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automobile, cell phones, and pager and for meals unless they
substantiate the requisite elements of each such expenditure or
use. See sec. 274(d); sec. 1.274-5T(b)(1), Temporary Income Tax
Regs., 50 Fed. Reg. 46014 (Nov. 6, 1985). A taxpayer is required
to
substantiate each element of an expenditure or use
* * * by adequate records or by sufficient evidence
corroborating his own statement. Section 274(d) con-
templates that a taxpayer will maintain and produce
such substantiation as will constitute proof of each
expenditure or use referred to in section 274. Written
evidence has considerably more probative value than
oral evidence alone. In addition, the probative value
of written evidence is greater the closer in time it
relates to the expenditure or use. A contemporaneous
log is not required, but a record of the elements of an
expenditure or of a business use of listed property
made at or near the time of the expenditure or use,
supported by sufficient documentary evidence, has a
high degree of credibility not present with respect to
a statement prepared subsequent thereto when generally
there is a lack of accurate recall. Thus, the corrobo-
rative evidence required to support a statement not
made at or near the time of the expenditure or use must
have a high degree of probative value to elevate such
statement and evidence to the level of credibility
reflected by a record made at or near the time of the
expenditure or use supported by sufficient documentary
evidence. The substantiation requirements of section
274(d) are designed to encourage taxpayers to maintain
the records, together with documentary evidence, as
provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section [1.274-5T,
Temporary Income Tax Regs.].
Sec. 1.274-5T(c)(1), Temporary Income Tax Regs., 50 Fed. Reg.
46016-46017 (Nov. 6, 1985).
The elements that a taxpayer must prove with respect to any
listed property are: (1)(a) The amount of each separate expendi-
ture with respect to such property and (b) the amount of each
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