Case Name: Thomas G. Russoniello, et al., Petitioners, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent
Court: United States Tax Court
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1954-02-26
Citations: 21 T.C. 828
Docket Number: Docket Nos. 42850, 42847, 42848, 42849
Parties: Thomas G. Russoniello, et al., Petitioners, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of the Tax Court of the United States
Volume: 21
Pages: 828–830

Head Matter:
Thomas G. Russoniello, et al., Petitioners, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent.
Docket Nos. 42850, 42847, 42848, 42849.
Promulgated February 26, 1954.
Thomas G. Russoniello, pro se.
Stanley W. Herzfeld, Esq., for the respondent.
The following proceedings have been consolidated :
Petitioner Docket No. Years
Andrew Russoniello_-_42847_■_ 1949 and 1900
John J. Russoniello_42848_ 1948,1949, and 1950
Sabin G. Russoniello_42849_1949
Thomas G. Russoniello_.42850___. 1948,1949, and 1950

Opinion:
OPINION.
Rice, Judge:
Section 23 (x) of the Internal Revenue Code provides for the deduction of medical expenses "paid during the taxable year, not compensated for by insurance or otherwise, for medical care of a dependent specified in section 25 (b) (3) It is the contention of each of the petitioners that their mother was a dependent during the years in issue, and that the proportionate share of the medical expenses paid by each on her behalf is, therefore, deductible on their respective returns. However, though their mother may have been dependent on them, collectively, for her support, she does not come within the statutory definition of a dependent to which we are referred by section 23 (x). Thus section 25 (b) (3) provides that a mother may be termed a dependent if "over half of [her] sup port, for tlie calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins, was received from the taxpayer No one of the petitioners contributed, by himself, more than half of the support of their mother. They apportioned the burden of her medical expenses equally among themselves, and no evidence was introduced to show that any of the petitioners had made additional contributions toward her support during the years in issue. Therefore, for the purpose of this deduction, she does not qualify as the dependent of any of them. Unfortunately, the Code makes no provision for the deduction of expenses incurred in the support of one's parent when such expenses are borne in exactly equal amounts by the children. This is true even though the entire support of the parent was received from the children.
Decisions will be entered for the respondent.