Tjaden v. Dept. of Rev.

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 1
IN THE OREGON TAX COURT
MAGISTRATE DIVISION
Income Tax
GORDON H. TJADEN,
and CANDY L. TJADEN,
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Plaintiffs, TC-MD 170058R
v.
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE,
State of Oregon,
FINAL DECISION1
Defendant.
Plaintiffs appeal Defendant’s Notice of Assessment, dated November 15, 2016, for the
2013 tax year. A trial was held on December 5, 2017, in the Oregon Tax Court, Salem, Oregon.
Candy L. Tjaden (Tjaden) appeared and testified on behalf of Plaintiffs. Charles Randle
appeared and testified on behalf of Defendant. Plaintiffs’ Exhibits 1 to 16 and 18 were admitted
into evidence without objection. Defendant’s Exhibits A to N and P to W were admitted into
evidence without objection. Defendant’s Exhibit O was admitted into evidence over Plaintiffs’
objection.
I. STATEMENT OF FACTS
Income tax cases generally come to the Tax Court having been first reviewed by an
auditor and, in some cases, after additional review by a conference officer. That process often
educates the taxpayer on the issues and law and can help narrow the scope of appeal. This case
is different because Plaintiffs did not provide documents in the audit, even when given a second
chance to do so. As a result, the evidence presented was not limited in scope and consists of
1 This Final Decision incorporates without change the court’s Decision, entered May 16, 2018. The court
did not receive a statement of costs and disbursements within 14 days after its Decision was entered. See Tax Court
Rule–Magistrate Division (TCR–MD) 16 C(1).

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 2
thousands of individual items which are too numerous to detail in a statement of facts. Even if
the facts were fully recounted, it would not be helpful to the Plaintiffs, the public, or the bar.
Thus, the court will provide a general statement of facts in this section, and include more detailed
facts in the analysis section where necessary.
Tjaden testified she has been a daycare provider for 23 years. A majority of her clients
are single mothers who have been through extraordinary circumstances. Tjaden testified that she
has a passion for helping families to get back on their feet, and often helps them with gas money
or school supplies. She testified that she is not adept at keeping track of expenses, so she
employed a methodology of taking her expenses and then reducing the amount claimed on her
tax return by a variable percentage to allow room for error in case of an audit.
During the tax year at issue, Tjaden operated her daycare out of her home which was
owned by her mother-in-law. Tjaden usually had six to 10 kids at any one time. She testified
that she used practically all of her home and was available almost 24 hours a day. Most of the
children were on a reduced rate paid by the Department of Human Services (DHS). Parents were
responsible for the amounts not paid by DHS, but Tjaden did not always receive those amounts.
Tjaden testified that she used a Suburban to transport children to and from school, to
home, and for field trips. She did not keep track of her trips or mileage. Instead, she kept
receipts for gas purchases and other items related to the car.
Tjaden stated she once went to a seminar where the speaker proposed that using cash for
everything was a good financial tool. Following this advice, Tjaden cashed most of her checks
from DHS and mainly used cash for purchases. She kept no record of the cash other than what
appears on receipts presented into evidence. Tjaden’s lack of financial organization often
resulted in bounced checks and extraordinary bank fees. She often resorted to short-term payday

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 3
loans and other such devices to cover her expenses. Receipts for purchases for the daycare were
commingled with personal expenses on almost every receipt. Occasionally, a receipt would
contain a mark or notation which Tjaden indicated represented the item was or was not a
business expense.
Randle testified that has been an auditor for Defendant for three-and-a-half years and
focuses on small business. He testified that Plaintiffs were initially represented in the audit, but
the audit was closed and Defendant issued a Notice of Deficiency when Plaintiffs did not submit
any documents. Defendant reopened the audit after Plaintiffs filed an objection, but the audit
was reclosed when again no documents were provided.
Randle testified that the summary expense sheets submitted by Plaintiffs were not reliable
and that gross receipts could not be verified because business expenses were mostly done in
cash. He attempted to perform a bank analysis for Plaintiffs but was unable to do so because of
the disorganized nature of the records and because there was evidence of missing bank accounts.
He testified that Plaintiffs’ childcare attendance log contained suspicious corrections and were
not accurate. In sum, Randle testified that none of the childcare expenses should be allowed due
to a lack of substantiation.
II. ANALYSIS
In analyzing Oregon income tax cases this court starts with several general guidelines.
First, the court is guided by the intent of the legislature is to make Oregon’s “personal income
tax law identical in effect” to the federal Internal Revenue Code (IRC) for the purpose of
determining taxable income of individuals, where possible. ORS 316.007.2 The legislature
adopted, by reference, the federal definition for deductions, including those allowed under
2 References to the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) are to 2011.

