In re Adventure Resorts of America, Inc.

183 B.R. 296, 9 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 39, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 825, 1995 WL 362431
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedApril 18, 1995
DocketBankruptcy No. 93-3514-BKC-3P1
StatusPublished

This text of 183 B.R. 296 (In re Adventure Resorts of America, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Adventure Resorts of America, Inc., 183 B.R. 296, 9 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 39, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 825, 1995 WL 362431 (Fla. 1995).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AS TO CLAIM 41

GEORGE L. PROCTOR, Bankruptcy Judge.

This case is before the Court upon Adventure Resorts of America, Inc.’s (“Debtor”) Objection to claim 41 filed by the United States Internal Revenue Service (“Claimant”). The claimant assessed a deficiency against the debtor for failing to withhold taxes on interest paid to a foreign corporation and levied penalties against the debtor for failing to file tax form 1042. Upon the evidence presented at a final evidentiary hearing on January 31, 1995, the Court enters the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. From 1989 until 1991, debtor was a subchapter S corporation held by Charles Edward Patton, James H. Patton, and Edward L. Lewis (“PP & L”). During this period, debtor paid interest to Abaco Ventures, Limited. (“Abaco”), a foreign corporation, and listed the payments on its 1989, 1990, and 1991 1120-s tax returns.

2. In 1989, 1990, and 1991, the debtor failed to withhold tax at the source for interest paid to Abaco as required by 26 U.S.C. § 1442(A). Debtor also failed to file tax form 1042 as required by Treas.Reg. § 1.1461-2(b) (1994).

3. On March 9,1993, debtor filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Venue of the case was transferred to the Middle District of Florida on June 29, 1993.

4. On December 19, 1994, the claimant filed a claim the debtor, consisting of a secured claim of $17,322.03; an unsecured priority claim of $137,747.05 for unpaid withholding taxes and interest for 1989,1990, and 1991; and an unsecured general claim of $29,592.91 for delinquency penalties.

5. Pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6651(a)(1), the claimant assessed a 25 percent delinquency penalty against the debtor for failing to file tax form 1042. The penalties for 1989 through 1991 totalled $28,306.17.

6. The debtor admits liability for the secured claim, the amount of the withholding tax, and the interest due. The debtor objects to the portion of the general unsecured claim for penalties attributable to debtor’s failure to file form 1042.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

The primary issue before the Court is whether the claimant’s assessment of penalties under 26 U.S.C. § 6651(a)(1) should be allowed. To determine whether the penalties were properly assessed, however, the Court must examine the legality of the undisputed portions of the claim regarding the unpaid withholding taxes.

Because the majority of claim 41 is undisputed, the Court finds it unnecessary to engage in a lengthy discussion of the burden of proof. For purposes of adjudicating the disputed portion of the claim, the Court accepts the proof of claim as prima facie evidence of the debtor’s tax liability. See Fed. R.Bankr.P. 3001(f). See also Helvering v. Taylor, 293 U.S. 507, 55 S.Ct. 287, 79 L.Ed. 623 (1935) and In re VTN, Inc., 69 B.R. 1005 (Bankr.S.D.Fla.1987).

ASSESSMENT OF UNPAID WITHHOLDING TAXES AND INTEREST

In 1989, 1990, and 1991, debtor paid interest to Abaco Ventures, Limited, a/k/a Abaco Venturers, Limited, a Bahamian corporation. [298]*298Section 1442(a) of the Internal Revenue Code requires domestic corporations paying interest to foreign corporations to withhold a tax percentage. In relevant part, the statutes states:

(a) In the case of foreign corporations subject to taxation under this subtitle, there shall be deducted and withheld ... a tax equal to 30 percent thereof. 26 U.S.C. § 1442(a).

The withholding tax due is determinable by computing 30 percent of the interest paid to Abaco Ventures, Limited. The Court finds that claimant’s Exhibit 7 presents a straightforward calculation of the withholding tax, assessing the tax liability for each year in issue as follows:

Year Interest Paid to Abaco Tax Due

1989 $ 67,054.08 $17,116.22

1990 $136,702.72 $41,010.82

1991 $183,658.80 $55,097.64

The debtor does not dispute the amount of interest paid to Abaco or the amount of unpaid withholding taxes assessed by the claimant. The Court finds that the total unpaid withholding tax due is $113,224.68.

The amount of interest due on the unpaid withholding tax is also undisputed. To petition date, the interest due for each year is issue is as follows:

Year Withholding Tax Due Interest

1989 $17,116.22 $ 7,791.95

1990 $41,010.82 $12,237.69

1991 $55,097.64 $ 3,943.76

The Court finds that the total interest due on the unpaid withholding taxes is $23,973.40.

ASSESSMENT OF DELINQUENCY PENALTIES

The claimant asserted a claim against debtor for delinquency penalties which to-talled $29,592.91. The debtor objects only to penalties relating to debtor’s failure to file tax form 1042 as required by Treas.Reg. § 1.1461-2(b) (1994).

A domestic corporation paying interest to a foreign corporation is required to withhold for tax 30 percent of the total amount paid. 26 U.S.C. § 1442(a). The corporation required to withhold the tax is termed a “withholding agent.” 26 U.S.C. § 7701(a)(16). See also Treas.Reg. § 1.1441-7(a) (1994). Pursuant to Treasury Regulations § 1.1461-2 (1994), withholding agents “shall make on or before March 15 an annual return on form 1042 of the tax required to be withheld.... ” Any withholding agent failing to file form 1042 is subject to penalties under 26 U.S.C. § 6651. Treas.Reg. § 1.1461-2(e).

In relevant part, 26 U.S.C. § 6651(a)(1) imposes penalties against a taxpayer “[i]n case of failure — (1) to file any return required under authority of subchapter A of Chapter 61 ... not exceeding 25 percent in the aggregate....”

Debtor paid interest to a foreign corporation and was required to withhold a tax equal to 30 percent of each yearly total. Debtor failed to withhold the tax and failed to report the tax on form 1042 as required by Federal Treasury Regulations. Debtor’s failure to report the withholding tax on the appropriate form subjects it to delinquency penalties computed at 25 percent of the total tax due. The claimant’s assessment of the delinquency penalties totals $28,306.17. The Court finds that the penalties are correctly assessed.

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Related

Helvering v. Taylor
293 U.S. 507 (Supreme Court, 1935)
In Re VTN, Inc.
69 B.R. 1005 (S.D. Florida, 1987)
In Re AM International, Inc.
67 B.R. 79 (N.D. Illinois, 1986)

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183 B.R. 296, 9 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 39, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 825, 1995 WL 362431, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-adventure-resorts-of-america-inc-flmb-1995.