T.C. Summary Opinion 2016-2

JRN

T.C. Summary Opinion 2016-2

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

ALBERT MARTIN ELBE, Petitioner, AND

ADAH M. ELBE, Intervenor v.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket No. 11600-14S.

Filed January 11, 2016.

Albert Martin Elbe, pro se.

Adah M. Elbe, pro se.

William F. Castor, for respondent.

SUMMARY OPINION

PUGH, Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of section

7463 of the Internal Revenue Code in effect when the petition was filed.¹

¹ Unless otherwise indicated, section references are to the Internal Revenue

(continued...)

SERVED Jan 11 2016

-2Pursuant to section 7463(b), the decision to be entered is not reviewable by any

other court, and this opinion shall not be treated as precedent for any other case.

Petitioner (Mr. Elbe) seeks review under section 6015(e)(1) of respondent's

determination that he is not entitled to relief from joint and several liability for

taxable year 2011 with respect to unpaid tax of $3,9112 that was reported on the

joint Federal income tax return he filed with intervenor (Mrs. Elbe), his former

spouse.

The issue for decision is whether Mr. Elbe is entitled to equitable relief from

joint and several liability under section 6015(f).

Background

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

facts and the accompanying exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. Mr.

and Mrs. Elbe both resided in the State of Arkansas at the time the petition was

filed.

Mr. and Mrs. Elbe married on June 18, 1983, and remained married in 2011.

In 2011 Mr. Elbe was employed as a technician by the home security company

¹(...continued)

Code of 1986 as amended, in effect at all relevant times, and all Rule references

are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

2 All monetary amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.

-3ADT, and Mrs. Elbe was unemployed as she had been for at least the previous 10

years. During the first half of 2011 Mrs. Elbe moved out of the marital home,

moved in with a friend, and filed for divorce. At or around the time she moved out

of the marital home, Mrs. Elbe deposited a Social Security benefits payment

(benefits payment) of $57,168 directly into her personal bank account to which

Mr. Elbe did not have access.

Around April 16, 2012, Mr. Elbe used TurboTax to prepare and submit a

joint 2011 Federal tax return (joint return). The joint return reported wages of

$52,443, taxable interest of $62, a taxable refund of $1,098, and gross and taxable

Social Security benefits of $57,168 and $38,459, respectively. The joint return

reported total Federal income tax owed of $9,414, tax withheld of $3,550, and tax

due of $5,864. All Federal income tax credited and withheld on the joint return

was credited or withheld from Mr. Elbe's wages. No Federal income tax was

withheld from the benefits payment, and Mr. Elbe did not include any additional

payment with the joint return. Although Mr. Elbe knew that Mrs. Elbe had

received the benefits payment and no tax had been withheld, he chose to file

jointly because he understood that this would reduce their tax liability.

Mr. Elbe was unable to secure Mrs. Elbe's signature on the joint return on

April 16, 2015, and filed the joint return on that date without her signature. The

-4joint return was rejected because it lacked Mrs. Elbe's signature. At a deposition

on May 25, 2012, taken as part of the Elbes' divorce proceedings, Mrs. Elbe

signed the joint return. Mr. Elbe then resubmitted the joint return to the Internal

Revenue Service (IRS). At the May 25 deposition Mrs. Elbe stated that she did

not have money to pay the full tax owed nor did she intend to pay any tax unless

Mr. Elbe also paid part of the remaining liability.

At trial Mr. Elbe testified that he did not see or read Mrs. Elbe's deposition

transcript before resubmitting the joint return nor had his attorney told him about

Mrs. Elbe's statements although he had access to the deposition transcript soon

after it was taken. Mr. Elbe also testified that he did not know how Mrs. Elbe

spent the benefits payment or how much money she had left to pay the tax

liability. He also acknowledged that Mrs. Elbe had not indicated to him that she

intended to pay the tax liability or that she had the money to do so.

On July 30, 2012, respondent sent Mr. and Mrs. Elbe a notice of balance

due for the taxable year 2011 of $6,831 (the $5,864 reported on the return but not

paid plus failure to file and failure to pay penalties and interest).

