Eng Guek Kang - Page 12




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          purchase of their home to accurately prepare the documents.                 
          Although we are not unsympathetic to the language barriers new              
          immigrants face upon their arrival into the United States, we               
          note that petitioners made no effort to correct the warranty deed           
          and deed of trust documents upon the refinancing of their home 9            
          years after their arrival in the United States, if, in fact they            
          were never married.  Furthermore, we find it persuasive that Mr.            
          Ngo aptly conveyed the change of his name to Guo Xing Woo to the            
          finance company, and, yet, failed to convey the information that            
          he and Ms. Kang were not husband and wife (as was reflected on              
          their original property documents and refinance documents).                 
               On the basis of the record, we find that for Federal income            
          tax purposes petitioners were married on the last day of the tax            
          years 1995, 1996, and 1997.  Therefore, we hold that petitioners            
          are not entitled to head of household filing status.                        
          Earned Income Credit                                                        
               Section 32 provides for an earned income credit.  However,             
          if a taxpayer is married, the earned income credit is available             
          only if a joint return is filed for the taxable year under                  
          section 6013.  See sec. 32(d).                                              
               Because we found above that petitioners are considered                 
          married under section 7703(a), and because petitioners filed                
          their returns separately and not jointly, an earned income credit           
          is not allowable as a matter of law.  See Presley v.                        






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