Klingshirn v. United States (In re Klingshirn)

194 B.R. 154, 1996 Bankr. LEXIS 311
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedMarch 28, 1996
DocketBankruptcy No. 94-51445; Adv.No. 94-5130
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 194 B.R. 154 (Klingshirn v. United States (In re Klingshirn)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Klingshirn v. United States (In re Klingshirn), 194 B.R. 154, 1996 Bankr. LEXIS 311 (Ohio 1996).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND DENYING SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF DEFENDANT

Marilyn SHEA-STONUM, Bankruptcy Judge.

This declaratory judgment action is before the Court on cross-motions for summary judgment filed by Plaintiff-Debtor, Kent Klingshim (the “Debtor”), and by Defendant, Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). This proceeding arises in a case referred to this Court by the Standing Order of Reference entered in this District on July 16, 1984. It is determined to be a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A) and (B) and Bankruptcy Rule 7001(9) over which this Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334(b), 157(a) and (b).

1. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On September 15, 1994, the Debtor filed a petition under chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. Schedule E of the Debtor’s petition listed one unsecured, priority debt owing to the IRS in the amount of $52,454.87. Paragraph 2 of the Debtor’s Plan indicated that the amount owing to the IRS was disputed and that it would be subject to an objection by the Debtor. The IRS filed a proof of claim1 for $174,923.58 in past due taxes, penalties, and interest (the “Claim”)2 that it claimed were owing as of the date the petition was filed.

On November 29, 1994, the Debtor filed a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment3 requesting that this Court determine that the Claim was barred by the running of the limitations period and that, therefore, the IRS has no viable claim in his pending chapter 13 case. After obtaining an extension, the IRS timely filed its Answer on February 8,1995 alleging that the statute of limitations for collection of the Debtor’s taxes had been tolled by a previous bankruptcy filing and that the Debtor’s taxes were therefore still due.

After a pre-trial conference, held on May 10, 1995, it was determined that this matter might be resolved by the filing of dispositive motions. On August 31, 1995, the Debtor [156]*156filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. On October 2, 1995, the IRS filed a Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and a response to the Debtor’s motion. On November 6, 1995, the Debtor filed a brief in opposition to the IRS’ cross-motion and on December 1, 1995, the IRS filed a reply to that document. The matter is now poised for resolution.4

II. FACTS

The undisputed, pertinent facts of this case are set forth in the following chronology:

August-November, 1981 Form 9415 taxes assessed against the Debt- or for unpaid taxes in the principal amount of $49,014.76.
July 11,1983 Form 940 6 taxes assessed against the Debt- or for unpaid taxes in the principal amount of $2,354.97.
June 25,1986 The Debtor and IRS executed Tax Collection Waivers 7 (the “Waiver”) and agreed that the collection period for the aforementioned taxes would be extended to December 31, 1992 and further agreed that “if an offer in compromise is made by the taxpayer(s) on or before the date to which the statutory period has been extended, then the time for making any collection will be further extended beyond that date by the number of days ... the offer is pending ..., plus one year.”
October 21,1986 The Debtor submitted an Offer in Compromise to IRS.
June 10,1987 The Debtor withdrew the Offer in Compromise.
March 6,1991 The Debtor filed for relief under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.
July 25,1991 The Debtor received a discharge.
December 31,1992 Original deadline for commencement of IRS collection activity as specified in the Waiver.
August 20,1994 Deadline for commencement of IRS collection activity as extended according to the terms of the Waiver.
September 13,1994 IRS attached the Debt- or’s checking account for $179,722.87 in taxes, penalties and interest related to the 1981 and 1983 assessments.
September 15,1994 The Debtor filed for relief under chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Based.upon these undisputed facts the parties disagree as to the appropriate limitations period governing the IRS’ collection of taxes.

III. RELEVANT STATUTES

Section 6502 of the Internal Revenue Code sets forth two alternative time frames in which the IRS may collect taxes from a taxpayer after the taxes have been assessed. That statute states:

(a) Length of period. — Where the assessment of any tax imposed by this title has been made within the period of limitation properly applicable thereto, such tax may be collected by levy or by a proceeding in [157]*157court, but only if the levy is made or the proceeding begun—
(1) within 6 years after the assessment of the tax, or
(2) prior to the expiration of any period for collection agreed upon in writing by the Secretary and the taxpayer before the expiration of such 6-year period ...
The period so agreed upon may be extended by subsequent agreements in writing made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon.

26 U.S.C. § 6502 (1989) (omitting provisions not relevant to this case).8

Both the Bankruptcy Code and the Internal Revenue Code address the potential modification of certain periods of time due to the pendency of a bankruptcy ease. Section 108(e) of the Bankruptcy Code states:

[I]f applicable nonbankruptcy law, an order entered in a nonbankruptcy proceeding, or an agreement fixes a period for commencing or continuing a civil action in a court other than a bankruptcy court on a claim against the debtor, ... and such period has not expired before the date of the filing of the petition, then such period does not expire until the later of—
(1) the end of such period, including the suspension of such period occurring on or after the commencement of this case; or
(2) 30 days after notice of the termination or expiration of the stay under section 362, 922, 1201, or 1301 of this title, as the case may be, with respect to such claim.

11 U.S.C. § 108(c). Section 6503(h) of the Internal Revenue Code states:

Cases under title 11 of the United States Code — The running of the period of limitations provided in section 6501 or 6502 on the making of assessments or collection shall, in a case under title 11 of the United States Code, be suspended for the period during which the Secretary is prohibited by reason of such case from making the assessment or from collecting and—
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Related

Klingshirn v. United States (In Re Klingshirn)
209 B.R. 698 (Sixth Circuit, 1997)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
194 B.R. 154, 1996 Bankr. LEXIS 311, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/klingshirn-v-united-states-in-re-klingshirn-ohnb-1996.