Court Opinion

ID: 4420306
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-07-26 05:01:31.380592+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:32.920812
License: Public Domain

T.C. Summary Opinion 2019-17

                            UNITED STATES TAX COURT

                         JUN WU, Petitioner v.
             COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

      Docket No. 8009-16S.                             Filed July 25, 2019.

      Jun Wu, pro se.

      Sandeep Singh, for respondent.

                                 SUMMARY OPINION

      CARLUZZO, Chief Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to

the provisions of section 7463 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) in effect when

the petition was filed.1 Pursuant to section 7463(b), the decision to be entered is

      1
          Unless otherwise indicated, section references are to the Internal Revenue
                                                                          (continued...)
                                         -2-

not reviewable by any other court, and this opinion shall not be treated as

precedent for any other case.

      In a notice of deficiency dated January 5, 2016 (notice), respondent

determined deficiencies in, and penalties with respect to, petitioner’s Federal

income tax for 2013 and 2014.

      After concessions, the issues for decision are whether petitioner: (1) was

engaged in the trade or business of gambling in 2014; (2) had unreported gambling

losses up to the amount of his gambling income for 2014; (3) is entitled to

depreciation and section 179 deductions in excess of what respondent has already

allowed for each year in issue; (4) is entitled to deductions claimed on Schedule A,

Itemized Deductions, in excess of what respondent has already allowed for each

year in issue; (5) is entitled to deduct a loan origination fee paid in connection

with financing the purchase of a rental property in 2013; and (6) is liable for a

section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty for either year in issue.

                                     Background

      Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. At the time the

petition was filed, petitioner resided in California.

      1
       (...continued)
Code of 1986, as amended, in effect for the years in issue. Rule references are to
the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
                                         -3-

      At all times relevant petitioner lived in San Francisco, California. During

each year in issue he was an employee of Savvis Communications Corp. (Savvis).

Petitioner worked from home because Savvis did not provide him with an office.

      On May 3, 2013, petitioner purchased a house in San Francisco that he held

for rent and rented out during 2013 and 2014 (rental property), typically for

periods of one to three days. He paid an origination fee in order to acquire the

loan that he used to finance the purchase of the rental property. The rental

property was furnished with various items purchased in both 2013 and 2014. At

no time during either year in issue did petitioner use the rental property as a

residence.

      Petitioner began to gamble at various casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, and

various cities in California during 2014. Most of his gambling activities consisted

of slot machine play, although he did play blackjack and baccarat from time to

time as well. Petitioner intended to win when he gambled, and he developed his

winning strategies by reading a book he could not remember the name of, talking

to people and casino employees at the various casinos, taking a class that lasted “a

couple hours”, and “just by playing”. According to petitioner, he paid or incurred

substantial transportation, hotel, and other traveling expenses in order to pursue

his gambling activity. Petitioner did not treat his gambling activity as a trade or
                                        -4-

business or as an activity entered into for profit on his 2014 Federal income tax

return (2014 return), and, other than his gambling losses, he did not claim any

deductions relating to his gambling income on his 2014 return. Petitioner

prepared his 2014 return and his 2013 Federal income tax return (2013 return)

himself.

      Forms W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, and other casino records show

that petitioner gambled frequently in 2014; however, he did not otherwise keep a

schedule of his casino visits. Nor did petitioner maintain any sort of business

records with respect to his gambling activity. Despite his intention to win at

gambling, like many other gamblers, casino statements show that petitioner’s

losses substantially exceeded his winnings during 2014.

      Petitioner reported his wages from Savvis on his 2013 return; he did not

claim a deduction for unreimbursed employee business expenses related to that

employment on the Schedule A included with that return. Nothing on the 2013

return can be construed as an election under section 179 with respect to any of the

furniture or other assets used in connection with the rental property.

      The income reported on petitioner’s 2014 return includes his wages from

Savvis and gambling winnings reported on Forms W-2G. The Schedule A

included with that return shows unreimbursed employee business expenses, but no
                                        -5-

deduction is claimed for those expenses because they do not exceed 2% of the

adjusted gross income reported on the return. See sec. 67(a). The Schedule A also

shows a deduction for gambling losses in the same amount as the gambling

income identified as “other” income on the 2014 return.

      The 2014 return also includes: (1) Schedule C, Profit or Loss From

Business, and (2) Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss. The Schedule C

relates to petitioner’s employment with Savvis. No income is shown on the

Schedule C; expenses totaling $39,501 are deducted, resulting in a net loss in the

same amount. The Schedule E included with petitioner’s 2014 return shows that

the rental income exceeded rental deductions, including depreciation, for that year.

Nothing on the 2014 return can be construed as a section 179 election with respect

to furniture or other assets used in connection with the rental property.

