Poindexter v. Comm'r

122 T.C. No. 15, 122 T.C. 280, 2004 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 15
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMarch 29, 2004
DocketNo. 14428-01L
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 122 T.C. No. 15 (Poindexter v. Comm'r) 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
Poindexter v. Comm'r, 122 T.C. No. 15, 122 T.C. 280, 2004 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 15 (tax 2004).

Opinion

OPINION

Halpern, Judge:

This case is before the Court to review a determination made by one of respondent’s Appeals officers (the determination) that respondent may proceed to collect by levy unpaid income taxes assessed by respondent against petitioner for 1994 and 1996 (the assessments). We review such determinations pursuant to section 6330(d)(1).1 Petitioner has assigned error to the determination, and, as we understand that assignment, it is principally that, in making the determination, the Appeals officer failed to consider the accuracy of the assessments, which petitioner claims do not reflect his true income tax liabilities for the years in question. Respondent denies that the Appeals officer erred, and he moves for a summary disposition in his favor (the motion), that the determination be sustained, on the following grounds: (1) Since petitioner reported the unpaid taxes on returns he made, the Appeals officer properly refused to consider the accuracy of the assessments; (2) even if the Appeals officer erred ift refusing to consider the accuracy of the assessments, petitioner has failed to aver facts sufficient to show error in the assessments; and (3) petitioner has failed to aver facts showing any other error in the determination.

Summary judgment may be granted with respect to all or any part of the legal issues in controversy “if the pleadings, answers to interrogatories, depositions, admissions, and any other acceptable materials, together with affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that a decision may be rendered as a matter of law.” Rule 121(b). We are satisfied that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that a decision may be rendered as a matter of law. For the reasons that follow, we shall grant the motion on the basis of respondent’s second and third grounds and enter an appropriate order and decision in respondent’s favor.

Background

The following facts are gathered from the pleadings, the parties’ trial memoranda, the motion and declaration of Peggy Gartenbaum, one of respondent’s counsel, submitted in support of the motion, petitioner’s opposition to the motion, and other items constituting the record. There appears to be no disagreement as to the following facts.

Petitioner filed his 1994 Federal income tax return (the 1994 return) on April 16, 1997, reporting tax of $2,084, no withholding or estimated tax payments, and an estimated tax penalty of $107. Petitioner did not remit any amount with the 1994 return. On May 19, 1997, respondent assessed the tax liability shown on the 1994 return and issued to petitioner a notice and demand for payment with respect thereto.

Petitioner filed his 1996 Federal income tax return (the 1996 return) on April 15, 1997, reporting tax of $66,874, no withholding or estimated tax payments, and an estimated tax penalty of $270. Petitioner did not remit any amount with the 1996 return. On June 2, 1997, respondent assessed the tax liability shown on the 1996 return and issued to petitioner a notice and demand for payment with respect thereto.

Petitioner did not make the payments demanded, and, on January 23, 2001, respondent notified petitioner of his intent to levy with respect to petitioner’s unpaid tax liabilities for 1994 and 1996. In response, petitioner timely submitted to respondent Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process Hearing. In the request, petitioner, a songwriter, stated his belief that the taxes shown on the 1994 and 1996 returns (together, the returns) are incorrect. He explained that he was in a dispute with certain record companies over royalties due him in connection with songs he had written. He asked the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to subpoena information from the record companies so that he could make proper returns.2 Other than asking for such assistance, he did not propose any alternatives to collection.

On November 15, 2001, an Appeals officer held the hearing petitioner had requested. At the hearing, petitioner stated that he had filed the returns so as not to get into trouble and that he had not paid the taxes shown because he did not believe the amounts to be correct. He would not say whether he believed his correct income to be higher or lower than the amounts reported. Although the Appeals officer concluded on the basis of section 6330(c)(2)(B) that petitioner’s underlying tax liabilities were not properly at issue, he advised petitioner that he could file amended returns adjusting the tax shown on the returns. Petitioner declined to do so.3

As required by section 6330(c)(1), the Appeals officer verified that the requirements of applicable laws and administrative procedures had been met. He also made the determination required by section 6330(c)(3)(C) that the proposed collection action (levy) balanced the need for efficient collection of taxes with petitioner’s legitimate concerns that any collection action be no more intrusive than necessary. On December 5, 2001, a manager in the Appeals Office issued to petitioner a Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/or 6330 (i.e., the determination), sustaining the proposed collection action.

In the petition, petitioner states his disagreement with the assessments, claiming that they are inaccurate because of (1) false and fraudulent information stated on the returns, (2) errors in the assessment procedures, (3) reliance on incorrect written advice from the IRS, (4) error and failure of the IRS in following its own procedures and advice, (5) improper execution of levies, and (6) erroneous and inconsistent tax information contained in the determination.

Discussion

I. Overview of Section 6330

Section 6330 entitles a taxpayer to notice of the taxpayer’s right to request a hearing before certain lien and levy actions are taken by the Commissioner in furtherance of the collection from the taxpayer of unpaid Federal taxes. If a hearing is requested, the Appeals officer conducting the hearing must verify that the requirements of any applicable law or administrative procedure have been met. Sec. 6330(c)(1). The taxpayer requesting the hearing may raise “any relevant issue relating to the unpaid tax or the proposed levy”. Sec. 6330(c)(2)(A). The taxpayer may raise challenges “to the existence or amount of the underlying tax liability”, however, only if he “did not receive any statutory notice of deficiency for such tax liability or did not otherwise have an opportunity to dispute such tax liability.” Sec. 6330(c)(2)(B). Following the hearing, the Appeals officer must determine whether the collection action is to proceed, taking into account the verification the Appeals officer has made, the issues raised by the taxpayer at the hearing, and “whether any proposed collection action balances the need for the efficient collection of taxes with the legitimate concern of the * * * [taxpayer] that any collection action be no more intrusive than necessary.” Sec. 6330(c)(3). We have jurisdiction to review such determinations where we have jurisdiction of the underlying tax liability. Sec. 6330(d)(1)(A).

II. Section 6330(c)(2)(B) Is Not Limited to Taxpayer Challenges to Liabilities Asserted by the Commissioner That Differ in Amount From Taxpayer-Determined Liabilities

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Bluebook (online)
122 T.C. No. 15, 122 T.C. 280, 2004 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 15, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/poindexter-v-commr-tax-2004.