Scott v. Comm'r

2015 T.C. Memo. 180, 110 T.C.M. 275, 2015 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 187
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedSeptember 14, 2015
DocketDocket No. 1753-14L.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2015 T.C. Memo. 180 (Scott v. Comm'r) 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
Scott v. Comm'r, 2015 T.C. Memo. 180, 110 T.C.M. 275, 2015 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 187 (tax 2015).

Opinion

WILLIE C. SCOTT AND SANDRA N. SCOTT, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Scott v. Comm'r
Docket No. 1753-14L.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 2015-180; 2015 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 187; 110 T.C.M. (CCH) 275;
September 14, 2015, Filed

Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

*187 Michelle T. White, for petitioners.
Adam J. Smith and Lauren B. Epstein, for respondent.
GOEKE, Judge.

GOEKE
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

GOEKE, Judge: Petitioners seek review of respondent's determinations to collect via levy income tax liabilities and additions to tax arising in 2008 and 2009 and to deny Mrs. Scott relief from joint and several liability. The specific issues presented are:

*181 (1) whether the settlement officer abused her discretion by determining that petitioners were not eligible for currently not collectible status but instead qualified for an installment agreement with a $960 monthly payment. We hold that the settlement officer did not; and

(2) whether Mrs. Scott is entitled to relief from joint and several liability for taxable years 2008 and 2009 under section 6015(b).1 We hold that she is to the extent that the tax deficiencies were not attributable to items reported on her Schedules C, Profit or Loss From Business, and on her Schedules A, Itemized Deductions.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Petitioners,*188 a married couple, resided together in Florida when the petition was filed.

Mr. Scott has been in charge of household finances in recent years, including taxable years 2008 and 2009. Mr. Scott prepared the joint Federal income tax returns for 2008 and 2009 and submitted them electronically. Mrs. Scott played no role in the returns' preparation except providing Mr. Scott information regarding her two businesses. She holds a bachelor of science degree *182 in accounting from Northern Illinois University and handled the sales and expense data for the two businesses she managed, Mary Kay cosmetics and Direct Sales Waiora, for which she had two separate Schedules C for each year. She was not involved in her husband's business activities.

On their 2008 joint return petitioners claimed a $43,433 refund, which respondent issued on November 9, 2009. On their 2009 return petitioners claimed a $3,650 refund, which respondent issued on November 1, 2010. On May 29, 2012, respondent mailed petitioners a notice of deficiency for taxable years 2008 and 2009. Respondent determined income tax deficiencies and fraud penalties under section 6663 for 2008 and 2009. We note, however, that respondent abated the assessment*189 of the fraud penalties against Mrs. Scott. Petitioners did not file a petition to contest the 2008 and 2009 determinations in the notice of deficiency, and those liabilities are not in dispute in the present case; however, Mrs. Scott's claim for relief from joint and several liability is properly before us on the basis of our jurisdiction to review determinations denying such relief under section 6015(e).

The notice of deficiency indicated several areas where petitioners had failed to establish that expenses reported on the joint returns for the businesses each petitioner operated independently were paid or incurred.

*183 The notice of deficiency had the following adjustments to income:

Adjustments to income2008
Sch C1 - supplies - Mary Kay$4,108
Sch C1 - interest - other - Mary Kay2,938
Sch C1 - car & truck expenses - Mary Kay(4,469)
Sch C4 - taxes & licenses - Gold Importing4,251
Sch C3 - advertising - Waiora246,049
Sch C2 - travel - Tree/RE/5Linx4,025
Sch C2 - legal & professional - Tree/RE/5Linx8,077
Sch C2 - car & truck expenses - Tree/RE/5Linx2,846
Sch C3 - gross receipts - Waiora(73)
Sch C2 - gross receipts - Tree/RE/5Linx(375)
Sch C1 - gross receipts - Mary Kay10,851
Sch C2 - repairs & maintenance - Tree Farm

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Bluebook (online)
2015 T.C. Memo. 180, 110 T.C.M. 275, 2015 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 187, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scott-v-commr-tax-2015.