Rick E. Jacobsen v. Commissioner , 2018 T.C. Memo. 115 ( 2018 )

T.C. Memo. 2018-115
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
RICK E. JACOBSEN, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 25348-15. Filed July 25, 2018.
Rick E. Jacobsen, pro se.
Richard C. Grosenick and Mark Krueger (student), for respondent.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
PARIS, Judge: Pursuant to section 6015(e)(1),1 petitioner seeks review of
respondent’s determination that he is not entitled to relief from joint and several
liability under section 6015(b), (c), and (f) for 2010 and 2011 with respect to
1
Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal
Revenue Code in effect at all relevant times.
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[*2] Federal income tax returns that he jointly filed with his former spouse, Tina
Lemmens.2 Petitioner seeks relief from those portions of the 2010 and 2011 tax
liabilities arising from income Ms. Lemmens embezzled from her employer.3
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulated
facts and exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. Petitioner resided in
Wisconsin when he timely filed his petition.4
Petitioner and Ms. Lemmens were married at all times during the years in
issue. In 2014 Ms. Lemmens filed for divorce, and on May 5, 2015, their divorce
became final.
2
The petition also sought relief from joint and several liability for 2009.
Petitioner’s 2009 Federal income tax liability, however, was discharged in his
chapter 7 bankruptcy case before the Office of Appeals final determination was
issued and he filed the petition in this case. Respondent filed a motion to dismiss
for lack of jurisdiction as to tax year 2009 that the Court granted on February 4,
2016.
3
Ms. Lemmens was arrested for embezzlement in June 2011. In January
2012 she was sentenced to incarceration and ordered to pay restitution of over
$500,000. In his petition, petitioner requested innocent spouse relief for all of the
liabilities for the years in issue. At trial he conceded that he is seeking relief only
from the liabilities and accuracy-related penalties associated with the
embezzlement income.
4
On December 18, 2015, Ms. Lemmens filed a notice of intervention. On
March 31, 2017, she filed a motion to withdraw as intervenor, which the Court
granted.
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[*3] I. Background
Petitioner holds an associate’s degree but has no formal education in
business, accounting, or finance. In 2010 and 2011 petitioner was employed as a
machine operator at a factory, and on his days off he inspected properties for
financial institutions and insurance companies (home inspection business).
Petitioner’s 12-hour shifts 14 days per month at his manufacturing job left him
time to work on the home inspection business.
Ms. Lemmens, an accountant, was employed at a local blood bank during
the years in issue until her termination in early 2011. Ms. Lemmens managed the
family’s personal finances and those of the home inspection business.5 Before Ms.
Lemmens’ arrest, petitioner never participated in managing the family finances;
he never reviewed bank or credit card statements or examined their personal or
business finances. Petitioner relied on Ms. Lemmens to handle the family finances
because of her training as an accountant.
Petitioner deposited his wages in a personal checking account at Evergreen
Credit Union. Income from the home inspection business and Ms. Lemmens’
5
Petitioner performed interior inspections, secured vacant properties, and
performed minor repairs for which he occasionally incurred expenses. Ms.
Lemmens prepared the invoices for petitioner’s work and the reimbursement
requests for his expenses.
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[*4] wages were deposited in a joint account petitioner had access to at
Community First Credit Union. The home inspection business did not have a
separate bank account. Clients’ checks were addressed directly to Ms. Lemmens,
and she deposited them into the joint account. Petitioner periodically withdrew
funds from the joint account to cover his everyday living expenses.
In June 2011 Ms. Lemmens was arrested for embezzling funds from her
employer. Ms. Lemmens embezzled an estimated $485,681 from her employer
over several years, including the years in issue.6 During that time period no lavish
expenditures were made--the couple did not pay off their mortgage, petitioner
continued to drive the same used car, and certain utilities were disconnected at the
marital home for nonpayment during the years in issue. Petitioner was completely
unaware of Ms. Lemmens’ embezzlement scheme until her arrest. Ms. Lemmens
was subsequently convicted of her crimes in November 2011 and sentenced in
January 2012. Petitioner supported Ms. Lemmens through the criminal
proceedings and the first year of her incarceration; their estrangement in 2013,
6
Ms. Lemmens’ duties at the blood bank included processing accounts
payable and issuing the requisite checks to venders. Ms. Lemmens embezzled the
funds by drafting checks to herself or adding large amounts of money to her
paychecks and categorizing the amounts as reimbursements. Notably, the deposits
of embezzled funds largely mirrored deposits of income from the home inspection
business in quantity and amount.
