Janous v. Commissioner

1987 T.C. Memo. 443, 54 T.C.M. 405, 1987 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 440
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedSeptember 1, 1987
DocketDocket No. 2139-85.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1987 T.C. Memo. 443 (Janous v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Janous v. Commissioner, 1987 T.C. Memo. 443, 54 T.C.M. 405, 1987 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 440 (tax 1987).

Opinion

ELINOR ANN JANOUS, petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Janous v. Commissioner
Docket No. 2139-85.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1987-443; 1987 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 440; 54 T.C.M. (CCH) 405; T.C.M. (RIA) 87443;
September 1, 1987.

*440 Held: (1) P was taxable on the income received by her in 1982; and

(2) P is liable for additions to tax under sec. 6651(a)(1), I.R.C. 1954, for failure to file a return, under sec. 6653(a), I.R.C. 1954, for negligence or intentional disregard of rules and regulations, and under sec. 6654, I.R.C. 1954, for underpayment of estimated tax.

Elinor Ann Janous, pro se.
J. Darrell Knudtson, for the respondent.

SIMPSON

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

SIMPSON, Judge: The Commissioner determined a deficiency of $ 6,170.44 in the petitioner's Federal income tax for 1982 and the following additions to tax: under section 6651(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 1 $ 1,542.61 for failure to timely file her return for 1982; under section 6653(a)(1), *442 $ 308.52 for negligence or intentional disregard of rules and regulations with respect to income tax; under section 6653(a)(2), an amount equal to 50 percent of interest payable on $ 4,101.00 of the underpayment; and, under section 6654 (a), $ 598.12 for failure to pay estimated income tax. The issues for decision are: (1) Whether the petitioner was taxable on alimony and certain other income received by her in 1982, and (2) whether the petitioner is liable for the additions to tax determined by the Commissioner.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated, and those facts and so found.

The petitioner, Elinor Ann Janous, resided in Arlington, Virginia, at the time her petition in this case was filed. She did not file a Federal income tax return for 1982.

The petitioner and her husband (the husband) were married in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, in 1952. On December 9, 1977, they entered into a written separation agreement. Under Article V of the agreement, the petitioner's husband agreed to pay the petitioner $ 1,000 per month until*443 the sale of their principal residence, in which the petitioner was residing. Thereafter, the petitioner was to receive 31.7 percent of her husband's gross annual income. Under other provisions of the agreement, the husband was to make certain payments to the petitioner or to third parties on behalf of the petitioner. Paragraph (a) of Article XI of the agreement states that "The parties may file joint federal and state tax returns as long as it is legally possible for them to do so. Any refund resulting from such filing shall be divided equally between the parties." Paragraph (d) of Article V states that "The parties within fifteen (15) days of the filing of their annual tax returns or on April 30th of each year, whichever shall first occur, shall supply to one another copies of their form 1040." On November 4, 1983, a final decree of divorce was entered against the petitioner.

For the year 1977, the husband prepared a joint return which was signed by the petitioner. In April 1979, the husband informed her in writing that he was filing his return under the "married filing separate return" status. Over the next several years, the petitioner attempted to have the Internal Revenue*444 Service force her husband to file joint returns with her.

In 1982, the petitioner received $ 15,312.36 from her husband. In such year, she did not receive any gifts or inheritances. During such year, there were total deposits to the petitioner's bank account at the Virginia National Bank of $ 20,565.84. In addition, $ 1,317.48 was deposited to a joint account in the name of the petitioner and her husband.

In his notice of deficiency, the Commissioner determined that the petitioner failed to report $ 22,133.00 of income for 1982. In addition, he determined that she was liable for additions to tax for failure to timely file a return, for negligence, and for underpayment of estimated tax. Prior to trial, the Commissioner revised his determination of unreported income downward to $ 20,565.84.

OPINION

The first issue for decision is whether the petitioner was taxable on $ 20,565.84 of income for 1982. A presumption of correctness attaches to the Commissioner's determination, and the petitioner bears the burden of proof of overcoming such presumption and proving that the determination is erroneous. Rule 142 (a), Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.2

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1987 T.C. Memo. 443, 54 T.C.M. 405, 1987 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 440, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/janous-v-commissioner-tax-1987.