T.C. Summary Opinion 2018-20
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
SALINA JIVANI, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 19467-16S L. Filed April 5, 2018.
Salina Jivani, pro se.
Jamie A. Schindler, John T. Arthur, and Brandon S. Cline, for respondent.
SUMMARY OPINION
LEYDEN, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the
provisions of section 7463 of the Internal Revenue Code in effect when the
petition was filed.1 Pursuant to section 7463(b), the decision to be entered is not
1 All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, in (continued...) -2-
reviewable by any other court, and this opinion shall not be treated as precedent
for any other case.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)2 Office of Appeals (Appeals Office)
issued petitioner a Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s)
Under Section 6320 and/or 6330 (notice of determination) dated August 5, 2016.
The notice of determination sustained a notice of Federal tax lien filed with
respect to petitioner’s unpaid individual tax liabilities for 2012 and 2013.
The remaining3 issues for decision are whether: (1) petitioner is liable for
an addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1) for failure to timely file a tax return
(failure to timely file), an addition to tax under section 6651(a)(2) for failure to
timely pay the tax shown on a tax return (failure to timely pay), and an addition to
1 (...continued) effect at all relevant times, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, unless otherwise indicated. 2 The Court uses the term “IRS” to refer to administrative actions taken outside of these proceedings. The Court uses the term “respondent” to refer to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, who is the head of the IRS and is respondent in this case, and to refer to actions taken in connection with this case. 3 Petitioner disputed an addition to tax under sec. 6654(a) for the underpayment of estimated tax for 2012 during the collection due process (CDP) hearing. However, the underlying tax liability for 2012, including the addition to tax under sec. 6654(a), has been fully paid. Accordingly, the issue of petitioner’s liability for the addition to tax under sec. 6654(a) for 2012 is moot. See Greene- Thapedi v. Commissioner, 126 T.C. 1, 5-8 (2006). -3-
tax under section 6654(a) for the underpayment of estimated tax for 2013; (2) the
Appeals Office abused its discretion in not applying a $16,000 remittance against
petitioner’s 2013 individual tax liability; and (3) the Appeals Office abused its
discretion in sustaining the notice of Federal tax lien filing with respect to 2012
and 2013.
For the reasons stated herein, the Court holds that: (1) petitioner is liable
for the additions to tax under sections 6651(a)(1) and (2) and 6654(a) for 2013; (2)
the Appeals Office did not did abuse its discretion in not applying the $16,000
remittance against petitioner’s 2013 individual tax liability; and (3) the Appeals
Office did not abuse its discretion in sustaining the notice of Federal tax lien filing
with respect to 2012 and 2013.
Background
Some of the facts are stipulated and so found. Petitioner resided in Florida
when she timely filed her petition. -4-
I. Individual Tax Returns
Petitioner filed her individual Federal income tax returns for 2008 through
2013 late.4 Only petitioner’s 2013 individual tax return is at issue in this case.
See infra pp. 13-14.
Petitioner filed her 2013 individual tax return late, on April 14, 2015, after
requesting an extension to file it by October 15, 2014. Petitioner reported a total
tax liability of $62,781 and a Federal income tax withholding credit of $1,600 on
that individual tax return. Petitioner did not report any estimated tax payments on
her 2013 individual tax return. On May 18, 2015, the IRS assessed the self-
reported total tax of $62,781, the addition to tax for failure to timely file of
$13,765.72, the addition to tax for failure to timely pay of $3,826.47, the addition
to tax for the underpayment of estimated tax of $439, and interest of $2,152.13.
Petitioner had submitted a payment of $45,620 with the late-filed 2013 individual
tax return. The IRS applied that payment and the Federal income tax withholding
4 Petitioner requested extensions until October 15, 2009, October 15, 2011, October 15, 2012, and October 15, 2013, to file individual tax returns for 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. She did not file those tax returns by the requested extended deadlines. As relevant in this case, petitioner filed her 2012 individual tax return showing a tax of $23,612. Petitioner did not request an extension to file her 2009 individual tax return past the original due date. -5-
credit and issued a notice and demand for payment letter to petitioner at her last
known address for the balance, which she did not pay.
