2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*242 Respondent's motion for summary judgment granted. Judgment entered for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
PANUTHOS, Chief Special Trial Judge: This matter is before the Court on respondent's motion for summary judgment and to impose a penalty under
Summary judgment is intended to expedite litigation and avoid unnecessary and expensive trials.
As explained in detail below, there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, and a decision may be rendered as a matter of law. Accordingly, we shall grant respondent's motion for summary judgment.
Background
A. Petitioner's Form 1040A for 1997
2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*244 On or about May 7, 1998, petitioner submitted to respondent a Form 1040A, U. S. Individual Income Tax Return, for the taxable year 1997. On the Form 1040A, petitioner listed his occupation as "Computer Programmer".
Petitioner entered zeros on applicable lines of the income portion of the Form 1040A, specifically including line 7 for wages, line 11b for taxable pensions, and line 16 for adjusted gross income. Petitioner also entered zero on line 28 for total tax. Petitioner then claimed a refund of $ 9,618 equal to the amount of Federal income tax that had been withheld from his wages.
Petitioner attached to the Form 1040A: (1) A Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, disclosing that he was paid wages of $ 50,560.85 by Harrah's-Las Vegas, and had withholding of Federal income tax of $ 9,618.03, during the taxable year 1997, and (2) a Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit- Sharing Plans, IRA's, Insurance Contracts, etc., disclosing that he received a distribution of $ 13,000 from the Thrift Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve System, and had withholding of $ 2,600, during the taxable year 1997.
Petitioner also attached to the Form 1040A a four-page2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*245 typewritten statement that stated, in part, as follows:
I, Robert R. Villwock, am submitting this as part of my 1997
income tax return, even though I know that no section of the
Internal Revenue Code:
1) Establishes an income tax "liability" * * * ;
2) Provides that income taxes "have to be paid on the
basis of a return" * * *
3) In addition to the above, I am filing even though the
"Privacy Act Notice" as contained in 1040 booklet
informs me that I am not required to file. It does so in at
least two places:
a) The "Privacy Act Notice" states that I need
only file a return for "any tax" I may be
liable for. Since no Code Section makes me liable for
income taxes, this provision notifies me that I do not
have to file an income tax return.
* * * * * * *
6) Please note that my 1997 return also constitutes a claim
for refund pursuant2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*246 to Code Section 6402.
7) It should also be noted that I had "zero" income
according to the Supreme Court's definition of income * * *
8) I am also putting the IRS on notice that my 1997 tax
return and claim for refund does not constitute a
"frivolous" return pursuant to Code Section 6702.
* * *
* * * * * * *
10) In addition, please do not notify me that the IRS is
"changing" my return since there is no statute that
allows the IRS to do this. You might prepare a return
(pursuant to Code Section 6020(b)) where no return is
filed, but in this case a return has been filed and no
statute authorizes IRS personnel to "change" that
return.
* * * * * * *
*Note #1: The word "income" is not defined in the
Internal Revenue Code * * *. However, as stated above, it can
only be a derivative of corporate activity.* * *
B. Respondent's2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*247 Deficiency Notice and Petitioner's
Response
On October 15, 1999, respondent issued a notice of deficiency to petitioner for the taxable year 1997. In the notice, respondent determined a deficiency in Federal income tax of $ 14,603 and an accuracy-related penalty under section 6662(a) and (b)(1) for negligence or disregard of rules or regulations of $ 477. The deficiency in income tax was based on respondent's determination that petitioner failed to report wages, a taxable distribution from a retirement plan, and gambling winnings.
By letter dated December 27, 1999, petitioner wrote to the Director of respondent's Service Center in Ogden, Utah, acknowledging receipt of the notice of deficiency dated October 15, 1999, but challenging the Director's authority "to send me the Notice in the first place."
Petitioner knew that he had the right to contest respondent's deficiency determination by filing a petition for redetermination with this Court. 2 However, petitioner chose not to do so. Accordingly, on March 6, 2000, respondent assessed the determined deficiency and accuracy-related penalty, as well as statutory interest. On that same day, respondent sent petitioner a notice2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*248 titled "WE CHANGED YOUR ACCOUNT", informing him that he had a liability for 1997 and requesting that he pay it. By letter dated March 20, 2000, petitioner acknowledged receipt of this notice but failed to pay the amount owing.
On April 10, 2000, respondent sent petitioner a second notice of balance due for 1997. Petitioner failed to pay the amount owing.
On August 3, 2000, respondent mailed to petitioner a Final Notice -- Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing in respect of his outstanding tax liability for 1997.
On August 18, 2000, petitioner filed with respondent a Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process Hearing. Petitioner requested verification from the2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*249 Secretary that all applicable laws and administrative procedures were followed with regard to the assessment and collection of the tax liability in question.