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 4
section 162 of the IRC for trade and business expenses. The Code allows a deduction for
“ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any
trade or business.” IRC § 162(a). Taxpayers are not allowed a deduction for personal, living, or
family expenses except where specifically allowed in the code. IRC § 262(a).
Second, in cases before the Tax Court, the party seeking affirmative relief bears the
burden of proof and must establish his or her case by a “preponderance of the evidence.” ORS
305.427. Third, allowable deductions from taxable income are a “matter of legislative grace”
and the burden of proof (substantiation) is placed on the individual claiming the deduction.
INDOPCO, Inc. v. Comm’r, 503 US 79, 84, 112 S Ct 1039, 117 L Ed 2d 226 (1992).
Tjaden operates a daycare business out of her home. Because of the nature of Tjaden’s
business and her accounting methodology, her family and business expenditures, such as grocery
items, are inexorably commingled. Congress enacted special laws for daycare and similar
businesses to alleviate some of the strictness applied for expenses related to use of a home which
may be both business and personal. Under IRC section 280A(c)(4), Tjaden’s business expenses
must be classified as direct or indirect. Direct business expenses, if substantiated, can be
deducted at 100 percent because they are of no personal benefit and are, deductible under IRC
section 162. Indirect business expenses are those that benefit both the business and the home.
Indirect expenses will be allocated by a formula which reduces the deduction by the square
footage of her home used for business and hours for which that square footage is regularly
employed for business purposes. IRC section 280A(c)(4)(C) states:
“If a portion of the taxpayer’s dwelling unit used for the purposes described in
subparagraph (A) is not used exclusively for those purposes, the amount of the
expenses attributable to that portion shall not exceed an amount which bears the
same ratio to the total amount of the items allocable to such portion as the number
of hours the portion is used for such purposes bears to the number of hours the
portion is available for use.”

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 5
In determining business percentage, there are two elements: the space percentage and the
time percentage. The space percentage consists of the area regularly used for business
(numerator) divided by the area of the complete home (denominator). The time percentage is the
total number of hours the facility was used for child care during the year (numerator) divided by
the total hours in the year (8,760 hours). The two percentages are multiplied by each other to get
the business percentage. (See IRS Form 8829.) Tjaden calculated her home ratio at 87 percent
based on child care consisting of 7,655 hours out of a total possible of 8,760 hours for the year
and used that to reduce some of her deductions. However, Tjaden used only the time percentage
and not the space percentage. Tjaden testified and presented a diagram to show that 1,391 square
feet of her home (including garage and storage) was used for day care out of a total of 1,691
square feet. (Ptfs’ Ex 1.) The resulting calculation of 82 percent must be multiplied by 87
percent of time used to obtain the result of 71 percent. This is the amount which should be used
as the business percentage where the expense is indirect.
One final notation about the evidence provided by Plaintiffs before addressing the
individual expense categories. Tjaden relied heavily on Quicken summary pages as proof of
expenses. Summaries of this type are seldom viewed by the court as conclusive evidence of an
expense. This is especially true, when as is the case here, the summaries are not corroborated by
receipts or bank statements. Thus, the court gave no evidentiary weight to any of Plaintiffs’
expense summaries.
A. Returns and Allowances
Tjaden took a deduction of $4,200 for returns and allowances. She testified that portions
of her bills that were not paid by DHS were the responsibility of the children’s parents. In some
/ / /

