T.C. Memo. 2019-46
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
TURNER ANSLEY, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 388-18L. Filed May 1, 2019.
Turner Ansley, pro se.
Christine A. Fukushima, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
URDA, Judge: In this collection due process (CDP) case Turner Ansley
seeks review pursuant to section 6330(d)(1)1 of the determination of the Internal
1 All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect at all relevant times, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. We round all dollar amounts to the nearest dollar. -2-
[*2] Revenue Service (IRS) Office of Appeals to uphold a notice of intent to levy.
The principal question for decision is whether the IRS settlement officer abused
her discretion in rejecting petitioner’s $100 offer-in-compromise (OIC).
Respondent has moved for summary judgment under Rule 121, contending that no
disputed issues of material fact remain and that the settlement officer acted within
her discretion. We agree and accordingly will grant the motion.
Background
A. Notice of Deficiency and IRS Collection Efforts
On August 4, 2015, the IRS sent petitioner by certified mail a notice of
deficiency for his 2012 through 2014 tax years. The IRS determined Federal
income tax deficiencies of $6,013 for his 2012 tax year, $6,665 for his 2013 tax
year, and $6,517 for his 2014 tax year. The IRS also determined an accuracy-
related penalty under section 6662(a) for each year. Petitioner did not seek this
Court’s review of the IRS’ determination within 90 days, and the IRS accordingly
assessed the tax liabilities in question. See secs. 6201, 6213(a).
To collect petitioner’s 2012 through 2014 liabilities, the IRS issued a pair of
notices on June 20, 2016--one relating to his 2012 liability and the other for his
2013 and 2014 liabilities--informing petitioner of its intent to levy and apprising
him of his right to request a CDP hearing pursuant to section 6330(b)(1). -3-
[*3] Petitioner filed a timely Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process or
Equivalent Hearing, on which he indicated his interest in submitting an OIC in
lieu of the proposed levy. Petitioner did not challenge the underlying liabilities or
identify any other issues.
B. Initial CDP Proceedings
Petitioner’s case thereafter was received by a settlement officer in the IRS
Office of Appeals. On August 2, 2016, the settlement officer sent petitioner a
letter scheduling a telephone CDP hearing for September 7, 2016. The settlement
officer requested that petitioner submit a Form 433-A, Collection Information
Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals, as well as his 2015
Federal income tax return, so that she could consider any alternative to collection
that he wished to propose.
Petitioner neither supplied the requested information nor called the
settlement officer on the appointed date. Given the lack of response, the
settlement officer sent petitioner a form letter stating that she would decide the
case based on the administrative file and any information previously provided.
While preparing her final determination, the settlement officer learned that
the IRS Centralized Offer In Compromise (COIC) unit had received an OIC from
petitioner on September 26, 2016. In response the settlement officer alerted the -4-
[*4] COIC unit and suspended the CDP proceeding so that the COIC unit could
investigate petitioner’s offer, consistent with the relevant procedures in the
Internal Revenue Manual. See Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) pt. 5.8.4.15
(May 10, 2013), pt. 8.22.7.10.1.2 (Sept. 23, 2014).
C. COIC Unit Investigation
1. Initial Reporting
The OIC that petitioner submitted to the COIC unit consisted of a Form 656,
Offer in Compromise, and a Form 433-A. On the Form 656 petitioner offered
$100 to settle his tax liabilities for 2012 through 2014 (the years at issue) as well
as his tax liability for 2015. On the “Reason for Offer” section of the form
petitioner checked the box marked “Doubt as to Collectibility”. Petitioner did not
check the box marked “Exceptional Circumstances” or offer any justification for
not paying the full amounts of his underlying liabilities.
Petitioner supplied certain other bits of information on the Form 433-A. On
the personal front petitioner disclosed that he was born in September 1939, was
married, and rented his residence. Petitioner set forth only three personal assets--a
1990 Lexus, a 1997 Toyota, and a 1973 Buick--each of which he valued at zero.
For his monthly income petitioner listed wages of $3,623 and reported no income
from Social Security, pensions, or other sources. -5-
[*5] According to petitioner, his total monthly expenses were $4,503. He
reported $585 for food, clothing, and miscellaneous expenses, $1,382 for housing
and utilities, $432 in vehicle operating costs, and $50 for out-of-pocket healthcare
costs. Petitioner further reported monthly taxes of $1,180 and a secured debt of
$874.
