Angela Schwimmer - Page 16

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          couple's finances.  See Friedman v. Commissioner, 53 F.3d 523,                     
          531 (2d Cir. 1995), affg. in part and revg. in part T.C. Memo.                     
          1993-549; Hayman v. Commissioner, supra at 1261 (citing Erdahl v.                  
          Commissioner, 930 F.2d 585 (8th Cir. 1991), and Price v.                           
          Commissioner, 887 F.2d 959 (9th Cir. 1989)); Stevens v.                            
          Commissioner, 872 F.2d 1499, 1505 (11th Cir. 1989), affg. T.C.                     
          Memo. 1988-63; Levin v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1987-67.                          
                With regard specifically to large deductions resulting in                    
          substantial understatements, the Court of Appeals to which appeal                  
          in this case lies has stated that a taxpayer claiming innocent                     
          spouse status must establish that he or she was "unaware of the                    
          circumstances that gave rise to the error on the tax return".                      
          Hayman v. Commissioner, supra at 1262.  A duty to inquire also                     
          exists as to the propriety of large deductions reported on joint                   
          tax returns.  Friedman v. Commissioner, supra; Hayman v.                           
          Commissioner, supra; Levin v. Commissioner, supra.                                 
                We believe that petitioner has met her burden of proof under                 
          the "reason to know" test of section 6013(e) as to both the                        
          embezzlement income and the $585,000 erroneously claimed Keogh                     
          deduction.  The evidence indicates that petitioner’s                               
          participation in the family finances was very limited and that                     
          Martin was extremely autocratic and private in handling his and                    
          the family’s financial affairs.  Martin admitted that he                           
          disclosed very little to petitioner regarding his financial                        
          activities.  Martin generally concealed information from                           




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