Lavine v. Commissioner

1995 T.C. Memo. 270, 69 T.C.M. 2938, 1995 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 271
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJune 19, 1995
DocketDocket No. 24538-92
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1995 T.C. Memo. 270 (Lavine v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lavine v. Commissioner, 1995 T.C. Memo. 270, 69 T.C.M. 2938, 1995 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 271 (tax 1995).

Opinion

MARTIN S. LAVINE, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Lavine v. Commissioner
Docket No. 24538-92
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1995-270; 1995 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 271; 69 T.C.M. (CCH) 2938;
June 19, 1995, Filed

*271 Decision will be entered for respondent.

Martin S. Lavine, pro se.
For respondent: Robert J. Misey, Jr.
FAY

FAY

MEMORANDUM OPINION

FAY, Judge: Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income tax as follows:

YearDeficiency
1979$ 10,241
19803,682
19816,444

The issues for decision are:

(1) Whether respondent timely issued a statutory notice of deficiency. We hold that she did.

(2) Whether the interest under section 6404(e) 1 should be abated. We hold that it should not.

Some of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulation of facts, together with the attached exhibits, is incorporated herein by this reference. At the time he filed his petition, petitioner resided in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Petitioner filed joint Federal income tax returns for the taxable year 1979 on June*272 16, 1980, for the taxable year 1980 on April 15, 1981, and for the taxable year 1981 on June 15, 1982. Respondent issued a statutory notice on August 7, 1992, for all of the years at issue.

On February 10, 1982, petitioner executed a Form 2848, which gave his power of attorney to Neal M. Fischer, his Certified Public Accountant ("C.P.A."), for the taxable years 1979, 1980, and 1981. This was a general power of attorney which was not limited in any respect. On January 14, 1983, Mr. Fischer executed a Form 872-A on behalf of petitioner for the taxable year 1979. On February 17, 1984, Mr. Fischer executed a Form 872-A on behalf of petitioner for the taxable year 1980. On February 7, 1985, Mr. Fischer executed a Form 872 on behalf of petitioner for the taxable year 1981 extending the statute of limitations until December 31, 1986. On September 24, 1986, Mr. Fischer executed a Form 872-A on behalf of petitioner for the taxable year 1981. At the time Mr. Fischer executed the forms 872-A on behalf of petitioner, petitioner had not revoked the power of attorney.

Section 6501(a) sets forth the general rule that "the amount of any [income] tax * * * shall be assessed within 3 years*273 after the return was filed". An exception is found in section 6501(c)(4), which provides for an extension by agreement. Petitioner asserts that the statute of limitations had expired before the statutory notice was issued. A petitioner pleading the statute of limitations as a bar to the assessment of tax must make a prima facie case by proving the filing date of the return and the expiration of the general 3-year assessment period. Respondent must then go forward with countervailing proof showing that, for some reason, the period of limitation had not expired when the statutory notice was issued. Mecom v. Commissioner, 101 T.C. 374, 382 (1993), affd. without published opinion 40 F.3d 385 (5th Cir. 1994). Respondent's burden is discharged by introducing into evidence a consent, valid on its face, that extends the period of limitation for assessment up to the date of mailing of the statutory notice of deficiency. Schenk v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1976-363. After respondent introduces a consent that is valid on its face and petitioner asserts that such consent was ineffective, then petitioner*274 is required to prove the invalidity of the consent. Crown Willamette Paper Co. v. McLaughlin, 81 F.2d 365 (9th Cir. 1936); Rault v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1982-283. The statutory notice was issued on August 7, 1992. Pursuant to the power of attorney, Mr. Fischer duly executed Forms 872-A for all of the years at issue before the statute of limitations had run.

Petitioner argues on brief that alleged fraudulent misrepresentation by Mr. Fischer makes the power of attorney voidable, and, therefore, the Forms 872-A that Mr. Fischer signed on petitioner's behalf are voidable as well. An executed Form 2848 gives the person holding the power of attorney the authority to sign a consent agreement extending the period of assessments on behalf of the taxpayer. Scherr v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1991-92. Petitioner testified that he feels that he was misled by his C.P.A. regarding his investment in a tax shelter, which gave rise to the deficiencies in the years at issue. He has not, however filed a civil suit against his C.P.A. for his alleged misconduct. Nor had petitioner, at the times the*275 Forms 872-A were signed, revoked the power of attorney granted to the C.P.A.

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Related

Commissioner v. Gooch Milling & Elevator Co.
320 U.S. 418 (Supreme Court, 1944)
Mecom v. Commissioner
101 T.C. No. 26 (U.S. Tax Court, 1993)
508 Clinton St. Corp. v. Commissioner
89 T.C. No. 31 (U.S. Tax Court, 1987)
Estate of Camara v. Commissioner
91 T.C. No. 60 (U.S. Tax Court, 1988)
Crown Willamette Paper Co. v. McLaughlin
81 F.2d 365 (Ninth Circuit, 1936)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1995 T.C. Memo. 270, 69 T.C.M. 2938, 1995 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 271, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lavine-v-commissioner-tax-1995.