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[*5] however, led her to file for divorce. Under the final divorce decree petitioner
and Ms. Lemmens are each legally obligated to pay one-half of the 2010 and 2011
tax liabilities. Petitioner, however, alleges he intended to agree only to pay one-
half of the tax liabilities attributable to items other than the embezzlement income.
II. Tax Returns and Deficiencies
For 2010 petitioner gave Ms. Lemmens his tax information. She then gave
his tax information along with her own to a paid preparer she hired to prepare the
couple’s joint income tax return (2010 return). Petitioner and Ms. Lemmens
reported adjusted gross income of $327,716, including wage income of $117,571,
other income of $162,951, and business income of $1,173. Petitioner and Ms.
Lemmens claimed itemized deductions of $193,562, of which $161,951 was
gambling losses.7 The 2010 return was filed before Ms. Lemmens’ arrest in June
2011; petitioner did not see it before the paid preparer submitted it electronically
to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
For 2011 petitioner provided his and Ms. Lemmens’ tax information to the
same paid preparer who had prepared the 2010 return to prepare their 2011 joint
income tax return (2011 return). The 2011 return reported adjusted gross income
7
Oneida Casino’s records indicate Ms. Lemmens had cash buy-ins totaling
$301,304 and petitioner had cash buy-ins totaling $114,665 between 2008 and
2010.
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[*6] of $114,251, including wage income of $58,606, other income specifically
labeled “gambling winnings” of $11,508, and business income of $46,354. The
couple claimed itemized deductions of $32,633. The 2011 return was timely filed
in April 2012.
Sometime after Ms. Lemmens’ trial the returns for 2010 and 2011 were
examined. For both years some adjustments were attributable to the omitted
embezzlement income and others were not. Petitioner seeks relief only from those
items attributable to the omitted embezzlement income and associated accuracy-
related penalties. See supra note 3.
Respondent proposed total net adjustments of $298,710.14 for 2010, of
which $261,959.14 is attributable to the omitted embezzlement income. This
adjustment created a deficiency of $103,247 and a section 6662(a) accuracy-
related penalty of $20,649.40 for 2010.
Respondent proposed total net adjustments of $106,424.94 for 2011, of
which $62,449.94 is attributable to the omitted embezzlement income. This
adjustment created a deficiency of $25,912 and a section 6662(a) accuracy-related
penalty of $5,182 for 2011.
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[*7] III. Petitioner’s Request for Administrative Relief
On January 7, 2014, petitioner submitted to the IRS Form 8857, Request for
Innocent Spouse Relief, seeking relief from joint and several liability for the years
in issue. Petitioner reported total monthly income of $2,929 consisting of wages
of $2,800 and veterans disability payments of $129. Petitioner reported total
monthly expenses of $3,500.
On June 25, 2014, respondent made a preliminary determination that
petitioner was entitled to full relief for the years in issue under section 6015(b).
On July 23, 2014, Ms. Lemmens was notified of the preliminary decision and filed
a statement of disagreement with respondent. Respondent’s Office of Appeals
reconsidered petitioner’s request and made a final determination that petitioner
was ineligible for relief for the years in issue under section 6015(b), (c), and (f).
Petitioner and Ms. Lemmens’ divorce proceedings and petitioner’s claim for
relief from joint and several liability were pending at the same time. On March
14, 2015, petitioner signed the divorce agreement after Ms. Lemmens had
appealed respondent’s preliminary determination granting petitioner relief but
before respondent had made a final determination denying relief. Petitioner and
Ms. Lemmens’ divorce agreement stated that petitioner and Ms. Lemmens each
agreed to pay one-half of the 2010 and 2011 tax liabilities, including the liabilities
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[*8] arising from the embezzlement income. Petitioner claims he agreed to pay
one-half of the outstanding liabilities that did not include any portion of the
liabilities arising from the embezzlement income.
Petitioner is a disabled veteran who continues to suffer from posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). As a result of Ms. Lemmens’ arrest and conviction, the
divorce, and his financial problems, petitioner suffered a mental breakdown. As
of the time of trial petitioner was recovering from his mental health problems
through medication and participation in a PTSD treatment program at a veterans
hospital.
Petitioner has had four jobs and moved three times since filing his initial
claim for relief. As of the time of trial petitioner was employed at a food
packaging company earning $69,000 per year.
OPINION
Generally, married taxpayers may file joint Federal income tax returns with
their spouses if they elect to do so. Sec. 6013. Section 6013(d)(3) provides that if
a joint return is filed each spouse is jointly and severally liable for the entire tax
due for that year. A requesting spouse may be relieved from joint and several
liability under section 6015, however, if certain conditions are met.
