Petitioner discussed the tax consequences of receiving her community portion of Kenneth's disposable retired pay with her attorney and Kenneth. She understood that she was to receive her portion of such pay net of taxes paid. Petitioner did not institute the processing of the direct Government pay. She understood from Kenneth that he would 1996 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 493">*497 file the necessary forms. Direct deposits of petitioner's share of Kenneth's disposable retired pay subsequently were reported on petitioner's monthly bank account statements. Petitioner never received a Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, etc., or other informational statement from the U.S. Air Force.

Petitioner has received a portion of Kenneth's disposable retired pay since their divorce. She has not included such amounts in her gross income as reported on her Federal income tax returns for any taxable year up to and including 1991.

As reported on his 1991 Form 1099-R, the taxable amount of Kenneth's military retirement pension for 1991 was $ 22,776. The amount withheld for Federal income tax was $ 2,561, so the after-tax distribution was $ 20,215. On his 1991 Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, filed jointly with his wife Faye, Kenneth included in his taxable income the amount of $ 22,776. He also reported as Federal income tax withheld, and credited against his total tax, the amount of $ 2,561. On line 29 of the return, Kenneth deducted as alimony paid the amount of $ 10,107--50 percent of $ 20,215, rounded down--and identified petitioner by Social Security 1996 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 493">*498 number as the recipient. Petitioner did not include the $ 10,107 distribution in her gross income for 1991 or otherwise report it on her 1991 Form 1040.

OPINION

Petitioner concedes in her posttrial brief that the portion of Kenneth's disposable retired pay she received in 1991 is "inherently" taxable income. However, petitioner argues that based upon the language of the Settlement Agreement and 10 U.S.C. section 1408(a)(4) (1994), as amended and in effect during 1991, such income is not taxable to her because she received it tax paid and also argues that she is entitled to one-half of the income tax credit attributable to that income.

Respondent has determined a deficiency in petitioner's income tax for 1991 on the ground that the military retirement payment of $ 10,107 received by petitioner in 1991 and omitted from her return is gross income under section 61 and should have been reported as income on such return. Respondent's determinations are presumed correct, and petitioner has the burden of proving otherwise. Rule 142(a); Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111">290 U.S. 111, 290 U.S. 111">115 (1933).

In general, State law governs the creation of legal interests and rights in property and Federal law determines 1996 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 493">*499 the Federal tax consequences of transactions affecting such rights. United States v. Mitchell, 403 U.S. 190">403 U.S. 190 (1971); Estate of Gamble v. Commissioner, 69 T.C. 942">69 T.C. 942, 69 T.C. 942">948 (1978).

As a preliminary matter, we conclude that the payment at issue in this case represents petitioner's community property interest in Kenneth's disposable retired pay. New Mexico is a community property State. N.M. Stat. Ann. sec. 40-3-6 to 40-3-17 (Michie 1994); Ruggles v. Ruggles, 116 N.M. 52">116 N.M. 52, 116 N.M. 52">62, 860 P.2d 182">860 P.2d 182, 860 P.2d 182">192 (1993). Community property is "property acquired by either or both spouses during marriage which is not separate property." N.M. Stat. Ann. sec. 40-3-8B. Separate property includes "property designated as separate property by a judgment or decree of any court having jurisdiction" and "property designated as separate property by a written agreement between the spouses". N.M. Stat. Ann. sec. 40-3-8A(3), (5). The record in this case establishes that Kenneth's disposable retired pay is community property, even though Kenneth sought to deduct petitioner's interest as alimony on his 1991 Form 1040.

Section 61 provides that, in general, gross income means all income from whatever source derived, including 1996 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 493">*500 pensions. Sec. 61(a)(11); sec. 1.61-11, Income Tax Regs. The disposable retired pay received by petitioner in 1991 was from a community interest in a military pension and constitutes pension income to her under section 61(a)(11). Eatinger v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1990-310; Denbow v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1989-92; Lowe v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1981-350.

Section 31 provides that the amount withheld as income tax on wages shall be allowed to the recipient of the income as a credit against the income tax. For the purpose of the credit, the recipient of the income is the person subject to the income tax imposed under subtitle A upon the wages from which the tax was withheld. Sec. 1.31-1(a), Income Tax Regs. The regulations explain further that if a husband and wife domiciled in a community property State make separate returns, and each reports for income tax purposes one-half of the wages received by the husband, each spouse is entitled to one-half of the credit allowable for the tax withheld with respect to such wages. Id.

This Court, however, is without jurisdiction to consider petitioner's contention that she is entitled to a withholding credit under section 31 because under 1996 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 493">*501 section 6211, a deficiency is determined without regard to the amount of taxes withheld on a petitioner's income. Sec. 6211(a) and (b); Schlosser v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 816">94 T.C. 816, 94 T.C. 816">825 (1990); Redcay v. Commissioner, 12 T.C. 806">12 T.C. 806, 12 T.C. 806">809-810 (1949); Eatinger v. Commissioner, supra.

We hold that the portion of petitioner's ex-husband's disposable retired pay received by her during 1991 was derived from her community interest therein and constitutes taxable pension income to her under section 61(a)(11). Eatinger v. Commissioner, supra;Denbow v. Commissioner, supra;Lowe v. Commissioner, supra; see also Stanton v. Commissioner, 21 B.T.A. 1380">21 B.T.A. 1380, 21 B.T.A. 1380">1381-1382 (1931); Calhoun v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1992-408. Respondent is sustained on this issue. If petitioner has any remedies with respect to a credit for withholding taxes, they lie elsewhere. See Eatinger v. Commissioner, supra.

To reflect the foregoing,

Decision will be entered under Rule 155.