II. S Corporation’s Tax Returns
Petitioner is an attorney who operated a law business--Salina Jivani,
Esquire–through a subchapter S corporation (hereinafter S corporation) during
2010 through 2013. She filed the S corporation’s tax returns late for 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, on January 16, January 21, February 27, and April 16, 2015,
respectively. The IRS assessed a section 6699(a) penalty of $2,340 for failing to
timely file each tax return on March 2, 2015, for 2010 and 2011 and on March 30
and May 18, 2015, for 2012 and 2013, respectively.5 The assessments for the S
corporation’s tax returns are not at issue in this case.
III. The $16,000 Remittance
Petitioner remitted a check for $16,000 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as
the $16,000 remittance) to the IRS for the S corporation sometime around April
2014. The check was drawn from the S corporation’s bank account, made payable
5 An S corporation must file an annual tax return reporting its income and other matters on a Form 1120-S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation. Sec. 6037(a); sec. 1.6037-1(a), Income Tax Regs. An S corporation that does not timely file its annual tax return is liable for a penalty equal to $195 per shareholder for every month the tax return is late (but not to exceed 12 months). Sec. 6699(a) and (b). For an S corporation with one shareholder the maximum sec. 6699(a) penalty for a taxable year is $2,340. -6-
to the IRS,6 and dated “4-14-13”. On the memo line of the check petitioner wrote
“2013 taxes” but did not write her Social Security number, an employer
identification number, or a tax return form number.
The IRS deposited the check on April 18, 2014, and placed the funds in an
unidentified remittance drop account. At the time the IRS deposited the check, the
S corporation’s tax returns for 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 had not yet been filed.
Accordingly, the IRS had not yet assessed the section 6699(a) penalty for any of
those years. The IRS sent a refund check of $16,000 made payable to the S
corporation and dated August 13, 2014.
On October 11, 2014, petitioner returned the refund check to the IRS by
certified mail with a letter. At the time petitioner returned the refund check to the
IRS, she had not yet filed her 2013 individual tax return. Petitioner wrote: “Dear
IRS Agent, Please apply the enclosed [refund] check for $16,000 to my personal
1040 form for year 2013.” Petitioner provided her full name, Social Security
number, address, and phone number in the letter.
The IRS subsequently canceled the refund check on February 10, 2015,
because it had not been deposited or cashed by the payee, the S corporation. At
6 The check bears a handwritten notation “IRS” but is followed by a stamped notation “United States Treasury”. -7-
the time the IRS canceled the refund check, the S corporation had filed its tax
returns for 2010 and 2011 but not for 2012 and 2013.
On February 12, 2015, the IRS applied the $16,000 remittance against the S
corporation’s tax accounts for 2010, 2011, and 2012 in the following amounts:
(1) $2,231.097 for 2010, (2) $2,340 for 2011, and (3) $2,340 for 2012. That same
day the IRS also applied the remaining portion of the $16,000 remittance against
the S corporation’s tax account for 2013.
Petitioner mailed another letter dated July 16, 2015, to the IRS to inquire
about the $16,000 remittance. In that letter petitioner wrote:
I request you to please waive the failure to pay and file penalties in approximately $30,000 from years 2011-2013 for form 1040 and about $16,000 for form 1120S for failure to file corporation [r]eturn. I assumed the matter was resolved by my accountant. I was emotionally overwhelmed from the divorce to keep tabs. I filed and paid all the taxes. [Emphasis added.]
IV. Notice of Federal Tax Lien Filing and Request for CDP Hearing
On February 2, 2016, the IRS issued petitioner a Notice of Federal Tax Lien
Filing and Your Right to a Hearing with respect to her unpaid individual tax
liabilities for 2012 and 2013. Petitioner filed a Form 12153, Request for a
7 The S corporation’s tax account for 2010 had overpayment credits totaling $108.91 transferred from a Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, for 2014. -8-
Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing, to challenge the notice of Federal
tax lien filing. In the Form 12153 petitioner did not check any of the boxes to
propose a collection alternative or to request a lien subordination, discharge, or
withdrawal. Instead, in the “other” section petitioner wrote: “I am requesting IRS
to waive penalties--please see attached explanation”.
