Lamm v. Commissioner

1977 T.C. Memo. 336, 36 T.C.M. 1345, 1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 103
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedSeptember 27, 1977
DocketDocket No. 4280-74.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1977 T.C. Memo. 336 (Lamm 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
Lamm v. Commissioner, 1977 T.C. Memo. 336, 36 T.C.M. 1345, 1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 103 (tax 1977).

Opinion

A. UNO LAMM, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Lamm v. Commissioner
Docket No. 4280-74.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1977-336; 1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 103; 36 T.C.M. (CCH) 1345; T.C.M. (RIA) 770336;
September 27, 1977, Filed
Joyce E. Britt, for the respondent.

TIETJENS

MEMORANDUM OPINION

TIETJENS, Judge: Respondent determined the following deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income taxes:

Deficiency
Additions to the Tax
SectionSectionSection
Tax Year EndedTax6651(a)(1)6653(a)6656(a)
December 31, 1968$388.50$97.13$19.43$19.43
December 31, 1969388.5097.1319.4319.43
December 31, 19701,758.90439.7387.9587.95
December 31, 19711,766.25441.5688.3188.31
December 31, 19721,797.30449.3389.8789.87

The issue is whether petitioner was required to deduct and withhold United States tax from alimony payments to his former wives, both of whom are nonresident aliens. All of the facts are stipulated.

Petitioner, a Swedish citizen, has been a resident alien of the United States at all times relevant herein. When he filed his petition, petitioner was a resident of Hillsborough, California.

Petitioner is divorced from Signhild Ingalill. Signhild is a Swedish citizen and a nonresident alien of the United States. During the years 1968 through 1972, petitioner*105 paid Signhild alimony as follows:

1968$1,298
19691,295
19701,290
19711,300
19721,406
The alimony was paid directly to her from a special bank account maintained by petitioner in Sweden. The payments were considered taxable income to Signhild under Swedish law. Consequently, the bank withheld and remitted to the Swedish taxing authorities income tax from the alimony payments.

In February, 1969, petitioner separated from his second wife, Pamela Lamm. Pamela is a British citizen and nonresident alien of the United States. Pursuant to the separation agreement executed in San Mateo, California, Pamela was to receive alimony at a fixed rate with certain adjustments for cost of living and currency exchange rates. During 1970 through 1972, petitioner paid Pamela alimony as follows:

1970$4,573.00
19714,587.50
19724,585.00
These payments were also made from petitioner's bank account in Sweden. Pamela reported the alimony as income subject to United Kingdom tax.

Petitioner claimed deductions on his Federal income tax returns for the above alimony payments. He also claimed a foreign tax credit with respect to Swedish taxes paid*106 by him on the net income earned on his Swedish bank account. But petitioner never withheld United States income tax from the alimony payments to Signhild or Pamela and never filed annual returns (Forms 1042) with respect to income tax to be paid at the source.

Respondent contends that petitioner was required under section 1441(a)1 to deduct and withhold United States taxes from all of the alimony payments. Petitioner contends that he is not so required under the United States' income tax treaties with Sweden and with the United Kingdom.

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Related

Howkins v. Commissioner
49 T.C. 689 (U.S. Tax Court, 1968)
Lamm v. Commissioner
1975 T.C. Memo. 95 (U.S. Tax Court, 1975)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1977 T.C. Memo. 336, 36 T.C.M. 1345, 1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 103, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lamm-v-commissioner-tax-1977.