      Most of the adjustments made in the notice have been agreed on between

the parties or conceded by one or the other of them; other adjustments are

computational. Those adjustments will not be discussed. Instead we turn our

attention to those items that must be considered in the resolution of the issues now

before us regardless of whether the issue stems from an adjustment made in the

notice or a claim petitioner made after the notice was issued.
                                        -6-

                                     Discussion

      As we have observed in countless opinions, deductions are a matter of

legislative grace, and the taxpayer bears the burden of proof to establish

entitlement to any claimed deduction.2 Rule 142(a); INDOPCO, Inc. v.

Commissioner, 503 U.S. 79, 84 (1992); New Colonial Ice Co. v. Helvering, 292
U.S. 435, 440 (1934). A taxpayer claiming a deduction on a Federal income tax

return must demonstrate that the deduction is allowable pursuant to some statutory

provision and must further substantiate that the expense to which the deduction

relates has been paid or incurred. Sec. 6001; Hradesky v. Commissioner, 65 T.C.
87, 89-90 (1975), aff’d per curiam, 540 F.2d 821 (5th Cir. 1976); Meneguzzo v.

Commissioner, 43 T.C. 824, 831-832 (1965); sec. 1.6001-1(a), Income Tax Regs.

      Taxpayers may deduct ordinary and necessary expenses paid in connection

with operating a trade or business. Sec. 162(a); Boyd v. Commissioner, 122 T.C.
305, 313 (2004). It has long been recognized that a taxpayer’s status as an

employee may constitute a trade or business within the meaning of section 162.

On the other hand, section 262(a) generally disallows a deduction for personal,

living, or family expenses.

      2
       Petitioner does not claim and the record does not demonstrate that the
provisions of sec. 7491(a) are applicable, and we proceed as though they are not.
                                           -7-

         With these fundamental principles of Federal income taxation in mind, we

consider petitioner’s claims to the various deductions in dispute for the years in

issue.

I. Gambling Activity

         A. Wagering Losses

         Consistent with an adjustment in the notice, petitioner agrees that his

winnings from gambling in 2014 exceeded the amount of the winnings shown as

“other” income on his 2014 return. He now claims a deduction for losing wagers

in an amount that equals his winnings and exceeds the deduction shown for

gambling losses on the 2014 return. The casino records introduced into evidence

support his claim that his gambling losses exceeded his winnings in 2014.

Accordingly, petitioner is entitled to a section 165(d) deduction equal to the 2014

gambling winnings that respondent determined are includable in his 2014 income.3

         B. Gambling Activity as a Trade or Business

         Petitioner did not treat his gambling activity as a trade or business on his

2014 return. He now claims that the activity constituted a trade or business and

that he is entitled to section 162(a) deductions for traveling expenses he claims to

         3
       The deduction is properly claimed as a miscellaneous itemized deduction
not subject to reduction under sec. 67(a). See sec. 67(b)(3).
                                         -8-

have paid or incurred in connection with the gambling activity. According to

respondent, petitioner’s gambling activity was not carried on with the requisite

profit motive so as to constitute a trade or business within the meaning of section

162 or an activity conducted for profit within the meaning of section 212. Under

the circumstances we expect that petitioner’s position on the point has been

prompted, at least in part, in attempt to reduce the 2014 deficiency determined in

the notice. Whether it was or was not, for the following reasons we reject his

claimed deductions in excess of gambling losses.

      Under section 183(a), if an activity is not engaged in for profit, then no

deduction attributable to that activity is allowed except to the extent provided by

section 183(b). In pertinent part section 183(b) allows those deductions that

would have been allowable had the activity been engaged in for profit only to the

extent of gross income derived from the activity (reduced by deductions

attributable to the activity that are allowable without regard to whether the activity

was engaged in for profit). In this case, deductions allowable under section 165(d)

in effect prevent any deductions under section 183(b).

      Section 183(c) defines an activity not engaged in for profit as “any activity

other than one with respect to which deductions are allowable for the taxable year

under section 162 or under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 212.” Deductions are
                                         -9-

allowable under section 162 or under section 212(1) or (2) if the taxpayer is

engaged in the activity with the actual and honest objective of making a profit.

Dreicer v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 642, 645 (1982), aff’d without published

opinion, 702 F.2d 1205 (D.C. Cir. 1983); Golanty v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 411,

425-426 (1979), aff’d without published opinion, 647 F.2d 170 (9th Cir. 1981).

The profit standard applicable to section 212 is the same as that used in section

162. See Antonides v. Commissioner, 893 F.2d 656, 659 (4th Cir. 1990), aff’g 91
T.C. 686 (1988); Allen v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 28, 33 (1979).

      The existence of the requisite profit objective is a question of fact that must

be decided on the basis of the entire record. Groetzinger v. Commissioner, 82
T.C. 793, 803 (1984), aff’d, 771 F.2d 269 (7th Cir. 1985), aff’d, 480 U.S. 23

(1987); sec. 1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs. In resolving this factual question,

greater weight is given to objective facts than to a taxpayer’s statement of intent.

