Shubin v. Comm'r

2003 T.C. Memo. 121, 85 T.C.M. 1231, 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 118
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedApril 28, 2003
DocketNo. 10890-02
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2003 T.C. Memo. 121 (Shubin 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
Shubin v. Comm'r, 2003 T.C. Memo. 121, 85 T.C.M. 1231, 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 118 (tax 2003).

Opinion

NICK A. SHUBIN, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Shubin v. Comm'r
No. 10890-02
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 2003-121; 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 118; 85 T.C.M. (CCH) 1231; RIA TM 55131;
April 28, 2003, Filed

*118 Respondent's motion to dismiss was granted.

Nick A. Shubin, pro se.
Kevin W. Coy, for respondent.
Laro, David

LARO

MEMORANDUM OPINION

LARO, Judge: Petitioner, while residing in Rolling Hills, California, petitioned the Court with respect to his 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996 Federal income taxes. Currently, the case is before the Court on respondent's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.

We shall grant respondent's motion to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction. Section references are to the applicable versions of the Internal Revenue Code. Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

           Background 1

On June 28, 2002, petitioner filed with the Court his petition as to 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. Petitioner did not attach a notice of deficiency to his petition as required by Rule 34(b)(8). In a statement attached to his petition, petitioner alleged that he never received a notice of deficiency for any of the above- referenced years. Respondent issued a notice of deficiency for 1991 to petitioner on January 5, 1996. Respondent*119 did not issue a notice of deficiency to petitioner for any of the other years.

             Discussion

The Court's jurisdiction to redetermine a deficiency depends on the issuance of a valid notice of deficiency and a timely filed petition. Rule 13(a), (c); Monge v. Commissioner, 93 T.C. 22, 27 (1989); Normac, Inc. v. Commissioner, 90 T.C. 142, 147 (1988). Section 6212(a) expressly authorizes the Commissioner, after determining a deficiency, to send a notice of deficiency to the taxpayer by certified or registered mail. It is sufficient for jurisdictional purposes if the Commissioner mails the notice of deficiency to the taxpayer at the taxpayer's "last known address". Sec. 6212(b); Frieling v. Commissioner, 81 T.C. 42, 52 (1983). If a notice of deficiency is mailed to the taxpayer at the taxpayer's last known address, actual receipt*120 of the notice by the taxpayer is not essential to its validity. King v. Commissioner, 857 F.2d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 1988), affg. 88 T.C. 1042 (1987); De Welles v. United States, 378 F.2d 37 (9th Cir. 1967). The taxpayer, in turn, has 90 days (or 150 days if the notice is addressed to a person outside the United States) from the date that the notice of deficiency is mailed to file a petition in this Court for a redetermination of the deficiency. Sec. 6213(a). Under section 7502(a), a timely mailed petition will be treated as though it were timely filed.

Petitioner's only allegation is that he never received any notice of deficiency with respect to 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. As to 1991, respondent argues that petitioner's petition was untimely. Respondent attached to his motion a certified mail list, which indicates that on January 5, 1996, he sent a notice of deficiency for 1991 to petitioner at each of two addresses. The certified mail list bears the stamp of the U. S. Postal Service and the initials of a postmaster.

This Court has held that the act of mailing may be proven by documentary evidence of mailing or by evidence of the*121 Commissioner's mailing practices corroborated by direct testimony. Coleman v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 82, 90 (1990)

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Related

Roy W. Dewelles v. United States of America
378 F.2d 37 (Ninth Circuit, 1967)
United States v. Edward M. Zolla
724 F.2d 808 (Ninth Circuit, 1984)
Frieling v. Commissioner
81 T.C. No. 4 (U.S. Tax Court, 1983)
King v. Commissioner
88 T.C. No. 58 (U.S. Tax Court, 1987)
Magazine v. Commissioner
89 T.C. No. 28 (U.S. Tax Court, 1987)
Normac, Inc. v. Commissioner
90 T.C. No. 11 (U.S. Tax Court, 1988)
Monge v. Commissioner
93 T.C. No. 4 (U.S. Tax Court, 1989)
Coleman v. Commissioner
94 T.C. No. 7 (U.S. Tax Court, 1990)
Massie v. Commissioner
1995 T.C. Memo. 173 (U.S. Tax Court, 1995)

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Bluebook (online)
2003 T.C. Memo. 121, 85 T.C.M. 1231, 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 118, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shubin-v-commr-tax-2003.