Swanson v. Comm'r

121 T.C. No. 7, 121 T.C. 111, 2003 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 26
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedAugust 28, 2003
DocketNo. 6440-01L
StatusPublished
Cited by115 cases

This text of 121 T.C. No. 7 (Swanson 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
Swanson v. Comm'r, 121 T.C. No. 7, 121 T.C. 111, 2003 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 26 (tax 2003).

Opinion

OPINION

Goeke, Judge:

The petition in this case was filed in response to a Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/or 6330 (the notice of determination). The substantive issue presented is whether the unpaid liabilities that are the subject of the collection action were discharged in petitioner’s chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding. However, before we can reach this issue, we must first address whether we have jurisdiction to decide the issue and whether petitioner is precluded from arguing that his unpaid liabilities were discharged in bankruptcy.

Background

The parties submitted this case fully stipulated. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. Petitioner resided in Lake Dallas, Texas, at the time his petition was filed.

Petitioner did not file Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for the taxable years 1993, 1994, and 1995. Copies of MFTRA-X transcripts of petitioner’s accounts for the tax years at issue reflect that respondent filed “substitutes for return”1 (SFRs) for these years on February 24, 1997. On May 28, 1997, respondent issued a notice of deficiency to petitioner determining deficiencies in and additions to his Federal income taxes for 1993, 1994, and 1995. Petitioner filed a petition and an amended petition with this Court seeking a redetermination. On February 3, 1998, the Court dismissed the case for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted and decided that petitioner was liable for the following deficiencies and additions to tax:

Additions to tax

Year Deficiency Sec. 6651(a)(1) Sec. 6654(a)

1993 $8,307 $896

1994 8,460 2,115 $436

1995 10,657 2,524 548

In June 1998, respondent assessed the deficiencies and additions to tax decided in the Court’s order of dismissal and decision. Copies of MFTRA-X transcripts reflect that interest on the taxes was also assessed in June 1998.2

On August 5, 1998, petitioner filed a bankruptcy petition under chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. On Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss, petitioner reported the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as the holder of unsecured priority claims for the years 1993, 1994, and 1995. On December 7, 1998, the bankruptcy court entered an order of discharge (discharge order) in petitioner’s bankruptcy case. The discharge order states:

DISCHARGE OF DEBTOR
It appearing that a petition commencing a case under title 11, United States code, was filed by or against the person named above on 08/05/98, and that an order for relief was entered under chapter 7, and that no complaint objecting to the discharge of the debtor was filed within the time fixed by the court (or that a complaint objecting to discharge of the debtor was filed and, after due notice and hearing, was not sustained);

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

1. The above-named debtor is released from all dischargeable debts.
2. Any judgment heretofore or hereafter obtained in any court other than this court is null and void as a determination of the personal liability of the debtor with respect to any of the following:
(a) debts dischargeable under 11 U.S.C. sec. 523;
(b) unless heretofore or hereafter determined by order of this court to be nondischargeable, debts alleged to be excepted from discharge under clauses (2), (4), (6) and (15) of 11 U.S.C. sec. 523(a);
(c) debts determined by this court to be discharged.
3. All creditors whose debts are discharged by this order and all creditors whose judgments are declared null and void by paragraph 2 above are enjoined from instituting or continuing any action or employing any process or engaging in any act to collect such debts as personal liabilities of the above-named debtor.

Copies of MFTRA-X transcripts reflect that on January 23, 2000, respondent sent to petitioner a notice of intent to levy regarding petitioner’s unpaid income tax liabilities for 1993, 1994, and 1995. The copies indicate that on February 10, 2000, petitioner requested a section 6330 hearing. On May 3, 2001, the Appeals Office issued to petitioner a notice of determination regarding petitioner’s unpaid liabilities for 1993, 1994, and 1995. The notice states:

Summary of Determination:
It is determined that a levy is appropriate in your case. Appeals has considered the information presented at the Collection Due Process hearing. It is determined that the collection of your unpaid accounts by levy enforcement balances the government’s need to efficiently collect your 1993, 1994 and 1995 tax liabilities with your concerns of intrusiveness.
sfc # * * * H' *
Legal and Procedural Requirements:
It has been concluded that all required laws and procedures have been followed. The only legal requirements before taking general enforcement action are the notice and demand and the notice of intent to levy with a notice of right to a Collection Due Process Hearing.
Internal computer records indicate that notice and demand of payment have been made within the required time periods for the 1993, 1994 and 1995 years at issue.
The notice of intent to levy, Letter 1058, was properly mailed and included with this notice were all required enclosures. These enclosures include the Form 12153, which yon used to make your Collection Due Process hearing request.
Issues Raised by the Taxpayer.
In your hearing request you challenged the assessment of the tax liabilities. You previously challenged the assessment in the United States Tax Court. The Court issued its “Order of Dismissal and Decision” dated February 3, 1998. The Court’s decision is final. Appeals will not consider challenges to the underlying liability because you previously challenged the liability and the Tax Court has issued its decision that the taxes are due and owing.
The administrative file shows that you filed bankruptcy. You stated that the unpaid taxes were discharged in your bankruptcy. Section 523(a)(l)(B)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code states that a tax liability is not discharged if the return was not filed. SFR assessed income tax returns are not considered voluntarily filed and are not dischargeable per Section 523(a)(l)(B)(i).
Internal Revenue Service records disclose that you have not filed Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax returns for the years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999.

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Bluebook (online)
121 T.C. No. 7, 121 T.C. 111, 2003 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 26, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/swanson-v-commr-tax-2003.