Herbert J. Meeks and Paula J. Meeks - Page 9

                                                - 9 -                                                   

            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), affg. T.C. Memo. 1958-60.  Pursuant to section                                  
            162(a), if expenditures qualify as "ordinary and necessary", an                             
            employee may deduct unreimbursed employee expenses.  An employee                            
            may not deduct such expenses, however, if the expenses are not                              
            substantiated or if the employee has a right to, but fails to                               
            seek, reimbursement from the employer.  Kennelly v. Commissioner,                           
            56 T.C. 936, 943 (1971), affd. without published opinion 456 F.2d                           
            1335 (2d Cir. 1972). Paula testified that her employer would have                           
            reimbursed her for the garment shields for school costumes had                              
            she sought a reimbursement.  We, therefore, sustain respondent's                            
            determination with respect to this deduction.                                               
                  Petitioners claimed deductions for concert tickets which                              
            Paula attended with her husband or students.  For expenses to be                            
            deductible under section 162, petitioners must show that the                                
            purpose of the expenditure was primarily business rather than                               
            personal and that Paula's business benefited, or was intended to                            
            benefit, by the expenditure.  Hynes v. Commissioner, 74 T.C.                                
            1266, 1289 (1980); Schulz v. Commissioner, 16 T.C. 401, 405                                 
            (1951).  Paula claims that she attended concerts to learn about                             
            the changes in jazz dance for her business as a dance instructor.                           
            We conclude that petitioners have failed to demonstrate that the                            
            purpose of the concerts was primarily business rather than                                  



Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011