Court Opinion

ID: 4337470
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-11-14 03:23:29.788681+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:47:49.920554
License: Public Domain

T.C. Memo. 2009-47

                       UNITED STATES TAX COURT

              PATRICIA ANN HORSLEY, Petitioner v.
          COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

     Docket No. 4853-07.                Filed March 2, 2009.

     Patricia Ann Horsley, pro se.

     Timothy B. Heavner, for respondent.

             MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

     CHIECHI, Judge:    Respondent determined deficiencies of

$2,876 and $2,870 in petitioner’s Federal income tax (tax) for

her taxable years 2004 and 2005, respectively.

     The issues for decision for each of petitioner’s taxable

years 2004 and 2005 are:
                                 -2-

     (1) Is petitioner entitled to a dependency exemption deduc-

tion under section 151(a)1 for her granddaughter REU?    We hold

that she is not.

     (2) Is petitioner entitled to head of household filing

status under section 2(b)?    We hold that she is not.

     (3) Is petitioner entitled to the child tax credit under

section 24(a)?   We hold that she is not.

     (4) Is petitioner entitled to the earned income tax credit

under section 32(a)?    We hold that she is not.

                          FINDINGS OF FACT

     Some of the facts in this case have been stipulated by the

parties and are so found.

     At the time petitioner filed the petition, she resided in

Richmond, Virginia.

     Petitioner is the maternal grandmother of REU, who was born

in 1991.   Petitioner’s daughter, Shelley L. Urban (Ms. Urban), is

the mother of REU.    The paternal grandparents of REU are Edgar

and Helen Urban (Urbans).

     From July 7, 1998, until April 19, 2004, Ms. Urban main-

tained sole custody of REU.    At no time during 2004 or 2005 did

petitioner have custodial rights to REU.

     1
      All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in
effect for each of the years at issue. All Rule references are
to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
                                -3-

     On April 19, 2004, Ms. Urban and the Urbans executed a

document entitled “CONSENT AGREEMENT” (custody agreement) in

connection with a proceeding regarding REU in the Juvenile and

Domestic Relations District Court of Chesterfield County, Vir-

ginia (district court).   (We shall refer to the proceeding in the

district court as the custody case.)   The custody agreement,

which was part of the district court’s record in the custody

case, provided (1) joint legal custody of REU to Ms. Urban and

the Urbans and (2) primary physical custody of REU to the Urbans.

     On the same date on which Ms. Urban and the Urbans executed

the custody agreement, Ms. Urban, the Urbans, and Brian Urban,

REU’s father, executed a second document entitled “CONSENT

AGREEMENT” (the visitation agreement) in connection with the

custody case.   The visitation agreement, which was part of the

district court’s record in the custody case, terminated all of

petitioner’s rights to visitation with REU.

     During 2004 and 2005, petitioner paid at least $1,575.62 and

$485.67, respectively, for the support of REU.   During each of

those years, Ms. Urban also provided an unidentified amount of

support for REU.

     Petitioner timely filed Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income

Tax Return (tax return), for each of her taxable years 2004 and

2005.   In each of those tax returns, petitioner claimed (1) head

of household filing status, (2) a dependency exemption deduction
                                  -4-

for REU, (3) the child tax credit, and (4) the earned income tax

credit.

     Respondent issued to petitioner a separate notice of defi-

ciency (notice) for each of petitioner’s taxable years 2004 and

2005 (collectively, notices).    In each of those notices, respon-

dent, inter alia, disallowed petitioner’s claimed (1) head of

household filing status, (2) dependency exemption deduction for

REU, (3) child tax credit, and (4) earned income tax credit.

                                OPINION

     Petitioner has the burden of establishing that the determi-

nations in each of the notices are wrong.   See Rule 142(a); Welch

v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111, 115 (1933).

     In support of her position with respect to each of the

issues presented in this case, petitioner relies primarily on her

own testimony.   We found that testimony to be in certain material

respects conclusory, vague, uncorroborated, and self-serving.   We

are not required to, and we shall not, rely on petitioner’s

testimony in order to establish her respective positions with

respect to the issues presented.    See, e.g., Tokarski v. Commis-

sioner, 87 T.C. 74, 77 (1986).

