- 37 - transfer is that petitioners thereafter sought to deduct substantial personal living expenses incurred in connection with the property, such as insurance, repairs, maintenance, and utilities. They even commenced a remodeling project at the Quailwoods location, and nothing in the record indicates that the resulting improvements did not enhance petitioners’ personal use of the property for residential purposes. Attempts to legitimize deductions of this nature through designation of the property as HGAMC’s “headquarters” are unavailing. A passing reference by petitioners on brief to a home office likewise does nothing to aid their cause. Deductions related to business use of a residence are strictly circumscribed by the rules of section 280A and would require petitioners to show, at minimum and as relevant here, that some portion of the home was “exclusively used on a regular basis” for business. Sec. 280A(c)(1). The evidence before the Court does not even so much as suggest that to be the case. As regards income-producing activities, again no truly material change appears to have been worked by implementation of the trust system. Petitioners’ primary contention in arguing for a changed relationship centers on this aspect and is summarized on brief as follows: The allegation that the taxpayers’ relationship as grantor to the property did not differ materially before and after the creation of the trusts is ludicrous. There was no substantial trust property (aside from the Richardsons’ home) before the creationPage: Previous 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011