Old TPs Never Die - They Just Stop Filing

[The Observer]

SONNY G. LEWIS,
Petitioner
v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE,
Respondent

Release Date: SEPTEMBER 09, 2009

Published by Tax Analysts(R)

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

Filed September 9, 2009

Sonny G. Lewis, pro se.

Alisha M. Harper, for respondent.

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

RUWE, Judge: Pursuant to sections 6320 and 6330(d), 1 petitioner seeks review of respondent's determination to sustain the notice of Federal tax lien filing for tax years 2001 and 2003. We must decide whether respondent's Appeals Office correctly upheld the filing of a notice of Federal tax lien with respect to petitioner's 2001 and 2003 Federal income tax liabilities.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. Petitioner resided in Kentucky at the time the petition was filed.

In or about 1974, while residing in Illinois, petitioner attended a meeting where the attendees were told that they did not have to pay Federal income tax. After this petitioner stopped filing Federal income tax returns.

As was petitioner's practice, he did not file income tax returns for 2001 and 2003. On the basis of income information reported to respondent on various Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, and a Form 1099-INT, Interest Income, from third-party payors, respondent prepared and filed substitutes for returns for petitioner for both years pursuant to section 6020(b) using a filing status of single. Respondent calculated petitioner's income as $ 45,045 for 2001 and $ 50,915 for 2003.

Respondent sent to petitioner notices of deficiency, dated October 17, 2005, for 2001 and 2003. The notices of deficiency were sent to an address in Romeoville, Illinois, which, according to respondent's records, was petitioner's last known address. In the notices of deficiency respondent determined deficiencies in income tax and additions to tax as follows:

Additions to Tax

Year Deficiency Sec. 6651(a)(1) Sec. 6651(a)(2) Sec. 6654
____ __________ _______________ _______________ _________

2001 $ 6,957 $ 1,565.32 /1/$ 1,391.40 $ 275.30
2003 7,588 1,707.30 /1/607.04 195.79

/1/ liability, if less.

Petitioner did not petition this Court in response to the notices of deficiency, and, on March 13, 2006, respondent assessed the income tax deficiencies for 2001 and 2003.

On June 20, 2007, respondent sent to petitioner at his current address in Kentucky a Letter 3172(DO), Notice of Federal Tax Lien Filing and Your Right to a Hearing Under IRC 6320, for petitioner's 2001 and 2003 Federal income tax liabilities. Petitioner timely requested a collection due process (CDP) hearing to challenge the underlying tax liabilities.

On November 20, 2007, respondent's settlement officer Julius Hollowell (Settlement Officer Hollowell) conducted a telephone conference with petitioner. During the telephone conference petitioner told Settlement Officer Hollowell that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) broke the law by filing substitutes for returns on his behalf. Settlement Officer Hollowell asked petitioner whether he was recording the conference and petitioner replied: yes-always. Settlement Officer Hollowell then advised petitioner that he would have to disconnect the call and a determination would be made on the account, after which the call was ended.

On December 3, 2007, respondent sent to petitioner at his current address in Kentucky a Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/or 6330. On December 26, 2007, petitioner filed a petition with the Court asserting that: Respondent filed a lien on the basis of faulty procedures ; the notices of deficiency were not mailed to him; if the notices of deficiency were mailed, they were not sent to his last known address; and he had been denied a CDP hearing.

On April 4, 2008, respondent filed a motion for remand in the light of respondent's concession that the notices of deficiency were not sent to petitioner's current address and to give petitioner an opportunity to challenge the underlying tax liabilities. By order dated April 16, 2008, the Court granted respondent's motion for remand.

By letter dated June 24, 2008, respondent's Appeals collection specialist advised petitioner that if he disagreed with the substitutes for returns respondent prepared, then he should send to respondent copies of his 2001 and 2003 returns. In the letter the Appeals collection specialist also requested that petitioner file Federal income tax returns for 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.