On February 28, 2017, an offer examiner from the COIC unit called one of
petitioner’s representatives to obtain further information about his OIC and
finances. After a few months of back-and-forth (including a brief closing of the
investigation), the offer examiner was able to obtain a clearer view of petitioner’s
financial picture. She learned that petitioner’s wife had filed for divorce and left
the country. The offer examiner also was told that petitioner’s roster of cars had
changed. Petitioner’s representative reported that he had given his Toyota to
charity and disclosed his ownership of a previously unreported 2004 Honda,
which was purportedly encumbered by a car loan (reported on the Form 433-A as
a secured debt). Despite repeated requests for loan documentation by the offer
examiner, none was supplied. Finally, the offer examiner was informed that
petitioner had a practice of cashing checks and redepositing funds because of
concerns about levies and overdrawing his account. -6-
[*6] 2. Financial Analysis
To evaluate petitioner’s offer and his ability to pay the liabilities, the offer
examiner performed a financial analysis of his assets, income, and expenses. She
first determined that petitioner had assets worth $2,974. The offer examiner
reached this conclusion by using the “quick sale” values of petitioner’s three
vehicles: (i) $1,564 for the 2004 Honda, (ii) $510 for the 1990 Lexus, and
(iii) $400 for the 1973 Buick. She further concluded that petitioner’s Toyota
constituted dissipated assets of $500 because “the receipt provided for deed
transfer was for a used car lot, not a charity.”
The offer examiner next determined that petitioner had monthly income of
$5,955. She derived this amount by adopting the monthly wage set forth on
petitioner’s Form 433-A ($3,623) and then adding his monthly Social Security
income ($2,007) and an average of “other” unaccounted-for monthly income
($325). This “other” income was based on her analysis of petitioner’s
unaccounted-for bank account deposits.
The offer examiner finally concluded that petitioner had $3,818 in average
monthly expenses. She reached this amount by accepting the expenses that
petitioner reported on his Form 433-A for housing and utilities ($1,382) and
current taxes ($1,180). Consistent with the national standards published by the -7-
[*7] IRS for 2017, she allowed food, clothing, and miscellaneous expenses of
$639 and out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures of $117. She also increased
petitioner’s total monthly car expenses from $432 to $500. The offer examiner
disallowed only one monthly expense--petitioner’s secured debt (car loan), for
which he had offered no substantiation.
On the basis of this analysis the offer examiner determined that petitioner
had a monthly net income of $2,137 and that he could pay $256,440 over 120
months. The offer examiner also noted that petitioner had assets with a value of
$2,974. Combining these figures, she determined a reasonable collection potential
of $259,414.2 The offer examiner further observed that petitioner could retire his
total underlying liability ($32,300, including both tax and penalties) in
approximately 16 months.
2 The Commissioner has promulgated guidelines for the evaluation of offers. See, e.g., Churchill v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2011-182, 102 T.C.M. (CCH) 116, 117 (2011). The calculation of a taxpayer’s reasonable collection potential occupies a central place in those guidelines. See id.; see also Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) pt. 5.8.5.1 (Sept. 23, 2008). A settlement officer derives the reasonable collection potential from her estimate of a taxpayer’s assets and likely future income. See IRM pt. 5.8.5.4 (Sept. 30, 2013), pt. 5.8.5.20 (Sept. 30, 2013). Likely future income, in turn, is determined by multiplying a taxpayer’s monthly disposable income (gross income minus necessary living expenses) by a certain number of months. See id. pt. 5.8.5.22 (Oct. 22, 2010), pt. 5.8.5.25 (Sept. 30, 2013). -8-
[*8] On May 2, 2017, the offer examiner sent petitioner a letter preliminarily
rejecting his OIC of $100 based on her financial analysis. The letter explained,
however, that the final decision to reject or accept rested with the Office of
Appeals.
D. Discussions With Settlement Officer and Notice of Determination
The settlement officer concurred in the offer examiner’s financial analysis.
Accordingly, on May 10, 2017, the settlement officer sent petitioner a letter in
which she noted that rejection had been recommended. She nonetheless offered
him an installment agreement, which would have resulted in payments of $419 per
month to his tax liabilities.3
Petitioner responded with several faxes during May. These faxes included
assorted IRS documents to which petitioner had added handwritten notes, inter
alia, asking the settlement officer to “reconsider your negative decision” and
referring to his overtime work. Some of the faxes contained letters from lawyers
(addressed generally to “Creditor”) stating that petitioner was preparing to file for
bankruptcy and should be afforded the benefits of fair debt collection laws.
3 This letter was the second time the settlement officer had extended this offer. She also had done so--to no avail--after the COIC unit had temporarily closed its investigation in March 2017. -9-
[*9] Petitioner also faxed a copy of a newspaper article about the 2017 median
income of Los Angeles County residents.