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 6
cases, the parent did not, or was unable to, pay the balance. In those instances, Tjaden took a
deduction for the amount that was not paid. Defendant denied the deduction. (Def’s Ex B at 3.)
Plaintiffs’ legal theory for the deduction is absolutely incorrect. A business is not eligible
for a deduction for services rendered and billed, but unpaid. Consequently, Plaintiffs deductions
for this category must be denied.
B. Car and truck expenses
Tjaden claimed $5,387 in car and truck expenses using the actual cost method. (Def’s Ex
I at 7.) Tjaden used her Suburban to transport the children in her care from school to home, and
on field trips. Tjaden did not keep a contemporaneous log of her transportation miles. Rather,
she submitted a Quicken ledger that listed dates she purchased fuel, a few random receipts, and
copies of pages of her bank account showing debit card purchases at gas stations. (Ptfs’ Ex 3.)
Tjaden also claimed deductions for auto insurance, interest on a car loan, and for maintenance
and repairs. (Ptfs’ Ex 4.) However, for those she provided only random bank account postings
without any actual receipts. Tjaden testified that she had insurance on multiple cars in the
household, including for her two children. She did not provide a bill from her auto insurance
carrier and offered no breakdown of those expenses. Tjaden testified she took a loan out on her
car, which was paid off, to use in her business. No information was presented on the specific use
of those funds. Tjaden presented a series of receipts for auto repair and maintenance; such as
specialized cleaning supplies. (Ptfs’ Ex 5.) The receipts do not readily show the connection to
the business.
While all tax deductions require proof, there are more stringent rules for travel related
expenses. IRC section 274(d) provides that no deduction is allowable under section 162 for any
traveling expenses unless the taxpayer complies with strict substantiation rules. IRC § 274(d)(1),

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 7
(4). A taxpayer must substantiate the amount, time, place, and business purpose of the expenses
by adequate records or by sufficient evidence corroborating his or her own statement. IRC §
274(d)(4); Treas Reg § 1.274–5T(b)(2), (c). “Although a contemporaneous log is not required,
corroborative evidence to support a taxpayer’s reconstruction of the elements * * * of the
expenditure or use must have a high degree of probative value to elevate such statement to the
level of credibility of a contemporaneous record.” Christine v. Comm’r, TCM 2010-144, WL
2640125 at *3 (2010), citing Treas Reg §1.274-5T(c)(1).
The court does not dispute that Tjaden traveled as part of her daycare business.
However, she provided insufficient information upon which the court could ascertain the
destination, frequency, or purposes of the trips. A taxpayer may not ignore substantiation
requirements under IRC section 274(d). Therefore, she is not allowed any deduction for travel or
vehicle expenses.
C. Loan Interest
Tjaden testified that she extensively used payday and other types of short term loans to
solve cash flow issues. Business interest expense is potentially deductible, but only in a very few
instances may personal interest payments be deducted (e.g. home mortgage interest, student loan
interest). The evidence in this case does not readily show that Plaintiffs’ loans were exclusively
for business. The court is unable to discern Plaintiffs’ use of these loans for personal reasons
from those of the business. Therefore, the deduction for loan interest must be denied.
D. Subcontractors
Tjaden took a deduction of $3,800 for payments for subcontractor services in cleaning
and outdoor maintenance of her home. IRC section 162(a)(1) allows a business expense
deduction for “a reasonable allowance for salaries or other compensation for personal services

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 8
actually rendered.” Tjaden’s summary record lists 14 individuals were paid less than $600 each
during the tax year. She testified that she paid in cash and did not issue any 1099 forms. She did
not record the hours worked. IRC section 6001 requires that taxpayers keep “records showing
that a person is entitled to deduct, credit, or recapitalize basis in, items claimed in calculating tax
liability. One of the elements showing entitlement to a deduction, credit, or basis is proof of
payment of an amount.” Rev Proc 92-71, 1992-35 IRB 17. The court finds that Tjaden’s
summary ledger records are insufficient evidence and are not reliable because they do not match
any of her bank records. She has no proof of hours worked, what the individuals did and at what
rate, and no receipts showing actual payment. She may well have incurred the expenses claimed;
however, because Tjaden lacked adequate records, Plaintiffs are not entitled to a deduction for
subcontractors.
E. Rental payments
Tjaden deducted $7,200 as rent payments. Rent is often a valid business expense under
IRC section 162. If proved, the court would use the allocation formula to determine business use
percentage of her home. However, the only evidence presented here was a barely legible copy of
a rental agreement. (Ptfs’ Ex 8.) No evidence was presented to show that any rental payments
were actually made. A review of Plaintiffs’ bank records submitted into evidence does not show
any payments for rent, or amounts taken in cash to pay rent. One might assume that it is
axiomatic that rent must have been paid; however, here the property is owned by Tjaden’s
mother-in-law. Because no evidence of payment was provided, the deduction must be denied.
F. Office Expense
Tjaden claims a deduction in the amount of $3,800 for office expense. These expenses
are further broken down and analyzed separately.

