2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 198">*198 Respondent's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction granted.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
COLVIN, Judge: This matter is before the Court on respondent's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction on the ground that the petition was untimely.
Petitioners mailed their petition on October 3, 2001, which was 98 days after respondent mailed the notice of deficiency. The sole issue for decision is whether the time for petitioners to file a petition in the Tax Court was extended from September 25, 2001, to October 3, 2001, by relief provisions promulgated by respondent for taxpayers affected by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. We hold that it was not.
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code as amended. References to petitioner are to Timothy Scott Anthony.
Background
Petitioners resided in Kailua, Hawaii, when they filed their petition. The records necessary to prepare petitioners' petition were in Hawaii during all relevant times. On June 27, 2001, respondent sent a notice of deficiency for 1999 to petitioners2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 198">*199 at their last known address. The 90th day after the notice of deficiency was issued, and thus the last date for petitioners to timely file a petition in the Tax Court without regard to relief provisions, was September 25, 2001. See
Between September 11, 2001, and when they mailed their petition on October 3, 2001, petitioners did volunteer work in Hawaii for an organization known as Stand Up For America, 1 which was organized in Hawaii to memorialize the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. Petitioner's wife coordinated other volunteers, arranged for a website, obtained flowers, and kept a bank account for Stand Up For America.
On October 3, 2001, petitioners mailed a letter to the Court which the Court received and filed as a petition on October 9, 2001.
Discussion
A taxpayer generally has 90 days from the mailing of a notice of deficiency to petition2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 198">*200 this Court for a redetermination of the deficiency.
Petitioners contend that we should treat their petition as timely because respondent's notices and regulations extended the time for taxpayers affected by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack to file a petition in the Tax Court. We disagree that those notices and regulations apply to petitioners. Petitioners contend that, because of their involvement with Stand Up For America after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, they are persons affected by a presidentially declared disaster within the meaning of
The Secretary has authority to postpone the deadlines for performance of certain acts, including filing a Tax Court petition, by taxpayers affected by a presidentially declared disaster.
2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 198">*201 The September 11, 2001, terrorist attack is a presidentially declared disaster for purposes of
Under
(i) Any individual whose principal residence * * * is
located in a covered disaster area;
(ii) Any business entity or sole proprietor whose principal
place of business is located in a covered disaster area;
2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 198">*202 (iii) Any individual who is a relief worker affiliated with
a recognized government or philanthropic organization and who is
assisting in a covered disaster area;
(iv) Any individual whose principal residence * * *, or any
business entity or sole proprietor whose principal place of
business is not located in a covered disaster area, but whose
records necessary to meet a deadline for an act specified in
paragraph (c) of this section are maintained in a covered
disaster area;
(v) Any estate or trust that has tax records necessary to
meet a deadline for an act specified in paragraph (c) of this
section and that are maintained in a covered disaster area;
(vi) The spouse of an affected taxpayer, solely with regard
to a joint return of the husband and wife; or
(vii) Any other person determined by the IRS to be affected
by a Presidentially declared disaster * * *.
Petitioners are not affected taxpayers under categories (i) - (vii).
Respondent also provided to another category of taxpayers a postponement of up to 14 days of certain tax deadlines, including filing a Tax Court petition.
This notice provides additional tax relief under sections 6081,
6061, and 7508A for taxpayers who, regardless of their location,
are continuing to experience difficulties in meeting their
filing and tax payment requirements on account of events related
to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. The Internal
Revenue Service has determined that the due date for all federal
2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 198">*205 tax obligations falling between September 10, 2001, and
September 24, 2001, is postponed to September 24, 2001. This
postponement of time covers the filing of * * * any * * *
federal tax documents.
We conclude that petitioners' petition was not timely filed. 5 Thus, we will grant respondent's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.
Accordingly,
An order will be entered granting respondent's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.
1. The record is silent regarding the specific activities of Stand Up For America.↩
2.
BY REASON OF PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTER.
(a) In General. -- In the case of a taxpayer determined by
the Secretary to be affected by a Presidentially declared
disaster (as defined in section 1033(h)(3)), the Secretary may
prescribe regulations under which a period of up to 120 days may
be disregarded in determining, under the internal revenue laws,
in respect of any tax liability * * * of such taxpayer --
(1) whether any of the acts described in paragraph (1)
of
prescribed therefor * * *.
3.
OF SERVICE IN COMBAT ZONE.
(a) Time to be disregarded. --
* * * * * * *
(C) Filing a petition with the Tax Court for
redetermination of a deficiency * * *.↩
4.
5. See