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[*9] Section 6015 provides three potential avenues to relief under subsections
(b), (c), and (f). A requesting spouse who satisfies the conditions of section
6015(b) may be relieved of liability from an understatement of tax attributable to
the other spouse. Similarly, a requesting spouse who satisfies the conditions of
section 6015(c) may have his or her liability for a deficiency limited to the portion
of the deficiency allocated to him or her under section 6015(d). Finally, the
requesting spouse may be granted relief from any unpaid tax or any deficiency if
relief is not available under section 6015(b) or (c) and it would be inequitable to
hold the requesting spouse liable. Sec. 6015(f). The Court may determine
whether petitioner is eligible for relief under section 6015(b), (c), or (f) for the
years in issue.
I. Relief Under Section 6015(b)
Section 6015(b)(1) provides that a requesting spouse shall be relieved of
joint and several liability for a particular year if each of the following
requirements is met: (A) a joint return was filed for the year in issue, (B) the
return contains an understatement attributable to an erroneous item of the
nonrequesting spouse, (C) the requesting spouse establishes that in signing the
return he or she did not know and had no reason to know of the understatement,
(D) it is inequitable to hold the requesting spouse liable for the deficiency
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[*10] attributable to the understatement, and (E) the requesting spouse’s claim for
relief is timely.
Failure to meet a single one of these requirements precludes relief under
section 6015(b). Alt v. Commissioner, 119 T.C. 306, 313 (2002), aff’d, 101 F.
App’x 34 (6th Cir. 2004). Respondent does not dispute that petitioner filed joint
returns with Ms. Lemmens for 2010 and 2011 or that petitioner’s request was
timely. Respondent also concedes that the embezzlement income is wholly
attributable to Ms. Lemmens. Respondent argues, however, that petitioner has not
satisfied the requirements of subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 6015(b)(1).
Therefore, petitioner bears the burden of establishing that he did not know or have
reason to know of the understatements when the 2010 and 2011 returns were
signed and that it is inequitable to hold him liable for the deficiencies attributable
to the understatements.
A. Section 6015(b)(1)(C)
Under section 6015(b)(1)(C) the requesting spouse must establish that in
signing the return he or she did not know and did not have reason to know the
return contained an understatement. Although petitioner did not physically sign
the 2010 or 2011 return, he tacitly consented to the electronic filing of each return.
See supra pp. 5-6. Therefore his knowledge, or lack thereof, may be determined as
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[*11] of the date the returns were filed. See Reilly-Casey v. Commissioner, T.C.
Memo. 2013-292, at *8 (citing Reifler v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2013-258, at
*15 (explaining the tacit consent rule)).
A requesting spouse has knowledge or reason to know of an understatement
if he or she actually knew of the understatement or if a reasonable person in
similar circumstances would have known of the understatement. Sec. 1.6015-2(c),
Income Tax Regs. Under certain circumstances, however, a requesting spouse
may receive partial relief if he or she satisfies every requirement except the
knowledge requirement of section 6015(b)(1)(C). See sec. 6015(b)(2). Partial
relief is available only if the requesting spouse establishes he or she did not know
or had no reason to know the full extent of the understatement. Id. In such a case,
the requesting spouse may be relieved only from liability attributable to the
portion of the understatement of which he or she lacked knowledge.
1. Actual Knowledge
All the facts and circumstances must be considered when determining
whether a requesting spouse had actual knowledge of an understatement. Sec.
1.6015-3(c)(2)(iv), Income Tax Regs. Factors indicative of actual knowledge
include deliberate efforts by the requesting spouse to avoid learning about an
erroneous item and joint ownership of the property that resulted in the erroneous
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[*12] item. Id. Further, in omitted income cases, actual knowledge includes
knowledge of the receipt of the income. Id. subdiv. (i)(A). Knowledge of the
source of the income, however, is not sufficient to establish actual knowledge. Id.
subdiv. (iii). Thus the fact that petitioner knew his wife was employed as an
accountant at the blood bank does not establish actual knowledge of her
embezzlement.
It is well established that in omitted income cases, the spouse’s actual
knowledge of the underlying transaction that produced the income is sufficient to
preclude relief. Cheshire v. Commissioner, 282 F.3d 326, 333 (5th Cir. 2002),
aff’g 115 T.C. 183 (2000). This Court has interpreted the standard to be an “actual
and clear awareness” of the existence of the omitted item. Id. at 337 (quoting
Cheshire v. Commissioner, 115 T.C. at 195). In embezzlement income cases,
knowledge of the underlying transaction means knowledge of the embezzlement.
Evans v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2010-199 (finding that requesting spouse
knew or had reason to know of understatement where nonrequesting spouse was
being prosecuted for embezzlement when return was signed), aff’d, 507 F. App’x
645 (9th Cir. 2013).
