Mawhinney v. Commissioner

43 T.C. 443, 1965 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 142
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJanuary 18, 1965
DocketDocket No. 93767
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 43 T.C. 443 (Mawhinney 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
Mawhinney v. Commissioner, 43 T.C. 443, 1965 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 142 (tax 1965).

Opinion

Dawson, Judge:

Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner’s income tax of $200.58 for the taxable year 1959. Petitioner conceded one issue raised in the notice of deficiency. We are asked only to decide whether petitioner furnished more than one-half of the support of his son Matthew in 1959 so as to qualify him as a dependent under section 152(a) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found.

Warren C. Mawhinney (hereafter called petitioner) now resides at 5501 Columbo Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. He filed his 1959 income tax return with the district director of internal revenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.

During 1958 petitioner lived in Reading, Pa., with his wife, Elizabeth, and his son, Michael, by a previous marriage. On October 22, 1958, Elizabeth gave birth to a son, Matthew. Because of marital difficulties, Elizabeth left petitioner on December 18, 1958, and took Matthew with her. She moved into the home of her sister and brother-in-law, J. Karl and Ellen Roeder, at 5009 Friendship Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., who had occupied the house alone. Elizabeth and Matthew resided with the Roeders throughout 1959.

During 1959 petitioner drew checks payable to Elizabeth in the following amounts on the dates indicated:

Feb. 14_ $25
Feb. 28_ 25
Mar. 15_ 25
Mar. 28_ 25
Apr. 24_ 25
May 10_ 25
June 15_ 25
Sept. 9- 5
Sept. 26_ 15
Oct. 4__■_ 10
Oct. 27_ 15
Nov. 6_ 15
Noy. 14_ 15
Total_ 250

The first 10 checks were drawn before petitioner was under any court order to provide for either his wife or son. On October 5, 1959, the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pa., ordered petitioner to pay alimony of $15 a week to Elizabeth. Petitioner intended all 13 payments to be for the support of his son. Except for small expenditures on herself, Elizabeth did spend these sums for Matthew’s support in 1959.

On November 19, 1959, the Domestic Relations Court of Allegheny County, Pa., ordered petitioner to pay $15 a week for Matthew’s sup- ’ port. During the remainder of 1959, $90 was paid pursuant to such order.

During 1959 petitioner paid $159.20 for medical and hospitalization insurance. Four individuals were covered by this policy: Petitioner, Elizabeth, and petitioner’s sons, Michael and Matthew. In 1959 only Matthew received benefits from this policy.

Petitioner gave his wife $35 in cash for Matthew’s support during 1959, as well as a check for $72.60 from the U.S. Treasury Department representing a refund of 1958 joint income taxes paid by them.

Petitioner paid doctor bills of $20 that were not covered by medical insurance. He purchased medicine for Matthew during the year at a cost of $10. He also provided a Christmas tree and presents for Matthew at a cost of $5.

The following items were provided by petitioner for Matthew’s support in 1959:

Checks drawn to Elizabeth Mawhinney_$250. 00
Child-support payments per court order_ 90. 00
Cash paid to Elizabeth Mawhinney_ 35. 00
One-half of tax refund check given to Elizabeth Mawhinney- 36.30
Insurance coverage (% of $159.20)_ 39.80
Medical fees___ 20. 00
Medicine, Christmas tree, and presents_ 15. 00
Total_ 486.10

Matthew lived in the Koeders’ home throughout 1959, sharing a bedroom with his mother. The following expenditures were incurred in maintaining the home:

Rent_$980.00
Electricity _ 81.51
Gas- 190.41
Telephone_ 163. 21

The following expenditures were made by the Eoeders and Elizabeth Mawhinney for Matthew in 1959:

Eood _$283. 64
Milk_ 90. 00
Medicines_ 73.13
Medical fees_ 48.00
Clothes, toys, and furniture_ 222. 55
Diaper service_ 151.62

Matthew’s total support for 1959 was as follows: ■

Eood_ $283. 64
Rent (% of $980)_ 245.00
Clothing, furniture, and toys_ 217. 55
Diaper service_ 151.62
Milk_ 90. 00
Medicine_ 83.13
Medical fees_ 68.00
Gas (% of $190.41)_ $47. 60
Health insurance (% of $169.20)- 39.80
Electricity (% of $81.51)- 20.38
Telephone (Vio of $163.21)- 16.32
Total _ 1,268. 04

Petitioner did not provide more than one-half of Matthew’s total support during the year 1959.

OPINION

Petitioner claimed his son Matthew as a dependent for the year 1959. Eespondent disallowed the exemption. He contends that petitioner did not meet the statutory requirement of providing more than one-half of Matthew’s support.1 We have found that the total support provided for Matthew in 1959 was $1,268.04. We have also found that petitioner provided only $486.10 of this total, and he has thus failed to meet the requirements of the statute.

Petitioner argues that the $373.64 expended for Matthew’s food and milk is excessive. These expenditures were established by Elizabeth, who actually fed Matthew during the year. They are explained in detail by her testimony and are supported by schedules. Even if we were to use the amount ($206.60) suggested by petitioner for food and milk expenses, which is based on TJ.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, the resulting decrease in Matthew’s total support would not change the result.

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Mawhinney v. Commissioner
43 T.C. 443 (U.S. Tax Court, 1965)

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Bluebook (online)
43 T.C. 443, 1965 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 142, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mawhinney-v-commissioner-tax-1965.