T.C. Summary Opinion 2002-7
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
ESTATE OF KEITH L. GURR, DECEASED,
MARY JULENE WOODEN, GENERAL PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE,
AND DELMA P. GURR, Petitioners v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 7194-99S. Filed January 30, 2002.
Bradley S. Shannon, for petitioner Delma P. Gurr.1
R. Craig Schneider, for respondent.
COUVILLION, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard
pursuant to section 7463 in effect when the petition was filed.2
1
At the time of the trial, petitioner Keith L. Gurr was
represented by counsel. When the estate was opened, his counsel
filed a Motion For Withdrawal, which was granted.
2
Unless otherwise indicated, section references
hereafter are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the
years at issue. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules
of Practice and Procedure.
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The decision to be entered is not reviewable by any other court,
and this opinion should not be cited as authority.
Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' Federal
income taxes, additions to tax, and accuracy-related penalties as
follows:
Addition to Tax Penalty
Year Deficiency Sec. 6651(a)(1) Sec. 6662(a)
1992 $ 1,489 $ 372 $ 298
1993 10,330 2,583 2,066
At trial, the parties filed a written stipulation, wherein
petitioners conceded the above deficiencies, additions to tax,
and the accuracy-related penalties.3 The only issue for decision
is whether Delma P. Gurr (petitioner) is entitled to relief from
joint and several liability under section 6015 for the years at
issue.4 More specifically, petitioner seeks relief under section
6015(b), alternatively, limited liability relief under section
6015(c), and, in the further alternative, relief under section
3
After the case was heard and taken under advisement,
Keith L. Gurr died, and the Estate of Keith L. Gurr, Deceased,
Mary Julene Wooden, General Personal Representative, was
substituted as petitioner. Because of his health, Mr. Gurr did
not appear at trial or present any evidence.
4
Sec. 6015 was enacted by sec. 3201(a) of the Internal
Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, Pub. L.
105-206, 112 Stat. 734, and is effective with respect to any tax
liability arising after July 22, 1998, and any tax liability
arising on or before July 22, 1998, that is unpaid on that date.
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6015(f). Respondent and Keith L. Gurr (Mr. Gurr) opposed
petitioner's claim. However, in a posttrial reply brief,
respondent conceded petitioner's entitlement to limited liability
relief under section 6015(c) to the extent of 50 percent of the
deficiencies attributable to three adjustments in the notice of
deficiency for 1992 and four notice of deficiency adjustments for
the year 1993 relating to certain real estate transactions.
Respondent made no concession with respect to one adjustment in
the 1993 notice of deficiency relating to the taxable portion of
Social Security benefits received by petitioners that year.
Given the concession of respondent, petitioner, nevertheless,
maintains her entitlement to total relief under section 6015(b),
(c), and (f).
Some of the facts were stipulated. Those facts, and the
annexed exhibits, are so found and are incorporated herein by
reference. At the time the petition was filed, Mr. Gurr's legal
residence was Sandy, Utah, and petitioner's legal residence was
West Jordan, Utah.
Petitioner and Mr. Gurr were married in 1952. Their
marriage lasted 43 years. They separated on November 4, 1993,
and were divorced on August 29, 1995. They had five children.
Petitioner had one other child from a prior marriage.
Respondent issued separate notices of deficiency to
petitioner and Mr. Gurr, and a joint petition was filed timely.
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Petitioner thereafter filed an amended petition to assert her
claim for relief under section 6015.
Mr. Gurr had a tenth-grade education. Throughout their
marriage, he was self-employed. For several years, he operated a
coal business, wherein he purchased and delivered coal to
customers. At one time, he and petitioner operated a commercial
horse riding stable. Petitioner assisted in the operation of
this business. Later, Mr. Gurr went into the real estate
business, wherein he purchased and held land, either for resale
or development. This was the activity Mr. Gurr was engaged in
during the years at issue. That activity was the principal
source of income of petitioner and Mr. Gurr during 1992 and 1993.
At the time of trial, Mr. Gurr was 77 years of age, and both he
and petitioner had been retired for several years.
