1976 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 42">*42 This case, originally decided in
SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
WILES,
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the supplemental facts have been stipulated, and those facts are so found.
Interest1976 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 42">*44 income of $144.36 was realized during 1961 from a chattel mortgage held upon the sale of a coin-operated laundry.
In a declaration of trust, filed for record in Chaves County, New Mexico in 1960, Lewis E. Allen, petitioner's spouse, was listed as owning 6/16ths of a mineral lease which generated $1,523.83 in income in 1961. The remaining 10/16ths of the mineral lease was owned by parties other than petitioner.
ULTIMATE FINDING OF FACT
Interest income of $144.36, realized from a chattel mortgage held upon the sale of a coin-operated laundry, and income of $1,523.83, realized from a mineral lease, are attributable to petitioner's spouse.
OPINION
This case involves
1976 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 42">*46 During 1961, petitioner and her spouse lived in New Mexico, a community property state.
Respondent argues that we should determine that the two items described above were generated by community property. This would mean, of course, that one-half of the amount of each of those items would be attributed to petitioner, and the innocent spouse provision,
The first item to be attributed is interest of $144.36, realized in 1961 from a chattel mortgage held upon the sale of a coin-operated laundry. Respondent included the interest income in his computations of omissions attributable to petitioner's spouse for 1960. See
The second item to be attributed is income of $1,523.83 realized from a mineral lease. In a declaration of trust, filed for record in Chaves County, New Mexico in 1960, Lewis E. Allen, petitioner's spouse, was listed as owning 6/16ths of the mineral lease which generated the income involved herein. The remaining 10/16ths of the mineral lease was owned by parties other than petitioner. Based upon this evidence, we conclude that the income of $1,523.83 realized from the mineral lease should be attributed to petitioner's spouse. Therefore petitioner is relieved of tax liability for this item.
1. Statutory references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.↩
2.
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(e) Spouse Relieved of Liability in Certain Cases.--
(1) In General.--Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary or his delegate, if--
(A) a joint return has been made under this section for a taxable year and on such return there was omitted from gross income an amount properly includable therein which is attributable to one spouse and which is in excess of 25 percent of the amount of gross income stated in the return,
(B) the other spouse establishes that in signing the return he or she did not know of, and had no reason to know of, such omission, and
(C) taking into account whether or not the other spouse significantly benefited directly or indirectly from the items omitted from gross income and taking into account all other facts and circumstances, it is inequitable to hold the other spouse liable for the deficiency in tax for such taxable year attributable to such omission,
then the other spouse shall be relieved of liability for tax (including interest, penalties, and other amounts) for such taxable year to the extent that such liability is attributable to such omission from gross income.
(2) Special rules.--For purposes of paragraph (1)--
(A) the determination of the spouse to whom items of gross income (other than gross income from property) are attributable shall be made without regard to community property laws, and
(B) the amount omitted from gross income shall be determined in the manner provided by section 6501 (e) (1) (A).↩