Dependency Exemption Deduction

     Section 151(a) provides that “the exemptions provided by

this section shall be allowed as deductions” to a taxpayer.
                                 -5-

Section 151(c) provides an exemption for each dependent of the

taxpayer as defined in section 152.

     As pertinent here for petitioner’s taxable year 2004,

section 152(a) defines the term “dependent” to mean a person

“over half of whose support * * * was received from the tax-

payer”, but only if that person is, inter alia, “A son or daugh-

ter of the taxpayer, or a descendant of either” or “An individual

* * * who, for the taxable year of the taxpayer, has as his

principal place of abode the home of the taxpayer and is a member

of the taxpayer’s household.”   Sec. 152(a)(1), (9).

     As pertinent here for petitioner’s taxable year 2005,

section 152(a) defines the term “dependent” to mean either a

qualifying child or a qualifying relative.

     Section 152(c) defines the term “qualifying child” as

follows:

     SEC. 152.   DEPENDENT DEFINED.

          (c) Qualifying Child.--For purposes of this
     section--

                (1) In general.--The term “qualifying child”
           means, with respect to any taxpayer for any tax-
           able year, an individual--

                      (A) who bears a relationship to the
                 taxpayer described in paragraph (2),

                      (B) who has the same principal place of
                 abode as the taxpayer for more than one-half
                 of such taxable year,

                      (C) who meets the age requirements of
                 paragraph (3), and
                                 -6-

                      (D) who has not provided over one-half
                 of such individual’s own support for the
                 calendar year in which the taxable year of
                 the taxpayer begins.

As pertinent here, for purposes of section 152(c)(1)(A) an

individual bears a relationship to the taxpayer if that individ-

ual is a grandchild of the taxpayer.   See sec. 152(c)(2)(A).    For

purposes of section 152(c)(1)(C), an individual meets the age

requirements if that individual is under age 19.   Sec.

152(c)(3)(A)(i).

     Section 152(d) defines the term “qualifying relative” as

follows:

     SEC. 152.   DEPENDENT DEFINED.

          (d) Qualifying Relative.--For purposes of this
     section--

                (1) In general.--The term “qualifying rela-
           tive” means, with respect to any taxpayer for any
           taxable year, an individual--

                      (A) who bears a relationship to the
                 taxpayer described in paragraph (2),

                      (B) whose gross income for the calendar
                 year in which such taxable year begins is
                 less than the exemption amount (as defined in
                 section 151(d)),

                      (C) with respect to whom the taxpayer
                 provides over one-half of the individual’s
                 support for the calendar year in which such
                 taxable year begins, and

                      (D) who is not a qualifying child of
                 such taxpayer or of any other taxpayer for
                 any taxable year beginning in the calendar
                 year in which such taxable year begins.
                                 -7-

As pertinent here, for purposes of section 152(d)(1)(A) an

individual bears a relationship to the taxpayer if that individ-

ual is a grandchild of the taxpayer, see sec. 152(d)(2)(A), or is

“An individual * * * who, for the taxable year of the taxpayer,

has the same principal place of abode as the taxpayer and is a

member of the taxpayer’s household”, see sec. 152(d)(2)(H).

     The only disputes between the parties as to whether peti-

tioner is entitled to a dependency exemption deduction for REU

for each of her taxable years 2004 and 2005 are:    (1) Did peti-

tioner provide more than one-half of REU’s total support

(a) during 2004, as required for REU to satisfy the definition of

a dependent in section 152(a), and (b) during 2005, as required

for REU to satisfy the definition of a dependent in section

152(a)(2) as a qualifying relative under section 152(d), see sec.

152(d)(1)(C)?    (2) Did REU have the same principal place of abode

as petitioner for more than one-half of petitioner’s taxable year

2005, as required for REU to satisfy the definition of a depend-

ent in section 152(a)(1) as a qualifying child under section

152(c)?2    See sec. 152(c)(1)(B).