Petitioner was a high school graduate and attended Brigham
Young University for a short time. She did not receive a degree
from that institution. During World War II, petitioner served 2
years in the women's branch of the U.S. Navy which, at that time,
was known as the WAVES. Other than assisting in the operation of
the riding stable business, she was never employed outside the
home during her marriage with Mr. Gurr.
Petitioners filed joint Federal income tax returns for 1992
and 1993. For each year, the income and expenses from Mr. Gurr's
real estate activity were reported on Schedule C, Profit or Loss
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From Business, of the return. Petitioners reported Schedule C
losses of $36,747 and $12,668, respectively, for 1992 and 1993.
In the notices of deficiency, respondent made no adjustments to
the Schedule C income and expenses reported by petitioner and Mr.
Gurr on their 1992 and 1993 returns, thereby allowing the losses
claimed. Each of the 1992 and 1993 tax returns also included a
Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses, with respect to certain
real estate transactions. On the Schedule D for 1992, among
other transactions reported on that Schedule, petitioner and Mr.
Gurr reported a long-term capital loss of $173,387 from two real
estate transactions. On that same Schedule D, petitioner and Mr.
Gurr reported a long-term capital gain of $7,768 from a separate
real estate transaction. In the notices of deficiency,
respondent disallowed the $173,387 long-term capital loss for
lack of substantiation. Respondent also determined that the
reported $7,768 long-term capital gain constituted ordinary
income to the extent of $6,925.
On their 1993 return, petitioner and Mr. Gurr claimed a
Schedule D short-term capital loss of $1,000 from the sale of
real estate, a long-term capital loss of $16,400 as guarantors on
two notes, and long-term capital gains from installment sales of
$12,673. In the notices of deficiency, respondent disallowed
these two losses for lack of substantiation. Respondent further
determined that $1,082 of the Schedule D long-term capital gain
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of $12,673 constituted ordinary income.
Finally, on their 1993 return, petitioner and Mr. Gurr
claimed a $158,841 net operating loss carryover from 1992. That
carryover loss claimed on the 1993 return was disallowed in the
notices of deficiency because the adjustments to the 1992 tax
return fully eliminated any carryover loss to 1993.
As a result of the adjustments to the 1993 return,
respondent determined that $3,936 in Social Security benefits
received by petitioner and Mr. Gurr constituted taxable income.
Petitioner was not involved in keeping the books and records
for the real estate activity. However, she was familiar with the
manner in which Mr. Gurr maintained his records. His system of
record keeping was simply retaining receipts and other documents
accumulated over the year, which he gathered up at the end of
each year and took to their accountant to be sorted out for
income tax purposes. Petitioner knew, however, that Mr. Gurr's
system of record keeping was deficient in many respects, as
evidenced by the fact that substantially all the adjustments in
the notices of deficiency were based upon the failure to
substantiate the amounts claimed on their joint returns as
capital gain losses and the failure to substantiate the character
of their reported capital gains. At trial, petitioner testified:
"The whole reason we are here today is because of Keith Gurr's
poor record keeping." That testimony was corroborated by
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petitioner's daughter, who testified at trial on behalf of
petitioner.
Although petitioner was not involved in the day-to-day
conduct of the real estate business, over the years she was a
party to many transactions in the acquisition and sales of
property and, in several instances, in instituting legal actions
with Mr. Gurr in connection with land titles. Several tracts of
land were acquired in her name alone and others jointly with Mr.
Gurr. The Court is satisfied from the evidence that petitioner's
name on these deeds was not for nominal purposes. For example,
in 1991, Mr. Gurr filed an individual petition for relief under
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Prior to institution of the
proceeding, he arranged with petitioner to have certain real
estate transferred to her in order that such property would be
beyond the reach of his creditors.5 Petitioner knew and
understood that to be the purpose of the transfer. During the
course of the bankruptcy proceeding, Mr. Gurr petitioned the
court for the sale of a certain tract of real estate in which
petitioner owned a one-half interest. That sale was a $455,000
transaction. Petitioner consented to the sale on the condition
that her interest in the sales proceeds be protected. She also
consented to the use of some of the proceeds for payment of
5
There is no indication in the record that Mr. Gurr's
creditors challenged the validity of the transfer.