The 2010 return was filed before Ms. Lemmens’ arrest in June 2011. As
section 6015(b)(1)(C) refers to knowledge at the time the return was signed or
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[*13] filed, events occurring after the fact are irrelevant. Petitioner testified that
he was not aware of Ms. Lemmens’ embezzlement until the date of her arrest, after
she was taken into custody. The Court finds petitioner to be highly credible and
accepts his testimony. The Court finds that petitioner did not have actual
knowledge of the embezzlement income at the time the 2010 return was filed. See
Hepler v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1990-490 (finding taxpayer lacked actual
knowledge of spouse’s embezzlement income on the basis of taxpayer’s credible
testimony).
The 2011 return was filed after Ms. Lemmens’ conviction. The Court finds
that petitioner did have actual knowledge of the embezzlement income when the
2011 return was timely filed in April 2012. Ms. Lemmens was arrested in June
2011, convicted in November 2011 of embezzling $485,681, and sentenced to
incarceration in January 2012 and ordered to pay restitution. Therefore, as of the
date the 2011 return was filed petitioner had actual knowledge of the
embezzlement income and that it was not reported on the return. As petitioner
knew of the understatement when the return was filed, he is not entitled to relief
under section 6015(b) for 2011.
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[*14] 2. Reason To Know
The Court must now determine whether petitioner had reason to know of the
understatement when the 2010 return was filed. A requesting spouse has reason to
know of an understatement if a reasonable person in similar circumstances would
have known of the understatement. Sec. 1.6015-2(c), Income Tax Regs. The
standard is not abstract, however, as the reasonably prudent taxpayer must be
placed in the particular circumstances of the requesting spouse. Resser v.
Commissioner, 74 F.3d 1528, 1536 (7th Cir. 1996), rev’g T.C. Memo. 1994-241.
“Courts have interpreted the reason-to-know element to encompass two
separate types of constructive knowledge.” Greer v. Commissioner, 595 F.3d 338,
345 (6th Cir. 2010), aff’g T.C. Memo. 2009-20. First, a spouse may know facts
sufficient to give him or her reason to know of an understatement reflected on the
return. Id. Second, even if a spouse does not have reason to know of an
understatement, the spouse may know facts sufficient to place him or her on notice
of a possible understatement, giving rise to a duty of inquiry. Id. (citing Kistner v.
Commissioner, 18 F.3d 1521, 1525 (11th Cir. 1994), rev’g T.C. Memo. 1991-463,
and Price v. Commissioner, 887 F.2d 959, 965 (9th Cir. 1989)). Put another way,
if a spouse has reason to know of a possible understatement, the spouse incurs a
duty of inquiry. Resser v. Commissioner, 74 F.3d at 1541. A spouse has
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[*15] constructive knowledge of an understatement if such a duty arises and it is
not discharged. Id.
All the facts and circumstances are considered in determining whether a
requesting spouse had reason to know of an understatement. Sec. 1.6015-2(c),
Income Tax Regs. Price v. Commissioner, 887 F.2d 959, a decision predating
section 6015(b) and the regulations thereunder, identified the following factors as
relevant: (1) the requesting spouse’s level of education; (2) the requesting
spouse’s involvement in the financial and business activity of the family; (3) the
presence of expenditures that appear lavish or unusual when compared to the
family’s past levels of income, standard of living, and spending patterns; and
(4) the culpable spouse’s evasiveness and deceit about the family’s finances. Price
v. Commissioner, 887 F.2d at 965. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh
Circuit, to which this case is appealable absent a stipulation to the contrary, has
endorsed the Price factors when determining whether a spouse had reason to know
of an understatement. Resser v. Commissioner, 74 F.3d at 1536. Generally, the
same factors are considered when determining whether a spouse had a duty of
inquiry and whether that duty was discharged. Greer v. Commissioner, 595 F.3d
at 348; Resser v. Commissioner, 74 F.3d at 1541.
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[*16] Regulations under section 6015(b) identify six additional, nonexhaustive
factors that are relevant to the inquiry: (1) the nature of the item and the amount
of the erroneous item relative to other items; (2) the couple’s financial situation;
(3) the requesting spouse’s educational background and business experience;
(4) the extent of the requesting spouse’s participation in the activity that resulted
in the erroneous item; (5) whether the requesting spouse failed to inquire, at or
before the time the return was signed, about items on the return or omitted from
the return that a reasonable person would question; and (6) whether the erroneous
item represented a departure from a recurring pattern reflected in prior years’
returns. Sec. 1.6015-2(c), Income Tax Regs. Factors (2), (3), and (5) largely
overlap with the Price factors laid out above.
