32258
. (a) Under regulations prescribed by the board, if:
(1) A tax liability under this part was understated by a failure
to file a return required to be filed under this part, by the
omission of an amount properly includable therein, or by erroneous
deductions or credits claimed on a return, and the understatement of
tax liability is attributable to one spouse; or any amount of the tax
reported on a return was unpaid and the nonpayment of the reported
tax liability is attributable to one spouse.
(2) The other spouse establishes that he or she did not know of,
and had no reason to know of, that understatement or nonpayment.
(3) Taking into account whether the other spouse significantly
benefited directly or indirectly from the understatement or the
nonpayment and taking into account all other facts and circumstances,
it is inequitable to hold the other spouse liable for the deficiency
in tax attributable to that understatement or nonpayment,
then the other spouse shall be relieved of liability for tax,
including interest, penalties, and other amounts, to the extent that
the liability is attributable to that understatement or nonpayment of
tax.
(b) For purposes of this section, the determination of the spouse
to whom items of understatement or nonpayment are attributable shall
be made without regard to community property laws.
(c) This section shall apply to all calendar months, quarters, or
years subject to this part, but shall not apply to a calendar month,
quarter, or year that is more than five years from the final date on
the board-issued determination, five years from the return due date
for nonpayment on a return, or one year from the first contact with
the spouse making a claim under this section; or that has been closed
by res judicata, whichever is later.
(d) For purposes of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), "reason to
know" means whether a reasonably prudent person would have had reason
to know of the understatement or nonpayment.
(e) For purposes of this section, with respect to a failure to
file a return or an omission of an item from the return,
"attributable to one spouse" may be determined by whether a spouse
rendered substantial service as a manufacturer, winegrower, importer,
or seller of beer or wine, or as a manufacturer, distilled spirits
manufacturer's agent, brandy manufacturer, rectifier, wholesaler, or
seller of distilled spirits to which the understatement is
attributable. If neither spouse rendered substantial services as a
manufacturer, winegrower, importer, or seller of beer or wine, or as
a manufacturer, distilled spirits manufacturer's agent, brandy
manufacturer, rectifier, wholesaler, or seller of distilled spirits,
then the attribution of applicable items of understatement shall be
treated as community property. An erroneous deduction or credit shall
be attributable to the spouse who caused that deduction or credit to
be entered on the return.
(f) Under procedures prescribed by the board, if, taking into
account all the facts and circumstances, it is inequitable to hold
the other spouse liable for an unpaid tax or any deficiency, or any
portion of either, attributable to an item for which relief is not
available under subdivision (a), the board may relieve the other
spouse of that liability.
(g) For purposes of this section, registered domestic partners, as
defined in Section 297 of the Family Code, have the same rights,
protections, and benefits as provided by this section, and are
subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties as
imposed by this section, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses.
(h) The relief provided by this section shall apply retroactively
to liabilities arising prior to January 1, 2008.