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 9
1. Advance fees/check cashing fees
Tjaden deducted fees for cash or payroll advances and check cashing fees. As discussed
above, she has not demonstrated they were an ordinary and necessary business expenses rather
than personal expenses. Therefore, no deduction is allowed.
2. Union dues
Tjaden provided evidence that union dues were taken from her DHS payments. (Ptfs’ Ex
9 at 15–24.) This is an ordinary business expense and a deduction for union dues in the amount
of $312 is allowed.
3. Veterinary expense
Tjaden seeks a deduction for euthanizing her dog in the amount of $76. To deduct this
expense, the animal must have been in home as an “ordinary and necessary” expense. IRC §162.
Tjaden testified that she used the dog for science education and that it benefited the children.
While Tjaden’s testimony was persuasive, the dog both benefited her business and her home
personally. Thus, the deduction is allowed subject to the allocation of the home ratio which
reduces the deduction to $54. (accord, Hansen v. Dept. of Rev., TC-MD 081122D WL 3089297
at *14 (Or Tax M Div Sept. 29, 2009).
4. Payments to Ashley Feliciano and Emily Bojorcas
Tjaden presented hand-written notes that she paid $200 to Ashley Feliciano on June 15,
2013, and $200 on December 15, 2013, and $500 to Emily Bojorcas over several dates. (Ptfs’
Ex 9 at 26–27; 33, 35–36.) As explained in the subcontractors section above, this expense lacks
the necessary elements of substantiation. Thus, no deduction is allowed.
/ / /
/ / /

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 10
5. CCI Salem
Tjaden testified that a credit card payment to CCI Salem in the amount of $51.45 was for
a continuing education class. (Ptfs’ Ex 9 at 28.) Because Tjaden is required to required take
continuing education classes to maintain her daycare license, the amount is an allowable business
expense.
6. Costco membership
Tjaden seeks to deduct $55 for her Costco club membership. In reviewing Plaintiffs’
Costco receipts, it is unclear whether her purchases were exclusively for business. Rather, the
purchases appear to be both personal and for her daycare. No attempt by Plaintiffs was made to
allocate between the two purposes. Therefore, this deduction must be denied for lack of
substantiation.
7. Quicken
Tjaden seeks a deduction of $21 for charges related to using the program Quicken to link
to her checking account. It appears that Tjaden was using this service in an attempt to keep track
of business expenses. This expense is an ordinary and necessary business expense and is
allowed.
8. Miscellaneous supplies
Tjaden seeks a deduction for a number of miscellaneous supplies. The court allows the
following: paper in the amount of $5.49 and post office expenses of $38.92. (Ptfs’ Ex 9 at 46
and 48–50.) The remainder of deductions for supplies is denied due to lack of substantiation.
G. Home Repairs
Tjaden deducted $2,000 for home repairs. She testified that the children in her care often
damaged her home. In support of that deduction she submitted a disorganized jumble of

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 11
receipts, including multiple items such as food and personal care items. The court reviewed the
items contained in Plaintiffs’ receipts and, to the extent the item was legible and readily appeared
to be repair-related, the items were allowed, subject to the home allocation percentage. The
amounts and locations are listed in the spreadsheet below:
Exhibit Amount
10 at 11 $5.99
10 at 11 $5.99
10 at 11 $9.97
10 at 11 $72.00
10 at 13 $39.99
10 at 14 $8.12
10 at 16 $10.14
10 at 16 $89.00
10 at 17 $22.76
10 at 18 $12.20
10 at 20 $19.99
10 at 21 $19.53
10 at 21 $4.56
10 at 22 $68.00
10 at 30 $9.58
10 at 31 $1.40
10 at 31 $11.09
10 at 32 $14.69
TOTAL: $425.00
The amount allowed for home repair benefitted Plaintiffs’ home and their business and
thus are reduced by the home percentage ratio to $301.75.
H. Supplies
Tjaden deducted $8,000 for supplies. Tjaden presented numerous receipts with hundreds
of individual items. Many receipts were illegible and most items did not have sufficient
description to ascertain their business purpose. Many were food items that the court is allowing
elsewhere and thus those expenses will not be allowed here. The court employed the same
methodology as above and presents its conclusions in the below spreadsheet.