In an attachment to the Form 12153, petitioner stated that the $16,000
remittance she had sent to the IRS for her 2013 individual tax liability was missing
and requested that it be applied to reduce that individual tax liability, which
presumably included the additions to tax. Petitioner attached to the Form 12153
copies of the letters dated October 11, 2014, and July 16, 2015, that she had
previously mailed to the IRS. Petitioner also requested that the IRS reduce the
additions to tax assessed for 2012 and stated:
As I started earning, I handed the paper work to my accountant. I paid taxes a few times and assumed all papers were filed. After I realized taxes were not filed, I contacted the accountant and he said he would take care of it. After I learned he was terminally ill, I located another accountant who filed the taxes. I started paying all the taxes as quickly as I could. Please reduce my penalties as much as you can so I can have a fresh start.
V. The CDP Hearing
On April 13, 2016, the IRS issued petitioner a letter to notify her that it had
received her request for a CDP hearing and was forwarding it to the Appeals -9-
Office. On June 3, 2016, the Appeals Office settlement officer (SO) sent
petitioner a letter to schedule a telephone CDP hearing for June 28, 2016. In that
letter the SO requested that petitioner submit a Form 433-A, Collection
Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals, within
14 days in order for her to consider collection alternatives. Petitioner did not
submit a completed Form 433-A.
On June 28, 2016, the SO held the telephone CDP hearing with petitioner.
The SO confirmed that she did not have prior involvement with petitioner for the
tax and tax years at issue in the CDP hearing. During the CDP hearing, petitioner
argued that the lien amount should be less than $45,000. The SO informed
petitioner that although the individual tax liability for 2012 had been paid in full
as of April 15, 2016, the filing of the notice of Federal tax lien was still
appropriate because petitioner had an unpaid individual tax liability for 2013.
Petitioner inquired about the refund check she had returned to the IRS with
the request that the $16,000 remittance be applied against her 2013 individual tax
liability. The SO researched the issue and informed petitioner that “it was on her
business account”. The SO provided petitioner with a customer service phone
number to call about her S corporation’s tax accounts. - 10 -
Petitioner also requested that the additions to tax assessed be abated, and the
SO informed petitioner she needed to further research whether petitioner was
eligible for an abatement. The SO’s notes do not indicate for which additions to
tax petitioner sought abatement or which additions to tax the SO needed to
research.
After the CDP hearing, the Appeals Office abated the additions to tax for
failure to timely file and failure to timely pay for 2012 under the IRS’ first-time
abate administrative waiver under Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) pt. 20.1.1.3.6.1
(Aug. 5, 2014).8 On July 25, 2016, the SO called petitioner and notified her that
the 2012 additions to tax for failure to timely file and for failure to timely pay
were abated.9 Petitioner asked the SO also to abate the additions to tax for 2013.
The SO instructed petitioner to submit a letter to the IRS requesting that
abatement.10 The record does not contain any evidence that petitioner submitted a
8 The IRS’ first-time abate administrative waiver does not apply to an addition to tax under sec. 6654(a) for the underpayment of estimated tax. Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) pt. 20.1.1.3.6.1 (Aug. 5, 2014). 9 The abatements for 2012 gave rise to an overpayment credit of $8,532, which the IRS applied against petitioner’s individual tax liability for 2013. 10 IRM pt. 20.1.1.3.6.1(3), in effect at the time of the CDP hearing, stated that the first-time abate administrative waiver applied only to a single tax period and relief for all subsequent tax periods would be based on a showing of (continued...) - 11 -
letter requesting abatement for reasonable cause of any of the additions to tax for
2013.
Before issuing the notice of determination, the SO concluded that the
assessments for 2012 and 2013 were properly made, that notice and demand for
payment letters were mailed to petitioner’s last known address, and that balances
were due when the notice of Federal tax lien was filed. On August 5, 2016, the
Appeals Office issued petitioner the notice of determination, sustaining the notice
of Federal tax lien filing.
Discussion
I. Jurisdiction and Standard of Review
Section 6321 imposes a lien in favor of the United States on all property and
rights to property of a taxpayer where there exists a failure to pay any tax liability
after demand for payment. The lien generally arises automatically at the time
assessment is made. Sec. 6322. Section 6323(a), however, provides that the lien
shall not be valid against any purchaser, holder of a security interest, mechanic’s
lienor, or judgment lien creditor until the Commissioner files a notice of Federal
10 (...continued) reasonable cause. - 12 -
tax lien with the appropriate public officials. Section 6320 sets forth procedures to
afford protections for taxpayers upon the filing of a notice of Federal tax lien.