     We turn first to whether petitioner provided more than one-

half of REU’s total support during each of her taxable years 2004

and 2005.    In order to establish that she did, petitioner must

     2
      Except as discussed below, our resolution of the parties’
disputes with respect to petitioner’s claimed dependency exemp-
tion deduction for each year at issue resolves the other issues
presented in this case.
                                 -8-

establish (1) the total amount of support from all sources

provided to REU during each year at issue and (2) that petitioner

provided over one-half of that total amount during each of those

years.    See Archer v. Commissioner, 73 T.C. 963, 967 (1980);

Blanco v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 512, 514-515 (1971); sec. 1.152-

1(a)(2)(i), Income Tax Regs.

       The term “support” includes food, shelter, clothing, medical

and dental care, education, and the like.    Sec. 1.152-1(a)(2)(i),

Income Tax Regs.    The total amount of support for each claimed

dependent provided by all sources during the year in question

must be shown by competent evidence.    Blanco v. Commissioner,

supra at 514.    Where the total amount of support provided to a

child during the year in question is not shown, and may not

reasonably be inferred from competent evidence, it is not possi-

ble to find that the taxpayer contributed more than one-half of

that child’s total support. Id. at 514-515; Fitzner v. Commis-

sioner, 31 T.C. 1252, 1255 (1959).

       We have found that during 2004 and 2005 petitioner paid at

least $1,575.62 and $485.67, respectively, for the support of

REU.    Petitioner did not proffer evidence establishing (1) the

total amount of support that she provided to REU during each of

the years 2004 and 2005 and (2) the total amount of support from

all sources provided to REU during each of those years.    Nor did

petitioner proffer evidence from which the Court might infer the
                                -9-

total amount of support from all sources provided to REU during

each of the years at issue.   On the record before us, we find

that petitioner has failed to carry her burden of establishing

that during each of the years at issue she provided more than

one-half of REU’s total support.

     On the record before us, we find that petitioner has failed

to carry her burden of establishing for her taxable year 2004

that REU is her dependent as defined in section 152(a).   On that

record, we further find that petitioner has failed to carry her

burden of establishing for her taxable year 2005 that REU is her

qualifying relative as defined in section 152(d), see sec.

152(d)(1)(C), and that therefore REU is her dependent as defined

in section 152(a)(2).

     We now turn to whether REU had the same principal place of

abode as petitioner for more than one-half of petitioner’s

taxable year 2005, as required for REU to satisfy the definition

of a dependent in section 152(a)(1) as a qualifying child under

section 152(c).   See sec. 152(c)(1)(B).   We have found that from

July 7, 1998, until April 19, 2004, Ms. Urban, petitioner’s

daughter and REU’s mother, maintained custody of REU.   We have

also found that at no time during 2004 or 2005 did petitioner

have custodial rights to REU.

     In addition, we have found that on April 19, 2004, Ms. Urban

and the Urbans executed the custody agreement in connection with
                               -10-

the custody case.   That agreement, inter alia, provided primary

physical custody of REU to the Urbans.    On the same date on which

Ms. Urban and the Urbans executed the custody agreement, Ms.

Urban, the Urbans, and Brian Urban executed the visitation

agreement in connection with the custody case.   That agreement

terminated all of petitioner’s rights to visitation with REU.

     Petitioner contends that a judge of the district court did

not sign the custody agreement and the visitation agreement and

that therefore that court did not approve those agreements.     We

need not resolve whether the district court approved the custody

agreement and the visitation agreement.   That is because even if,

as petitioner contends, it did not, on the record before us, we

find that petitioner has failed to carry her burden of establish-

ing that REU resided with her during any portion of 2005.3

     On the record before us, we find that petitioner has failed

to carry her burden of establishing for her taxable year 2005

that she and REU had the same principal place of abode at any

time during that year.   On that record, we further find that

petitioner has failed to carry her burden of establishing for her

taxable year 2005 that she and REU shared a principal place of

abode for more than one-half of that year.   See sec.

