MEMORANDUM OPINION
RUWE,
On February 8, 2007, petitioner filed another Motion to Change Case to a "Small Tax Case". Petitioner attached a copy of Form 8857, Request for Innocent Spouse Relief, that she submitted on February 24, 2006. On the Form 8857, she explained: "We are asking for relief for the following amounts" listed as follows:
1997 | $ 22,141.54 |
1999 | 12,025.26 |
2000 | 11,468.46 |
2001 | 6,673.95 |
2002 | |
Total | 59,336.33 |
Petitioner also attached IRS account transcripts for each of the years in issue indicating that her unpaid tax liabilities (including interest and penalties) as of January 2007 exceeded $ 61,000. Nevertheless, in her February 8, 2007, motion, petitioner states that "Without penalties and interest 2007 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 221">*223 the amount in issue is $ 32,059.48 & does not exceed $ 50,000".
On July 24, 2007, this Court held that the amount of relief sought for purposes of interest and penalties are generally treated as tax, and any reference in the Internal Revenue Code to "tax" (with exceptions not applicable to this case) shall be deemed to include interest and penalties. * * * * * * * A taxpayer seeking relief from joint liability is seeking relief from amounts that have accrued with regard to the liability for which relief is sought, regardless of whether the ministerial act of assessment on those amounts has occurred. Thus, for purposes of
The record in this case shows that on the day petitioner filed her petition, the amount of relief sought, including interest and penalties, exceeded $ 50,000. Accordingly, we will deny petitioner's Motion to Change Case to a "Small Tax Case". The proceedings in this case will continue pursuant to the Court's regular case procedures.
To reflect the foregoing,
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. The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, Pub. L. 109-432, div. C, sec. 408, 120 Stat. 3061, amended