a. Education
Petitioner has an associate’s degree and thus has some postsecondary
education. “The cases are clear, however, that it is financial education, not
education in general, that matters.” Greer v. Commissioner, 595 F.3d at 348
(citing Reser v. Commissioner, 112 F.3d 1258, 1268 (5th Cir. 1999), aff’g in part,
rev’g in part T.C. Memo. 1995-572). Thus, while petitioner has some
postsecondary education, he does not have formal education in business,
accounting, or finance. Additionally, petitioner’s employment as a machine
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[*17] operator and his home inspection business did not require him to acquire any
financial skills. Thus, this factor favors petitioner.
b. Involvement in Financial Affairs
Ms. Lemmens was employed as an accountant before her termination and
subsequent arrest for embezzlement. The record shows that petitioner’s role in the
couple’s finances, if any, was limited. Although petitioner was active in the
operations of the couple’s home inspection business, he played no role in
managing its finances. Ms. Lemmens had superior knowledge in these fields, and
before her arrest petitioner had trusted her to take care of their financial affairs.
Before Ms. Lemmens’ arrest, petitioner’s involvement had consisted of providing
his tax information to Ms. Lemmens, who then provided that information to a paid
preparer who prepared the couple’s returns. Therefore, this factor favors
petitioner.
c. Lavish or Unusual Expenditures
Aside from petitioner’s and Ms. Lemmens’ gambling, the embezzled funds
did not increase their standard of living or result in any lavish expenditures. They
did not pay off their mortgage, and petitioner continued to drive the same used car.
In fact, certain utilities were disconnected for lack of payment during the years in
issue. These facts would not have given petitioner reason to know of the
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[*18] embezzlement income or created any duty to inquire. Petitioner and Ms.
Lemmens did, however, gamble heavily at this time and claimed an itemized
deduction for gambling losses of $161,951 for 2010, but they also reported
$162,951 of other income--presumably losing almost as much as they won--and
reported adjusted gross income of $327,716 for 2010.
Thus, though the couple gambled extensively, sometimes with their own
money and sometimes with gambling winnings, the numbers are not unusual in
light of their income and ultimate winnings. Petitioner testified that he would
gamble $100 on a slot machine and play any winnings for several hours. Although
he might win or lose thousands of dollars playing the slots, petitioner viewed it as
having spent only the $100 he initially put in.
Petitioner attributed the availability of funds with which to gamble to their
salaries and the success of the home inspection business. As petitioner trusted Ms.
Lemmens to handle the family finances and had a general knowledge of their
income, the gambling expenses when compared to the winnings would not have
seemed lavish or unusual to a reasonable person in petitioner’s circumstances.
Petitioner testified that, aside from the gambling expenses, no lavish expenditures
were made and that, on the basis of his knowledge of their wage and business
income, the gambling expenses were not out of line given the couple’s available
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[*19] income. The Court finds petitioner’s testimony on this point credible.
Therefore, this factor also favors petitioner.
d. Nonrequesting Spouse’s Evasiveness or Deceit
Petitioner was unaware of Ms. Lemmens’ embezzlement until the day she
was arrested in June 2011. Additionally, financial records show that Ms.
Lemmens deposited the embezzled funds into the joint account used for her wages
and the home inspection business. Both the business income and the embezzled
funds were deposited via checks made out to Ms. Lemmens in amounts
indistinguishable from one another. Ms. Lemmens also embezzled funds by
artificially increasing her paycheck. Given the constant stream of deposits to and
withdrawals from the joint account of business income, wages, expenses and
reimbursements, only a detailed review of the financial records would have
revealed the embezzlement scheme. As petitioner trusted Ms. Lemmens to handle
the family’s finances because of her skills as an accountant, he had no reason to
conduct such a review before her arrest. Therefore, this factor favors petitioner.
e. Nature and Amount of the Item
Regulations under section 6015 define an “item” as “that which is required
to be separately listed on an individual income tax return or any required
attachments. Items include, but are not limited to, gross income, deductions,
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[*20] credits, and basis.” Sec. 1.6015-1(h)(3), Income Tax Regs. An “erroneous
item” is defined as “any item resulting in an understatement or deficiency in tax to
the extent that such item is omitted from, or improperly reported (including
improperly characterized) on an individual tax return.” Sec. 1.6015-1(h)(4),
Income Tax Regs.
Respondent determined that embezzlement income of $261,959 was omitted
from the 2010 return. Although that seems like a large amount of money when
viewed as a whole, it is not a figure that would have been separately listed on a tax
return. Ms. Lemmens’ method of embezzlement made the possibility of detection
by petitioner remote. When each deposit of embezzled funds is viewed as a
separate transaction, giving rise to a separate item of income, however, the nature
and amount of the embezzlement income is not outstanding. As Ms. Lemmens
embezzled the funds in separate transactions over a several-year period via
increased wages and deposits that were virtually indistinguishable from those
received by the home inspection business, review of the financial statements
showing the deposits would not have given petitioner reason to know of the
embezzlement income or placed him on notice thereof. Therefore, this factor
favors petitioner.
