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OPINION
The determinations of the Commissioner in a notice of
deficiency are presumed correct, and the burden is on the
taxpayer to show that the determinations are incorrect. Rule
142(a); Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111, 115 (1933).2
Deductions are a matter of legislative grace, and the
taxpayer bears the burden of proving the entitlement to any
deduction claimed. INDOPCO, Inc. v. Commissioner, 503 U.S. 79,
84 (1992); New Colonial Ice Co. v. Helvering, 292 U.S. 435, 440
(1934). A taxpayer is required to maintain records sufficient to
establish the amount of his or her income and deductions. Sec.
6001; sec. 1.6001-1(a), (e), Income Tax Regs.
1. Schedule C--Business Expense Deductions
Section 162(a) allows a taxpayer to deduct all ordinary and
necessary business expenses paid or incurred during the taxable
year in carrying on any trade or business. To be “ordinary” the
transaction which gives rise to the expense must be of a common
or frequent occurrence in the type of business involved. Deputy
v. Du Pont, 308 U.S. 488, 495 (1940). To be “necessary” an
expense must be “appropriate and helpful” to the taxpayer’s
business. Welch v. Helvering, supra at 113. Additionally, the
2 Sec. 7491 does not apply in this case to place the
burden of proof on respondent because petitioner neither alleged
that sec. 7491 was applicable nor established that he fully
complied with the substantiation requirements of sec.
7491(a)(2)(A).
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Last modified: May 25, 2011