- 8 - subject to California community property law.6 Respondent's determinations are presumed correct, and petitioners bear the burden of proving that those determinations are erroneous. Rule 142(a); Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111, 115 (1933); Durando v. United States, 70 F.3d 548, 550 (9th Cir. 1995). For Federal income tax purposes, to determine what constitutes an individual's income in a community property jurisdiction, we must look "to the law of the State as to the ownership of community property and of community income." United States v. Mitchell, 403 U.S. 190, 195 (1971); Morgan v. Commissioner, 309 U.S. 78, 79 (1940). It is well established that domicile, rather than mere place of temporary residence, controls the application of community property law. Whitmore v. Commissioner, 25 T.C. 293 (1955); In re Allshouse's Estate, 13 Cal. 2d 691 (1939). Furthermore, the law of the State in which the earner of income is domiciled is the appropriate law to be utilized in determining whether such income is community property. Kamikido v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1979-402; see Morgan v. Commissioner, 309 U.S. 78 (1940). 6 The trial memorandum submitted by petitioners to this Court asserts that both petitioner and Carolyn Webb were not residents of California for part of the years in issue, and therefore are not subject to California community property law. However, this contention with respect to petitioner is actually prejudicial to his interest. If California community property law does not apply to petitioner, then he would be liable for tax on 100 percent of his income; 50 percent would not be attributable to Carolyn Webb.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Next
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