Section 6320(a)(1) establishes the requirement that the Commissioner notify
in writing the taxpayer described in section 6321 of the filing of a notice of
Federal tax lien under section 6323. This notice required by section 6320 must be
sent not more than five business days after the notice of Federal tax lien is filed
and must inform the taxpayer of the opportunity for administrative review of the
matter in the form of a CDP hearing before the Appeals Office. Sec.
6320(a)(2)(C), (3).
If a CDP hearing is requested, section 6320(b) and (c) grants the taxpayer
the right to a fair hearing before an impartial Appeals officer, generally to be
conducted in accordance with the procedures described in section 6330(c), (d), and
(e). At the CDP hearing 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); see sec. 6320(c). The taxpayer may raise at the hearing
“any relevant issue relating to the unpaid tax”, including appropriate spousal
defenses, challenges to the appropriateness of the collection action, and offers of
collection alternatives. Sec. 6330(c)(2)(A); see sec. 6320(c). Within 30 days after - 13 -
the Appeals Office issues a notice of determination, the taxpayer may appeal the
determination to the Court. Sec. 6330(d)(1); see sec. 6320(c).
In reviewing an IRS administrative determination in a CDP case, if the
underlying tax liability is properly in dispute the Court reviews the issue de novo.
Goza v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 176, 181-182 (2000). The Court reviews all
other determinations for abuse of discretion. Id. at 182. Petitioner timely
petitioned the Court for review of the notice of determination.
II. Petitioner’s 2013 Individual Tax Liability
In addition to assessing petitioner’s self-reported tax for 2013, the IRS
assessed the additions to tax for failure to timely file and failure to timely pay, the
addition to tax for the underpayment of estimated tax, and interest for 2013. The
term “underlying tax liability” in section 6330(c)(2)(B) includes tax, additions to
tax, and interest. See Katz v. Commissioner, 115 T.C. 329, 339 (2000). A
taxpayer may challenge the existence or amount of her underlying tax liability in a
CDP hearing only if she did not receive a notice of deficiency or otherwise have a
prior opportunity to contest the underlying tax liability. Sec. 6330(c)(2)(B); see
Montgomery v. Commissioner, 122 T.C. 1, 8-10 (2004). However, the Court can
only consider on review an issue that was properly raised at the CDP hearing. Sec.
301.6320-1(f)(2), Q&A-F3, Proced. & Admin. Regs. - 14 -
Petitioner did not dispute in the Form 12153, during the CDP hearing, in her
petition, or at trial the assessment of her self-reported tax for 2013 or the
assessment of interest for 2013. The self-reported tax and interest therefore are
not properly before the Court. See sec. 301.6320-1(f)(2), Q&A-F3, Proced. &
Admin. Regs.; see also Rule 331(b)(4) (“Any issue not raised in the assignments
of error shall be deemed to be conceded.”).
Instead, petitioner has consistently requested an abatement of the additions
to tax for 2013. The Court decides the correctness of the Appeals Office’s
determination regarding these additions to tax de novo because petitioner did not
receive a notice of deficiency for 2013, did not have a prior opportunity to
challenge these additions to tax for 2013, and properly raised the issue of the
additions to tax for 2013 during the CDP hearing and in her petition. See sec.
6330(c)(2)(B); Sego v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 604, 610 (2000); Goza v.
Commissioner, 114 T.C. at 182; sec. 301.6320-1(e)(3), Q&A-E2, Proced. &
Admin. Regs. The Commissioner bears the burden of production with respect to
any addition to tax. Sec. 7491(c).
A. Additions to Tax Under Section 6651(a)(1) and (2)
Section 6651(a)(1) imposes an addition to tax for a taxpayer’s failure to file
a required tax return on or before the specified filing date, including extensions. - 15 -
The Commissioner satisfies his burden of production for an addition to tax for
failure to timely file by providing sufficient evidence to show that the taxpayer
filed her tax return late. Wheeler v. Commissioner, 127 T.C. 200, 207-208 (2006),
aff’d, 521 F.3d 1289 (10th Cir. 2008); Higbee v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. 438, 447
(2001). The record establishes that the 2013 individual tax return was required to
be filed by October 15, 2014, and was filed past the extended due date, on April
14, 2015. Respondent therefore has met his burden of production with respect to
the addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1) for failure to timely file for 2013.
