Michael R. and Sheila Olsen - Page 6




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          rather than on the corporation’s return.  We note that a                    
          corporation is a separate legal entity, and an individual                   
          generally may not claim deductions for expenses incurred by a               
          corporation.  See Gantner v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 713, 725                 
          (1988), affd. 905 F.2d 241 (8th Cir. 1990).  However, we need not           
          decide whether the deductions were those of the corporation (or             
          possibly employee business expenses) because we hold that                   
          petitioners have not substantiated the expenses.                            
               The evidence provided to support the deductions for the                
          expenses in issue is comprised of a summary showing mileage for             
          pickup and delivery of motorcycles, a summary of repairs and                
          maintenance on a truck, and a summary showing the costs                     
          associated with a motorcycle for which petitioners claimed                  
          depreciation expenses.  All of the other evidence provided by               
          petitioners, as well as their testimony, helps to establish that            
          they were involved in the business of Olray Corporation but does            
          not provide adequate substantiation of any specific expenses.2              
               We find the mileage summary to be insufficient                         
          substantiation under section 274(d) because the mileage amounts             
          were not entered at the time the vehicle was used and because               
          they were based on figures in a computer atlas database rather              

          2Petitioners filed an amended Federal income tax return for                 
          taxable year 1996, but the return was not accepted by respondent.           
          This return, which was introduced as evidence, merely contains              
          uncorroborated assertions by petitioners and does not provide               
          substantiation for any of the amounts in issue.                             





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