On August 11, 2008, respondent's settlement officer Suzanne L. Magee (Settlement Officer Magee) was assigned to petitioner's case. The following day Settlement Officer Magee spoke with petitioner and scheduled a supplemental CDP hearing in the form of a face-to-face conference on August 19, 2008. On August 13, 2008, Settlement Officer Magee sent a letter to petitioner, wherein she: Confirmed the face-to-face conference; requested original Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for 2001 and 2003; and advised petitioner that in order to discuss collection alternatives petitioner had to file Federal income tax returns for 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 and provide a completed Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals.

During the August 19, 2008, supplemental CDP hearing petitioner was given the opportunity to challenge the underlying tax liabilities for 2001 and 2003. Petitioner stated to Settlement Officer Magee that he had received the notices of deficiency; nevertheless, additional copies of the notices of deficiency and other account transcripts were provided to petitioner. Instead of challenging the underlying tax liabilities on any substantive ground, petitioner continued to 6 question whether the substitutes for returns were legal. Settlement Officer Magee explained to petitioner that he needed to decide whether to accept the liabilities as determined or provide original returns. Settlement Officer Magee further advised petitioner that she would hold the case for a week to give him time to decide whether to file original returns. Petitioner stated that he would not be filing any returns, and he did not do so. Petitioner did not submit a completed Form 433-A nor offer any collection alternatives. Settlement Officer Magee verified that the requirements of any applicable law or administrative procedure had been met, including that the notices of deficiency had been sent to petitioner's last known address on October 17, 2005. Consequently, on September 8, 2008, respondent issued a Supplemental Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/or 6330 sustaining the filing of the notice of Federal tax lien for 2001 and 2003.

OPINION

Collection Review Procedure

Where a taxpayer fails to pay any Federal income tax liability after notice and demand, section 6321 imposes a lien in favor of the United States on all the property of the delinquent taxpayer and section 6323(f) authorizes the IRS to file notice of the lien.

Section 6320(a)(1) provides that the Commissioner shall notify in writing any person liable to pay tax (the taxpayer) of the filing of a tax lien upon the taxpayer's property. The notice must inform the taxpayer of the right to request a hearing in the Commissioner's Appeals Office. Sec. 6320(a)(3)(B), (b)(1). Section 6330(c), (d), and (e) governs the conduct of a hearing requested under section 6320. Sec. 6320(c).

At the hearing the taxpayer may raise any relevant issues relating to the unpaid tax, including appropriate spousal defenses, challenges to the appropriateness of the collection action, and offers of collection alternatives. Sec. 6330(c)(2)(A). The taxpayer may also challenge the existence or amount of the underlying tax liability, but only if he did not receive a notice of deficiency or otherwise have an opportunity to dispute the liability. Sec. 6330(c)(2)(B). In addition to considering issues raised by the taxpayer under section 6330(c)(2), the Appeals officer must also verify that the requirements of any applicable law or administrative procedure have been met. Sec. 6330(c)(1), (3).

Standard of Review

Where the validity of the underlying tax liability is properly at issue, the Court will review the matter de novo. Davis v. Commissioner, 115 T.C. 35, 39 (2000). Where the underlying tax liability is not properly at issue, the Court will review the Commissioner's administrative determination for abuse of discretion. Sego v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 604, 610 (2000); Goza v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 176, 181-182 (2000).

By order dated April 16, 2008, the Court remanded this case to respondent's Appeals Office for the purpose of conducting a supplemental hearing to consider petitioner's challenge to the underlying liabilities for 2001 and 2003. Consequently, petitioner was afforded the opportunity to challenge the underlying tax liabilities during the supplemental CDP hearing.

[LPC]

The entire opinion can be read at http://www.ustaxcourt.gov/InOpHistoric/ ... CM.WPD.pdf

(Spoiler alert: The deficiency and collection activities were affirmed, but no sanctions were imposed.)