In re Gonzales

587 B.R. 363
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. New Mexico
DecidedJuly 16, 2018
DocketCase No. 17-12712-tl13
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 587 B.R. 363 (In re Gonzales) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Gonzales, 587 B.R. 363 (N.M. 2018).

Opinion

Hon. David T. Thuma, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Before the Court is the chapter 13 trustee's request for guidance about how to respond to a tax levy she received from the State of New Mexico, attempting to levy on money owed to the debtor's bankruptcy counsel. Before the levy, the Court had confirmed a chapter 13 plan and approved $2,940.30 as compensation for counsel's services. The trustee had written a check to counsel for his approved fees, but had not mailed it. Having reviewed the facts and the relevant statutory and case law, the Court finds and concludes that: the tax levy was broad enough to encompass the debt owed to the debtor's counsel; the trustee is holding enough money that is not estate property to pay the debt; the levy did not violate the automatic stay; and the debtor's counsel is entitled to a $1,000 exemption from the levy. The trustee therefore should send the $1,940.30 to the State of New Mexico and $1,000 to debtor's counsel.

I. FACTS 1

Anissas Marie Gonzales ("Debtor") filed this chapter 13 case on October 27, *3652017. Peter A. Keys is her bankruptcy counsel. Debtor filed a chapter 13 plan on November 28, 2017. Her first plan payment of $610 was made on or about December 5, 2017.

The chapter 13 trustee ("Trustee") and a secured creditor objected to confirmation of Debtor's plan. The objections were resolved, and on May 11, 2018, the Court entered an order confirming the plan. By then, Debtor had paid the Trustee $3,660, of which the Trustee was holding $3,294.2

Mr. Keys filed a fee application on May 13, 2018. The Trustee objected. On June 6, 2018, the Court entered a stipulated order approving Mr. Keys' fee application in the amount of $2,940.30.

One June 1, 2018, the Trustee received the first post-confirmation plan payment, for $750.

On June 15, 2018, the Trustee was served with a Warrant of Levy from the State of New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Division ("TRD"). Mr. Keys was identified as the delinquent taxpayer.

When she received the warrant of levy, the Trustee was in the process of making monthly disbursements by check. She had not yet disbursed any money to creditors. The Trustee had printed a check to Mr. Keys for $2,940.30, but had not mailed it. Instead of mailing the check, the Trustee filed the motion for instruction.3

The Court held a hearing on the motion on June 19, 2018, and took the matter under advisement.

II. DISCUSSION

A. The Trustee Owes Money to Mr. Keys.

The confirmed plan in this case provides:

Trustee will pay in full all allowed administrative claims and expenses pursuant to § 507(a)(2) as set forth below, unless the holder of such claim or expense had agreed to a different treatment of its claim ....

The plan then details how Mr. Keys is to be paid. The Court's order allowing his fees is consistent with the plan provisions. Thus, the Trustee (not personally, but as the duly appointed chapter 13 trustee in this case), is indebted4 to Mr. Keys for $2,940.30. The Trustee is holding enough money to pay the debt in full, in accordance with the priorities set out in the confirmed plan and the Bankruptcy Code.

B. The Levy Was Broad Enough to Encompass the Trustee's Debt to Mr. Keys.

1. The Tax Levy Statute. N.M.S.A. § 7-1-31 provides:

A. The secretary or secretary's delegate may proceed to collect tax from a delinquent taxpayer by levy upon all property or rights to property of the delinquent taxpayer and convert the property or rights to property to money by appropriate means.
B. A levy is made by taking possession of property pursuant to authority contained in a warrant of levy or by the service, by the secretary or secretary's *366delegate or any sheriff or certified law enforcement employee of the department of public safety, of the warrant upon the taxpayer or other person in possession of property or rights to property of the taxpayer, upon the taxpayer's employer or upon any person or depositary owing or who will owe money to or holding funds of the taxpayer , ordering the taxpayer or other person to reveal the extent thereof and surrender it to the secretary or secretary's delegate forthwith or agree to surrender it or the proceeds therefrom in the future, but in any case on the terms and conditions stated in the warrant.

(emphasis added). It is clear from the italicized language that TRD is authorized to levy against amounts owed by depositaries and other third parties to delinquent taxpayers. See also N.M.S.A. 58-1-7 (TRD may levy against a deposit account, in accordance with § 7-1-31 ). In this respect, the tax levy is like a garnishment. See N.M.S.A. § 35-12-1 et seq.5

2. The Warrant of Levy. N.M.S.A. § 7-1-32 prescribes what a warrant of levy must contain. Surprisingly, it says nothing about debts (other than wages) owed to the taxpayer. Thus, while § 7-1-31(B) makes clear that tax levies may apply to debts as well as property, § 7-1-32 does not.

The warrant of levy served on the Trustee complied with § 7-1-32, but has additional language that probably was intended to encompass debts. The third paragraph of the warrant provides: "You are ordered to reveal the property or rights in your possession (or with respect to which you are obligated) belonging to the taxpayer...." (emphasis added). This parenthetical is repeated in the next paragraph. Use of the word "obligated" echoes the term in § 7-1-34(A): "Any person in possession of or obligated with respect to property or rights to property subject to levy upon which a levy has been made shall surrender the property or rights, or discharge such obligation ...." (emphasis added).

The Court concludes that it was the intention of the New Mexico legislature to give TRD the power to levy on debts owed by third parties to delinquent taxpayers. Further, the Court concludes that TRD intended to levy on debts owed to Mr. Keys when it served the warrant of levy in this case.6 The language in the warrant is ambiguous and unclear, but the best interpretation, all things considered, is that the warrant includes debts owed to Mr. Keys.

C. The Funds the Trustee Held on Confirmation Were Mostly not Estate Property.

On June 15, 2018, the Trustee held about $3,969, of which $6757 was received post-confirmation.

1. Pre-Confirmation Property of the Estate. When a debtor files a chapter 13 bankruptcy case, an estate is created. § 541(a).8 The estate includes all the debtor's real and personal property, including property acquired post-petition (e.g., post-petition wages). § 1306(a). Debtors are required to file a plan within 14 days after *367the petition date, Fed. R. Bankr. Pro. 3015(b), and to begin making plan payments within 30 days after the petition date. § 1326(a)(1). Plan payments are made to the chapter 13 trustee. § 1326(a)(1)(A).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
587 B.R. 363, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-gonzales-nmb-2018.