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secured claims owing by Mr. Gurr. There are other instances
where petitioner and Mr. Gurr filed a joint action to clear the
title to certain property they owned or subordinated mortgage
rights on certain properties to inferior creditors. During 1993
alone, petitioner sold her interests in at least nine separate
real estate properties.
The marriage between petitioner and Mr. Gurr was not
harmonious. Petitioner and her daughter both testified that,
over the years, Mr. Gurr was abusive both physically and mentally
to petitioner and the children. Petitioner was not allowed any
role in the family finances, nor did Mr. Gurr keep petitioner
informed on their finances or how well the real estate activity
was doing. Mr. Gurr's allowances to petitioner for the household
and furnishings for the children were meager. Oftentimes, Mr.
Gurr threatened petitioner to obtain her signatures on various
documents in connection with the real estate activity. In spite
of these shortcomings, the marriage lasted for 43 years.
At the time of the divorce, a considerable amount of real
estate was owned by petitioner and Mr. Gurr. Several tracts were
in petitioner's name, and others were in the joint names of
petitioner and Mr. Gurr.
On October 24, 1995, the State court having jurisdiction of
the divorce proceeding approved a property settlement between
petitioner and Mr. Gurr. In that settlement, petitioner was
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allotted an undivided half interest with Mr. Gurr in 2,337 acres
of land. Several other tracts of undisclosed acreage were
allotted to petitioner in full ownership. The family home was
allotted to Mr. Gurr, and petitioner was allotted a lot and
mobile home, where she established her residence. Petitioner
also was awarded $25,041.17 in cash, an additional amount of
$46,000 to be paid by Mr. Gurr over 2 years, and, finally,
$39,768 due on installments from prior sales of real estate. Mr.
Gurr was ordered to pay $7,226 to petitioner's divorce attorney.
The agreement provided that neither party was liable for alimony.
In an order by the same court dated October 24, 1995,
entitled Additional Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the
court stated:
2. The parties have acquired the following personal
properties during their marriage:
* * * * * * *
(d) The tax loss carryforward as reported on the 1994
tax return is an asset of the parties and should be divided
equally for future years. [Emphasis added.]6
6
The court's order is dated Oct. 25, 1995, and refers to
a 1994 loss carryover. There is some question in the Court's
mind as to whether 1994 is the year that was intended by the
court, because the 1993 return had not been filed as of the date
of the court's order. The 1993 return included a net operating
loss carryover worksheet that reflected a net operating loss
carryover of $121,470 that would have carried over to the year
1994. Therefore, the income tax return for 1994 presumably would
have included as a deduction the $121,470 as reflected on the net
(continued...)
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Thereafter, in the same decree, petitioner was awarded "one-half
of the net operating tax loss carry forward balance for use on
unfiled and future returns."
The 1992 Federal income tax return by petitioner and Mr.
Gurr was filed on January 21, 1994, as a joint return.
Petitioner and Mr. Gurr were separated at that time. The return
was prepared at the direction of Mr. Gurr by his return preparer,
a certified public accountant. Petitioner did not sign that
return and never authorized anyone to sign the return for her.
She did not know a return had been filed for 1992. Nevertheless,
petitioner at trial stipulated that she intended to file a joint
return for 1992 and did not challenge any of the income or
expenses reported on the return.
The 1993 Federal income tax return was also filed as a joint
return on May 9, 1996, after the divorce with Mr. Gurr.
Petitioner signed that return at the offices of her divorce
attorney.
At the time petitioner signed the 1993 return, she was
accompanied to her attorney's office by her daughter. Petitioner
was not comfortable with the net operating loss deduction of
$158,841 claimed on page one of the return (which she referred to
6
(...continued)
operating loss carryover worksheet that was included with the
1993 return.
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at trial as a "credit"). She did not want to sign the return and
only signed because her attorney recommended that she do so. The
lawyer's recommendation was based solely on his belief that, if
petitioner signed the return, because of the "credits", she would
"never have to pay any income tax for the rest of her life". Not
satisfied with that recommendation and requesting a more specific
explanation, the attorney's reply was "What difference does it
make? You've got credits, and just sign it." Petitioner signed
the return and admitted at trial that she was not comfortable
with the explanation and recommendation of her attorney with
regard to the claimed "credits" on the returns. Petitioner also
acknowledged knowing that her attorney was not knowledgeable in
tax law; however, she made no attempt to ascertain from other
sources the merits of the claimed net operating loss carryover.