The settlement officer replied by letter on June 2, 2017. After noting that
she had reviewed petitioner’s correspondence, the settlement officer explained that
the amount that the offer examiner had used for petitioner’s wage income ($3,623)
was less than both the monthly “low income” amount for Los Angeles ($4,208,
according to the article petitioner submitted) and the monthly wage indicated by
his work history from 2014 through 2016. On the latter point the settlement
officer noted that, even during 2014, his lowest earning year, his monthly wage
worked out to $4,664. The settlement officer concluded her letter by extending
another opportunity for petitioner to enter into an installment agreement.
More faxes followed. As most pertinent here, on July 1, 2017, petitioner
faxed a handwritten note in which he represented that he made a total of $51,043
per year based on wages of $25,043 and annual Social Security income of
$26,000. In this note he again lamented the high cost of living in Los Angeles.
On July 18, 2017, the Office of Appeals issued a notice of determination
sustaining the levy notice. The notice rejected petitioner’s OIC of $100 “due to -10-
[*10] the reasonable collection potential of $259,414.00 with disposable income
of $2,137.00 and equity in assets of $2,974.40.”4
E. Proceedings in This Court
Petitioner, who lived in California at the time, filed a timely petition on
July 31, 2017.5 Respondent subsequently filed a motion for summary judgment to
which petitioner responded.
Discussion
A. Summary Judgment
The purpose of summary judgment is to expedite litigation and avoid costly,
time-consuming, and unnecessary trials. Fla. Peach Corp. v. Commissioner, 90
T.C. 678, 681 (1988). Under Rule 121(b) the Court may grant summary judgment
when there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and a decision may be
rendered as a matter of law. Sundstrand Corp. v. Commissioner, 98 T.C. 518, 520
4 At one point in the notice of determination the settlement officer refers to the reasonable collection potential as “$253,465.60.” The reasonable collection potential determined by the offer examiner and adopted by the settlement officer, however, was $259,414. Although this error concerns us, it appears from our review of the record to be an isolated mistake and not to have affected the substance of the settlement officer’s analysis. 5 Petitioner filed a petition in this Court before the issuance of the notice of determination, which we initially docketed as No. 12702-17. We later dismissed that petition as premature and docketed the instant case on the basis of a petition filed on July 31, 2017. -11-
[*11] (1992), aff’d, 17 F.3d 965 (7th Cir. 1994). In deciding whether to grant
summary judgment, we construe factual materials and inferences drawn from them
in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Id. However, the nonmoving
party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of its pleadings but instead
must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine dispute for trial.
Rule 121(d); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986).
B. Standard of Review
Pursuant to section 6330(d)(1), we have jurisdiction to review the Office of
Appeals’ determination. See Murphy v. Commissioner, 125 T.C. 301, 308 (2005),
aff’d, 469 F.3d 27 (1st Cir. 2006). Where the validity of the underlying tax
liability is properly at issue, we review the determination regarding the underlying
tax liability de novo. Sego v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 604, 610 (2000); Goza v.
Commissioner, 114 T.C. 176, 181-182 (2000). We review all other determinations
for abuse of discretion. Sego v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. at 610; Goza v.
Commissioner, 114 T.C. at 182. In reviewing for abuse of discretion we must
uphold the Office of Appeals’ determination unless it is arbitrary, capricious, or
without sound basis in fact or law. See, e.g., Murphy v. Commissioner, 125 T.C.
at 320; Taylor v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2009-27, 97 T.C.M. (CCH) 1109,
1116 (2009). -12-
[*12] C. Underlying Liability
In his amended petition, petitioner asserts that the IRS made a “math
mistake” that affected his 2008 through 2017 Federal tax liabilities. Our
jurisdiction in the instant proceeding, however, extends only to the review of the
proposed levy for petitioner’s 2012 through 2014 tax years. Sec. 6330(d)(1);
see also Gallagher v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2018-77, at *9-*10.
Even for those years for which we have jurisdiction, we are precluded from
considering petitioner’s liability challenge. A taxpayer may dispute his underlying
tax liability in a CDP case only if he properly raised that issue at the CDP hearing.
