Hunter v. United States

FRANK, Circuit Judge.

Taxpayer contends that the attorney’s fees are deductible under Section 23(a) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C.A. § 23(a) (2), as “ordinary and necessary expenses * * * for the production * * * of income * * He argues that, as the settlement reduced the amount of his liability for alimony and thus increased his taxable net income, it constituted the “production of income.” We cannot agree. We think the “production” of income means the creation of increased gross income, not a reduction of liabilities or an increase of net taxable income by a reduction of allowable deductions in computing net income. Lykes. v. United States, 343 U.S. 118, 72 S.Ct. 585, 96 L.Ed. 791; Howard v. Commissioner, 9 Cir., 202 F.2d 28.

Affirmed.