Petitioner's daughter cast further light on the
circumstances surrounding her mother's signing of the 1993
return. Following is a portion of her testimony on direct
examination:
Q So, Darla, just moving back to just the signing
of this '93 tax return, when you went into the office with
your mother, did she ask the attorney about anything on that
tax return --
A Honestly, --
Q –- before she signed it?
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A –- at first she was going to sign it. And I
says, "What are you doin'? Why are you just signing that?
Hasn't that gotten you into trouble in the past?" And so
then she started to question it. And then he –- Billjanic
stated to her, "What do you care what is in the return?
It's going to make you not have to pay taxes for the rest of
your life. There's a big credit. Half of it's going to be
declared to you in the divorce decree, so just sign it." I
says, "What are the credits from? At least you could tell
us what the credits are from," and he would not tell us. He
says –- he says, "I really don't know. They're here. Sign
it. It benefits your mother. That's all there is to it."
On cross-examination, petitioner's daughter further testified:
Q You mentioned that you told your mom, when she
was going to sign the return –- * * * "Now, Mom, what are
you doing?" You know, "Hasn't this gotten you in enough
trouble in the past?"
A Right.
Q What were you talking about?
A Well, just from how badly that he treated her and
that he just expected her to do things. She never knew what
was going on. I felt that she succumbed to my father and
let him rule her and that she should be trying to
investigate, to read the documents, and to know what's going
on. I felt that she needed to understand what was going on
because much of her life she had been beaten down to the
point of where she didn't care what was going on and she
needed to learn this. She needed to be independent and read
the documents and understand them before she signed them.
As a general rule, spouses filing a joint return are each
jointly and severally liable for the full tax liability for the
taxable year of the return under section 6013(d)(3). Section
6015, however, provides several avenues for relief from the
imposition of joint and several liability on a spouse. Section
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6015(b) provides complete or proportionate relief from liability
for an innocent spouse, similar to former section 6013(e).
Section 6015(c) permits a taxpayer who is divorced or separated
to elect to have his or her tax liability calculated as if
separate returns had been filed, and, finally, section 6015(f)
provides an opportunity to obtain equitable relief if relief is
not otherwise available to a spouse.
The Court first addresses petitioner's claim for relief
under section 6015(b). To qualify for relief under this
provision, a taxpayer must establish that:
(1) A joint return was made under section 6013. Sec.
6015(b)(1)(A).
(2) There was an understatement of tax attributable to
erroneous items of one spouse. Sec. 6015(b)(1)(B).
(3) At the time of signing the return, the spouse seeking
relief did not know and had no reason to know of such
understatement. Sec. 6015(b)(1)(C).
(4) Taking into account all the facts and circumstances, it
is inequitable to hold the spouse seeking relief liable for the
deficiency in tax attributable to the understatement. Sec.
6015(b)(1)(D).
(5) The spouse requesting relief has elected the benefits of
subsection (b) within a certain prescribed time period. Sec.
6015(b)(1)(E).
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Because these requisites are stated in the conjunctive, it is
necessary that the taxpayer claiming relief establish that all
requisites of section 6015(b)(1)(A) through (E) have been met.
Mitchell v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2000-332; Kalinowski v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2001-21.
Respondent agrees that petitioner satisfies the requirements
of section 6015(b)(1)(A), (B), and (E) for both years at issue.
Respondent further agrees that, for 1992, petitioner satisfies
the requirements of section 6015(b)(1)(C) because petitioner did
not know and had no reason to know of the understatement, since
petitioner did not sign the 1992 return and did not know the
contents of that return.
For 1993, respondent contends that petitioner knew or had
reason to know of the understatement of tax and, therefore, fails
to satisfy section 6015(b)(1)(C). Respondent also contends that,
as to both 1992 and 1993, taking into account all the facts and
circumstances, it would not be inequitable to hold petitioner
liable for the understatement under section 6015(b)(1)(D).
