Sharon T. Myrick - Page 9




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          provided no other receipts or canceled checks for the remaining             
          supplies and office expense deductions she claimed.                         
               Petitioner credibly testified that she used the postage                
          meter to mail fliers and brochures to customers.  Although it is            
          possible that petitioner used the postage meter for personal                
          matters, such use was likely de minimis in comparison to the                
          business use.  We therefore conclude that petitioner is entitled            
          to deduct $648 for the cost of the postage meter and the “Postal            
          Privilege”.                                                                 
               Petitioner testified that she purchased or leased the water            
          cooler for the benefit of customers who came to her home.                   
          Petitioner did not establish, however, that the water cooler was            
          used primarily by customers and not by her family.  Because                 
          petitioner has failed to meet her burden of proof, she cannot               
          deduct the $270 cost of the water cooler.                                   
               Respondent’s determinations with respect to supplies and               
          office expense is modified to the extent that petitioner is                 
          entitled to a deduction of $648.                                            
               D.  Utilities                                                          
               Petitioner claimed a $2,172 deduction for utilities which              
          respondent disallowed in full.  At trial, the parties agreed that           
          petitioner paid $1,311 to Verizon, presumably for telephone                 
          service, and $243 for wireless Internet service.  Petitioner did            
          not demonstrate that these amounts were incurred solely for                 







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Last modified: November 10, 2007