Porter v. United States

919 F. Supp. 927, 79 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1182, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3949, 1996 WL 146454
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedMarch 26, 1996
DocketCiv. A. 2:95cv1127
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 919 F. Supp. 927 (Porter v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Porter v. United States, 919 F. Supp. 927, 79 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1182, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3949, 1996 WL 146454 (E.D. Va. 1996).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

DOUMAR, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court upon the United States’ motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1). For the reasons set out below, the motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

I. Facts

On or about April 15, 1988, Plaintiffs filed an Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) Form 4868, an “Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,” and remitted $15,000.00, an amount which plaintiffs estimated at that time would be their income tax liability for 1987, less amounts already paid or withheld. On or about March 1, 1993, plaintiffs filed a joint federal income tax return for the calendar year of 1987 reflecting a balance due of $2866.00. The return for 1987 reported income and deductions based upon plaintiffs’ belief that a corporation in which plaintiffs had an ownership interest had properly elected to be treated as a subchapter S corporation.

On or about March 1, 1994, the I.R.S. notified plaintiffs that this corporation had not properly elected to be a subehapter S corporation, and as a result, returns filed by plaintiffs were adjusted, including the 1987 return. The result of this adjustment was that an overpayment of approximately $12,-767.00 for the year 1987 had occurred. On or about March 1,1994, plaintiffs requested a refund from the I.R.S., but the refund was denied because of the application of the statute of limitations. Plaintiffs then filed this action in federal court.

II. Motion to Dismiss

The government has moved to dismiss this action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. When considering a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), the court should consider “whether plaintiff[s’] allegations, standing alone and taken as true [plead] jurisdiction and a meritorious cause of action.” Dickey v. Greene, 729 F.2d 957, 958 (4th Cir.1984). Once the existence of subject matter jurisdiction is challenged, the burden of establishing its existence always rests upon the party asserting jurisdiction. Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac R.R. Co. (RF & P R.R.) v. United States, 945 F.2d 765, 768 (4th Cir.1991), cert. denied, 503 U.S. 984, 112 S.Ct. 1667, 118 L.Ed.2d 388 (1992). The court should regard the pleadings’ allegations as mere evidence on the issue, and may consider evidence outside the pleadings without converting the proceeding to one for summary judgment. Id. (citing Adams v. Bain, 697 F.2d 1213, 1216 (4th Cir.1982)).

Based on the dispositive nature of a Rule 12(b)(1) motion challenging the underlying subject matter jurisdiction of the action, the court must ensure that the record has been fully developed before deciding the motion. Adams, 697 F.2d at 1220; E.E.O.C. v. Alford, 142 F.R.D. 283, 286 (E.D.Va.1992). This Court must apply the standard applicable to a motion for summary judgment, under which the nonmoving party must set forth specific facts beyond the pleadings to show that a genuine issue of material fact exists. RF & P R.R., 945 F.2d at 768.

III. 26 U.S.C. § 6511

A. § 6511(a)

First, a brief and generalized review of federal court jurisdiction over tax *930 refund cases is appropriate. A taxpayer has the right under 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(1) to file suit to recover any internal revenue tax alleged to have been erroneously or illegally collected or assessed. Webb v. United States, 66 F.3d 691, 693 (4th Cir.1995). This provision incorporates the limits set out in 26 U.S.C. § 6511. A taxpayer has two choices of forum under the tax code when claiming a refund. If the taxpayer has been given a notice of deficiency by the I.R.S. and desires to bring a claim for a refund or credit associated with that claimed deficiency, the suit is brought in Tax Court, and jurisdiction is granted in 26 U.S.C. § 6512(a) and (b)(1). Lundy v. Commissioner, 45 F.3d 856, 859 (4th Cir.1995), rev’d on other grounds, — U.S. -, 116 S.Ct. 647, 133 L.Ed.2d 611 (1996). If, however, the taxpayer has paid the tax and chooses to make a petition for a credit or refund of that overpayment where no relevant deficiency notice has been sent, the taxpayer may file in federal district court. This case concerns the latter, obviously, and jurisdiction here is determined by looking at 26 U.S.C. § 6511.

If, having paid the taxes, the taxpayer makes a petition in district court for a refund, a claim for a refund submitted to the I.R.S. must precede the petition on the district court. Commissioner v. Lundy, — U.S. -, -, 116 S.Ct. 647, 650, 133 L.Ed.2d 611 (1996). The jurisdiction of the district court under § 6511 depends upon whether a return was filed, when the claim was presented, and when the tax was paid. If a return for the appropriate year has been filed, the taxpayer’s claim must be presented to the I.R.S. within three years of the filing of the return, or within two years of the payment of the tax sought to be refunded or credited, whichever is later. Id. at -, 116 S.Ct. at 650-51. If no return is filed, the claim must be presented within two years of the payment of the tax sought to be refunded. 26 U.S.C. § 6511(a).

As with any complicated statutory scheme, an illustration is useful. Assume taxpayer had income withholdings for calendar year 1995 of $5000. Such is deemed “paid” on April 15, 1996, the last day of payment, regardless of any extension. 26 U.S.C. § 6513(a). If the taxpayer seeks a refund of these withholdings, a claim must be presented by April 15, 1998, or within three years of the filing of a return for 1995, regardless of when filed, whichever is later. Thus § 6511(a) is clearly a statute of limitations provision. Lundy, — U.S. at -, 116 S.Ct. at 650-51.

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919 F. Supp. 927, 79 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1182, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3949, 1996 WL 146454, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/porter-v-united-states-vaed-1996.