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ROLAND GYULA SZASZ, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RespondentSZASZ v. COMMISSIONERNo. 13460-03S
United States Tax Court T.C. Summary Opinion 2004-169; 2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 173;December 9, 2004, Filed*173 PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.
Roland Gyula Szasz, Pro se.Valerie L. Makarewicz , for respondent.Armen, Robert N.ROBERT N. ARMENARMEN, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of
section 7463 of the Internal Revenue Code in effect at the time that the petition was filed. *174 Whether the statute of limitations bars the assessment of the deficiencies for 1998 and 1999; if the statute of limitations is not a bar, (2) whether petitioner is entitled to dependency exemption deductions for his parents in 1998 and 1999; (3) whether petitioner is entitled to head-of-household filing status in 1998 and 1999; and (4) whether petitioner is entitled to various Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, deductions in 1998 and 1999.*175 An adjustment to the amount of petitioner's itemized deductions is purely a mechanical matter, the resolution of which is dependent on our disposition of the issues for decision.
I. Background Some of the facts have been stipulated, and they are so found. We incorporate by reference the parties' stipulation of facts and accompanying exhibits.
At the time that the petition was filed, petitioner resided in Thousand Oaks, California.
A. Petitioner's Occupation Until the real estate market crash in California in 1997, petitioner worked full time as a real estate agent in Victorville, California. In mid-1997, petitioner relocated to Thousand Oaks to find a better job, and he started working full time as a real estate agent for Fred Sands Brown Realty (Fred Sands). By 1998, petitioner was working only part time at Fred Sands during the evenings and on the weekends. At all relevant times, petitioner maintained an office at Fred Sands and focused his real estate activity on listings and investors in both Victorville and Thousand Oaks. Victorville is located approximately 130-140 miles from Thousand Oaks.
In addition to his part-time job with Fred Sands, petitioner worked full*176 time as a salesman for Cardservice International (Cardservice) in the Thousand Oaks area. In 1998 and 1999, petitioner worked 40 hours a week at Cardservice from 6:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
B. Petitioner's Place of Residence In 1994, petitioner purchased a single family residence at 13040 Caspian Drive in Victorville (Victorville home). Petitioner maintained the Victorville home as his place of residence until mid-1997 when he relocated to Thousand Oaks. Petitioner retained the Victorville home because he was unable to sell it in 1997 without sustaining a significant loss.
When petitioner relocated to Thousand Oaks in mid-1997, he initially lived with his parents, Lorant and Elizabeth Szasz (individually referred to as Lorant and Elizabeth), in their home in Thousand Oaks.
In September 1997, petitioner moved out of his parents' home and rented a guest house above a two-car garage at 1350 Camino Cristobal in Thousand Oaks (Camino Cristobal). The guest house had one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchenette, and a "great room", which was a combination living room and dining room. The great room contained a dining table, a couch, and a desk. Petitioner used the great room both to entertain*177 personal guests and family and to meet with clients from Fred Sands. In September 1998, petitioner and his then-girlfriend signed a new lease for Camino Cristobal, at which time petitioner's girlfriend began to reside with him.
In 1998 petitioner paid expenses for Camino Cristobal, which amounts remain in issue, as follows: (1) Rent of $ 11,100, (2) repairs and maintenance of $ 141, (3) utilities of $ 510, and (4) telephone of $ 498.
In mid-1999, petitioner moved to a single family residence in Moorpark (which is in the Thousand Oaks vicinity) (Moorpark home) under a lease with an option to purchase. *178 C. Petitioner's Family Household
In November 1997, petitioner's father, Lorant, became disabled. Before his disability, Lorant worked at LERC Enterprises, Inc./Hungarians' Sunday (LERC), a family corporation that Lorant established in 1981. *179 Because of financial constraints, Lorant and Elizabeth sold their home in Thousand Oaks in 1998 and moved into petitioner's Victorville home. At all relevant times, Lorant and Elizabeth resided by themselves in the Victorville home.
D. Petitioner's 1998 and 1999 Income Tax Returns Lorant prepared petitioner's 1998 and 1999 income tax returns. Petitioner executed his 1998 income tax return on February 14, 1999, and filed it on or before April 15, 1999. Petitioner executed his 1999 income tax return on February 11, 2000, and filed it on or before April 15, 2000.
During the years in issue, petitioner was not married, but he filed as head-of-household claiming his parents as dependents.