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[*21] f. Requesting Spouse’s Participation in the Activity
As addressed above, petitioner was unaware of Ms. Lemmens’
embezzlement scheme before her arrest and took no part in it. Ms. Lemmens
appealed respondent’s determination granting petitioner relief and was briefly a
party to this action as an intervenor. In Ms. Lemmens’ statement of disagreement
with respondent’s preliminary grant of relief, she alleged petitioner was aware of
her embezzling but took no action because he was personally benefiting from the
embezzlement income. Ms. Lemmens provided no proof of this allegation,
however, and voluntarily withdrew as intervenor in this case. The Court gives
little weight to Ms. Lemmens’ allegations. Therefore, this factor favors petitioner.
g. Departure From Prior Returns
Ms. Lemmens was convicted of embezzling funds from her employer over
several years, including 2010 and 2011. Respondent determined the embezzled
funds were omitted from income for 2009, 2010, and 2011, the only years for
which returns were examined. Thus, it appears that income was consistently
omitted from their return each year. To the extent this factor is relevant it favors
petitioner.
Examination of the relevant factors laid out above indicates that petitioner
did not know or have reason to know of the understatement attributable to the
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[*22] omitted embezzlement income before June 2011. Nor do the factors indicate
that petitioner had any duty of inquiry. Petitioner’s education and career
experience do not portray a financially sophisticated individual. Further, he did
not control the household finances and did not participate in preparing the 2010
return beyond providing his tax information. Neither petitioner’s lack of
participation in the management of the household or business finances nor his lack
of examination of financial records were attempts to avoid learning of the
embezzlement income; rather, it was the result of his reliance on his spouse, a
trained accountant.
Given Ms. Lemmens’ skill as an accountant, petitioner’s involvement in
only the home inspection business’ operations, his general knowledge of the
couple’s income, and the lack of lavish or unusual expenditures, a reasonable
person in petitioner’s shoes would not have had reason to know of the
embezzlement income omitted from the 2010 return. Similarly, any duty of
inquiry that may have existed is met by petitioner’s reliance on Ms. Lemmens’
skills as an accountant. Therefore, the Court finds that petitioner did not know or
have reason to know of the embezzlement income omitted from the 2010 return.
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[*23] B. Section 6015(b)(1)(D)
For petitioner to receive relief under section 6015(b), it must also be
determined that, taking into account all the facts and circumstances, it is
inequitable to hold him liable for the portion of the deficiency attributable to the
embezzlement income omitted from the 2010 return. Sec. 6015(b)(1)(D). The
IRS has identified several factors it considers relevant to this inquiry, which are
laid out in regulations under section 6015(b) and guidance issued under section
6015(f). See sec. 1.6015-2(d), Income Tax Regs.; Rev. Proc. 2013-34, 2013-43
I.R.B. 397. The Court may consult the factors set forth in the IRS guidance when
reviewing the Commissioner’s denial of relief on equitable grounds but is not
bound to follow them. See Pullins v. Commissioner, 136 T.C. 432, 439 (2011);
Minton v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2018-15, at *12. Regulations under section
6015(b) identify the relevant factors as whether: (1) the requesting spouse
significantly benefited, directly or indirectly, from the understatement; (2) the
nonrequesting spouse has deserted the requesting spouse; (3) the spouses are
divorced or separated; and (4) the requesting spouse received a benefit from the
understatement on the joint return. Sec. 1.6015-2(d), Income Tax Regs.
The regulations also indicate that other factors identified as relevant when
considering equitable relief under section 6015(f) may be applied. Sec.
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[*24] 1.6015-2(d), Income Tax Regs. To this end, the Commissioner has
identified the following factors as relevant when determining whether it would be
inequitable to hold a requesting spouse liable under section 6015(f): (1) the
current marital status of the spouses, (2) whether the requesting spouse would
suffer and economic hardship if relief were not granted, (3) whether the requesting
spouse knew or had reason to know of the understatement, (4) whether either
spouse has a legal obligation to pay the outstanding Federal income tax liability,
(5) whether the requesting spouse significantly benefited from the understatement,
(6) whether the requesting spouse has made a good faith effort to comply with the
income tax laws in the years following the years for which relief is sought, and
(7) whether the requesting spouse was in poor mental or physical health at the time
the joint return was filed. Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.03(2), 2013-43 I.R.B. at 400-
403.
