- 9 - subtitle, gross income means all income from whatever source derived". Not only is section 61(a) broad in its scope, Commis- sioner v. Schleier, 515 U.S. 323, 328 (1995), exclusions from gross income must be narrowly construed, id.; United States v. Burke, 504 U.S. 229, 248 (1992). Section 104(a)(2) on which petitioner relies provides that gross income does not include: (2) the amount of any damages (other than puni- tive damages) received (whether by suit or agreement and whether as lump sums or as periodic payments) on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness; The regulations under section 104(a)(2) restate the statu- tory language of that section and further provide: The term "damages received (whether by suit or agree- ment)" means an amount received (other than workmen's compensation) through prosecution of a legal suit or action based upon tort or tort type rights, or through a settlement agreement entered into in lieu of such prosecution. [Sec. 1.104-1(c), Income Tax Regs.] The Supreme Court summarized the requirements of section 104(a)(2) as follows: In sum, the plain language of � 104(a)(2), the text of the applicable regulation, and our decision in Burke establish two independent requirements that a taxpayer must meet before a recovery may be ex- cluded under � 104(a)(2). First, the taxpayer must demonstrate that the underlying cause of action giv- ing rise to the recovery is "based upon tort or tort type rights"; and second, the taxpayer must show that the damages were received "on account of personal injuries or sickness." * * * [Commissioner v. Schleier, supra at 336-337.] When the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Commissioner v.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Next
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