Petitioner attached, inter alia, a Schedule C to each of his income tax returns for 1998 and 1999. On each Schedule C, petitioner identified his business activity code as 531210, signifying an office of real estate agents and brokers. On each Schedule C, petitioner claimed various deductions. After concessions, and as relevant to the issues for decision, those deductions were as follows:
1998 1999 Rent $ 11,100 $ 5,550 Repairs and maintenance 141 -0- Utilities 510 549 Telephone 498 544 *180 E. Examination of Petitioner's Returns At a time not disclosed in the record, respondent commenced an examination of petitioner's 1998 and 1999 returns.
On July 23, 2000, petitioner executed Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, appointing Lorant as his representative concerning income tax matters for the taxable years 1993 through 2002. The Form 2848 specifically authorized Lorant to sign consents. Lorant signed the Form 2848 on July 26, 2000. Respondent received the Form 2848 on September 12, 2000.
On July 17, 2001, Lorant executed on behalf of petitioner a Form 872, Consent to Extend the Time to Assess Tax, consenting to extend the period of limitation for 1998 to November 31, 2002 (first consent). Lorant signed the first consent as "Lorant Szasz, P.O. for Roland Szasz". Respondent received the first consent on July 19, 2001, and respondent's authorized official countersigned it on July 23, 2001.
On August 3, 2001, Lorant executed on behalf of petitioner another Form 872 consenting to extend the period of limitation for 1998 to December 31, 2002 (second consent). Lorant signed the second consent as "Lorant Szasz, P.A. for Roland Szasz". Respondent*181 received the second consent on August 9, 2001, and respondent's authorized official countersigned it on that same day.
On December 24, 2001, Lorant executed on behalf of petitioner another Form 872 consenting to extend the period of limitation for 1998 to December 31, 2002 (third consent).
For reasons not fully explained in the record, Lorant became unable to continue to represent petitioner in the audit. Consequently, in or about April 2002, Lorant hired on behalf of petitioner a certified public accountant, Scott Penn (Mr. Penn), to handle petitioner's income tax matters for 1998 and 1999. Petitioner was aware that Lorant hired Mr. Penn on petitioner's*182 behalf, and petitioner approved the hiring of Mr. Penn. On April 22, 2002, Lorant executed on behalf of petitioner a Form 2848 appointing Mr. Penn as petitioner's representative for the taxable years 1997 through 2003. Lorant signed the Form 2848 as "Lorant Szasz, P.O.A. for Roland Szasz". Mr. Penn signed the Form 2848 on the same day.
From about April 2002 through May 2003, Mr. Penn corresponded with respondent's agent on approximately 40 occasions. As a matter of practice, Mr. Penn would then correspond with Lorant, who would relay all the information to petitioner. When Mr. Penn was unable to persuade respondent to accept petitioner's returns as filed, he executed on October 15, 2002, a Form 872 consenting to extend the period of limitations for 1998 and 1999 to June 30, 2003 (last consent). Mr. Penn signed the last consent as petitioner's representative. Respondent's authorized official countersigned it on October 21, 2002.
F. Notice of Deficiency On May 14, 2003, respondent issued to petitioner a notice of deficiency for 1998 and 1999. Respondent determined that petitioner is not entitled to claim his parents as dependents, that petitioner is not entitled to head-of-household*183 filing status, and that petitioner is not entitled to deduct the following Schedule C expenses:
Expense 1998 1999 Claimed Allowed Disallowed Claimed Allowed Advertising $ 384 -0- $ 384 $ 312 -0- Car and truck expenses 6,763 $ 1,662 5,101 6,876 $ 1,662 Depreciation 878 5,057 2,858 878 Insurance 1,452 2,180 -0- 1,583 2,180 Mortgage interest -0- -0- -0- 5,651 -0- Other interest -0- -0- -0- 1,000 -0- Legal and professional services 78 -0- 78 94 -0- Office expense 235 -0- 235 258 -0- Rent for other business property 11,774 -0- 11,774 9,127 -0- Repairs and maintenance 112 -0- 112 191 -0- Supplies 261 -0- 261 283 -0- Taxes and licenses 1,195 -0- 1,195 1,628 -0- Travel -0- -0- -0- 185 -0- Utilities 510 -0- 510 538 -0- Telephone 573 -0- 573 622 -0- Points -0- -0- -0- 1,092 -0- Total expenses 29,290 4,720 32,298 4,720