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 12
Exhibit Amount
11 at 8 $30.27
11 at 17 $24.99
11 at 22 $7.99
11 at 45 $6.47
11 at 55 $0.97
TOTAL: $70.69
I. Utilities
Although Plaintiffs’ receipts were somewhat disorganized, the court finds proof of
payments contained in Exhibit 13 as follows:
PGE City of Lafayette Verizon Wireless Comcast Western Waste
Ex Amt Ex Amt Ex Amt Ex Amt Ex Amt
13 at 3 $160.00 13 at 4 $416.36 13 at 5 $336.00 13 at 5 $233.21 13 at 10 $247.04
13 at 9 $385.00 13 at 15* $310.00 13 at 5 $335.00 13 at 6 $338.59 13 at 19 $89.32
13 at 12 $375.00 13 at 25 $297.16 13 at 7 $333.05 13 at 8 $365.00 13 at 20 $68.00
13 at 16 $430.00 13 at 11 $400.00 13 at 14 $179.07
13 at 21 $236.00 13 at 14 $350.00 13 at 17 $183.05
13 at 26 $300.00 13 at 18 $310.00 13 at 19 $207.67
13 at 19 $340.00 13 at 21 $212.02
13 at 21 $333.25 13 at 23 $189.85
13 at 26 $209.84 13 at 26 $211.86
13 at 27 $200.00
TOTAL: $1,886.00 TOTAL: $1,023.52 TOTAL: $3,147.14 TOTAL: $2,120.32 TOTAL: $404.36
*Copy of check with no account number or bank statement is insufficient evidence
1. PGE, City of Lafayette and Western Waste
Tjaden has supplied evidence of payment to PGE for electricity, to the City of Lafayette
for water, and to Western Waste for garbage. Those expenses appear to be to ordinary and

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 13
necessary business expenses. Since those expenses also benefitted the home, they are subject to
the home ratio allocation. The amount of $3,313.88 is reduced by the allocation to $2,352.85.
2. Verizon Wireless
Tjaden testified that she, her spouse, and her two children all have cell phones and she
deducted the total for all phones. She testified that she used her cell phone for both daycare and
personal use. Additionally, she testified that her spouse and children help out sometimes at the
daycare, but acknowledged that the phones were also used for personal use.
As of 2010, cellular telephones were removed from the definition of “listed property” and
are not subject to the strict substantiation requirements of IRC section 274(d). See Pub L 111-
240, § 2043, 124 Stat 2560 (2010). As a consequence, it is possible for courts to estimate the
amount of allowable deductions pursuant to the rule in Cohan v. Comm’r, 39 F2d 540 (2d Cir
1930). Such estimation is only possible if there is a basis in the record from which a court can
reasonably apportion business and personal use. Vanicek v. Comm’r, 85 TC 731, 742–43. Thus,
an apportioned amount of cell phone expenses can be deduced even if the taxpayer uses the cell
phone for both business and personal use. Clearly, Plaintiffs are not entitled to deduct the full
amount of their family cell phone expense, when three out of the four family members only
occasionally assist in the daycare business. From the evidence presented, however, the court is
unable to even estimate what portion of Plaintiffs’ cell phone expense is for business. Thus, the
deduction for cell phone service is denied for lack of substantiation.
3. Comcast
Tjaden testified that she subscribes to Comcast for a fax line she uses for business, for
internet so kids can do homework, and for cable television to entertain the children. Since those
/ / /

