2006 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 179">*179 PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.
GOLDBERG, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of
Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's Federal income tax of $ 3,125 for the taxable year 2001.
The issues for decision are: (1) Whether petitioner is entitled to claim a dependency exemption deduction for AH; 1 and (2) whether petitioner is entitled to head-of-household filing status for taxable year 2001.
2006 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 179">*180 Background
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. Petitioner resided in New Haven, Connecticut, on the date the petition was filed in this case.
Sometime before 1995, petitioner and Marilee Peterson (Ms. Peterson), formerly known as Marilee Herrera, began a romantic affair. Petitioner and Ms. Peterson never married. During the course of their relationship, Ms. Peterson gave birth, in 1995, to a child, AH. Sometime in 1996, petitioner and Ms. Peterson ended their romantic affair and moved into separate residences. Petitioner and Ms. Peterson have lived separately at all times since their romantic relationship ended.
Because of a custody dispute between petitioner and Ms. Peterson regarding AH, the Superior Court of the Judicial District of New Haven, Connecticut, entered an Order on November 9, 1999, resolving the custody dispute. The Order provides, in pertinent part, as follows: The Court orders joint legal custody of the minor child [AH] to both the Mother [Ms. Peterson] and Father [petitioner] with residential custody awarded to the Mother. The Court2006 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 179">*181 orders all major decisions concerning the child (educational, medical, and the like) are to be made only after full consultation with both parents. The Father's visitation is to begin at 8:00 am Tuesday until 5:00 pm Thursday. Starting next fall 2000 the Father can pick up the minor child after school on Mondays with the same 5:00 pm Thursday drop off. Each parent is to have 2 weeks uninterrupted in the summer alternating first choice. The Mother gets first choice this summer 2000 and in even years from there-on. The Court adopts Attorney Wallace's proposed orders with respect to Holiday visitation schedule. The Court orders the Father to pay $ 98.00/week child support in accordance with the child support guidelines. The Mother is to maintain medical insurance for the child. The Mother is to pay the first $ 100 of unreimbursed medical costs and the Father is to pay 44% of the remaining balance of unreimbursed medical costs. If the Mother loses or changes employment and her medical benefits, the Father is to pick up medical coverage through his employment if available. * * *
Attorney Wallace's proposed orders with respect to a holiday visitation schedule provides, in pertinent part, 2006 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 179">*182 as follows: Now comes the Guardian ad Litem for the minor child and hereby say: 1. This GAL was appointed to represent * * * [AH]. After investigation by the GAL, the GAL respectfully requests the following orders: * * * * C. The following holidays will be alternated; i. Halloween and Thanksgiving; ii. Christmas Eve 1999 from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. Christmas day child will be with mother the rest of the day the child shall be with Father until 7:00 p.m.; iii. On Christmas Eve 2000, the child will be with father at the same times child was with mother during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day of 1999 and shall alternate thereafter; iv. Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and New Year's Day shall be with mother, unless holiday falls on regular scheduled time with father; v. 4th of July with father; vi. Father's Day with father; vii. Mother's Day with mother; viii. Each parent will have at least two weeks vacation with child. * * *
During taxable year 2001, pursuant to the 1999 Order of the Superior Court in New Haven, Connecticut, petitioner had physical custody of AH from 3 p.m. on Mondays until 5 p.m. on Thursdays. Petitioner2006 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 179">*183 had physical custody of AH for 3,848 hours during the taxable year 2001. Ms. Peterson had physical custody of AH for 4,912 hours during the year at issue.
On or about April 14, 2002, petitioner filed his Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for the 2001 taxable year. In the 2001 return, petitioner filed as a head-of-household and claimed a dependency exemption deduction for AH. There was no attachment regarding any waiver or declaration, such as a Form 8332, Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents, executed by Ms. Peterson stating that she was releasing her claim to exemption of AH. Ms. Peterson did not sign a Form 8332 or a statement conforming to the substance of Form 8332 for the 2001 taxable year.
Subsequently, respondent issued a notice of deficiency to petitioner in which respondent disallowed petitioner's claimed dependency exemption deduction for AH and changed petitioner's filing status from head-of-household to single.
Discussion 2
2006 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 179">*184 1. Deduction for Dependency Exemption
In the case of a child whose parents have lived apart at all times during the last 6 months of the calendar year,
Petitioner argues that
However, petitioner is mistaken.
In the present case, the 1999 Order of the Superior Court in New Haven, Connecticut, is the most recent pronouncement on the custody of AH, and it provides for joint custody with residential custody awarded to Ms. Peterson. Further, the parties have stipulated that Ms. Peterson had physical custody of AH for more than half of2006 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 179">*186 the taxable year 2001. Therefore, Ms. Peterson was the custodial parent in 2001, and petitioner was the noncustodial parent.
(A) the custodial parent signs a written declaration (in such manner and form as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe) that such custodial parent will not claim such child as a dependent for any taxable year beginning in such calendar year, and (B) the noncustodial parent attaches such written declaration to the noncustodial parent's return for the taxable year beginning during such calendar year.
The declaration required by
In the present case, Ms. Peterson, as the custodial parent, did not sign a Form 8332 or any written declaration or statement agreeing not to claim the exemption for AH, and no such form, declaration, or statement was attached to petitioner's tax return for the year in issue.
The law is clear that petitioner is entitled to the child dependency exemption in 2001 only if he complied with the provisions of
2. Head-of-Household
As previously stated, petitioner filed his 2001 Federal income tax return as a head-of-household, and respondent changed the filing2006 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 179">*188 status to single in the notice of deficiency.
The parties have stipulated that Ms. Peterson had physical custody of AH for more than one-half of the year. It follows, therefore, that petitioner is not entitled to claim head-of-household filing status. We sustain respondent's determination with respect to this issue.
Furthermore, we have considered all of the other arguments made by petitioner, and, to the extent that we have not specifically addressed them, we conclude they are without merit.
Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small Tax Case Division.
Decision will be entered for respondent.