     3
      At trial, petitioner testified that both REU and Ms. Urban
resided with her for more than six months during each of the
years 2004 and 2005. That testimony was the only evidence to
that effect. As discussed above, we are unwilling to rely on
petitioner’s testimony to establish her position on any of the
issues presented.
                               -11-

152(c)(1)(B).   On the record before us, we find that petitioner

has failed to carry her burden of establishing for her taxable

year 2005 that REU is her qualifying child as defined in section

152(c) and that therefore REU is her dependent as defined in

section 152(a)(1).

     Based upon our examination of the entire record before us,

we find that petitioner has failed to carry her burden of estab-

lishing that she is entitled for each of her taxable years 2004

and 2005 to a dependency exemption deduction under section 151(a)

for REU.

Head of Household Filing Status

     Section 1(b) provides a special tax rate for an individual

who qualifies as a head of household.   As pertinent here, section

2(b)(1) provides that an unmarried individual “shall be consid-

ered a head of a household” if that individual “maintains as his

home a household which constitutes for more than one-half of such

taxable year the principal place of abode” of (1) for peti-

tioner’s taxable year 2004, a grandchild, see sec. 2(b)(1)(A)(i),

or any other dependent, see sec. 2(b)(1)(A)(ii), but in each case

only “if the taxpayer is entitled to a deduction for the taxable

year for such person under section 151”, sec. 2(b)(1)(A), and

(2) for petitioner’s taxable year 2005, “a qualifying child of

the individual (as defined in section 152(c) * * *)”, sec.

2(b)(1)(A)(i), or “any other person who is a dependent of the
                               -12-

taxpayer, if the taxpayer is entitled to a deduction for the

taxable year for such person under section 151,” sec.

2(b)(1)(A)(ii).4

     We have found that petitioner has failed to carry her burden

of establishing that she is entitled for each of her taxable

years 2004 and 2005 to a dependency exemption deduction under

section 151(a) for REU.   We have also found that petitioner has

failed to carry her burden of establishing for her taxable year

2005 that REU is her qualifying child as defined in section

152(c).   On the record before us, we find that petitioner has

failed to carry her burden of establishing that she is entitled

for each of her taxable years 2004 and 2005 to head of household

filing status under section 2(b).

Child Tax Credit

     Section 24(a) provides a credit with respect to each quali-

fying child of the taxpayer.

     For petitioner’s taxable year 2004, section 24(c) defines

the term “qualifying child” as follows:

     SEC. 24.   CHILD TAX CREDIT.

          (c) Qualifying Child.--For purposes of this
     section--

                (1) In general.--The term “qualifying child”
           means any individual if--

     4
      Sec. 2(b)(1)(A)(i) contains two limitations that deny head
of household filing status where the taxpayer has a qualifying
child. Neither of those limitations is applicable in this case.
                                 -13-

                       (A) the taxpayer is allowed a deduction
                  under section 151 with respect to such indi-
                  vidual for the taxable year,

                       (B) such individual has not attained the
                  age of 17 as of the close of the calendar
                  year in which the taxable year of the tax-
                  payer begins, and

                       (C) such individual bears a relationship
                  to the taxpayer described in section
                  32(c)(3)(B).

As pertinent here for purposes of section 24(c)(1)(C), a grand-

child bears a relationship to the taxpayer.    See sec.

32(c)(3)(B)(i)(I).

       For petitioner’s taxable year 2005, section 24(c)(1) defines

the term “qualifying child” as “a qualifying child of the tax-

payer (as defined in section 152(c)) who has not attained age

17.”

       We have found that petitioner has failed to carry her burden

of establishing that she is entitled for, inter alia, her taxable

year 2004 to a dependency exemption deduction under section

151(a) for REU.    We have also found that petitioner has failed to

carry her burden of establishing for her taxable year 2005 that

REU is her qualifying child as defined in section 152(c).    On the

record before us, we find that petitioner has failed to carry her

burden of establishing for each of her taxable years 2004 and

2005 that REU is her qualifying child as defined in section
                                  -14-

24(c).5    On that record, we further find that petitioner has

failed to carry her burden of establishing that she is entitled

for each of those years to the child tax credit under section 24.