1. Significant Benefit
Regulations under section 6015(b) define a significant benefit as any benefit
in excess of normal support. Sec. 1.6015-2(d), Income Tax Regs. Transfers of
property between the spouses may be evidence of a significant benefit. Id. This
factor weighs against relief where the requesting spouse receives benefits in
excess of normal support. Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.03(2)(e), 2013-43 I.R.B. at
- 25 -
[*25] 402. Guidance under section 6015(f) states that benefits in excess of normal
support--including lavish expenditures or increases in the standard of living--are
mitigated, however, where the nonrequesting spouse controlled the household or
business finances, making this factor neutral. Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.03(2)(e).
Where the requesting spouse obtained little or no benefit and the nonrequesting
spouse benefited significantly or the nonrequesting spouse benefited to the
requesting spouse’s detriment, this factor weighs in favor of relief. Id.
As discussed above, petitioner did not receive any lavish gifts or experience
an increase in standard of living as a result of the embezzled income.8 Further,
any benefit petitioner may have obtained is negated by Ms. Lemmens’ control of
the household and business finances. Therefore, this factor weighs in favor of
relief.
2. Marital Status
Equity favors relief where the requesting spouse has been abandoned by the
nonrequesting spouse or the spouses are no longer married. Spouses are no longer
married if they are divorced, legally separated, or have not been members of the
same household for a specified period. Id. sec. 4.03(2)(a), 2013-43 I.R.B. at 400.
8
Ms. Lemmens purchased a lawnmower for the family residence that she
referred to as a gift. The Court does not deem the cost of a lawnmower to be a
lavish gift, especially compared to the other funds she handled.
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[*26] This factor is neutral if the spouses have remained married. As petitioner
and Ms. Lemmens have been divorced since May 2015, this factor favors
petitioner.
3. Economic Hardship
Economic hardship exists if satisfaction of the tax liability, in whole or in
part, would result in the requesting spouse’s being unable to meet his or her
reasonable basic living expenses. Id. sec. 403(2)(b), 2013-43 I.R.B. at 401.
Where the requesting spouse’s income exceeds 250% of the Federal poverty
guidelines, this factor favors relief if monthly income exceeds reasonable basic
living expenses by $300 or less. Id. At the time of trial petitioner had annual
income of $69,000, exceeding 250% of the Federal poverty guidelines, and
estimated monthly expenses of $3,500. Petitioner testified that his monthly
expenses have increased since he reported the $3,500 estimate in his request for
relief but provided no evidence to support his claim.
Petitioner’s estimated expenses, however, do not account for any payment
obligation arising from the 2010 or 2011 deficiency. Petitioner testified that he is
currently unable to pay all of his monthly expenses and must pick and choose
which creditors are paid each month. Respondent has determined a deficiency of
$103,247 for 2010, of which approximately 85% is attributable to the
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[*27] embezzlement income. Thus, denying petitioner relief would result in an
increase in his monthly expenses, depending on the payment arrangement to which
petitioner and respondent agreed. While it is possible that denying petitioner
relief would result in monthly payments that would cause his monthly expenses to
exceed his monthly income, without more information the result is unclear.
Therefore, this factor is neutral.
4. Knowledge
As the Court determined above that petitioner did not know or have reason
to know of the embezzlement income omitted from the 2010 return, this factor
favors petitioner.
5. Legal Obligation
This factor favors relief where the nonrequesting spouse has the sole
obligation to pay an outstanding Federal tax liability under a binding divorce
decree or other legally binding agreement. Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.03(2)(d),
2013-43 I.R.B. at 402. This factor weighs against relief where the requesting
spouse has the sole obligation for that tax liability under the agreement and is
neutral where both spouses have an obligation to pay the outstanding liability
under the agreement. As petitioner’s 2015 divorce decree states that he and Ms.
- 28 -
[*28] Lemmens are each liable for one-half of the 2010 and 2011 Federal tax
liabilities, this factor is neutral.9
6. Compliance
Respondent concedes that petitioner is currently in compliance with his
Federal income tax obligations. Therefore, this factor favors petitioner.
7. Health
This factor may weigh in favor of relief if the requesting spouse was in poor
mental or physical health at the time the returns in issue were filed or at the time
the request for relief was made. Id. sec. 4.03(2)(g), 2013-43 I.R.B. at 403. Rev.
Proc. 2013-34, sec. 4.03(2)(g) states that the IRS will consider the nature, extent,
and duration of the requesting spouse’s condition, including the ongoing economic
impact of the illness. Petitioner is a disabled veteran who suffers from PTSD.
