Smith v. United States

539 F. Supp. 137, 49 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1316, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11869
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nebraska
DecidedMarch 19, 1982
DocketNo. Civ. 80-0-634
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 539 F. Supp. 137 (Smith v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nebraska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Smith v. United States, 539 F. Supp. 137, 49 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1316, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11869 (D. Neb. 1982).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

SCHATZ, District Judge.

INTRODUCTION

This is a civil action seeking refund of $1,001.66 in self-employment taxes paid by Eugene L. Smith to the United States for the calendar year ending December 31, 1974. Jurisdiction is conferred upon this Court by 28 U.S.C.A. § 1346(a)(1). On January 18, 1982, the defendant, United States of America (United States or defendant), moved for a judgment of dismissal with prejudice of plaintiffs complaint. On January 26, 1982, the plaintiffs, Eugene L. Smith and Mary M. Smith (Smiths or plaintiffs), moved for judgment in the amount of $1,001.66, plus interest at the statutory rate thereon and a reasonable attorney fee. In support of their cross-motions for judgment, both the Smiths and the United States rely upon the following documents:

1) Stipulation signed by the parties and filed on December 17, 1981;

2) Exhibit Nos. 1 — 7 attached to defendant’s motion to dismiss, which exhibits the parties have agreed may be accepted into evidence; and

3) Request for admissions propounded by defendant, together with the Smiths’ answers to such request.

This matter is now ripe for disposition. Having reviewed the pleadings, exhibits and briefs of the respective parties, the Court now enters this memorandum opinion as its findings of fact and conclusions of law in conformity with Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a).

FACTS

1) During calendar year 1974, Eugene L. Smith distributed Pepsi-Cola products for a living. On April 9, 1975, Eugene L. Smith and his wife, Mary M. Smith, executed a joint federal income tax return covering the period January 1, 1974, through December 31, 1974. Said tax return was filed on the basis of treating Eugene L. Smith as a self-employed individual rather than as an employee of Pepsi-Cola. As a result, the Smiths completed Schedule C (Profit or [139]*139Loss from Business or Profession) and Schedule SE (Computation of Social Security Self-Employment Tax).

2) The self-employment tax reported by Eugene L. Smith for calendar year 1974 was $1,001.66. Plaintiffs’ total reported income tax liability for that year, including self-employment tax, was $3,507.73. After claiming tax credits of $1,265.32 for amounts which had been withheld from Mary M. Smith’s wages during 1974, plaintiffs paid the balance of $2,242.41 on April 15, 1975, when they filed their return.

3) On April 5,1976, the Smiths filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) a claim for refund (Form 843) of the self-employment taxes Eugene L. Smith had reported for 1974. At the same time, the Smiths also filed refund claims for amounts allegedly overpaid in 1972 and 1973. The stated ground for plaintiffs’ 1974 tax refund claim was: “Pepsi-Cola was charged Social Security Taxes year 1973 as Gov. ruled I was an employee.” No other documentation was submitted.

4) In July of 1977, the Smiths’ refund claims for 1972, 1973 and 1974 were examined by the IRS, which prepared a corrected report of ihcome tax audit changes. Plaintiffs’ claim for a refund of $1,001.66, representing self-employment taxes paid for 1974, was denied.

5) On July 15, 1977, the Smiths signed a Waiver of Statutory Notification of Claim Disallowance (Form 2297) relative to their 1974 tax refund claim. On the same date, plaintiffs accepted a decrease in their taxes for 1972 and 1973 by signing the audit changes form referred to above.

6) Although their claim for a refund of allegedly overpaid 1974 self-employment taxes had been disallowed pursuant to an IRS determination dated July 15, 1977, the Smiths resubmitted said claim on April 16, 1978. By letter dated October 26, 1978, the IRS again disallowed in full plaintiffs’ claim.

7) For the years 1972 and 1973, the IRS took the position that route drivers performing functions similar to those performed by Eugene L. Smith were employees of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Omaha, Inc. With respect to the year 1974, the IRS expressed no position on the status of route drivers. Pepsi-Cola has not been charged for employment taxes with respect to payments made by Pepsi-Cola to Eugene L. Smith during 1974. No taxes have been assessed, and no amounts have been withheld by or collected from Pepsi-Cola in this regard. Employment taxes were collected from Pepsi-Cola for 1972 and 1973, but said taxes were subsequently refunded to the corporation pursuant to Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978.

8) The parties agree that Eugene L. Smith could properly have been treated as an employee of Pepsi-Cola during 1974 under Section 3121(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C.A. § 3121(d).

DISCUSSION

Since there is no dispute between the parties over the relevant facts, the only issues to be determined by this Court are the legal questions raised by the cross-motions for judgment filed herein. Those issues may be stated as follows: (1) whether plaintiffs’ suit was filed within the time limits prescribed by Section 6532 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C.A. § 6532; and (2) whether the fact that plaintiffs resubmitted their refund claim on April 16, 1978, extended the time in which plaintiffs could file suit. For reasons hereinafter discussed, the Court holds that the Smiths’ action is barred by the statute of limitations as codified in 26 U.S.C.A. § 6532.

The Internal Revenue Code of 1954 clearly sets forth the prerequisites to, and time frame for, the filing by taxpayers of refund actions. 26 U.S.C.A. § 7422(a) provides that no suit or other court proceeding for the recovery of any internal revenue tax may be maintained until a claim for refund has been duly filed with the Secretary or his delegate. Title 26 U.S.C.A. § 6532, at issue here, provides in pertinent part:

(a) Suits by taxpayers for refund.—
(1) General rule. — No suit or proceeding under section 7422(a) for the recovery [140]*140of any internal revenue tax, penalty, or other sum, shall be begun before the expiration of 6 months from the date of filing the claim required under such section unless the Secretary or his delegate renders a decision thereon within that time, nor after the expiration of 2 years from the date of mailing by certified mail or registered mail by the Secretary or his delegate to the taxpayer of a notice of the disallowance of the part of the claim to which the suit or proceeding relates.
(2) Extension of time. — The 2-year period prescribed in paragraph (1) shall be extended for such period as may be agreed upon in writing between the taxpayer and the Secretary or his delegate.
(3) Waiver of notice of disallowance.— If any person files a written waiver of the requirement that he be mailed a notice of disallowance, the 2-year period prescribed in paragraph (1) shall begin on the date such waiver is filed.

In the present case, the Smiths executed a standard “Waiver of Statutory Notification of Claim Disallowance” on July 15, 1977. By filing said waiver, plaintiffs admittedly relinquished their right to be sent written notice that their claim for a refund of 1974 self-employment taxes had been disallowed.

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Bluebook (online)
539 F. Supp. 137, 49 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1316, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11869, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/smith-v-united-states-ned-1982.