Fulgoni v. United States

23 Cl. Ct. 119, 67 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1070, 1991 U.S. Claims LEXIS 188, 1991 WL 80715
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedMay 17, 1991
DocketNo. 588-89T
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 23 Cl. Ct. 119 (Fulgoni v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fulgoni v. United States, 23 Cl. Ct. 119, 67 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1070, 1991 U.S. Claims LEXIS 188, 1991 WL 80715 (cc 1991).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

TURNER, Judge.

Plaintiff entered into a stipulated decision in the United States Tax Court in which he conceded an income tax liability of $3572 for the year 1980. After the period for making a valid assessment had expired, Fulgoni voluntarily paid the $3572. He now seeks a refund of that amount plus interest and penalty.

Defendant moved to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, RUSCC 12(b)(4), averring that the Internal Revenue Service made a timely assessment of Ful-goni’s 1980 tax liability. In support of its motion, defendant has submitted documentary and testamentary evidence which has not been excluded by the court, and, accordingly, defendant’s motion shall be converted to a motion for summary judgment. RUSCC 12(b)(4) & 56.

Plaintiff responded by filing a cross-motion for summary judgment in which he asserted that the documents submitted by defendant did not establish that the IRS assessed the 1980 tax liability in a timely fashion.1 Fulgoni further argues that even if the tax was properly and timely assessed, the IRS failed to notify him of the assessment, and consequently the assessment is ineffective. For the reasons set forth below, the government’s motion will be granted.

Part I recounts the factual background. Except where indicated otherwise, the facts are not in dispute. Part II discusses the statutory scheme for assessment and collection of deficiencies. Part III discusses the nature and sufficiency of the evidence proffered by the government in support of its contention that a timely assessment was made. Finally, part IV addresses whether Fulgoni’s assertion that he did not receive notice and demand for payment of the interest and penalty assessed for 1980 invalidates the IRS’s collection of such interest and penalty by administrative offset and by levy.

I

On his 1980 federal individual income tax return, Fulgoni computed his tax liability to be $705 and requested a refund of $9624 which he received in due course.

In 1984, the IRS audited Fulgoni’s 1980 return and determined that various deductions had been improperly taken. By letter of March 27,1984, the IRS notified Fulgoni of a proposed deficiency of $8061 for Í980, and in response, Fulgoni filed a timely petition in the United States Tax Court contesting the deficiency. Nearly three years later, the IRS and Fulgoni agreed on a disposition in the Tax Court. The stipulated decision, which was signed by an Assistant District Counsel for the IRS, counsel for Fulgoni, and a Tax Court judge, and entered on March 30, 1987, provided in part:

[121]*121Pursuant to agreement of the parties in this case, it is ORDERED AND DECIDED:
That there are deficiencies due from the petitioner for the taxable years 1980 and 1981 in the amounts of [$3,572] and $42,-158.00, respectively.
It is further stipulated that, effective upon the entry of this decision by the Court, petitioner waives the restriction contained in I.R.C. § 6213(a) prohibiting assessment and collection of the deficiency (plus statutory interest) until the decision of the Tax Court has become final.

According to defendant, on May 25,1987, the IRS assessed $3572 in tax and $3900.51 in interest thereon against Fulgoni for 1980. Plaintiff disputes that an assessment was made. On October 1, 1987, Ful-goni (through his attorney, Stephen Gilbert) transmitted a check in the amount of $3572 as “payment in full of the tax due ... for the tax year 1980.” Shortly thereafter, Fulgoni filed an amended return for 1980, claiming a refund of $3572.2 The address shown on the amended return was “Victor Fulgoni, c/o Gilbert, Gilbert & Schlossberg, Esqs., P.O. Box 340, Morris-town, New Jersey 07960.”

On December 10, 1987, while Fulgoni’s refund claim was pending, the IRS applied a $1189 overpayment from 1986 against Fulgoni’s outstanding 1980 liability. (We refer to this procedure as administrative offset.) By letter of January 11, 1988, the IRS informed Fulgoni of the administrative offset; the letter also stated that Fulgoni had a balance remaining for 1980 of $3154.31. The letter was addressed to “Victor & Nancy Fulgoni, Gilbert, Gilbert & Schlossberg, Box 340, Morristown, NJ 07960-0340,” and was received at that address by Fulgoni’s attorney.

By letter of May 23,1988, the IRS denied Fulgoni’s claim for a refund of $3572. The letter was addressed to “Victor & Nancy Fulgoni, Gilbert, Gilbert & Schlossberg, Box 340, Morristown, NJ 07960-0340,” and was received at that address by Fulgoni’s attorney.

On July 16, 1988, the IRS sent a “Notice of Levy on Wages, Salary and Other Income” to Isotec Inc. (Fulgoni’s employer). The notice stated that Victor Fulgoni had an outstanding tax liability for 1980 of $3333.52 which Fulgoni had refused to pay after notice and demand,3 and instructed Isotec Inc. to remit to the IRS all wages and salaries owing to Fulgoni (other than income statutorily exempt from levy) until a release of levy was issued. The notice listed the taxpayer’s name and address as “Victor L. Fulgoni, Gilbert, Gilbert & Schlossberg, Box 340, Morristown, NJ 07960-0340.” IRS records indicate that on July 27, 1988 a payment was received in the amount $3333.52 in full satisfaction of Fulgoni’s 1980 tax liability.

On October 26, 1989, Fulgoni filed his complaint for a tax refund in this court.4 [122]*122In his complaint, Fulgoni alleges that the IRS failed to assess the stipulated tax liability for the year 1980 within the time required by statute, and, therefore, his October 5,1987 payment was an overpayment which must be refunded. Fulgoni also alleges that even if the IRS timely assessed the $3572 liability and interest thereon, he did not receive notice of the assessment, nor did he receive notice and demand for payment prior to the administrative collection actions, so that the assessment and the collection actions were invalid. Although Fulgoni did not specifically request a refund of the interest and penalty assessed for 1980, if he is correct that there was no timely assessment of the principal amount of $3572 then the assessment of interest and penalty on the principal amount was invalid.

Defendant counters that on May 25, 1987, the IRS timely assessed the $3572 liability, along with $3900.51 in interest. Defendant also alleges that the IRS sent notice of the assessment, and asserts that, in any event, the fact that a taxpayer does not receive notice of an assessment does not affect the validity of the assessment. Defendant has submitted documentary and testamentary evidence in support of its assertion that a timely assessment (and notice thereof) was made in connection with the stipulated Tax Court decision.

The pivotal issue in the case is whether the IRS assessed the $3572 liability and interest thereon within the time prescribed by statute. A subsidiary issue is whether the subsequent collection of interest and penalty on the 1980 liability was properly carried out in light of Fulgoni’s assertion that at no time did he receive notice and demand for payment of the deficiency prior to the collection actions.

We will resolve both issues against the backdrop of Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242,106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). In

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23 Cl. Ct. 119, 67 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1070, 1991 U.S. Claims LEXIS 188, 1991 WL 80715, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fulgoni-v-united-states-cc-1991.