Section 6651(a)(2) imposes an addition to tax for failure to pay the amount
shown as tax on a required tax return on or before the date prescribed for payment
of the tax, including extensions of time for payment. The Commissioner satisfies
his burden of production for an addition to tax for failure to timely pay by
providing sufficient evidence to show that a taxpayer paid the amount required to
be shown on a tax return for the year at issue after the date prescribed for payment
of the tax. Wheeler v. Commissioner, 127 T.C. at 210; Glover v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo. 2010-228, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262, at *11.
The date prescribed for payment of the tax shown on the 2013 individual tax
return was April 15, 2014. Petitioner’s late-filed 2013 individual tax return
reported a total tax of $62,781 and a Federal income tax withholding credit of - 16 -
$1,600. Petitioner submitted a partial payment of $45,650 with the tax return on
April 14, 2015, a date well after the payment due date of April 15, 2014. A
portion of the total tax required to be shown on the 2013 individual tax return
remains unpaid as of the date of the trial. She has not proven that she paid the
remaining part of her 2013 individual tax return on time. As discussed infra pp.
22-23, the Court does not find credible petitioner’s testimony that the date on the
check was the date petitioner submitted the $16,000 remittance to the IRS or that
petitioner designated the $16,000 remittance to be applied to her 2013 individual
tax liability. Therefore, respondent has met his burden of production with respect
to the addition to tax under section 6651(a)(2) for failure to timely pay for 2013.
The burden of showing reasonable cause under section 6651(a)(1) and (2)
remains with petitioner. See Higbee v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. at 446-448. A
taxpayer is not liable for an addition to tax for failure to timely file or failure to
timely pay if she shows the untimeliness or failure is due to reasonable cause and
not due to willful neglect. Sec. 6651(a)(1) and (2); Higbee v. Commissioner, 116
T.C. at 447. Petitioner has not shown reasonable cause for failing to timely file her
2013 individual tax return or for failing to timely pay the amount shown as tax on
the 2013 individual tax return. - 17 -
“If the taxpayer exercised ordinary business care and prudence and was
nevertheless unable to file the return within the prescribed time, then the delay is
due to a reasonable cause.” Sec. 301.6651-1(c)(1), Proced. & Admin. Regs. The
taxpayer can show that she did not act with “willful neglect” if she can “prove that
the late filing did not result from a ‘conscious, intentional failure or reckless
indifference.’” Niedringhaus v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 202, 221 (1992) (quoting
United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 245-246 (1985)).
Petitioner testified that she recalled requesting the extension to file the 2013
individual tax return by October 15, 2014, that she had relied on her accountant,
and that she had assumed that her accountant was “handling it” and would timely
file the 2013 individual tax return. Petitioner further testified at trial that her
accountant had become ill and subsequently passed away and that she had retained
another accountant to prepare and file her 2013 individual tax return; but she
neither testified nor submitted other evidence to explain when she had discovered
that her accountant was ill or the efforts she made find another accountant to
ensure that she could file her 2013 individual tax return by the extended due date.
Petitioner also testified that she relied on her past experiences with other
accountants who had filed extension requests and timely filed her tax returns for
prior years. However, petitioner also filed her 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 - 18 -
individual tax returns late. The Court does not find petitioner’s testimony about
relying on her past experiences with other accountants credible.
Petitioner also testified that she did not “know anything as far as taxes are
concerned.” However, she also testified that she was aware she had to sign a tax
return even if it was filed electronically and that she “was not on top of that”.
Petitioner acknowledged at trial: “What I should have done was be on top of [the
accountant] * * * and say hey, tell [me] what’s going on. Tell me [about] the
signature. Do I have to do anything or not”. Petitioner, as an attorney,
understands the importance of filing due dates.
Petitioner has not proved that she had reasonable cause for failing to timely
pay the amount shown as tax on the 2013 individual tax return. To prove
reasonable cause for failure to timely pay the amount shown as tax on a tax return,
the taxpayer must show that she exercised ordinary business care and prudence in
providing for the payment of her tax liability and nevertheless was either unable to
pay the tax or would suffer undue hardship if she paid the tax on the due date.
