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13 B.T.A. 395

Kizer v. Commissioner

United States Board of Tax Appeals

Decided September 19, 1928

United States Board of Tax Appeals · decided 1928-09-19

A member of a marital community in the State of Washington whose duties are solely those of housewife and housekeeper is not engaged in carrying on a trade or business within the meaning of the Revenue Act of 1921, and it is held that a loss sustained in connection with the purchase of household supplies is not deductible from the income of the members of the community.

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently February 1981

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1928-09-19

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¶1*396OPINION.

Littleton :

¶2Petitioners contend that under section 214 (a) (4) of the Revenue Act of 1921 providing for the deduction from gross income of “ losses sustained during the taxable year and not compensated by insurance or otherwise, if incurred in trade or business,” each one is entitled to deduct from gross income for the year in question one-half of the loss sustained, or $750.

¶3In support of their contention petitioners take the position that under the laws of Washington one-half of the community income, even when all results from the labor of the husband, uoes to the wife *397as her earnings, and, therefore, that any duty which the wife discharges as a member of the community is “ trade or business ” within the meaning of the taxing statute. We are unable to agree with the petitioners in this respect.

¶4Irrespective of the community property laws of the State of Washington, Mabel A. Kizer, who was, as the facts show, engaged only in attending to her household duties, was not carrying on a trade or business within the meaning of the taxing statute. The petitioners, constituting the marital community, are not, therefore, entitled to deduct the amounts in question, for to hold otherwise would permit the deduction of personal or living expenses, which are, as is well settled, not deductible in determining net income.

¶5Reviewed by the Board.

¶6Judgment will be entered for the respondent.

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