1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 36">*36 Appropirate orders granting respondent's motions, denying petitioner's motions, and dismissing these cases for lack of jurisdiction will be entered.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
DAWSON,
1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 36">*38 OPINION OF THE SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE
ARMEN,
On June 23, 1995, respondent issued a notice of deficiency to petitioner in which respondent determined deficiencies in and additions to petitioner's Federal income taxes as follows:
Additions to Tax | |||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6651(a)(1) | Sec. 6654 |
1989 | $ 54,253 | $ 9,608 | $ 2,173 |
1990 | 58,904 | 9,321 | 2,884 |
1991 | 59,836 | 9,796 | 2,425 |
Also on June 23, 1995, respondent issued a separate notice of deficiency to petitioner in which respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's Federal income tax for 1992 in the amount of $ 42,608 and additions to tax under sections 6651(a) and 6654(a) in the amounts of $ 6,901 and $ 1,122, respectively. Both notices of deficiency were addressed to petitioner at 6001 Knight Arnold Rd., Memphis, Tennessee 38115 (the Knight Arnold Rd. address).
By letter1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 36">*39 dated July 6, 1995, petitioner mailed the notices of deficiency back to respondent marked "Refusal For Cause Without Dishonor
On September 25, 1996, petitioner filed two separate petitions with the Court contesting the determinations made by respondent in the above-described notices of deficiency. The petitions arrived at the Court in an envelope bearing a U.S. Postal Service postmark date of September 23, 1996. Petitioner indicated on each of the petitions that his address was the Knight Arnold Rd. address.
On October 16, 1996, petitioner filed a Motion to Restrain Assessment, Levy, Lien, and Collection in each docket. Attached to petitioner's motions are copies of a Notice of Levy and a Notice of Federal Tax Lien. These documents indicate that respondent is attempting to collect the deficiencies and the additions to tax that she determined are owing from petitioner for the taxable years 1989 through 1992. Petitioner contends that respondent's collection efforts are improper because petitioner filed petitions with the Court 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 36">*40 contesting respondent's determinations for the taxable years 1989 through 1992. On October 23, 1996, petitioner supplemented his motions.
On October 25, 1996, respondent filed a Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction in each docket. In her motions, respondent asserts that the Court lacks jurisdiction because of petitioner's failure to file his petitions within the 90-day period prescribed in section 6213(a). In Responses filed to petitioner's motions to restrain assessment and collection, respondent contends that the Court lacks jurisdiction to grant such relief in these cases.
In a Statement filed December 17, 1996, petitioner contends that the notices of deficiency that were mailed to him on June 23, 1995, are null and void because respondent did not respond to his letter dated July 6, 1995.
This Court's jurisdiction to redetermine a deficiency depends upon the issuance of a valid notice of deficiency and a timely filed petition. Rule 13(a), (c);
There is no dispute that respondent mailed the notices of deficiency to petitioner at his last known address on June 23, 1995. Further, petitioner admits that he received the notices of deficiency and, in early July 1995, returned them to respondent marked "Refusal For Cause Without Dishonor
As a final matter, we turn to petitioner's motions to restrain assessment and collection. Section 6213(a) provides that the Tax Court may enjoin assessment or collection if the Commissioner is attempting to assess or collect amounts that have been placed in dispute in a timely-filed petition for redetermination.
To reflect the foregoing,
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the taxable years in issue, and Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. Although petitioner cannot pursue his case in this Court, he is not without a remedy. In short, petitioner may pay the tax, file a claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service, and if the claim is denied, sue for a refund in the Federal District Court or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. See