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 14
expenses are also used by the home, they are allowed, but subject to the home ratio allocation.
The amount allowed is $1,505.43.
J. Meals
IRC section 162 allows a deduction for food provided to the daycare recipients. This
amount is not limited by the 50% reduction imposed under IRS section 274(n). But under IRC
Section 262, no portion of the cost of food for the provider’s family is allowed as a deduction.
Food expenses must be substantiated. See IRC § 6001 and Treas Reg § 1.6001-1(a).
According to IRS pub. 587 (2013), taxpayers who provide food for daycare recipients may
deduct the actual cost of food provided to the children or use a standard meal and snack rate for
the year. See Rev. Pro 2003-22 (2/24/2003). For the 2013 tax year the rates were $1.27 for
breakfast, $2.38 for lunch/dinner, and $0.71 for snacks. (2013 IRS pub 587.) Tjaden appears to
have used both actual costs and the standard rate, in error. Tjaden’s receipts are haphazard,
include food clearly not for her daycare clients (e.g., energy drinks) and she did not distinguish
between personal and business food. She did provide a year-end meal tally showing the number
of meals and snacks provided to the children. Because the actual cost of the food is uncertain,
the court will use the standard rate to determine the deduction. The following table is based on
Plaintiffs’ meal records (Ptfs’ Ex 14.):
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 15
Daycare meals
Month Breakfasts Lunches Dinners Snacks
January 202 139 202 606
February 202 142 202 606
March 225 186 181 631
April 161 190 224 587
May 233 149 233 690
June 178 140 178 534
July 172 172 172 513
August 212 212 212 636
September 158 188 177 531
October 221 138 221 663
November 226 162 226 678
December 175 218 229 681
2,365 2,036 2,457 7,356
Rate $1.27 $2.38 $2.38 $0.71
Totals $3,003.55 $4,845.68 $5,847.66 $5,222.76
Grand Total: $18,919.65
Based on the table above, Plaintiffs are allowed $18,919.65 for food expense.
K. Fees and Charges
Tjaden seeks to deduct $3,900 for fees and charges. These were related to a significant
number of nonsufficient funds fees, overdraft fees, check cashing fees, and fees for using ATMs
where she did not have an account with the banking institution. As described in the loan interest
section above, these are personal expenses. As such, they may not be deducted as a business
expense.

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 16
L. Gifts
Tjaden seeks a deduction in the amount of $1,000 for gifts given to her clients. IRC
section 274(b)(1) limits deduction for “any expense for gifts made directly or indirectly to any
individual to the extent that such expense, when added to prior expenses of the taxpayer for gifts
made to such individual during the same taxable year, exceeds $25.” Here the strict
substantiation rules of IRC section 274(d) apply. A taxpayer who claims a deduction for a
business gift is required to substantiate it with adequate records or sufficient evidence
corroborating his or her own testimony as to (1) the cost of the gift; (2) the date and description
of the gift; (3) the business purpose of the gift; and (4) the business relationship of the person
receiving the gift. Treas Reg 1.274-5T(b)(5).
Tjaden provided a number of receipts for gifts which were in excess of $25. Many of the
receipts did not contain a description. No evidence was given as to the date of any gift or the
recipient. While Tjaden might have been able to deduct up to $25 per client, the court has no
way to determine how many clients received gifts. Tjaden also submitted evidence of payments
or donations to charitable organizations. Those items are not deductible business gifts under IRC
section 162, but may have constituted charitable donations under IRC section 170. That category
was not at issue for this appeal. Based on the foregoing, Plaintiffs’ deduction for gifts must be
denied.
M. Field Trips
Tjaden deducted $1,200 for field trips. In support of the deduction, Tjaden presented a
number of receipts for food, a number of bank statements showing debt card purchases for food,
and a couple of receipts from the Dollar Tree store. Tjaden testified that the kids loved field trips
to the dollar store.

FINAL DECISION TC-MD 170058R 17
With respect to the food purchases, they are subject to the strict substantiation rules of
IRC section 274(d). The receipts do not specify who was present, or if Plaintiffs consumed any
of the purchased food. Deduction for the food items must be denied for lack of substantiation.
As to purchases from the Dollar Tree, these appear to be purchases of potential supplies or they
might have been gifts. The court is unsure of these items and Plaintiff did not provide an
explanation. Thus, the deduction for field trips must be denied for lack of substantiation.
III. CONCLUSION
After careful review of the evidence, the court concludes that Plaintiffs are entitled to
business deductions in the amount of $23,633.23. Plaintiffs’ remaining business deductions are
not allowed. Now, therefore,
IT IS THE DECISION OF THIS COURT that Plaintiffs are entitled to a deduction for
business expense related to their day care in the amount of $23,633.23.
Dated this day of June 2018.
RICHARD DAVIS
MAGISTRATE
If you want to appeal this Final Decision, file a complaint in the Regular
Division of the Oregon Tax Court, by mailing to: 1163 State Street, Salem, OR
97301-2563; or by hand delivery to: Fourth Floor, 1241 State Street, Salem, OR.
Your complaint must be submitted within 60 days after the date of the Final
Decision or this Final Decision cannot be changed. TCR-MD 19 B.
This document was signed by Magistrate Richard Davis and entered on June 1,
2018.