Mr. and Mrs. Elbe divorced on October 24, 2012. The divorce decree,

entered on December 20, 2012, stated that Mr. Elbe was to sell a 2011 Chevrolet

Colorado pickup truck and that any profits were to be used toward their 2011 tax

-5liability. Mr. Elbe testified that he sold the truck and received a check from the

dealership for $2,030 representing the proceeds from the sale after satisfaction of

an outstanding loan from the dealership that was secured by the truck.3

On November 19, 2012, Mr. Elbe filed a Form 8857, Request for Innocent

Spouse Relief. In March 2013 respondent's Cincinnati Centralized Innocent

Spouse Operation (CCISO) issued a preliminary determination that Mr. Elbe was

entitled to partial equitable relief of $3,911, the tax attributable to Mrs. Elbe's

benefits payment, and was liable for the remaining unpaid tax of $1,953. On April

8, 2013, Mr. Elbe sent the IRS a payment for the $1,953, leaving $3,911 to be paid

by Mrs. Elbe. On April 25, 2013, Mrs. Elbe appealed CCISO's preliminary

determination. On April 24, 2014, the IRS Appeals Office reversed CCISO's

preliminary determination and issued a final notice of determination to Mr. Elbe

denying relief from joint and several liability for the remaining $3,911 of tax

owed.

3 The parties dispute the circumstances of the sale. That dispute is pending

in Arkansas State court and is beyond our jurisdiction. We consider the truck sale

relevant only in that the proceeds were to be used to pay the Elbes' 2011 tax

liability, which is before us.

-6On May 21, 2014, Mr. Elbe filed a petition with this Court seeking review

of respondent's determination. Pursuant to section 6015(e)(4) and Rule 325, Mrs.

Elbe filed a timely notice of intervention to oppose Mr. Elbe's request for relief.

Discussion

Generally, married taxpayers may elect to file a joint Federal income tax

return. Sec. 6013(a). After making this election, each spouse generally is jointly

and severally liable for the entire tax due for that taxable year. Sec. 6013(d)(3);

Butler v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 276, 282 (2000). A requesting spouse,

however, may seek relief from joint and several liability under section 6015(b) or,

if eligible, may allocate liability under section 6015(c). Sec. 6015(a). If relief is

not available under subsection (b) or (c), a requesting spouse may seek equitable

relief under subsection (f). Because this case involves failure to pay tax shown on

a return, rather than a deficiency, Mr. Elbe may be eligible for relief under section

6015(f) only. See Washington v. Commissioner, 120 T.C. 137, 146-147 (2003).

Section 6015(f)(1) gives the Commissioner discretion to grant equitable

relief from joint and several liability if "taking into account all the facts and

circumstances, it is inequitable to hold the individual liable for any unpaid tax or

any deficiency (or any portion or either)".

-7This Court has jurisdiction to review respondent's denial of Mr. Elbe's

request for equitable relief under section 6015(f). See sec. 6015(e)(1). In doing

so, we apply a de novo standard of review, as well as a de novo scope of review.

Porter v. Commissioner, 132 T.C. 203, 210 (2009). Mr. Elbe bears the burden of

proving that he is entitled to relief under section 6015(f). See Rule 142(a); see

also Porter v. Commissioner, 132 T.C. at 210.

I. Threshold Conditions for Granting Relief

The Commissioner has outlined procedures for determining whether a

requesting spouse qualifies for equitable relief under section 6015(f) from joint

and several liability. These procedures, set forth in Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.01,

2013-43 I.R.B. 397, 399-400, outline seven threshold conditions that a spouse

must meet to qualify for relief under section 6015(f): (1) the requesting spouse

filed a joint return for the taxable year for which relief is sought; (2) the relief is

not available to the requesting spouse under section 6015(b) or (c); (3) the claim

for relief is timely filed; (4) no assets were transferred between the spouses as part

of a fraudulent scheme; (5) the nonrequesting spouse did not transfer disqualified

assets to the requesting spouse; (6) the requesting spouse did not knowingly

participate in the filing of a fraudulent joint return; and (7) absent certain

enumerated exceptions, the tax liability from which the requesting spouse seeks

-8relief is attributable to an item of the nonrequesting spouse or an underpayment

resulting from the nonrequesting spouse's income. Respondent does not challenge

that Mr. Elbe meets the threshold conditions for relief.

