- 21 - spouse status because she failed to prove that it would be inequitable to hold her liable. In deciding whether it is inequitable to hold a spouse liable for a deficiency, we consider whether the purported innocent spouse "significantly benefited", either directly or indirectly, from the unreported income. Hayman v. Commissioner, 992 F.2d 1256, 1262 (2d Cir. 1993), affg. T.C. Memo. 1992-228; Belk v. Commissioner, 93 T.C. 434, 440 (1989); Purcell v. Commissioner, 86 T.C. 228, 241 (1986), affd. 826 F.2d 470 (6th Cir. 1987); sec. 1.6013-5(b), Income Tax Regs. Normal support is not considered a significant benefit. Terzian v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 1164, 1172 (1979); sec. 1.6013-5(b), Income Tax Regs. We consider the lifestyle to which the taxpayer is accustomed when considering what constitutes normal support. Sanders v. United States, 509 F.2d at 168; Belk v. Commissioner, supra. It is also relevant to consider whether the spouse claiming relief has been deserted, divorced, or separated. Sec. 1.6013- 5(b), Income Tax Regs. We note that petitioner is now divorced from Emmens and has since remarried. We further recognize, however, that petitioner was not divorced from Emmens until 1994, after he had entered into a plea agreement for violation of section 7201. The provisions of this plea agreement included the dismissal of all criminal counts of tax liability against petitioner. In addition, we examine the probable futurePage: Previous 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Next
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