- 8 - conclude that the Congress could not have meant what it said. * * * [Id. at 213.] Our reasoning in Reed also applies to the instant case. C. Respondent’s Arguments Based on Statutory Text Respondent contends that the title of section 107, “RENTAL VALUE OF PARSONAGES”, shows that Congress intended to impose a rental value limit under section 107(2). We disagree. It is well settled that the heading of a section does not limit the plain meaning of the text. See Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen v. Baltimore & O.R. Co., 331 U.S. 519, 528-529 (1947); Stanley Works v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 389, 419 (1986). Respondent contends that to not impose a fair rental value limit requires that we disregard the word “rental” in section 107(2). We disagree. Section 107(2) clearly is not limited to payment of rent; on the contrary, it expressly applies to a rental allowance “to the extent used * * * to rent or provide a home.” (Emphasis added.) This includes home purchases. See sec. 1.107-1(c), Income Tax Regs.3 3 The dissent contends that the effect of our interpretation of sec. 107(2) is to read the term “rental” out of sec. 107(2). See dissent, infra pp. 16-17. We disagree, and we believe our reading gives full effect to all of the words in sec. 107(2). First, sec. 107(2) specifically excludes not only the cost of renting a home, but also the cost of providing a home. Second, sec. 107(2) does not include language used in sec. 107(1) that limits the amount of the sec. 107(2) exclusion to the rental value of the residence; instead, sec. 107(2) requires that the amount excluded be a rental allowance paid as compensation to the minister and used by him or her to rent or provide a home.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011