II. Elements for Streamlined Determination

When the threshold conditions have been met, the guidelines allow a

requesting spouse to qualify for a streamlined detennination of relief under section

6015(f) if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the requesting spouse is

divorced from the nonrequesting spouse, is legally separated from the

nonrequesting spouse under State law, is a widow or widower and is not an heir to

the nonrequesting spouse's estate that would have sufficient assets to pay the tax

liability, or has not been a member of the same household as the nonrequesting

spouse at any time during the 12-month period ending on the date the IRS makes

its determination; (2) the requesting spouse will suffer economic hardship if relief

is not granted; and (3) in an underpayment case such as this, the requesting spouse

had no knowledge or reason to know when the return was filed that the

nonrequesting spouse would not or could not pay the tax liability reported on the

joint tax return. Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.02, 2013-43 I.R.B. at 400-403.

Mr. Elbe fails to qualify for a streamlined determination of relief. In his

request for relief Mr. Elbe did not indicate that he will suffer economic hardship if

-9relief is not granted. Mr. Elbe also had reason to know Mrs. Elbe would not and

could not pay the tax liability, as will be discussed below.

III. Factors Used To Determine Whether Relief Will Be Granted

Where, as here, a requesting spouse meets the threshold conditions but fails

to qualify for relief under the guidelines for a streamlined determination, the

requesting spouse still may be eligible for equitable relief if, taking into account

all the facts and circumstances, it would be inequitable to hold the requesting

spouse liable for the underpayment. See Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.03. The

following are nonexclusive factors that the Commissioner takes into account when

determining whether to grant equitable relief: (1) marital status; (2) economic

hardship; (3) in the case of an underpayment, knowledge or reason to know that

the nonrequesting spouse would not or could not pay the tax liability reported on

the joint tax return; (4) legal obligation; (5) significant benefit; (6) compliance

with tax laws; and (7) mental or physical health. Id.

We consult these guidelines when reviewing the Commissioner's denial of

relief, but we are not bound by them as our analysis and detenmination ultimately

turn on an evaluation of all the facts and circumstances. Molinet v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2014-109; Sriram v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.

2012-91; see Pullins v. Commissioner, 136 T.C. 432, 438-439 (2011); Porter v.

- 10 Commissioner, 132 T.C. at 210. In our overall facts and circumstances analysis,

we focus on two of the factors.

The first factor is whether Mr. Elbe had knowledge or reason to know, as of

the date the return was filed, that Mrs. Elbe would not or could not pay the income

tax liability. See Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.03(2)(c)(ii).

This factor weighs in favor of relief if Mr. Elbe meets his burden of

establishing that he reasonably expected Mrs. Elbe to pay the tax liability reported

on the joint return. See Torrisi v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2011-235 (holding

that the requesting spouse's belief that the nonrequesting spouse would pay the tax

liability was reasonable when the nonrequesting spouse's business was generating

substantial income, the requesting spouse did not assist the nonrequesting spouse

in paying all bills, and the nonrequesting spouse asked the requesting spouse to

make a check payable to the IRS for a specific amount that was less than the total

amount due); see also Waldron v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2011-288 (holding

that the requesting spouse reasonably believed the nonrequesting spouse would

pay a portion of the unpaid tax liabilities at the time the return was signed because

the nonrequesting spouse had made his share of monthly payments for the initial

three years on an installment agreement entered into near the time the joint return

was signed).