Sec. 301.6651-1(c)(1), Proced. & Admin. Regs.; see Merriam v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo. 1995-432, 1995 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 431, at *39-*40, aff’d, 107
F.3d 877 (9th Cir. 1997). Petitioner did not present any evidence to show that
timely paying the amount shown as tax on the 2013 individual tax return would - 19 -
have created an undue hardship for her. Petitioner did not establish that she had
reasonable cause for failing to timely pay the amount shown as tax on the 2013
individual tax return.
B. Addition to Tax Under Section 6654(a)
Section 6654(a) imposes an addition to tax on an underpayment of
estimated income tax unless an exception applies. See sec. 6654(e). A taxpayer
has an obligation to pay estimated tax only if she has a “required annual payment”.
Wheeler v. Commissioner, 127 T.C. at 212. The required annual payment is equal
to the lesser of: (1) 90% of the tax shown on the taxpayer’s tax return for that year
(or, if no return is filed, 90% of the tax for such year), see sec. 6654(d)(1)(B)(i), or
(2) if the taxpayer filed a tax return for the immediately preceding taxable year,
100%11 of the tax shown on that tax return, see sec. 6654(d)(1)(B)(ii).
The amount of an underpayment under section 6554(a) is the excess of the
required installment of estimated tax over the amount of the installment paid on or
before the due date of the installment. Sec. 6654(b)(1). The amount of the
required installment is 25% of the required annual payment. Sec. 6654(d)(1)(A).
11 The applicable percentage with respect to petitioner’s 2013 individual tax return is 100% because the adjusted gross income shown on her individual tax return for the preceding taxable year, 2012, was less than $150,000. See sec. 6654(d)(1)(C). - 20 -
The taxpayer is required to pay four installments by April 15, June 15, and
September 15 of the taxable year and by January 15 of the following taxable year.
Sec. 6654(c)(1) and (2). If a taxpayer challenges the section 6654(a) addition to
tax, the Commissioner must introduce evidence to prove that the taxpayer had an
obligation to make a required annual payment for the year at issue by showing
whether the taxpayer filed a tax return for the prior year and, if so, the amount of
tax shown on that tax return. Secs. 6654(d)(1)(B), 7491(c); Wheeler v.
Commissioner, 127 T.C. at 212.
Petitioner had a required annual payment for 2013. Petitioner filed her 2012
individual tax return showing tax of $23,612 and her 2013 individual tax return
showing tax of $62,781. Petitioner’s required annual payment for 2013 was
$23,612, 100% of the tax shown on the 2012 individual tax return which is less
than 90%--$56,502.90--of the tax shown on the 2013 individual tax return.
Petitioner did not pay any required installments of estimated tax for 2013 on or
before April 15, June 15, or September 15, 2013, or January 15, 2014--the due
dates of the installments. Instead, petitioner remitted a partial payment of $45,620
on April 14, 2015, with her late-filed 2013 individual tax return. Respondent
therefore has satisfied his burden of production as to the addition to tax under
section 6654(a) for the underpayment of estimated tax for 2013. - 21 -
The addition to tax under section 6654(a) is mandatory regardless of
extenuating circumstances or reasonable cause unless a taxpayer can place herself
under one of the exceptions provided in that section. Grosshandler v.
Commissioner, 75 T.C. 1, 20-21 (1980); Estate of Ruben v. Commissioner, 33
T.C. 1071, 1071-1072 (1960). Section 6654(e) provides three exceptions,12 but on
the basis of the record, none of the exceptions applies to the underpayment of
estimated tax for 2013.13 Accordingly, petitioner is liable for the section 6654(a)
addition to tax for 2013.
