Schake v. Comm'r

2002 T.C. Memo. 262, 84 T.C.M. 460, 2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 271
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedOctober 10, 2002
DocketNo. 3043-02L
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2002 T.C. Memo. 262 (Schake 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
Schake v. Comm'r, 2002 T.C. Memo. 262, 84 T.C.M. 460, 2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 271 (tax 2002).

Opinion

LARRY LEE SCHAKE, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Schake v. Comm'r
No. 3043-02L
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 2002-262; 2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 271; 84 T.C.M. (CCH) 460; T.C.M. (RIA) 54908;
October 10, 2002, Filed

*271 Respondent's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction granted.

Larry Lee Schake, pro se.
Lisa K. Hartnett and Richard Charles Grosenick , for respondent.
Armen, Robert N., Jr.

ARMEN

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ARMEN, Special Trial Judge: This matter is before the Court on respondent's Motion To Dismiss For Lack Of Jurisdiction on the ground that the petition was not filed within the 30-day period prescribed in section 6330(d)(1)(A). 1 As explained below, we shall grant respondent's motion to dismiss.

Background

On or about April 17, 2000, Larry Lee Schake (petitioner) filed with respondent a Form 1040EZ, Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers With No Dependents, for the taxable year 1999 (petitioner's 1999 return). Petitioner listed his address on his 1999 return as P.O. Box 43, Amherst, Nebraska 68812 (the Amherst address). Petitioner's 1999 return is the most recently filed return as relevant*272 herein.

On September 11, 2000, respondent mailed to petitioner a Notice Of Federal Tax Lien Filing And Your Right To A Hearing Under IRC 6320 with regard to his income tax liability for 1993. Respondent mailed the notice to petitioner at the Amherst address.

On October 2, 2000, petitioner mailed to respondent a request for an administrative hearing on which he twice listed the Amherst address as his return address. 2 On July 6, 2001, petitioner attended an administrative hearing at respondent's Appeals Office in Omaha, Nebraska.

On December 11, 2001, respondent sent to petitioner by certified mail a Notice Of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/or 6330. Respondent mailed the notice to petitioner at the Amherst address. The notice of determination informed petitioner that if he wanted to dispute respondent's determination in court, then he must*273 file a petition with the Tax Court "within 30 days from the date of this letter."

On February 7, 2002, the Court received and filed a Petition for Lien or Levy Action Under Code Sections 6320(c) or 6330(d). The petition arrived at the Court in a properly addressed envelope bearing a U.S. Postal Service postmark date of January 11, 2002. The petition, as well as the envelope in which the petition was mailed, lists petitioner's address as the Amherst address.

As indicated, respondent moved to dismiss the petition for lack of jurisdiction on the ground the petition was not timely filed. Petitioner filed an objection to respondent's motion to dismiss. Although the objection does not list petitioner's address, the envelope in which the objection was mailed to the Court lists the Amherst address.

Petitioner's objection states in pertinent part as follows:

Enclosed postal receipt shows that the U.S. Postal service had difficulty in contacting Mr. Schake. 3 Therefore notice was not sent to my current address. It was sent to my mother's address, and I didn't receive the notice until Jan 8th 2002.

I called the court and they said*274 I had time to file for a hearing. At this time I was living in the country sixteen miles for the nearest postal service. When it was time to mail in the petition there was a severe winter storm and the roads were closed Jan. 9th and 10th. I contacted the court and they allowed me a grace period due to the impossible road conditions.

Respondent filed a response to petitioner's objection asserting that the notice of determination was mailed to petitioner's last known address.

This matter was called for hearing at the Court's motions session held in Washington, D.C. Counsel for respondent appeared at the hearing and offered argument in support of the motion to dismiss. There was no appearance by or on behalf of petitioner.

Discussion

The Tax Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, and we may exercise our jurisdiction only to the extent authorized by Congress. Naftel v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 527, 529 (1985). The Court's jurisdiction under sections 6320 and 6330 depends on the issuance of a notice of determination and the filing of a timely petition for review.

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Bluebook (online)
2002 T.C. Memo. 262, 84 T.C.M. 460, 2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 271, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schake-v-commr-tax-2002.