With respect to the 1993 return, the Court is satisfied from
the record that petitioner had reason to know of the
understatement. Both petitioner and her daughter were more than
just skeptical about the substantial carryover loss. They
questioned the past credibility of Mr. Gurr, and, moreover,
neither petitioner nor her daughter was satisfied with the
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answers to the questions they posed to petitioner's divorce
attorney regarding the net operating loss carryover claimed on
the return. Yet, in spite of these doubts, neither petitioner
nor her daughter looked beyond the inquiries they made with the
divorce lawyer. The Court disagrees with petitioner's argument
that she is entitled to relief under the standard set forth in
Price v. Commissioner, 887 F.2d 959, 965 (9th Cir. 1989), revg.
an Oral Opinion of this Court, that a spouse has "reason to know"
of an understatement if a reasonably prudent taxpayer in his or
her position at the time of signing the return could be expected
to know that the return contained the understatement. Although
this Court is not bound by Price v. Commissioner, supra, under
Golsen v. Commissioner, 54 T.C. 742, 756-757 (1970), affd. 445
F.2d 985 (10th Cir. 1971), since this case would not be
appealable to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the
facts here satisfy the Court that petitioner did not meet the
standard set forth in Price. Petitioner and her daughter both
knew that petitioner's divorce attorney was not knowledgeable
about tax law, and the explanations the attorney provided
convinced them that such explanations were not satisfactory.
Yet, petitioner made no further efforts to go beyond the
recommendations of her divorce lawyer. Petitioner was under a
duty to inquire further. For 1993, therefore, the Court holds
that petitioner possessed constructive knowledge of the
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understatement. Kalinowski v. Commissioner, supra. Therefore,
petitioner has not satisfied the requirement of section
6015(b)(1)(C) with respect to the year 1993.
Under section 6015(b)(1)(D), a spouse seeking relief from
joint liability must establish that it is inequitable to hold him
or her liable for the deficiency attributable to the
understatement based upon due consideration of all the facts and
circumstances.
One of the factors to be considered is whether the taxpayer
seeking relief has significantly benefited from the
understatement on the return. Sec. 1.6013-5(b), Income Tax Regs.
Transfers of property to the spouse seeking relief are relevant
in determining the existence of a significant benefit, and such
transfers are not limited to the tax years in which the
understatement relates. Kalinowski v. Commissioner, supra. In
spite of the abusive nature of the marriage over the years,
petitioner acquired numerous tracts of land in her name
individually and in co-ownership with her spouse, Mr. Gurr. She
was awarded those properties in the property settlement with Mr.
Gurr after the two were divorced.
The Court notes that the understatements at issue are based
upon adjustments by respondent to Schedules D of the tax returns
for 1992 and 1993. All these adjustments are related to and
arose out of the real estate activity reported on Schedules C of
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the returns. No adjustments were made by respondent to Schedules
C of the returns for 1992 and 1993. For both years, net losses
were claimed on the Schedules C, which respondent allowed. Thus,
petitioner received a tax benefit from these losses. On this
premise, it appears to the Court that there is a basic
inconsistency in petitioner's claim for relief. On the one hand,
petitioner claims she should be relieved of joint liability on
the Schedule D adjustments because she was not a participant and
not involved in the real estate activity; yet, petitioner does
not disavow or disclaim the tax benefits she realized from the
Schedule C losses claimed and allowed on the 1992 and 1993
returns, all in connection with the same real estate activity.
The case for inequity has not been established. Petitioner has
not satisfied the requisites of section 6015(b)(1)(D) and,
accordingly, is not entitled to relief from joint liability under
section 6015(b) for both years at issue.
The Court next addresses petitioner's claim for relief under
section 6015(c). As noted earlier, respondent conceded
petitioner's entitlement to relief under section 6015(c) to the
extent of 50 percent of the understatements relating to most of
the adjustments for the 2 years in question, all of which are
related to the real estate activity. Petitioner claims relief
for that portion of the understatements not conceded by
respondent.
