Sawyer v. Comm'r

2014 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 114
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedDecember 23, 2014
DocketDocket No. 1165-07S.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2014 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 114 (Sawyer 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
Sawyer v. Comm'r, 2014 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 114 (tax 2014).

Opinion

AVA MAUREEN SAWYER, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Sawyer v. Comm'r
Docket No. 1165-07S.
United States Tax Court
2014 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 114;
December 23, 2014, Filed

PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.

Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

*114 Ava Maureen Sawyer, Pro se.
Adam P. Sweet, for respondent.
COLVIN, Judge.

COLVIN
SUMMARY OPINION

COLVIN, 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 reviewable by any other court, and this opinion shall not be treated as precedent for any other case.

Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's Federal income tax for 2001 of $1,833 and additions to tax of $372 for failure to timely file under section 6651(a)(1) and $397 for failure to timely pay under section 6651(a)(2). After concessions, the issues for decision are:

1. Whether we have jurisdiction to decide whether petitioner's income tax liability for 2001 was discharged in her bankruptcy proceeding. We hold that we do not.

2. Whether we have jurisdiction to decide whether petitioner may claim an $867 overpayment credit from the year 2000. We hold that we do not.

3. Whether petitioner is liable for an addition to tax for*115 failure to timely file under section 6651(a)(1) and an addition to tax for failure to timely pay under section 6651(a)(2). We hold that she is.

Background

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. Petitioner resided in Virginia when the petition was filed.

A. Events Related to 2000 and 2001

Petitioner withdrew money from her individual retirement accounts (IRAs) in 2000. During 2001 she made three withdrawals totaling $11,786 from her IRAs. She did not reach age 55 in 2000 or 2001. Petitioner was not employed in 2000 or 2001.

Petitioner wrote a check for $1,308 dated April 16, 2001, to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The record does not disclose any specific statement of petitioner's intent regarding this remittance. When petitioner made this remittance, she knew withdrawals from her IRAs in 2000 and 2001 would result in early withdrawal penalties. Other than her IRA withdrawals she had almost no other income for tax year 2000 or 2001. Respondent applied the April 16, 2001, remittance to her 2000 tax year.

Petitioner submitted a $180 payment with her request for an extension of time to file her 2001 tax return. She did not timely file a tax return for 2000 or 2001.

B. *116 Respondent's Proposed Assessment and Notice of Deficiency for 2001

On March 20, 2006, respondent sent petitioner a proposed income tax assessment for taxable year 2001. Because petitioner had not filed a tax return for 2001, respondent prepared a substitute for return using information from thirdparty reports. See sec. 6020(b).

Respondent sent a notice of deficiency to petitioner for tax year 2001 on October 16, 2006, determining that during 2001 petitioner had received a total distribution of $11,786 from her IRAs and $25 of interest income.2*117 Respondent determined that petitioner was entitled to a personal exemption and a standard deduction and that she was liable for a 10% penalty on account of her early IRA withdrawals. Finally, respondent determined that petitioner was liable for additions to tax for failure to timely file under section 6651(a)(1) and failure to timely pay under section 6651(a)(2). On January 16, 2007, petitioner timely filed a petition with the Court.

C. Bankruptcy Proceedings

On October 17, 2007, petitioner filed for bankruptcy under chapter 13 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. On November 1, 2012, petitioner received a discharge (not further described in the record) under chapter 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

D. Petitioner's Tax Returns for 2000 and 2001

At the request of a U.S. attorney representing the IRS as a creditor, on April 11, 2007, petitioner submitted her 2000 and 2001 tax returns to him. Petitioner's 2000 tax return was filed with the Commissioner on June 11, 2007. On that return petitioner reported taxable IRA distributions, no other taxable income, and a tax liability of $441 from early IRA distributions. Also on that return she reported that $441 of the $1,308 payment she had made on April 16, 2001, reduced to zero the amount of her unpaid tax for 2000, and she applied the remaining $867 to 2001.

Respondent received petitioner's 2001 tax return in 2007 before filing the answer on December 4, 2007. On that return petitioner reported $11,036 of taxable IRA distributions, $923 of tax as a result of early distributions from an IRA, $867 of overpayment from 2000 applied to*118 2001, and $180 paid with a request for an extension of time to file.3

DiscussionA. Burden of Proof

The taxpayer generally bears the burden of proving that the Commissioner's deficiency determination is in error. Rule 142(a)(1).

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2014 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 114, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sawyer-v-commr-tax-2014.