Earned Income Tax Credit

     Section 32(a)(1) permits an eligible individual an earned

income credit against that individual’s tax liability.6    As

pertinent here, the term “eligible individual” is defined to mean

“any individual who has a qualifying child for the taxable year”.

Sec. 32(c)(1)(A)(i).

     For petitioner’s taxable year 2004, section 32(c) defines

the term “qualifying child” as follows:

     SEC. 32.    EARNED INCOME.

          (c) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes
     of this section--

          *       *       *        *       *      *       *

                 (3) Qualifying child.--

                      (A) In general.--The term “qualifying
                 child” means, with respect to any taxpayer
                 for any taxable year, an individual--

                            (i) who bears a relationship to the
                       taxpayer described in subparagraph (B),

     5
        The parties do not dispute that REU was under age 17 in
2005.
     6
      The amount of the credit is determined according to per-
centages that vary depending on whether the taxpayer has one
qualifying child, two or more qualifying children, or no qualify-
ing children. Sec. 32(b). The credit is also subject to a
limitation based on adjusted gross income. Sec. 32(a)(2). See
infra note 8.
                                 -15-

                            (ii) who has the same principal
                       place of abode as the taxpayer for more
                       than one-half of such taxable year, and

                            (iii) who meets the age require-
                       ments of subparagraph (C).

As pertinent here, for purposes of section 32(c)(3)(A)(i), a

grandchild bears a relationship to the taxpayer.    Sec.

32(c)(3)(B)(i)(I).   For purposes of section 32(c)(3)(A)(iii), an

individual who has not attained age 19 meets the age requirement.

Sec. 32(c)(3)(C)(i).

     For petitioner’s taxable year 2005, section 32(c)(3)(A)

defines the term “qualifying child” to mean “a qualifying child

of the taxpayer (as defined in section 152(c) * * *)”.

     With respect to petitioner’s taxable year 2005, we have

found that petitioner has failed to carry her burden of estab-

lishing that REU is her qualifying child as defined in section

152(c).   With respect to petitioner’s taxable year 2004, on the

record before us, we find that petitioner has failed to carry her

burden of establishing that REU resided with her during any

portion of that year.7    On the record before us, we further find

that petitioner has failed to carry her burden of establishing

for her taxable year 2004 that she and REU had the same principal

place of abode at any time during that year.    On that record, we

further find that petitioner has failed to carry her burden of

     7
      See supra note 3.
                               -16-

establishing for her taxable year 2004 that she and REU had the

same principal place of abode for more than one-half of the year.

     On the record before us, we find that petitioner has failed

to carry her burden of establishing for each of her taxable years

2004 and 2005 that REU is a qualifying child as defined in

section 32(c)(3).   On that record, we further find that peti-

tioner has failed to carry her burden of establishing for each of

those years that she is an eligible individual as defined in

section 32(c)(1)(A)(i).   On the record before us, we find that

petitioner has failed to carry her burden of establishing that

she is entitled for each of her taxable years 2004 and 2005 to

the earned income tax credit under section 32(a).8

     We have considered all of petitioner’s contentions and

arguments that are not discussed herein, and we find them to be

without merit, irrelevant, and/or moot.

     8
      Assuming arguendo that petitioner were an eligible individ-
ual as defined in sec. 32(c)(1)(A)(ii) for each of her taxable
years 2004 and 2005, she nonetheless would not be entitled to the
earned income tax credit for each of those years. That is
because petitioner reported adjusted gross income for her taxable
years 2004 and 2005 of $24,643 and $25,493, respectively. Sec.
32(a)(2) completely phases out the earned income tax credit for
an eligible individual with no qualifying children where the
taxpayer has adjusted gross income in excess of $11,490 for the
taxable year 2004, see Rev. Proc. 2003-85, sec. 3.06(1), 2003-2
C.B. 1184, 1187, and in excess of $11,750 for the taxable year
2005, see Rev. Proc. 2004-71, sec. 3.06(1), 2004-2 C.B. 970, 973.
                            -17-

To reflect the foregoing,

                                   Decision will be entered

                              for respondent.