Wiggins v. Comm'r

92 T.C. No. 52, 92 T.C. 869, 1989 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 58
United States Tax Court·Decided April 19, 1989·No. Docket No. 14077-88·Published·Cited by 16 cases

Opinion

OPINION

Nims, Chief Judge:

This case was assigned to Special Trial Judge Norman H. Wolfe pursuant to the provisions of section 7443A(b) and Rule 180 et seq.1 The Court agrees with and adopts the opinion of the Special Trial Judge, which is set forth below.

OPINION OF THE SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE

WOLFE, Special Trial Judge:

Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioners’ 1983 Federal income tax in the amount of $4,502 and additions to tax under section 6653(a)(1) in the amount of $225.10 and under section 6653(a)(2) of 50 percent of the interest due on $4,502.

After concessions, the two issues presented for decision are (1) whether the 1984 amendment to section 55(f)(2) [now section 55(c)(1)], which retroactively excluded the tax upon investment credit recapture from the computation of the alternative minimum tax for tax years beginning after December 31, 1982, is a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution and (2) whether petitioners are hable for additions to tax due to negligence.

All of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference.

Petitioners were residents of Mansfield, Louisiana, at the time of filing of their petition herein. Petitioners concede that they had unreported interest and dividend income. Petitioners attached a Form 4255 to their 1983 Federal income tax return upon which they reported recapture of previously allowed investment credits in the aggregate amount of $3,986. This amount was reported as tax on petitioners’ Form 1040. Petitioners were subject to the alternative minimum tax. In computing their alternative minimum tax liability, petitioners included the tax from the recapture of investment credits in computing the amount of their regular tax. After the due date of petitioners’ 1983 return, on July 18, 1984, the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, 98 Stat. 494, was enacted.2 Section 711(a)(1) of that Act amended section 55(f)(2) to clarify that the amount of investment credit recapture is not included in taxpayers’ regular tax for purposes of computing alternative minimum tax liability. H. Rept. 98-432, Part 2, to accompany H.R. 4170 (Pub. L. 98-369), 98th Cong., 2d Sess. 1611 (1984). The statute made this amendment retroactive to tax years beginning after December 31, 1982. Sec. 715, Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, 98 Stat. 966.3

Since petitioners added the tax from the recapture of investment credits to their regular tax in computing the alternative minimum tax, their regular tax was overstated by $3,986 for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. This computation resulted in a corresponding decrease in petitioners’ total tax liability and was contrary to the subsequent amendment to section 55(f)(2).

Petitioners concede that respondent correctly computed the amount of alternative minimum tax due from them for the taxable year ended December 31, 1983, under the terms of the law. Petitioners argue that the retroactive application of amended section 55(f)(2) to the recapture of investment credits is a taking in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Petitioners further contend that to require them to comply with laws passed after the due date of their return is so arbitrary as to amount to a confiscation.

Federal income tax provisions may be applied retroactively without infringing upon constitutional rights. United States v. Darusmont, 449 U.S. 292, 297 (1981); Cooper v. United States, 280 U.S. 409, 411 (1930); Brushaber v. Union Pacific R. Co., 240 U.S. 1, 20 (1916). A retroactive statute is not of itself unconstitutional unless it violates the due process clause. Stockdale v. Insurance Cos., 87 U.S. (20 Wall.) 323, 331 (1873); Fife v. Commissioner, 82 T.C. 1, 12 (1984). In determining whether the retroactive application of an income tax statute is constitutional, the test is whether “the nature of the tax and the circumstances in which it is laid * * * is so harsh and oppressive as to transgress the constitutional limitation.” Welch v. Henry, 305 U.S. 134, 147 (1938); Fife v. Commissioner, supra at 12. The Supreme Court noted that: “a distinction is made between a bare attempt of the legislature retroactively to create liabilities for transactions which, fully consummated in the past, are deemed to leave no ground for legislative intervention, and the case of a curative statute aptly designed to remedy mistakes and defects in the administration of government where the remedy can be applied without injustice.” Graham & Foster v. Goodcell, 282 U.S. 409, 429 (1931); Howell v. Commissioner, 77 T.C. 916, 923 (1981). There is a difference between the retroactive application of a new tax which imposes taxation on an otherwise tax-free transaction and a mere change in rate or a technical amendment. Howell v. Commissioner, supra at 921. A corrective statute may be made retroactive beyond a fixed date without violating due process. Graham & Foster v. Goodcell, supra at 429; Howell v. Commissioner, supra at 922. The retroactive application of a taxing statute to a year prior to the year of enactment has been held not to violate due process. In Welch v. Henry, supra, the Supreme Court held that a Wisconsin statute enacted in 1935 and which retroactively taxed previously exempt dividends received in 1933, did not violate the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. More recently, this Court held that retroactive application of amendments made by the Tax Reform Act of 1976 to the 1973 tax year is constitutional. Fife v. Commissioner, supra at 12-14.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Wiggins v. Comm'r, 92 T.C. No. 52, 92 T.C. 869, 1989 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 58 (tax 1989).

92 T.C. No. 52 (Wiggins v. Comm'r) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Battat v. Comm'r
148 T.C. No. 2 (U.S. Tax Court, 2017)
TIFD III-E Inc. v. United States
8 F. Supp. 3d 142 (D. Connecticut, 2014)
Polone v. Comm'r
2003 T.C. Memo. 339 (U.S. Tax Court, 2003)
Venable v. Comm'r
2003 T.C. Memo. 240 (U.S. Tax Court, 2003)
Sutherland v. Commissioner
2001 T.C. Memo. 8 (U.S. Tax Court, 2001)
Bergersen v. Commissioner
1995 T.C. Memo. 424 (U.S. Tax Court, 1995)
Estate of Monroe v. Commissioner
104 T.C. No. 16 (U.S. Tax Court, 1995)
Furlong v. Commissioner
1993 T.C. Memo. 191 (U.S. Tax Court, 1993)
Sattelmaier v. Commissioner
1991 T.C. Memo. 597 (U.S. Tax Court, 1991)
Zampini v. Commissioner
1991 T.C. Memo. 395 (U.S. Tax Court, 1991)
Lefcourt v. Commissioner
1990 T.C. Memo. 193 (U.S. Tax Court, 1990)
Barter Systems, Inc. v. Commissioner
1990 T.C. Memo. 125 (U.S. Tax Court, 1990)
Wood v. Commissioner
1990 T.C. Memo. 25 (U.S. Tax Court, 1990)
Wiggins v. Comm'r
92 T.C. No. 52 (U.S. Tax Court, 1989)