Sec. 1.183-2(a), Income Tax Regs.

      Section 1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs., provides a nonexclusive list of

factors to be weighed when considering whether a taxpayer is engaged in an

activity for profit. The relevant factors are: (1) the manner in which the taxpayer

carried on the activity; (2) the expertise of the taxpayer or his advisors; (3) the

time and effort the taxpayer expended in carrying on the activity; (4) the
                                         - 10 -

expectation that the assets used in the activity may appreciate in value; (5) the

success of the taxpayer in carrying on other activities for profit; (6) the taxpayer’s

history of income or losses with respect to the activity; (7) the amount of

occasional profits, if any, that are earned from the activity; (8) the financial status

of the taxpayer; and (9) whether elements of personal pleasure or recreation are

involved in the activity. Id. No one factor is determinative of whether an activity

is engaged in for profit. Brannen v. Commissioner, 722 F.2d 695, 704 (11th Cir.

1984), aff’g 78 T.C. 471 (1982); Golanty v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 426; sec.

1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs. In this case, some of the factors do not apply or are

neutral.

      Forms W-2G and other casino records establish, as petitioner claims, that he

gambled frequently during 2014 and further that his losses substantially exceeded

his winnings. A review of the 2014 return makes it obvious that petitioner’s

gambling activity was not his “means of making a living”. Commissioner v.

Groetzinger, 480 U.S. at 32.

      Furthermore, he did not conduct the gambling activity in a businesslike

manner. Other than the win/loss statements provided by the casinos, petitioner did

not maintain any records for the activity, and he did not develop or follow any

form of business plan. See Carmody v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2016-225,
                                        - 11 -

at *20-*23 (holding that a taxpayer was not engaged in horse-racing activity for

profit when he did not have a written business plan, did not use spreadsheets and

invoices to minimize losses or generate profits, and did not engage in any

meaningful financial management with respect to his horse-racing activity).

Gambling is routinely thought of as a recreational activity, see sec. 1.183-2(b)(9),

Income Tax Regs., and while we have noted that no one factor is determinative,

the recreational aspect of the gambling activity coupled with his failure to treat the

activity as a trade or business from its inception go a long way in undermining his

claim that he conducted the activity as a trade or business.

      On the basis of all the facts and circumstances, we find that petitioner is not

entitled to the trade or business deductions he now claims for the travel expenses

related to his gambling activity because he did not engage in that activity with the

sufficient profit motive to allow for the activity to be considered a trade or

business within the meaning of section 162.4

      4
       Our finding on the point also precludes deductions for the expenses under
sec. 212. See sec. 212(1); Antonides v. Commissioner, 893 F.2d 656, 659 (4th
Cir. 1990), aff’g 91 T.C. 686 (1988); Allen v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 28, 33
(1979).
                                        - 12 -

II. Schedule C Depreciation

      In the joint stipulation of settled issues respondent concedes that petitioner

is entitled to the following Schedule C depreciation: furniture (7-year class) with a

depreciable basis of $27,220, placed in service on July 1, 2013; computer (5-year

class) with a depreciable basis of $5,767, placed in service on July 1, 2013;

appliances (5-year class) with a depreciable basis of $1,930, placed in service on

July 1, 2013; and building (27.5-year class) with a depreciable basis of $274,500,

placed in service on July 1, 2013. Petitioner now contends that he is entitled to an

additional depreciation deduction, as well as a section 179 deduction for furniture.

      A reasonable depreciation deduction may be allowed for the “exhaustion,

wear and tear” of property used in a trade or business. Secs. 161, 167(a)(1). To

substantiate entitlement to a depreciation deduction, a taxpayer not only has to

show that the property was used in a business but also must establish the

property’s depreciable basis by showing the cost of the property, its useful life or

recovery period, and its previously allowable depreciation. See, e.g., Cluck v.

Commissioner, 105 T.C. 324, 337 (1995).

      Alternatively, a taxpayer may elect to treat the cost of certain property used

in an active trade or business as a current expense in the year that property is

placed in service. Sec. 179(a), (d). The election must be made on the taxpayer’s
                                        - 13 -

first income tax return (whether or not the return is timely) or on an amended

return filed within the time prescribed by law (including extensions) for filing the

original return for such year. Sec. 179(c)(1)(B); Genck v. Commissioner, T.C.

Memo. 1998-105; sec 1.179-5(a), Income Tax Regs.

      Petitioner’s records do not establish that he purchased depreciable business

property for which respondent has not already allowed a deduction for either year

in issue. Moreover, petitioner did not elect to expense the cost of the furniture in

the years the furniture was placed in service. That election had to be made on his

2013 or 2014 tax return or on an amended return filed within the time prescribed

by law (including extensions) for filing the original return. Accordingly, we reject

petitioner’s claim to a depreciation expense deduction or a section 179 deduction

in excess of what respondent has already allowed.