See Giamelli v. Commissioner, 129 T.C. 107, 113 (2007); sec. 301.6320-1(f)(2),
Q&A-F3, Proced. & Admin. Regs. Petitioner did not raise the issue in the Office
of Appeals, and thus we cannot consider it now.6
6 Petitioner attached to his summary judgment opposition what appears to be the first page of an undated IRS notice of deficiency addressed to “Turner Aansley [sic].” Petitioner has added to this page handwritten notes to the effect that he “did not receive” it, and that his name was misspelled. This exhibit relates to his underlying liability challenge, which, as explained above, lies outside our purview because it was not raised in the Office of Appeals. Petitioner’s failure on this count accordingly makes moot any argument that he did not receive a notice of deficiency in the first place. -13-
[*13] D. Abuse of Discretion
We next consider whether the settlement officer: (1) properly verified that
the requirements of applicable law or administrative procedure have been met,
(2) considered any relevant issues petitioner raised, and (3) considered whether
“any proposed collection action balances the need for the efficient collection of
taxes with the legitimate concern of * * * [petitioner] that any collection action be
no more intrusive than necessary.” Sec. 6330(c)(3).
1. Verification
As an initial matter, this Court has authority to review satisfaction of the
verification requirement regardless of whether the taxpayer raised that issue at the
CDP hearing. See Hoyle v. Commissioner, 131 T.C. 197, 200-203 (2008),
supplemented by 136 T.C. 463 (2011). Petitioner did not contest verification in
the Office of Appeals, nor does he allege in his petition that the settlement officer
failed to satisfy this requirement.
Our examination of the record shows that the settlement officer satisfied her
obligations in this regard.7 According to her case notes she confirmed that proper
assessments had been made, and a notice properly sent, for 2012 through 2014.
7 Respondent has conceded the sec. 6662(a) penalties based on the settlement officer’s failure to properly verify that the supervisory approval requirements of sec. 6751 had been satisfied. -14-
[*14] She reviewed examination files and the notice of deficiency relating to these
years as well as the certified mailing list showing the mailing of the notice and the
United States Postal Service tracking results for it. Her case notes also reflect that
she confirmed that a balance remained due when the CDP levy notice was issued.
This thorough review plainly satisfies the verification requirement.
2. Collection Alternative
a. Legal Background
This brings us to the crux of the case: the settlement officer’s rejection of
petitioner’s OIC of $100.8 Section 7122(a) authorizes the IRS to compromise an
outstanding tax liability on grounds that include doubt as to collectibility, the
ground that petitioner urged. See sec. 301.7122-1(b)(2), Proced. & Admin. Regs.
The Secretary may compromise a tax liability on this basis where the taxpayer’s
assets and income render full collection unlikely. Id. Conversely, the IRS may
reject an OIC when the taxpayer’s reasonable collection potential exceeds the
amount he proposes to pay. See Johnson v. Commissioner, 136 T.C. 475, 486
(2011), aff’d, 502 F. App’x 1 (D.C. Cir. 2013). Generally, settlement officers are
directed to reject any offer substantially below the taxpayer’s reasonable collection
8 We have jurisdiction to review a settlement officer’s rejection of an OIC that encompasses liabilities for both CDP years and non-CDP years. Gallagher v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2018-77, at *10 n.5. -15-
[*15] potential unless special circumstances justify acceptance of such an offer.
See Mack v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2018-54, at *10; Rev. Proc. 2003-71,
sec. 4.02(2), 2003-2 C.B. 517, 517.
In reviewing the settlement officer’s determination we do not make an
independent evaluation of what would be an acceptable collection alternative.
See Thompson v. Commissioner, 140 T.C. 173, 179 (2013); Murphy v.
Commissioner, 125 T.C. at 320; see also Randall v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.
2018-123, at *9 (“We * * * do not recalculate a different amount for an acceptable
installment agreement or OIC.”). Rather, our review is limited to determining
whether the settlement officer abused her discretion--that is, whether her decision
to reject petitioner’s offer was arbitrary, capricious, or without sound basis in fact
or law. Thompson v. Commissioner, 140 T.C. at 179; Murphy v. Commissioner,
125 T.C. at 320.
b. Analysis of OIC
The settlement officer’s decision to reject petitioner’s $100 OIC was not an
abuse of discretion in light of the financial analysis of petitioner’s assets, income,
and expenses showing that he had assets on hand of $2,974 and monthly net
income of $2,137. Petitioner does not quibble with the asset valuation, which by
itself likely would supply sufficient grounds for rejecting petitioner’s $100 offer. -16-
[*16] Instead, at various points in the Office of Appeals and before this Court,
petitioner has trained his fire on the calculation of his monthly income and
allowable expenses. We find no fault as to either.
Turning first to the income calculation, petitioner has not contested the
determinations that he had monthly Social Security income of $2,007 and “other”
income of $325--two revenue streams he left off his Form 433-A. Instead, he
challenges the settlement officer’s determination that he earned $3,623 in monthly
wages, contending that he earned $2,087 a month ($25,043 annually). The figure
used by the IRS, however, comes directly from the monthly wage income
petitioner reported on his Form 433-A. Petitioner has offered no reason or support
for the change.9
The determination of petitioner’s monthly expenses was similarly sound.
