Freije v. Comm'r

131 T.C. No. 1, 131 T.C. 1, 2008 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 19
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJuly 7, 2008
DocketNo. 17294-07L
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 131 T.C. No. 1 (Freije v. Comm'r) 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
Freije v. Comm'r, 131 T.C. No. 1, 131 T.C. 1, 2008 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 19 (tax 2008).

Opinion

Goeke, Judge:

This matter is before the Court on (1) petitioner’s motion for summary judgment, (2) respondent’s cross-motion for summary judgment, pursuant to Rule 121,1 and (3) petitioner’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, as supplemented. The issue involves respondent’s determination upholding the notice of Federal tax lien (nftl) arising from petitioner’s income tax liability for 1999. For the reasons explained herein, we shall grant respondent’s motion for summary judgment, deny petitioner’s motion for summary judgment, and deny petitioner’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, as supplemented.

FINDINGS OF FACT

At the time the petition was filed, petitioner resided in Indiana.

Petitioner was involved in a prior case before this Court, Freije v. Commissioner, 125 T.C. 14 (2005) (Freije I). The resolution of that case has some bearing on the pending motions in this case. In Freije I the Court found that respondent could not proceed with a proposed levy with respect to petitioner’s 1997, 1998, and 1999 tax years as set forth in the notice of determination issued November 26, 2001. In addition in Freije I, the Court directed respondent to proceed with a series of account transfers and payment postings.

Subsequently, in an order dated May 9, 2007, the Court determined that it did not have jurisdiction in Freije I to address respondent’s collection activity related to the nftl which is the subject of the case at hand.

The relationship between Freije I and this case has confused petitioner primarily because he failed to accept the May 9, 2007, order. The resolution in Freije I did not address the Federal income tax liability which is the subject of the present case. The liability in Freije I arose from the disallowance of claimed estimated tax payments and the disallowance of certain itemized deductions. Certain of the disallowed deductions should not have been the basis for assessment before the issuance of a notice of deficiency. The liability in this case arose after the issuance of a notice of deficiency dated March 11, 2002 (the notice of deficiency). In the notice of deficiency respondent disallowed certain costs reflected on Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, filed as part of petitioner’s 1999 tax return, adjustments respondent had not previously made. No petition was filed in response to the notice of deficiency, and on February 3, 2003, respondent assessed the deficiency of $27,457 for 1999. The disputed notice of determination in Freije I was issued on November 26, 2001, and did not include the assessment on February 3, 2003.

The present case involves respondent’s efforts to collect the balance of the assessment of February 3, 2003. On January 25, 2007, respondent filed an NFTL at the County Recorder’s Office, Johnson County, Franklin, Indiana, with the taxpayers listed as petitioner and his spouse and reflecting the liability as an unpaid balance of $27,331.16 for 1999.

Petitioner timely requested a hearing upon receiving notice of the NFTL filing. The declaration of the settlement officer assigned to petitioner’s case indicates that petitioner did not submit a proposed installment agreement, an offer-in-compromise, any claim for spousal defenses, nor any collection alternatives to the NFTL. The declaration further indicates that the settlement officer verified that the procedural requirements of assessment were met and that the required notification to petitioner was timely. Petitioner has not offered any argument or assertion that is inconsistent with these declarations. Petitioner’s request for an administrative hearing demonstrates that petitioner simply maintained that on the basis of Freije I no collections could be made for 1999.

On July 12, 2007, respondent sent petitioner a notice of determination sustaining the NFTL filed on January 25, 2007. On July 30, 2007, petitioner timely petitioned this Court.

On September 26, 2007, petitioner filed a motion for summary judgment. Respondent filed a response to petitioner’s motion for summary judgment on October 19, 2007, and simultaneously filed a motion for summary judgment. On November 16, 2007, petitioner filed his response to respondent’s motion for summary judgment. On January 22, 2008, petitioner filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, as supplemented on February 20, 2008.

On February 11, 2008, this case was called for hearing on the parties’ pending motions. Petitioner appeared and was heard. At the conclusion, the Court took all pending motions under advisement for disposition.

OPINION

Jurisdiction and Res Judicata

Section 6320(c) incorporates the procedures of section 6330(d) in proceedings where the Commissioner has filed an NFTL. Section 6330(d) provides that this Court has jurisdiction to review a timely filed petition after the issuance of a notice of determination. Respondent issued a notice of determination on July 12, 2007, regarding the NFTL filed. This determination did not concern the same assessment involved in Freije I. Petitioner timely filed a petition with this Court.

Despite these facts supporting our jurisdiction, petitioner maintains that we do not have jurisdiction because Freije I should have addressed all collection issues regarding 1999. Petitioner fails to recognize that Freije I involved respondent’s efforts to collect via a levy, and the present case involves a lien action. Separate hearings are permitted for lien and levy collection actions. Secs. 6320(b)(2), 6330(b)(2). Petitioner’s argument also raises a question which goes beyond jurisdiction — whether the outcome in Freije I bars any further collection action for 1999 as a matter of res judi-cata.

Freije I did not address the second assessment for 1999, as the Court explained in its order of May 9, 2007. We recognized that it was not necessary or appropriate, for the Court lacked jurisdiction to address the subsequent assessment for 1999; that petitioner would be provided an opportunity for a new collection review hearing for the second assessment; and that Freije I related only to the first assessment.

In deficiency cases it has long been recognized that “the Tax Court’s jurisdiction, once it attaches, extends to the entire subject of the correct tax for the particular year.” Erickson v. United States, 159 Ct. Cl. 202, 309 F.2d 760, 767 (1962). “As a general rule, * * * where the Tax Court has entered a decision for a taxable year, both the taxpayer and the Commissioner (with certain exceptions) are barred from reopening that year.” Hemmings v. Commissioner, 104 T.C. 221, 233 (1995). Petitioner in effect argues for the imposition of this rule in the context of our jurisdiction under sections 6320 and 6330. For the reasons set forth below, petitioner’s position is incorrect.

Section 6320(b)(2) provides that “A person shall be entitled to only one hearing under this section with respect to the taxable period to which the unpaid tax specified in subsection (a)(3)(A) relates.” The Secretary promulgated section 301.6320-l(d)(2), Q&A-D1, Proced. & Admin. Regs., which provides:

(2) Questions and answers. — The questions and answers illustrate the provisions of this paragraph (d) as follows:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
131 T.C. No. 1, 131 T.C. 1, 2008 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 19, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/freije-v-commr-tax-2008.