Ruth Ferrarese - Page 12




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               Petitioner testified that she has made a good faith effort             
          to comply with Federal tax laws.  Respondent did not cross-                 
          examine petitioner on this point and offered no contrary                    
          evidence.  Petitioner attached to her reply brief 18 original               
          canceled checks for $100, payable to the Internal Revenue                   
          Service, for each of the months for which respondent claims she             
          is in arrears.3  Respondent concedes that petitioner is not late            
          or in arrears on any tax obligations other than the 1983 tax                
          liability.  We do not consider respondent’s posttrial factual               
          allegations because petitioner did not have the opportunity to              
          dispute them at trial.                                                      
          D.   Conclusion                                                             
               Respondent points out that petitioner knew or had reason to            
          know of Ferrarese’s embezzlement before he signed her name to               
          their 1983 return.  However, we believe respondent did not give             
          adequate weight to other important factors.  Petitioner will                
          suffer economic hardship if relief is not granted, the                      
          embezzlement income was solely attributable to Ferrarese, she did           
          not significantly benefit from the embezzlement income, and she             
          has complied with Federal tax laws since 1983.  We conclude that            
          respondent’s denial of relief under section 6015(f) was an abuse            
          of discretion and that, on the basis of all the facts and                   




               3  Petitioner also sent a payment for December 1999 but did            
          not attach the canceled check because respondent did not cash it.           




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