On April 11, 2001, petitioner attended an administrative hearing in Las Vegas, Nevada, conducted by Appeals Officer Lavada Harmon (the Appeals officer). Following the hearing, the Appeals officer prepared an Appeals Office memorandum which recited that petitioner did not raise any valid issue during the hearing and that the Appeals officer informed petitioner of the Court's opinion in
The record in this case includes a literal "plain English" transcript of petitioner's account for the taxable year 1997, dated February 6, 2001, as well as a Form 4340, Certificate of Assessments, Payments, and Other Specified Matters, dated September 12, 2001. Both documents were attached to respondent's motion for summary judgment, which2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*250 was served on petitioner.
On July 16, 2001, respondent's Appeals Office issued to petitioner a Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/ or 6330 with regard to his tax liability for 1997. In the notice, the Appeals Office concluded that respondent's determination to proceed with collection by way of levy should be sustained.
On August 16, 2001, petitioner filed with the Court a Petition for Lien or Levy Action seeking review of respondent's notice of determination. 3 The petition includes the following allegations: (1) The Appeals officer failed to obtain verification from the Secretary that the requirements of any applicable law or administrative procedure were met as required under
2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*251 Concurrently with the filing of his petition, petitioner filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction in which he asked the Court to "declare as invalid the determination at issue, since the appeals officer issued the determination without providing, at the hearing, numerous documents and supporting evidence". Petitioner attached to his motion a Memorandum of Law in which he repeated many of the allegations in the petition.
Petitioner's motion to dismiss was called for hearing at the Court's motions session in Washington, D. C. Counsel for respondent appeared and was heard. There was no appearance by or on behalf of petitioner. By order dated November 21, 2001, the Court denied petitioner's motion.
As stated, respondent filed a motion for summary judgment and to impose a penalty under
By notice of filing dated April 4, 2002, the Court notified petitioner of the filing of respondent's motion for summary judgment and directed petitioner to file an objection, if any, to respondent's motion on or before April 25, 2002. The Court did not receive an objection, or any other response, from petitioner. Pursuant to a further order, respondent's motion was called for hearing at the Court's motions session in Washington, D. C. Counsel for respondent appeared and was heard. There was no appearance by or on behalf of petitioner, nor did petitioner file with the Court a written statement pursuant to Rule 50(c).
Discussion
Petitioner challenges the assessment made against him on the ground that the notice of deficiency dated October 15, 1999, is invalid. However, the record shows that petitioner received the notice of deficiency and disregarded the opportunity to file a petition for redetermination with this Court. See sec. 6213(a). It follows that
Even if petitioner were permitted to challenge the validity of the notice of deficiency, petitioner's argument that the notice is invalid because respondent's Service Center director is not properly authorized to issue notices of deficiency is frivolous and groundless. See
We likewise reject petitioner's argument that the Appeals officer failed to obtain verification from the Secretary that the requirements of all applicable laws and administrative procedures were met as required by
Federal tax assessments are formally recorded on a record of assessment.
2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*257 Petitioner has not alleged any irregularity in the assessment procedure that would raise a question about the validity of the assessment or the information contained in the transcript. See
Petitioner also contends that he never received a notice and demand for payment of his tax liability for 1997. The requirement that the Secretary issue a notice and demand for payment is set forth in
provided by this title, the Secretary shall, as soon as
practicable, and within 60 days, after the making of an
assessment of a tax pursuant to
each person liable for the unpaid tax, stating the amount and
demanding payment thereof. * * *
The transcript of account which the Appeals officer relied upon in issuing the notice2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*258 of determination shows that respondent sent petitioner a notice that he owed taxes for 1997 on the same date that respondent made assessments against petitioner for the tax and accuracy-related penalty determined in the notice of deficiency. Such a notice constitutes a notice and demand for payment within the meaning of
Petitioner has failed to raise a spousal defense, make a valid challenge to the appropriateness of respondent's intended collection action, or offer alternative means of collection. These issues are now deemed conceded.
We turn now to that part of respondent's motion that moves for the imposition of a penalty on2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*259 petitioner under
As relevant herein,
We are convinced that petitioner instituted the present proceeding primarily for delay. We note that, 2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 242">*260 during the administrative process, the Appeals officer informed petitioner of the Court's opinion in
Under the circumstances, we shall grant that part of respondent's motion that moves for the imposition of a penalty in that we shall impose a penalty on petitioner pursuant to
In order to give effect to the foregoing,
An appropriate order granting respondent's motion and decision for respondent will be entered.
1. Unless otherwise indicated all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. In this regard, petitioner's letter dated Dec. 27, 1999, stated in pertinent part as follows: "The notice also tells me that if I want to 'contest this deficiency in court before making any payment', that I must 'file a petition with the United States Tax Court'."↩
3. At the time that the petition was filed, petitioner resided in Las Vegas, Nevada.↩
4. To the extent that petitioner may still be arguing that the Appeals officer failed to provide him with a copy of the verification, we note that