were ordinary and necessary expenses directly related to Mr. Gritz’s employment,

we find that petitioners are not entitled to the claimed deductions. See secs. 162,

262.

III. Mrs. Gritz’s Business Expenses

Mrs. Gritz was employed as a second grade teacher during 2006. On Form

2106-EZ attached to their 2006 return, petitioners claimed $13,000 in 

unreimbursed employee business expenses related to Mrs. Gritz’s employment. 

The expenses included the purchases of a computer, an Internet access card, and

various books, manuals, and school supplies that petitioners claim were necessary
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for the performance of Mrs. Gritz’s duties. In the notice of deficiency, respondent

allowed $2,150 of the expenses as reasonable.

Section 162(a) allows a deduction for all the ordinary and necessary expenses

paid or incurred in carrying on a trade or business. The performance of 

services as an employee constitutes a trade or business. O’Malley v.

Commissioner, 91 T.C. 352, 363-364 (1988). An ordinary expense is one that is

common and acceptable in the particular business. Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. at

113-114. A necessary expense is an expense that is appropriate and helpful in

carrying on the trade or business. Id.; Heineman v. Commissioner, 82 T.C. 538,

543 (1984). An employee’s trade or business is earning his compensation, and

generally only those expenses that are related to the continuation of his 

employment are deductible. Noland v. Commissioner, 269 F.2d 108, 111 (4th Cir.

1959), aff’g T.C. Memo. 1958-60. Generally, no deduction will be allowed for

personal, living, or family expenses. Sec. 262(a).

A taxpayer is entitled to deduct unreimbursed employee business expenses

under section 162(a) only to the extent that the taxpayer demonstrates that the

taxpayer could not have been reimbursed for the expenses by the taxpayer’s

employer. Podems v. Commissioner, 24 T.C. 21, 22-23 (1955); Benson v.
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Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2007-113; Putnam v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.

1998-285.

In their petition and at trial petitioners contend that Mrs. Gritz consciously

elected not to be reimbursed for her expenses, because if she were reimbursed, the

items purchased would belong to the school district. Petitioners specifically

indicated that they found reimbursement to be unappealing because Mrs. Gritz

desired to amass a personal library of books and electronic devices. When an

employee has a right to reimbursement for expenditures related to her status as an

employee but fails to claim reimbursement, the expenses are not deductible 

because they are not “necessary”; i.e., it is not necessary for an employee to 

remain unreimbursed for expenses to the extent she could have been reimbursed. 

Orvis v. Commissioner, 788 F.2d 1406, 1408 (9th Cir. 1986), aff’g T.C. Memo.

1984-533; Lucas v. Commissioner, 79 T.C. 1, 7 (1982). 

Furthermore, in order to deduct business expenses, a taxpayer must maintain

and keep adequate records, the expenses must be ordinary and necessary, and the

expenses must be in connection with the performance of services as an employee. 

Secs. 162, 6001; see also sec. 1.162-17, Income Tax Regs.

Petitioners provided neither receipts nor invoices for Mrs. Gritz’s claimed

expenses and submitted into evidence only a handwritten “income tax worksheet”
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and one month’s bank statement as support. That bank statement fails to

correspond to most of the claimed deductions on Mrs. Gritz’s worksheet. Even

though Mrs. Gritz claimed unreimbursed employee business expenses of $13,000,

the items on the “income tax worksheet” total only $11,839.30. Petitioners have

failed to keep adequate records for Mrs. Gritz’s claimed expense deductions under

section 6001, as their documents fail to show what expenses were actually 

incurred and whether they were ordinary and necessary. The “income tax

worksheet” lists only the place where, and for how much, an item was allegedly

purchased, and not a description of the item or its specific purpose. As a result of

the above, we hold that petitioners are entitled to deduct Mrs. Gritz’s claimed

business expenses only to the extent respondent previously allowed.

In reaching our holdings herein, we have considered all arguments made, and

to the extent not mentioned above, we find them to be moot, irrelevant, or 

without merit.

 To reflect the foregoing,

Decision will be entered

for respondent.