Eloise Gaddy Joens - Page 21

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            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 future                                  





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