Petitioner testified that the cumulative effect of Ms. Lemmens’ arrest, the ensuing
audit and bankruptcy, and his subsequent divorce caused him to have a mental
breakdown that resulted in the loss of his job. Since that time petitioner has held
four jobs and moved three times while dealing with his mental health problems.
These difficulties have had a significant economic impact. Petitioner testified that
9
The Court notes the unfortunate timing of petitioner’s signing the
agreement after respondent’s preliminary determination granting relief but before
respondent’s final determination denying relief. See supra p. 7.
- 29 -
[*29] he currently participates in a PTSD treatment program at a veterans hospital
and is finally beginning to recover from these events. Because petitioner was
currently undergoing treatment at the time of trial, the Court finds that his mental
health problems are ongoing. Therefore, this factor favors relief.
All of the factors considered either weigh in favor of relief or are neutral.
Significantly, petitioner did not know or have reason to know of the omitted
income and did not obtain a significant benefit from the income. After
considering all the facts and circumstances, the Court finds that it would be
inequitable to hold petitioner liable for the portions of the 2010 deficiency and the
accuracy-related penalty attributable to the omitted embezzlement income.
Therefore petitioner is entitled to relief from joint and several liability under
section 6015(b) for 2010.
II. Relief Under Section 6015(f)
The Court must now determine whether petitioner is entitled to relief under
section 6015(f) for 2011.10 Section 6015(f) provides that a requesting spouse may
10
Because the Court finds that petitioner had actual knowledge of the
embezzlement income omitted from the 2011 return, petitioner is eligible for relief
only under sec. 6015(f). Sec. 6015(c)(3)(C) provides that relief is unavailable
under sec. 6015(c) for any portion of a deficiency the Secretary demonstrates the
requesting spouse had actual knowledge of at the time he or she signed the return.
Because the Court has found that petitioner had actual knowledge of
(continued...)
- 30 -
[*30] be granted relief if, under procedures prescribed by the Secretary, taking into
account all the fact and circumstances, it is inequitable to hold the requesting
spouse liable for the deficiency or a portion thereof. The factors the IRS considers
relevant when making this determination were explained above and are not
repeated here.11 Again, the Court may consult these factors when reviewing the
Commissioner’s denial of relief on equitable grounds but is not bound to follow
them. The Court’s determination ultimately turns on an evaluation of all the facts
and circumstances. See Pullins v. Commissioner, 136 T.C. at 438-439; Porter v.
Commissioner, 132 T.C. 203, 210 (2009).
As stated supra p. 29, for 2010 all of the factors either favor petitioner or are
neutral. For 2011 the analysis of each factor produces the same result except for
the knowledge factor. Petitioner became aware of Ms. Lemmens’ embezzlement
scheme in June 2011 at the time of her arrest. He became aware of the total
10
(...continued)
embezzlement income omitted from the 2011 return, relief under sec. 6015(c) is
unavailable. Further, because the Court has determined petitioner is not entitled to
relief under sec. 6015(b) and (c), it may determine whether petitioner is entitled to
relief under sec. 6015(f). See sec. 6015(f)(2).
11
In making its determination, the IRS considers three factors that, if met,
will result in a streamlined determination granting relief. See Rev. Proc. 2013-34,
sec. 4.02, 2013-43 I.R.B. 397, 400. It also considered these same factors when
determining whether equitable relief is appropriate under Rev. Proc. 2013-34, sec.
4.03, 2013-43 I.R.B. at 400, so they are not addressed separately.
- 31 -
[*31] amount of embezzlement income in January 2012 when Ms. Lemmens was
sentenced and ordered to pay restitution of over $500,000. Petitioner had actual
knowledge of the understatement of embezzlement income when the 2011 return
was filed in April 2012. Additionally, while for previous years Ms. Lemmons had
provided the couple’s tax information to the paid preparer, petitioner provided his
and Ms. Lemmens’ tax information to the paid preparer to prepare the 2011 return.
He chose not to inform the paid preparer of the embezzlement income for 2011.
Although the other factors for equitable relief either favor petitioner or are
neutral, petitioner’s knowledge of the embezzlement income and his involvement
in preparing the 2011 return weigh too heavily against him to allow relief. After
considering all of the facts and circumstances, the Court finds that petitioner is not
entitled to relief from joint and several liability under section 6015(f) for 2011.
III. Conclusion
The Court finds that petitioner is entitled to relief from joint and several
liability under section 6015(b) for the amount of the liability attributable to the
embezzlement income for 2010. The Court also finds that petitioner is not entitled
to relief for 2011.
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[*32] The Court has considered all the other arguments of the parties, and to the
extent not discussed above, finds those arguments to be irrelevant, moot, or
without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
An appropriate decision
will be entered.