Olsen v. United States

694 F. Supp. 1484, 62 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5001, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10496, 1988 WL 95969
CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedApril 20, 1988
DocketCiv. 87-1207-RE
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 694 F. Supp. 1484 (Olsen v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Olsen v. United States, 694 F. Supp. 1484, 62 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5001, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10496, 1988 WL 95969 (D. Or. 1988).

Opinion

*1486 OPINION

REDDEN, District Judge:

In this action, plaintiffs contest the propriety of a tax levy on their pension fund and seek damages and injunctive relief. Defendants the United States of America, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and Internal Revenue agents Samuel Peden and M. Vilven (collectively referred to as ‘the federal defendants’) move to dismiss and/or for summary judgment. In addition, defendant Alaska Laborers-Employers Retirement Trust (Trust Fund) moves to dismiss and/or for summary judgment. For the reasons below, I grant the motions.

BACKGROUND

In August 1983, plaintiffs filed a personal income tax return for the tax year 1982. Their return showed that plaintiffs’ income tax liability for the year totalled $8,620. Because plaintiffs had withholding credits of $9,612, their return indicated that they were entitled to a refund of $992. Plaintiffs received the refund. In June 1985, the Commissioner notified plaintiffs of a $175 deficiency in their 1982 tax liability. Although they did not pay the interest accrued, plaintiffs paid the deficiency.

During this time, plaintiffs resided at 1263 Juniper Road, Camano Island, Washington. Plaintiffs have not filed a federal income tax return since the 1982 return.

By a March 22, 1986 certified letter addressed to their Camano Island address, the Commissioner attempted to notify plaintiffs of a second deficiency of over $4,000 plus penalties over $1,000. The Post Office returned the letter. Plaintiffs had moved and plaintiffs’ forwarding order with the Post Office had expired.

On September 2, 1986, the Commissioner assessed plaintiffs’ second deficiency at $5,419 plus accrued interest. In June 1987, defendant Vilven, a Revenue Officer, filed notices of federal tax lien with the Oregon Secretary of State and the Deschutes County Recorder's Office. On September 3, 1987, defendant Peden, also a Revenue Officer, issued a notice of levy on plaintiffs’ income from the Trust Fund.

STANDARDS

When the district court looks beyond the pleadings in evaluating a motion to dismiss, the motion must be treated as one for summary judgment. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b). Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ. P. 56(c). Here, all parties have submitted additional affidavits and records. DISCUSSION

The federal defendants move to dismiss and/or for summary judgment on several grounds: (1) the court lacks jurisdiction to grant injunctive relief; (2) sovereign immunity bars a damage action against the United States or its officers acting within the scope of their official capacities; and (3) the individual defendants are qualifiedly immune against damage actions from suit for tort damages. The Trust Fund moves to dismiss and/or for a judgment on the pleadings on the grounds that 26 U.S.C. § 6332 requires it to honor the levy.

1. Jurisdiction for Injunctive Relief

The Anti-Injunction Act, 26 U.S.C. § 7421, severely limits a taxpayer’s ability to enjoin the collection of taxes. If the taxpayer fails to establish that his suit falls within one of the statutory or judicially created exceptions to this statute, the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction and must dismiss the complaint. Id.; Jensen v. Internal Revenue Service, 835 F.2d 196, 198 (9th Cir.1987).

Here, plaintiffs allege that the Commissioner failed to comply with the notice provisions of 26 U.S.C. §§ 6212(a) and 6213(a) before levying on his Trust Fund benefits. Section 6213(a) expressly allows the court to enjoin the collection of taxes when the notice is deficient. In addition to this statutory exception, the federal defendants also point out a possible judicial exception developed in Enochs v. Williams Packing & Navigation Co., Inc., 370 U.S. 1, 82 S.Ct. 1125, 8 L.Ed.2d 292 (1962). The Williams *1487 Packing rule allows a taxpayer to enjoin the Commissioner’s collection of taxes if the taxpayer can show that: (1) under no circumstances can the government ultimately prevail; and (2) the taxpayer will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted. The federal defendants argue that the present action meets neither the statutory exception nor the Williams Packing exception. Consideration of both exceptions requires me to determine whether plaintiffs received the requisite notice under 26 U.S.C. § 6212(a).

26 U.S.C. § 6212(a) requires that the Commissioner send notice of a tax deficiency to the taxpayer by certified or registered letter. The notice is sufficient if mailed to the taxpayer’s last known address. Cool Fuel, Inc. v. Connett, 685 F.2d 309, 312 (9th Cir.1982). The Commissioner must use reasonable diligence in attempting to ascertain the taxpayer’s correct address. Id. at 313. The taxpayer has the burden of showing that the Commissioner did not exercise reasonable diligence. Cyclone Drilling, Inc. v. Kelley, 769 F.2d 662, 664 (10th Cir.1985). A taxpayer’s last known address is that on his most recent return, unless the taxpayer communicates to the Commissioner “clear and concise” notice of a change of address. United States v. Zoila, 724 F.2d 808, 810 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 830, 105 S.Ct. 116, 83 L.Ed.2d 59 (1984). In addition, the last known address is the address to which the Commissioner reasonably believes the taxpayer wishes notice to be sent. See Mulvania v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 769 F.2d 1376, 1379 (9th Cir.1985).

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694 F. Supp. 1484, 62 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5001, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10496, 1988 WL 95969, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/olsen-v-united-states-ord-1988.