Petitioner challenged the SO’s determination not to apply the $16,000
remittance from the S corporation’s tax account as a payment toward her 2013
12 First, the addition to tax is not applicable if the tax shown on the taxpayer’s tax return for the year in question (or, if no tax return is filed, the taxpayer’s tax for that year), reduced by any allowable credit for wage withholding, is less than $1,000. Sec. 6654(e)(1). Second, the addition to tax is not applicable if the taxpayer’s liability for tax for the preceding year was zero. Sec. 6654(e)(2). Third, the addition to tax may be waived under two circumstances: (1) if a casualty, a disaster, or other unusual circumstances would make it inequitable and against good conscience to impose the addition to tax or (2) if the taxpayer (a) retired after having attained the age of 62 or (b) become disabled and the underpayment of estimated tax was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. Sec. 6654(e)(3)(A) and (B). 13 Although there was a Federal income tax withholding credit of $1,600 for 2013, the tax shown on the 2013 individual tax return reduced by this credit-- $61,181--was more than $1,000. See sec. 6654(e)(1). - 22 -
individual tax liability. The Court understands that petitioner would now like to
reduce her 2013 individual tax liability, including the additions to tax, by applying
the $16,000 remittance that was applied against the S corporation’s tax liabilities
against her 2013 individual tax liability. Whether a de novo standard of review or
an abuse of discretion standard applies in review of the proper application of a
payment against the tax liability at issue in the CDP hearing,14 petitioner has not
met her burden of proof. Petitioner has failed to show that the remittance was
intended for anything other than the S corporation’s tax account.
Petitioner did not provide any testimony or other evidence to suggest that
the $16,000 remittance related to her 2013 individual tax liability. Petitioner
testified that she had mailed the check in April 2013 with a letter directing the IRS
to apply the payment against her 2013 individual tax account and that she included
her Social Security number in that letter. However, petitioner could not find that
letter and did not produce any other evidence of that letter. The Court does not
14 See Freije v. Commissioner, 125 T.C. 14, 23, 26-27 (2005). Compare Landry v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. 60, 62 (2001) (applying de novo standard where taxpayer challenged application of overpayment credits, reasoning that “the validity of the underlying tax liability, i.e., the amount unpaid after application of credits to which petitioner is entitled, * * * [was] properly at issue”), with Orian v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2010-234, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 269, at *15 (applying abuse of discretion standard where taxpayer challenged application of tax payments), and Kovacevich v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2009-160, 2009 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 160, at *15 (same). - 23 -
find her testimony that she mailed the check in 2013 credible. Rather, the more
likely inference is that petitioner mailed the check to the IRS sometime closer to
April 18, 2014, the date the IRS deposited the check.
The record supports a finding that the SO did not abuse her discretion in
determining the IRS properly treated the remittance as one intended for the S
corporation, rather than for the 2013 individual, tax liability. Petitioner submitted
the check from the S corporation’s bank account. The notation in the memo line
was “2013 taxes”. At the time the IRS received the remittance, petitioner had not
filed her 2013 individual tax return. The IRS reasonably concluded that the
remittance was intended to be applied against the S corporation’s tax account.
Without any tax assessments against the S corporation outstanding, the IRS issued
a refund check payable to the S corporation.
Petitioner was aware that there would be a tax liability for her S corporation
as evidenced by her July 16, 2015, letter. In that letter, she expressly referenced
penalties totaling $16,000 for the S corporation’s failure to timely file tax returns.
Petitioner’s return of the refund check to the IRS with a letter instructing the
IRS to apply the amount against her 2013 individual tax return did not change the
application of the remittance against the S corporation’s tax account. The refund
check was made payable to the S corporation and therefore still derived from the - 24 -
remittance applied against the S corporation. Moreover, at the time petitioner
returned the refund check, she had not filed her 2013 individual tax return and,
consequently, did not have an individual tax liability assessed for that year. See
Rev. Proc. 2002-26, sec. 3.01, 2002-1 C.B. 746 (“If additional taxes, penalty, and
interest for one or more taxable periods have been assessed against a taxpayer
* * * at the time the taxpayer voluntarily tenders a partial payment * * * and the
taxpayer provides specific written directions as to the application of the payment,
the Service will apply the payment in accordance with those directions.”
(Emphasis added.)). Even at the time the IRS canceled the refund check,
petitioner had not yet filed her 2013 individual tax return. However, petitioner
had filed the 2010 and 2011 tax returns for the S corporation. See id.
Accordingly, the SO correctly informed petitioner that the $16,000
remittance had been applied for her S corporation and provided her a telephone
number to call for more information about the S corporation’s tax accounts. The
Appeals Office did not abuse its discretion in denying petitioner’s request to apply
the $16,000 remittance against her 2013 individual tax liability.
