Uhrig v. Regan

623 F. Supp. 968, 57 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 403, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13086
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maryland
DecidedDecember 6, 1985
DocketCiv. No. JH-83-366
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 623 F. Supp. 968 (Uhrig v. Regan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Uhrig v. Regan, 623 F. Supp. 968, 57 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 403, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13086 (D. Md. 1985).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

JOSEPH C. HOWARD, District Judge.

Pending before the Court is defendants’ joint motion to dismiss, under Fed.R.Civ.P. [970]*97012, the latest effort by taxpayer Edward 0. Uhrig (“Uhrig”) to delay tax assessment. Uhrig, proceeding pro se, has claimed jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331,1 1340, and 1343, and demanded a written statement of Internal Revenue Service jurisdiction under 26 U.S.C. § 6001. Uhrig has responded to the Court’s perhaps gratuitous notice of defendants’ motion to dismiss under Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (4th Cir. 1975). The Court has thoroughly reviewed the record and finds that no hearing is necessary to resolve the motion. Local Rule 6(E).

I.

The facts of this case are uncontested. Uhrig paid no taxes in 1979, 1980, or 1981. In 1982, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) initiated an investigation and audit to determine if Uhrig had any tax liability. Pursuant to its investigation, the IRS issued summonses of certain of Uhrig’s records. Uhrig petitioned this Court to quash those summonses, and his petition was denied. Uhrig v. United States, 592 F.Supp. 349 (D.C.Md.1984) (Kaufman, C.J.). Undaunted, Uhrig then tried again to quash the IRS summonses, and also to enjoin future summonses, on the grounds that the IRS gathering of evidence constituted a criminal investigation and therefore was a Justice Department Referral. This Court found that no Justice Department Referral existed and again denied Uhrig relief. Uhrig v. United States, 601 F.Supp. 881 (D.C.Md.1985) (Kaufman, C.J.).

In the instant case, Uhrig has sued the Secretary of the Treasury and a range of IRS personnel seeking an order to restrain the IRS from issuing further summonses of his books and records, initiating audits, making assessments, fines, or penalties, or conducting investigations, without first determining jurisdiction pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6001 and informing him in writing of that jurisdictional authority.2

Every person liable for any tax imposed by this title, or for the collection thereof, shall keep such records, render such statements, make such returns, and comply with such rules and regulations as the Secretary [of the Treasury] may from time to time prescribe. Whenever in the judgment of the Secretary it is necessary, he may require any person, by notice served upon such person or by regulations, to make such returns, render such statements, or keep such records, as the Secretary deems sufficient to show whether or not such person is liable for tax under this title.

26 U.S.C. § 6001 (emphasis added). Uhrig alleges that he is not a “person liable” for tax within the meaning of § 6001 and that the IRS may not investigate him in the absence of a written jurisdictional determination that he is such a person liable for tax.

Uhrig has had tax withheld from past salary but has now renounced any past liability. Plaintiff’s Motion to Deny Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, at 3. He has described his current principal occupation to be in real estate transactions. Id. at 2. He has determined that he has no tax liability and is “immune” from liability. Id. He apparently contends that the assessment and collection of taxes conflicts with his rights as a United States citizen. Id. at 2-3. Uhrig also alleges that the IRS inquiries into his tax liability have been designed to harass and frighten him, but this allegation is unsupported by facts.

After careful consideration, this Court finds that it lacks jurisdiction and therefore grants defendants’ motion to dismiss. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1). Bob Jones University v. Simon, 416 U.S. 725, 94 S.Ct. 2038, 40 [971]*971L.Ed.2d 496 (1974); see also Steele v. Regan, 755 F.2d 1091 (4th Cir.1985).

II.

At issue is whether this Court has jurisdiction to grant an injunction against tax assessment and collection in a pre-enforcement action by a taxpayer. The Court concludes that such jurisdiction is lacking. The controlling cases are Bob Jones, supra, and Enochs v. Williams Packing & Navigation Co., 370 U.S. 1, 82 S.Ct. 1125, 8 L.Ed.2d 292 (1962).

The statute at issue is the Anti-Injunction Act, 26 U.S.C. § 7421, which reads in pertinent part:

Except as provided in sections 6212(a) and (c), 6213(a), and 7426(a) and (b)(1), no suit for the purpose of restraining the assessment or collection of any tax shall be maintained in any court by any person____

The purpose of the statute is to protect the government’s right to assess and collect taxes with a minimum of judicial interference. Bob Jones, supra, 416 U.S. at 736, 94 S.Ct. at 2045; Williams Packing, supra, 370 U.S. at 7, 82 S.Ct. at 1129.

Uhrig’s action does not fall within the enumerated statutory exceptions, despite his unsupported allegation to the contrary.3 Exceptions under §§ 6212 and 6213 apply to a tax deficiency. Uhrig has neither filed returns nor yet been assessed, so that he cannot yet have a deficiency. Koch v. Alexander, 561 F.2d 1115 (4th Cir.1977) (per curiam) (a deficiency is the difference between the amount reported on the taxpayer’s return and the amount assessed by the IRS). The third exception, under § 7426, applies only to third-party actions. Uhrig is a taxpayer and not a third party.

The judicial exception to the prohibition against injunctions occurs where under no circumstances could the government ultimately prevail on the merits and where the Court has equity jurisdiction because the taxpayer will be irreparably harmed and lacks an adequate remedy at law. Bob Jones, supra; Williams Packing, supra, 370 U.S. at 6-7, 82 S.Ct. at 1128-1129. Uhrig fails to fall within this exception for three reasons.

First, Uhrig has demonstrated no irreparable harm. In fact, he has shown no harm other than perhaps the inconvenience of an IRS investigation and the payment of assessments, interest and penalties should tax liability be found. These minor injuries, if they are injuries at all, are insufficient to trigger equity jurisdiction. See Williams Packing, supra, 370 U.S. at 6-7, 82 S.Ct. at 1128-1129.

Second, Uhrig has an adequate remedy at law.

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623 F. Supp. 968, 57 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 403, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13086, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/uhrig-v-regan-mdd-1985.