- 11 This factor weighs against relief if it was not reasonable for Mr. Elbe to

believe that Mrs. Elbe would or could pay the tax liability shown as due on the

return. See Cutler v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2013-119 (holding that the

requesting spouse knew that the nonrequesting spouse found financial matters

unpleasant and refused to deal with them and therefore the requesting spouse

knew she had to prepare the returns and could not reasonably expect the

nonrequesting spouse to pay tax); Yosinski v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2012195 (holding it was not reasonable to believe the nonrequesting spouse would pay

tax when the nonrequesting spouse had no source of substantial income and the

record did not indicate the nonrequesting spouse had any assets of substantial

value in her own name); Stolkin v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2008-211 (holding

that the requesting spouse's knowledge of the couple's financial difficulties

deprives the requesting spouse of reason to believe that the nonrequesting spouse

will pay the tax liability).

Mr. Elbe argues that Mrs. Elbe should be solely liable because she received

a large benefits payment and should have elected to have tax withheld from that

payment. He also argues that Mrs. Elbe could pay the tax owed. But at the time

he prepared the joint return he knew that no tax had been withheld from her

benefits payment. He acknowledged in his testimony that he did not know how

- 12 she used the benefits payment or how much of it remained at the time he initially

submitted the joint return or at the time he resubmitted the joint return. He fails to

explain why he believed Mrs. Elbe would pay the tax owed on the benefits

payment after no tax had been withheld. Mr. Elbe, not Mrs. Elbe, handled

household finances. Mr. Elbe also knew that Mrs. Elbe had not worked in over 10

years and had no regular income to sustain her after the benefits payment was

spent. We accept that Mr. Elbe did not know about Mrs. Elbe's statements in the

May 25, 2012, deposition, but Mrs. Elbe also gave Mr. Elbe no basis to believe

that she would or could pay the tax owed on her benefits, a fact Mr. Elbe

confirmed in his testimony. On the basis of these facts, the Court concludes that it

was not reasonable for Mr. Elbe to believe Mrs. Elbe would or could pay the tax

liability. Therefore, this factor weighs against relief.

We also consider whether Mr. Elbe will suffer economic hardship if relief is

not granted. See Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.03(2)(b). A requesting spouse suffers

economic hardship if the satisfaction of the tax liability, in whole or in part, would

cause him to be unable to pay reasonable basic living expenses. R Mr. Elbe

bears the burden of proving that he will suffer economic hardship if we do not

grant him relief from joint and several liability. See Rule 142(a); Johnson v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2014-240 (explaining that hardship cannot be

- 13 hypothetical, that the requesting spouse must introduce evidence to support the

claim, and that regular income, in addition to savings, available to the requesting

spouse supports the conclusion that there is no economic hardship). Mr. Elbe has

regular income from his employment at ADT and otherwise failed to prove he will

suffer economic hardship if we deny him relief. Therefore, this factor does not

weigh in favor of relief but rather is neutral.

In addition to the factors above, we also consider the following facts in

weighing Mr. Elbe's claim. At the time Mr. Elbe filed the joint return, he

understood that he would benefit by filing jointly. Additionally, while we do not

wade into the domestic dispute between Mr. and Mrs. Elbe regarding the sale of

the 2011 truck, and the record does not show how the net proceeds from the truck

sale were used, we cannot ignore that the divorce decree, entered after Mr. Elbe

filed the joint return showing income tax owed, and after the IRS sent the notice of

tax owed, required that these funds be used to pay the 2011 tax liability. This

provision thus indicates that at least some of the tax liability that remained was to

be shared between the parties. These facts weigh against relief.

Conclusion

Mr. Elbe knew, or had reason to know, that Mrs. Elbe would not and could

not pay the tax liability reported on their 2011 joint return. We also hold that the

- 14 facts overall also weigh against granting Mr. Elbe relief from joint and several

liability under section 6015(f). We therefore sustain respondent's determination

that Mr. Elbe is not entitled to relief from joint and several liability for taxable

year 2011.

We have considered all arguments made and facts presented in reaching our

decision and, to the extent not discussed above, we conclude that they are moot,

irrelevant, or without merit.

To reflect the foregoing,

Decision will be entered for

respondent.