III. Schedule A Itemized Deductions

      For each year petitioner claims that he is entitled to Schedule A deductions

in excess of the amounts respondent allowed in the notice, but he has failed to

offer any evidence to substantiate the aforementioned items. See sec. 6001;

Hradesky v. Commissioner, 65 T.C. 89-90; sec. 1.6001-1(a), Income Tax Regs.

Accordingly, petitioner is not entitled to Schedule A deductions in excess of the

amounts respondent has already allowed.
                                        - 14 -

IV. Loan Origination Fee

      Petitioner claims that he is entitled to deduct a loan origination fee paid in

2013 in connection with the purchase of the rental property. Petitioner has

established that he paid the fee. According to respondent, however, because the

rental property was not petitioner’s residence, the fee must be amortized and

deducted over the life of the loan. See sec. 461(g); Goodwin v. Commissioner, 75
T.C. 424, 440-441 (1980), aff’d without published opinion, 691 F.2d 490 (3d Cir.

1982); Enoch v. Commissioner, 57 T.C. 781, 794-795 (1972). We agree with

respondent. Petitioner is not entitled to a current deduction for 2013 for the loan

origination fee.

V. Section 6662(a) Accuracy-Related Penalty

      Lastly, we consider whether petitioner is liable for a section 6662(a)

accuracy-related penalty for either year in issue. That section imposes an

accuracy-related penalty equal to 20% of the underpayment of tax that is

attributable to negligence or other specified grounds. See sec. 6662(b).

Negligence as used in section 6662(b)(1) is defined as any failure to make a

reasonable attempt to comply with the Code and includes any failure to keep

adequate books and records or to substantiate items properly. Sec. 6662(c); sec.

1.6662-3(b)(1), Income Tax Regs. Respondent bears the burden of production
                                       - 15 -

with respect to the imposition of a section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty. See

sec. 7491(c). In support of that burden, respondent points out that petitioner failed

to maintain adequate substantiating records for many of the expenses underlying

the deductions claimed on his 2013 and 2014 returns.

      Section 6751(b)(1) provides that, subject to certain exceptions in section

6751(b)(2), no penalty shall be assessed unless the initial determination of the

assessment is personally approved in writing by the immediate supervisor of the

individual making the determination or such higher level official as the

Commissioner may designate. Written approval of the initial penalty

determination under section 6751(b)(1) must be obtained no later than the date the

notice of deficiency is issued or the date the Commissioner files an answer or

amended answer asserting the penalty. Chai v. Commissioner, 851 F.3d 190, 221

(2d Cir. 2017), aff’g in part, rev’g in part T.C. Memo. 2015-42; see also Graev v.

Commissioner, 149 T.C. 485 (2017), supplementing and overruling in part 147
T.C. 460 (2016). Compliance with section 6751(b)(1) is part of the

Commissioner’s burden of production in any deficiency case in which a penalty

subject to section 6751(b)(1) is asserted. Graev v. Commissioner, 149 T.C. 493.

      The section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalties determined in the notice

were properly approved as required by section 6751(b)(1). The record includes a
                                       - 16 -

Civil Penalty Approval Form, approving imposition of accuracy-related penalties

against petitioner for 2013 and 2014 and executed by the Internal Revenue Service

tax examiner’s immediate supervisor before the date the notice was issued; and

nothing in the record suggests that petitioner was formally notified of the

imposition of the penalties before the requisite supervisory approval was obtained.

See Clay v. Commissioner, 152 T.C. __ (Apr. 24, 2019). As a result, we find that

respondent met his burden of production with respect to the negligence penalties.

      The accuracy-related penalty does not apply to any part of an underpayment

of tax if it is shown that the taxpayer acted with reasonable cause and in good faith

with respect to that portion. Sec. 6664(c)(1). The determination of whether a

taxpayer acted with reasonable cause and in good faith is made on a case-by-case

basis, taking into account all the pertinent facts and circumstances. Sec.

1.6664-4(b)(1), Income Tax Regs. Petitioner bears the burden of proving that he

had reasonable cause and acted in good faith with respect to the underpayments.

See Higbee v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. 438, 449 (2001).

      Petitioner has not shown reasonable cause for his failure to maintain

adequate substantiating records for the disallowed Schedule A deductions.

Furthermore, petitioner has not provided any explanation for the portions of the

underpayments of tax attributable to items he conceded. Accordingly, he is liable
                                       - 17 -

for section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalties on the portions of the

underpayments of tax attributable to those items and to the disallowed Schedule A

deductions specifically addressed in this opinion.

      To reflect the foregoing,

                                                Decision will be entered under

                                       Rule 155.