Hegg v. United States (In re Hegg)

239 B.R. 833, 1999 Bankr. LEXIS 517, 83 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2449
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Idaho
DecidedApril 19, 1999
DocketBankruptcy No. 98-00873; Adversary No. 98-6206
StatusPublished

This text of 239 B.R. 833 (Hegg v. United States (In re Hegg)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Idaho primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hegg v. United States (In re Hegg), 239 B.R. 833, 1999 Bankr. LEXIS 517, 83 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2449 (Idaho 1999).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

JIM D. PAPPAS, Chief Judge.

Background.

In this adversary proceeding, Plaintiff Mary Hegg seeks a determination that certain federal tax hens do not attach to her residence or other assets. Pursuant to a procedural agreement reached during a pre-trial telephonic conference held on December 22, 1998, the parties filed a stipulation of material facts, cross-motions for summary judgment, and supporting briefs. The Court having now reviewed the submissions of the parties, renders the following decision.

Facts.

In deciding this matter, the Court has relied solely upon the facts as stipulated in writing by the parties. Therefore, no purpose would be served by reciting those facts again here.

Applicable Law.

Motions for summary judgment are governed by Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, made applicable here by F.R.B.P. 7056. Summary judgment is appropriate if, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, there is no genuine issue of material fact remaining and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. F.R.B.P. 7056; State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins. Co. v. Davis, 7 F.3d 180, 182 (9th Cir.1993); FSLIC v. Molinaro, 889 F.2d 899, 901 (9th Cir.1989).

Discussion.

The Court must resolve three issues in this action. First, the Court must determine whether the IRS holds a valid federal tax lien on Plaintiffs residence. Second, the Court must determine the status of the 1988 and 1989 federal tax liens on Plaintiffs personal property as described in her bankruptcy schedules. Finally, the Court must determine whether a purported conveyance of an interest in Plaintiffs residence to IRS is valid.

Under 26 U.S.C. § 6321, the amount of any tax a person neglects or refuses to pay after demand constitutes a lien in favor of the United States upon all of the person’s property. The hen arises as of the date of the assessment of the tax. 26 U.S.C. § 6322. State law is determinative of the existence and nature of the property rights against which a tax lien has been asserted. See United States v. Glad (In re Glad), 66 B.R. 115, 118 (9th Cir. BAP 1986). Once the federal tax lien attaches to a property right created under state law, the effects and consequences of the tax lien are governed by federal law. Id. Once the tax lien attaches to property, it cannot be extinguished by a subsequent transfer of the property. United States v. Donahue Industries, Inc., 905 F.2d 1325, 1330 (9th Cir.1990).

In this case, the IRS made an assessment for the 1991 tax on June 25, 1992. On that date, a federal tax lien was created and attached to ah of David Hegg’s property. Under Idaho law, because the residence in Boise had been acquired by Heggs during their marriage, the residence constituted community property on the date of assessment. Idaho Code § 32-906. Since David Hegg owned a community property interest in the residence, the hen attached to that interest. The tax hen was not extinguished by the subsequent transfer of the residence to Plaintiff as her separate property as a result of the Heggs’ divorce. Therefore, IRS holds a valid tax hen on the residence.

Plaintiff argues that under state law, however, the hen should not be deemed to attach to the community property interest in the house. While, as noted above, this analysis does not involve an application of state law, even were Idaho’s community property rules and case law applicable, [836]*836Plaintiff is nonetheless incorrect in her position.

The general rule in Idaho is that community property can be reached by a creditor to satisfy the separate debts of each spouse. Bliss v. Bliss, 127 Idaho 170, 898 P.2d 1081, 1084 (1995); Gustin v. Byam, 41 Idaho 588, 240 P. 600, 603 (1925); Holt v. Empey, 32 Idaho 106, 178 P. 703, 704 (1919) (community property is hable for separate debts of husband). Plaintiff interprets the rule in Bliss to be that community assets cannot be used to satisfy a debt incurred as a result of the fraudulent conduct by one of the spouses. Plaintiff argues that the rule of Holt v. Empey is no longer good law. See Hansen v. Blevins, 84 Idaho 49, 367 P.2d 758, 762 (1962) (“It is not necessary to a decision in this case to determine whether community property is hable in all cases for the payment of obhgations incurred by the tort of the husband.”) Admittedly, there may be some uncertainty surrounding this area of the law. See Comment, The Uncertainty of Community Property for the Tortious Liabilities of One of the Spouses: Where the Law is Uncertain, There is No Law, 30 Idaho L.Rev. 799 (1994). However, Holt v. Empey has never been expressly overruled by Idaho’s courts. Therefore, in the absence of clear instructions from the Idaho courts to the contrary, the precept that community property can be reached to satisfy a creditor’s claim against one spouse for tortious conduct must be .applied.

As a result, when the Heggs divorced in 1994, Plaintiff received the parties’ community property interest in the residence already encumbered by the tax hen for the 1991 liability. While IRS subsequently granted Plaintiff a release from personal liability for the 1991 tax, it did not effect a release of the tax hen it had already acquired by virtue of David Hegg’s prior ownership of the residence. Moreover, because the hen was not expressly avoided or otherwise restructured by Plaintiffs confirmed Chapter 13 plan, it continues unaffected by the bankruptcy and continues as a valid hen on the property. See Dewsnup v. Timm, 502 U.S. 410, 112 S.Ct. 773, 116 L.Ed.2d 903 (1992); Bisch v. United States, 159 B.R. 546, 549 (9th Cir. BAP 1993). IRS is entitled to summary judgment declaring the 1991 tax hen valid and enforceable as against the residence.

The Court next turns to whether IRS has valid hens on Plaintiffs personal property. The tax assessments for tax years 1988 and 1989 were made against Mary Hegg on November 2, 1992, and on March 13, 1995. These assessments totaled $16,-406.26 as evidenced by the amendment to the IRS proof of claim filed on April 7, 1998.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Dewsnup v. Timm
502 U.S. 410 (Supreme Court, 1992)
Hansen v. Blevins
367 P.2d 758 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1962)
Bliss v. Bliss
898 P.2d 1081 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1995)
Bisch v. United States (In Re Bisch)
159 B.R. 546 (Ninth Circuit, 1993)
United States v. Glad (In Re Glad)
66 B.R. 115 (Ninth Circuit, 1986)
Gustin v. Byam
240 P. 600 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1925)
Holt v. Empey
178 P. 703 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1919)
Federal Savings & Loan Insurance v. Molinaro
889 F.2d 899 (Ninth Circuit, 1989)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
239 B.R. 833, 1999 Bankr. LEXIS 517, 83 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2449, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hegg-v-united-states-in-re-hegg-idb-1999.