Pursuant to Congress’ directive, the IRS has published “national and local
allowances” to ensure that taxpayers entering into collection alternatives have
adequate means to provide for basic living expenses. Sec. 7122(d)(1), (2)(A).
This Court has upheld the IRS’ use of such standards to determine basic living
9 Even crediting petitioner’s unsupported assertion that his total annual income (counting wages and Social Security income) was $51,043 produces a net monthly income of more than $400 to dedicate to retiring his tax liability (assuming monthly expenses of $3,818, the amount the IRS allowed). -17-
[*17] expenses when evaluating proposed collection alternatives. See Speltz v.
Commissioner, 124 T.C. 165, 179 (2005), aff’d, 454 F.3d 782 (8th Cir. 2006). For
“Housing and Utilities” and “Transportation”, a taxpayer is allowed the lesser of
the applicable local standards or the amounts that he actually paid monthly for
expenses. See IRM pt. 5.15.1.7(4) (Oct. 2, 2012), pt. 5.15.1.9 (Nov. 17, 2014).
For “Food, Clothing and Other Items” and “Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenses”,
a settlement officer is to allow the national standard amounts “without questioning
the amounts * * * [the taxpayer] actually spend[s].” IRM pt. 5.15.1.7(3) (Oct. 2,
2012).
The settlement officer did not abuse her discretion in determining monthly
allowable expenses of $3,818. The financial analysis (adopted by the settlement
officer) generally accepted the amounts petitioner had reported on his Form
433-A. Consistent with the IRM, the analysis allowed the national standard
amounts for food, clothing, and miscellaneous expenses and for out-of-pocket
healthcare expenses, which were greater than the amounts petitioner had reported.
It also permitted greater total automobile expenses than petitioner had reported.
The analysis disallowed only one expense--the secured debt (car loan) for which
petitioner supplied no documentation, despite being given multiple opportunities
to do so. -18-
[*18] Rather than attacking any of the specifics of the analysis, petitioner instead
suggests that the allowances were insufficient because of the high cost of L.A.
living. Deviations from the national and local allowances set by the IRS, however,
are permitted only upon a showing that the standard amounts are “inadequate to
provide for a specific taxpayer’s basic living expenses”. See IRM pt. 5.15.1.7(5)
(Oct. 2, 2012). The taxpayer bears the burden of providing sufficient information
to justify a deviation from local standards. See, e.g., Thomas v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo. 2015-182, at *27. Petitioner fails to point to any specific facts
indicating that these amounts were inadequate to provide for his basic living
expenses.
We consequently find no abuse of discretion in the settlement officer’s
rejection of petitioner’s $100 offer-in-compromise given the well-reasoned
analysis showing “disposable income in the amount of $2,137 [per month] and
equity in assets in the amount of $2,974.40.”10
10 We are skeptical about one aspect of the reasonable collection potential determination: the reasonableness of using a 10-year window for determining future income for petitioner, who was 77 years old at the time. See IRM pt. 5.8.5.25 (Sept. 30, 2013), pt. 5.8.11.2.1(5) (Aug. 8, 2015) (“In addition to the basic living expenses, other factors to consider that impact upon the taxpayer’s financial condition include * * * [t]he taxpayer’s age[.]”). Nonetheless, any error in this regard is harmless given the significant difference between petitioner’s OIC ($100) and his ability to pay ($2,137 in monthly net income, plus assets worth (continued...) -19-
[*19] 3. Balancing Analysis
Petitioner did not allege in his petition or argue at any later point that the
settlement officer failed to consider “whether any proposed collection action
balances the need for the efficient collection of taxes with the legitimate concern
of the person that any collection action be no more intrusive than necessary.”
Sec. 6330(c)(3)(C). He thus has conceded this issue. See Rules 121(d), 331(b)(4).
In any event the settlement officer expressly concluded in the notice of
determination that the proposed levy action balanced the need for efficient tax
collection with petitioner’s legitimate concerns about intrusiveness “[s]ince no
alternative could be reached”.
E. Conclusion
Finding no abuse of discretion in any respect, we will grant summary
judgment for respondent and affirm the IRS’ determination to sustain the notice of
intent to levy. To reflect the foregoing,
An appropriate order and decision
will be entered.
10 (...continued) $2,974). And, of course, petitioner is free to submit another OIC if his circumstances legitimately warrant it. See sec. 6330(d)(3)(B).