- 11 - deduction, petitioner is entitled to the standard deduction for 1999 and 2000. a. Home Mortgage Interest Petitioner claimed itemized deductions for home mortgage interest expense of $21,200 for the 1999 taxable year and $20,614 for the 2000 taxable year. Respondent decreased the claimed amount for 1999, allowing a deduction of $3,222, and disallowed the claimed deduction for 2000 in full. Mortgage interest is generally deductible under section 163(a), subject to the requirements of section 163(h). Petitioner, however, has not substantiated that he paid mortgage interest expense of any amount in 1999 or 2000. We therefore sustain respondent’s determination on this issue. Sec. 6001; sec. 1.6001-1(a), (e), Income Tax Regs. b. Unreimbursed Employee Expenses Petitioner claimed a deduction for unreimbursed employee expenses of $1,125 for 1999. “It is clear that an individual may be in the trade or business of being an employee and that ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in that trade or business are deductible under section 162.” Kurkjian v. Commissioner, 65 T.C. 862, 869 (1976). Petitioner, however, has not provided any evidence to substantiate either the existence or amount of any unreimbursedPage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
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