Aufleger v. Commissioner

99 T.C. No. 5, 99 T.C. 109, 1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 57
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJuly 23, 1992
DocketDocket No. 19833-90
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 99 T.C. No. 5 (Aufleger v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aufleger v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. No. 5, 99 T.C. 109, 1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 57 (tax 1992).

Opinion

OPINION

Jacobs, Judge:

Respondent determined a deficiency of $11,502.58 in petitioners’ 1984 Federal income taxes. On their 1984 individual income tax return, petitioners reported a loss of $18,172 as the distributive share of the loss of William E. Aufleger (referred to in the singular as petitioner) from Jokers, King of Comedy, Inc. (Jokers), an S corporation. Respondent determined that Jokers had a gain, not a loss, and that petitioner’s distributive share of the gain was $39,339.88, which resulted in an income adjustment of $57,511.88. After concessions by both parties, they now agree that the income adjustment should be $2,956.87, rather than $57,511.88. The only issue for decision is whether the period for assessing petitioners’ 1984 tax liability (the limitations period) expired before June 7, 1990, the date respondent mailed the notice of deficiency to petitioners.

The parties submitted this case fully stipulated, and the stipulation of facts and exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference.

Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for 1990, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

Background

Petitioners resided in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at the time they filed their petition.

During 1984, petitioner held a 12.958-percent interest in Jokers. Jokers’ corporate income tax return for 1984 was due to be filed on or before March 15, 1985. Jokers filed this return on June 6, 1985, and reported a $140,243 net ordinary loss.

On October 15, 1985, petitioners filed their 1984 individual income tax return in which they claimed petitioner’s share of Jokers’ loss, $18,172, as an ordinary loss. By notice dated July 14, 1986, respondent informed petitioner that respondent was beginning an administrative examination of Jokers. On March 2, 1987, respondent mailed to Jokers’ tax matters person notice of the final S corporation administrative adjustment (FSAA). On March 3, 1987, respondent mailed notice of the FSAA to all Jokers’ notice shareholders, except petitioner.

Jokers’ tax matters person did not seek judicial review of the FSAA within the 90 days following March 2, 1987, and none of the shareholders receiving said notice sought judicial review within the 60 days thereafter. However, on August 10, 1987, 161 days after March 2, 1987, notice shareholders Robert M. and Janice K. Chouteau filed a petition with this Court. On December 8, 1987, the Court granted respondent’s motion to dismiss the Chouteaus’ petition on the ground their petition had not been timely filed. They did not appeal the dismissal.

On June 29, 1989, respondent mailed notice of the fsaa to petitioner. Petitioner did not elect to have the FSAA apply to him. On June 7, 1990, respondent mailed the notice of deficiency to petitioners. On September 4, 1990, petitioners filed the instant petition.

Discussion

In considering the assessment of deficiencies with respect to subchapter S items, we apply those provisions of sub-chapter C that relate to assessment of deficiencies with respect to partnership items. Sec. 6244(1)(A).

We calculate the limitations period under section 6229 in three steps. First, we apply the general 3-year limitations period. Section 6229(a) provides that the period for assessing income tax attributable to a partnership item shall not expire before 3 years after the later of (1) the date the partnership return was filed or (2) the last day for filing such return:

SEC. 6229(a). GENERAL Rule. — Except as otherwise provided in this section, the period for assessing any tax imposed by subtitle A with respect to any person which is attributable to any partnership item (or affected item) for a partnership taxable year shall not expire before the date which is 3 years after the later of—
(1) the date on which the partnership return for such taxable year was filed, or
(2) the last day for filing such return for such year (determined without regard to extensions).

The due date for filing Jokers’ 1984 corporate income tax return was March 15, 1985; it was filed on June 6, 1985. Thus, considering only the limitations period set forth in section 6229(a), we calculate that the limitations period expired on June 6, 1988, 3 years after Jokers filed its corporate income tax return.

The second step in calculating the limitations period under section 6229 is the suspension of the running of the limitations period under section 6229(d). Section 6229(d) provides that the mailing of notice of a final partnership administrative adjustment (fpaa) suspends the running of the 3-year limitations period for the period during which an action may be brought under section 6226 and for 1 year thereafter:

SEC. 6226(d). Suspension When Secretary Makes Administrative Adjustment. — If notice of a final partnership administrative adjustment with respect to any taxable year is mailed to the tax matters partner, the running of the period specified in subsection (a) (as modified by other provisions of this section) shall be suspended—
(1) for the period during which an action may be brought under section 6226 (and, if an action with respect to such administrative adjustment is brought during such period, until the decision of the court in such action becomes final), and
(2) for 1 year thereafter.

In the instant case, considering only the suspension of the limitations period as set forth in section 6229(d), we calculate that the limitations period expired on November 4, 1989, as follows: On March 2, 1987, when respondent mailed notice of the FSAA to Jokers’ tax matters person and the running of the limitations period was suspended, the unexpired part of the 3-year limitations period was 1 year, 3 months, and 5 days; under section 6226(a), Jokers’ tax matters person had 90 days after March 2, 1987, to seek judicial review of the FSAA;1 under section 6226(b), Jokers’ notice shareholders had an additional 60 days, until July 30, 1987, to seek judicial review;2 under section 6229(d)(2), the running of the 3-year limitations period was suspended for 1 year thereafter, until July 30, 1988; and by tacking the unexpired part of the 3-year limitations period, 1 year, 3 months, and 5 days, on after July 30, 1988, we calculate that the limitations period expired on November 4, 1989.

The third step in calculating the limitations period under section 6229 is the modification of the limitations period. Section 6229(f) provides that if the partnership items become nonpartnership items before the expiration of the limitations period otherwise provided, then the limitations period shall not expire before the date which is 1 year after the date on which partnership items become nonpartnership items:

SEC. 6229(f). Items Becoming Nonpartneeship Items.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
99 T.C. No. 5, 99 T.C. 109, 1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 57, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aufleger-v-commissioner-tax-1992.