2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 181">*181 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 $ 1,397 for the taxable year 2001.
The issues for decision are: (1) Whether petitioner is entitled in 2001 to a dependency exemption for his child, Jude Wells (Jude), when his estranged wife also claimed Jude as a dependent for 2001; and (2) whether petitioner is entitled to a child tax credit for Jude in 2001.
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. 2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 181">*182 Petitioner resided in Bronx, New York, on the date the petition was filed in this case.
Petitioner timely filed a Federal income tax return for the taxable year 2001. Petitioner claimed single filing status on said return. Petitioner also claimed a dependency exemption and child tax credit for Jude on his 2001 tax return. The return did not contain Form 8332, Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents, or a similar statement. Both petitioner and his estranged wife, Arlene Wells Kingston (Ms. Kingston), the custodial parent of Jude, claimed Jude as a dependent on their respective 2001 Federal income tax returns.
In 1995, petitioner and his wife, Ms. Kingston, separated and have continued to live separately. On July 1, 1995, Ms. Kingston gave birth to Jude, the couple's child. Jude has lived with Ms. Kingston continuously since his birth. On September 28, 1998, the Family Court of the State of New York issued an order designating Ms. Kingston to be the custodial parent of Jude. In said order, petitioner was required to pay Ms. Kingston $ 61.40 per week for child support and $ 39.90 per week for child care expenses. The order was silent as to which parent2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 181">*183 was to claim a dependency exemption for the child for Federal income tax purposes.
Respondent issued a notice of deficiency to petitioner pertaining to the 2001 taxable year. The notice of deficiency disallowed the dependency exemption for Jude because petitioner failed to establish that he was entitled to a dependency exemption. As a result of the disallowance of the deduction, respondent further determined that petitioner was not entitled to the child tax credit.
Discussion
A dependency exemption generally is allowed under
In addition to the exemption under
Petitioner admitted that he was the noncustodial parent during the taxable year in issue. Because petitioner did not obtain and attach to his 2001 Federal income tax return a Form 8332 or a similar declaration signed by Ms. Kingston releasing her exemption, petitioner is not entitled to the dependency exemption.
Petitioner argues that the applicable statute2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 181">*185 allows him to take an exemption if he proves that he provided over half of the support for Jude. However, petitioner incorrectly reads the statute. We note that we do not question whether petitioner complied with the support and child care provisions of the order. To be entitled to claim Jude as a dependent petitioner must obtain the Form 8332 or a similar declaration signed by Ms. Kingston, the custodial parent, and such document must be attached to the return.
Because petitioner is not entitled to the dependency exemption, he also is not entitled to the child tax credit.
Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small Tax Case Division.
Decision will be entered for respondent.