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Section 6015(c) provides relief from joint liability for
spouses either no longer married, legally separated, or living
separate and apart. Generally, this avenue of relief allows a
spouse to elect to be treated as if a separate return had been
filed. Rowe v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2001-325. Section
6015(c)(2) places the burden of proof with respect to
establishing the portion of the deficiency allocable to the
electing spouse upon such spouse.
With respect to erroneous deduction items, section 1.6015-
3(d)(2)(iv), Proposed Income Tax Regs., 66 Fed. Reg. 3898 (Jan.
17, 2001), entitled Erroneous Deduction Items, provides generally
that erroneous deduction items related to a business or
investment are allocated to the spouse who owned the business or
investment, and, if both spouses owned an interest in such
activity, an erroneous deduction item is generally allocated
between the spouses in proportion to each spouse's ownership
interest unless there is clear and convincing evidence supporting
a different allocation. Erroneous items of income are allocated
similarly to the spouse who was the source of the income. Sec.
1.6015-3(d)(2)(iii), Proposed Income Tax Regs., 66 Fed. Reg. 3898
(Jan. 17, 2001). Section 6015(c)(2) provides that each
individual who elects application of section 6015(c) "shall have
the burden of proof with respect to establishing the portion of
any deficiency allocable to such individual".
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The question here is whether petitioner established by clear
and convincing evidence that she did not own any part of the real
estate activity giving rise to the disallowed deductions and
adjustments relating to Schedules D of petitioner's joint returns
for the 2 years at issue.
The record does not support petitioner's contentions. As
noted earlier, regardless of Mr. Gurr's threats to her, over the
years, petitioner acquired real estate individually and in co-
ownership with Mr. Gurr and participated in various legal matters
pertaining to the real estate activity, including assisting Mr.
Gurr in his personal bankruptcy in accepting title to certain of
his real estate to escape the reach of his creditors. The
divorce court essentially awarded one-half of the real estate to
each and specifically provided that the net operating loss
carryover at issue in this case constituted an "asset" of Mr. and
Mrs. Gurr, to be divided equally for Federal income tax purposes.
Moreover, the Schedule C for the real estate activity for each
year at issue reported net losses which were not disallowed by
respondent. By filing joint income tax returns for these years,
petitioner realized a 50-percent tax benefit from these losses.
She is not entitled to relief for the 50-percent portion of the
tax understatements from the Schedule D adjustments not conceded
by respondent. On this record, petitioner has not established
that she is entitled to relief under section 6015(c) for any
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amount greater than that conceded by respondent.
Petitioner's final claim for relief is under section
6015(f). That provision allows the Secretary to relieve a spouse
of liability if, taking into account all the facts and
circumstances, it is inequitable to hold the spouse liable for
any unpaid tax or deficiency and relief is otherwise not
available under section 6015(b) or (c). Cheshire v.
Commissioner, 115 T.C. 183, 198 (2000). This Court's review
under section 6015(f) is limited to whether there was an abuse of
discretion by the Secretary in denying relief. Cheshire v.
Commissioner, supra at 198; Butler v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 276,
292 (2000). On the basis of all the facts and circumstances
discussed earlier, petitioner has not established that there was
an abuse of discretion by respondent in denying her claim for
relief under section 6015(f).
Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small Tax
Division.
Decision will be entered
under Rule 155.7
7
For the year 1993, respondent determined that, because
of the income and expense adjustments, $3,936 of Social Security
benefits received by petitioner and Mr. Gurr is includable in
their gross income. It appears to the Court that both Mr. Gurr
and petitioner received Social Security benefits during 1993;
(continued...)
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7
(...continued)
however, the record does not reflect the total amount of the
benefits received and the portions thereof received by each
spouse. Respondent, on brief, takes the position that, since
petitioner did not establish the amount received by Mr. Gurr, the
entire amount of taxable Social Security income should be
attributed to petitioner. Although respondent is technically
correct, the Court is of the view that, if the Social Security
amounts received by petitioner and Mr. Gurr that year can be
ascertained, and there is no dispute as to these amounts, the
amounts received by Mr. Gurr should not be attributed to
petitioner. If, however, there is any legal or factual dispute
as to this item, then respondent's position is sustained, and the
entire amount of the income should be attributed to petitioner.