Judges: Vasquez
Attorneys: Marvin Silverman, pro se. Gavin L. Greene , for respondent.
Filed: Oct. 18, 2007
Latest Update: Dec. 05, 2020
Summary: T.C. Memo. 2007-316 UNITED STATES TAX COURT MARVIN SILVERMAN, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent Docket No. 13629-05L. Filed October 18, 2007. Marvin Silverman, pro se. Gavin L. Greene, for respondent. MEMORANDUM OPINION VASQUEZ, Judge: This case is before the Court on respondent’s motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 121.1 1 Unless otherwise indicated, all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, and all section references are to the
Summary: T.C. Memo. 2007-316 UNITED STATES TAX COURT MARVIN SILVERMAN, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent Docket No. 13629-05L. Filed October 18, 2007. Marvin Silverman, pro se. Gavin L. Greene, for respondent. MEMORANDUM OPINION VASQUEZ, Judge: This case is before the Court on respondent’s motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 121.1 1 Unless otherwise indicated, all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, and all section references are to the I..
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T.C. Memo. 2007-316
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
MARVIN SILVERMAN, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 13629-05L. Filed October 18, 2007.
Marvin Silverman, pro se.
Gavin L. Greene, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
VASQUEZ, Judge: This case is before the Court on
respondent’s motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 121.1
1
Unless otherwise indicated, all Rule references are to
the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, and all section
references are to the Internal Revenue Code.
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Background
At the time he filed the petition, petitioner resided in
Beverly Hills, California.
On January 11, 1995, respondent mailed petitioner a notice
of deficiency determining deficiencies and additions to tax for
1989 and 1990. On September 22, 2003, respondent mailed
petitioner a notice of deficiency determining a deficiency and
additions to tax for 1998. The record does not establish that
petitioner received either notice of deficiency.
On June 29, 2001, petitioner filed a petition pursuant to
chapter 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. ch. 13, in the
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.
In the bankruptcy case, respondent filed a proof of claim and
multiple amended proofs of claim against petitioner regarding
petitioner’s assessed income tax liabilities for 1989, 1990, and
1998. On May 26, 2004, petitioner’s bankruptcy case was
dismissed.
On December 30, 2004, respondent sent petitioner a Final
Notice-–Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a
Hearing regarding petitioner’s outstanding 1989, 1990, and 1998
income tax liabilities. On January 18, 2005, petitioner sent
respondent a Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process
Hearing (hearing request). Petitioner attached to the hearing
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request a letter containing frivolous and groundless arguments.
Petitioner did not propose any collection alternatives.
On April 11, 2005, Appeals Account Resolution Specialist
Sophie Tittle sent petitioner a letter advising him that the
issues he raised were frivolous or were issues that the Appeals
Office does not consider. Ms. Tittle scheduled a telephone
conference for May 10, 2005. Ms. Tittle reviewed petitioner’s
administrative file for 1989, 1990, and 1998 and confirmed that
respondent had complied with all applicable laws and
administrative procedures. On May 10, 2005, Settlement Officer
Lupe Silva called petitioner at the telephone number listed on
petitioner’s hearing request; however, the phone number no longer
was in service.
Respondent issued petitioner a Notice of Determination
Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/or 6330
regarding his 1989, 1990, and 1998 tax years. In the notice of
determination, respondent sustained the proposed collection
action.
Discussion
I. Motion for Summary Judgment
Rule 121(a) provides that either party may move for summary
judgment upon all or any part of the legal issues in controversy.
Full or partial summary judgment may be granted only if it is
demonstrated that no genuine issue exists as to any material fact
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and a decision may be rendered as a matter of law. Rule 121(b);
Sundstrand Corp. v. Commissioner,
98 T.C. 518, 520 (1992), affd.
17 F.3d 965 (7th Cir. 1994).
We conclude that there is no genuine issue as to any
material fact and that a decision may be rendered as a matter of
law.
II. Determination To Proceed With Collection
Section 6330(a) provides that the Secretary shall furnish
taxpayers with written notice of their right to a hearing before
any property is levied upon. Section 6330 further provides that
the taxpayer may request administrative review of the matter (in
the form of a hearing) within a prescribed 30-day period. Sec.
6330(a) and (b).
Pursuant to section 6330(c)(2)(A), a taxpayer may raise at
the section 6330 hearing any relevant issue with regard to the
Commissioner’s collection activities, including spousal defenses,
challenges to the appropriateness of the Commissioner’s intended
collection action, and alternative means of collection. Sego v.
Commissioner,
114 T.C. 604, 609 (2000); Goza v. Commissioner,
114
T.C. 176, 180 (2000). If a taxpayer received a statutory notice
of deficiency for the years in issue or otherwise had the
opportunity to dispute the underlying tax liabilities, the
taxpayer is precluded from challenging the existence or amount of
the underlying tax liabilities. Sec. 6330(c)(2)(B); Sego v.
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Commissioner, supra at 610-611; Goza v. Commissioner, supra at
182-183.
If Commissioner submits a proof of claim for unpaid Federal
tax liabilities in a taxpayer’s bankruptcy action, the taxpayer
has had the opportunity to dispute the liabilities for purposes
of section 6330(c)(2)(B). See Kendricks v. Commissioner,
124
T.C. 69 (2005); Hassell v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2006-196;
Drake v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2006-151; Sabath v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2005-222. In petitioner’s bankruptcy
proceeding, respondent submitted proofs of claim for petitioner’s
unpaid income tax liabilities for 1989, 1990, and 1998.
Petitioner did not dispute these tax liabilities. Accordingly,
petitioner cannot challenge his underlying liabilities herein.
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. See Rule 331(b)(4).
Accordingly, we conclude that respondent did not commit any abuse
of discretion, and we sustain respondent’s determination to
proceed with collection.
To reflect the foregoing,
An appropriate order and
decision will be entered.