IV. Determination To Sustain the Notice of Federal Tax Lien Filing
Petitioner’s 2012 individual tax liability was fully paid after the filing of the
notice of Federal tax lien, but her 2013 individual tax liability remains unpaid. - 25 -
Where, as here, the taxpayer seeks withdrawal of a filed notice of Federal tax lien
and the notice has neither been withdrawn nor released, the consideration of a
filed notice of Federal tax lien is not moot merely because the taxpayer has paid
the related tax liability. See Drilling v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2016-103, at
*51-*52.
In deciding whether the SO abused her discretion in sustaining the notice of
Federal tax lien, the Court considers whether the SO considered any relevant
issues petitioner raised, including collection alternatives or lien subordination,
discharge, or withdrawal. See sec. 6330(c)(3)(B). Petitioner did not request a
collection alternative or expressly request a lien subordination, discharge, or
withdrawal in the Form 12153 or at the CDP hearing. The general rule in this
Court is that, on appeal of a collection determination, the Court will limit its
review to those issues properly raised during the CDP hearing. Magana v.
Commissioner, 118 T.C. 488, 493 (2002); see sec. 301.6320-1(f)(2), Q&A-F3,
Proceed. & Admin. Regs.
However, to the extent petitioner’s contention during the CDP hearing that
the lien amount should be less than $45,000 constituted a request for a lien
withdrawal, the Appeals Office did not abuse its discretion in denying the request.
The record does not show that petitioner was eligible for a withdrawal of the - 26 -
notice of Federal tax filing under any of the conditions of section 6323(j).15 At the
time of the CDP hearing petitioner had not fully paid her 2013 individual tax
liability. Therefore, the SO’s refusal to withdraw the notice of Federal tax lien or
file a new one, or to modify the notice of Federal tax lien filing to reduce the lien
by the amount of the fully satisfied individual tax liability for 2012, was not an
abuse of discretion.
V. Verification
The Appeals Office’s determination must take into consideration, among
other things, whether the settlement officer properly verified that the requirements
of any applicable law or administrative procedure had been met and whether “any
proposed collection action balances the need for efficient collection of taxes with
the legitimate concern of the taxpayer that any collection action be no more
intrusive than necessary.” See sec. 6330(c)(3)(A), (C).
15 Sec. 6323(j) provides that the Commissioner may withdraw a notice of Federal tax lien if (1) the filing of the notice of Federal tax lien was premature or otherwise not in accordance with administrative procedures of the Secretary, (2) the taxpayer entered into an installment agreement under sec. 6159 that satisfies the tax liability for which the notice of Federal tax lien was imposed, (3) the withdrawal of the notice of Federal tax lien will facilitate the collection of the tax liability, or (4) the withdrawal is in the best interests of both the taxpayer and the United States. - 27 -
The record reflects that the SO properly verified that the requirements of all
applicable law and administrative procedure were met in the processing of
petitioner’s case and considered whether the notice of Federal tax lien filing
balanced the Government’s interest in the efficient collection of taxes with
petitioner’s concerns that the collection action be no more intrusive than
necessary. See secs. 6330(c)(3), 6320(c); Lunsford v. Commissioner, 117 T.C.
183, 184 (2001).
Conclusion
For reasons discussed above, the Court sustains the Appeals Office’s
determination in the notice of determination and holds that: (1) petitioner is liable
for the additions to tax under section 6651(a)(1) and (2) for 2013, she did not have
reasonable cause for filing her 2013 individual tax return late and paying her 2013
tax late, and she is liable for the addition to tax under section 6654(a) for 2013; (2)
the Appeals Office did not abuse its discretion in denying petitioner’s request to
apply the $16,000 remittance against her 2013 individual tax liability; and (3) the
Appeals Office did not abuse its discretion in sustaining the notice of Federal tax
lien filing with respect to 2012 and 2013.
Respondent may proceed with the collection action as determined in the
notice of determination. In reaching the conclusions described herein, the Court - 28 -
has considered all arguments made, and, to the extent not mentioned above, the
Court finds them moot, irrelevant, or without error.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered
for respondent.