Sarah A. Hall, United States Bankruptcy Judge.
On June 18 and 19, 2018, the Court conducted a trial on the Second Amended Complaint (the "Complaint") [Doc. 9] filed on January 3, 2017, by debtor David E. Terrell ("Terrell") against the United
The Court has jurisdiction to hear this Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b), and venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1409. Reference to the Court of this matter is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(a), and this is a core proceeding as contemplated by 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I).
Terrell filed a voluntary chapter 7 petition in 2010 and was granted a discharge in early 2011, and his bankruptcy case was closed shortly thereafter. The IRS then attempted to collect taxes relating to tax years prior to Terrell's 2010 bankruptcy. In response, Terrell filed a motion to reopen his case in 2015 and subsequently initiated this adversary proceeding seeking a determination that his taxes for the 1998 and 1999 tax years had been discharged. The IRS contends that, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(1)(C),
In making the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the Court considered:
1. After graduating from college and working in his father's windows and siding business in Indiana, in the 1970s Terrell opened his own patio and sunroom company in Cincinnati, Ohio. At some point, Terrell relocated his business to Terre Haute, Indiana and thereafter moved his business to Oklahoma in the early 1980s. Over the past 40 plus years, Terrell has continued to operate a business that includes one or more of the following: roofing, siding, windows, remodeling, and home interior services.
2. At all times, Terrell has been the owner and president of the home improvement business he has operated. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, pp. 15-17; Poindexter testimony, Tr. 1, p. 118; Jackson testimony, Tr. 1, p. 194.
3. Terrell's home improvement business in Terre Haute, Indiana, "had a lot of different names through the years." Jackson testimony, Tr. 1, p. 194.
4. Since being established in Oklahoma, Terrell's business has been located in three different places in the Oklahoma City/Edmond area: 8005 S. I-35, Oklahoma City; 8825 S. Santa Fe, Oklahoma City; and at his home in Edmond, Oklahoma. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1.
5. Since being operated in Oklahoma, Terrell's home improvement business has been in continuous existence and, although consisting of substantially similar activities, has been incorporated under Oklahoma law and operated under the following different names: Terrell's, Terrell Inc., Terrell Roofing, Terrell Siding, Terrell Home Center, Inc., T-Square, L.L.C., and David Terrell, Inc.
7. During the tax years in question, Terrell's business changed banks to avoid garnishment by creditors. Poindexter testimony, Tr. 1, p. 129.
8. At all times, Terrell was in complete control of the finances of his business and could determine the salary paid to him from the business, if any. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1; Poindexter testimony, Tr. 1, p. 128.
9. In addition to his home improvement business, during the tax years in question, Terrell owned InfoTel Solutions, Inc., a software company that sold predictive dialers and operated on the premises of his home improvement business. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, p. 20; Poindexter testimony, Tr. 1, p. 120; Exhibit 42.
10. The Terrells filed for bankruptcy protection in early 1986. After the chapter 7 trustee issued his final report of no assets for distribution, the Terrells were granted a discharge on November 24, 1986, in Case No. 86-00832.
11. In August of 1990, Terrell was invited to and accepted membership for his family in Oak Tree Country Club in Edmond, Oklahoma. Exhibit 68.
12. At some point in 1997, Terrell bought a house on Fox Lake Lane in Edmond, Oklahoma. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1. Although the purchase price of the new home was not introduced into evidence during trial, the evidentiary record indicates that Terrell placed the following values on his home for purposes of interactions with the IRS and bankruptcy filings: (i) $297,500 in November 1999, Exhibit 40; (ii) $235,000 in April 2001, Exhibit 8; (iii) $275,000 in December 2008, Exhibit 51; and (iv) $320,580 in November 2010, Exhibit 23.
13. At the time Terrell purchased his home on Fox Lake Lane in 1997, he owned another home located on Barrington Lane, also in Edmond. Mrs. Terrell had been living in the previous home during a period of marital separation. When the Terrells resumed their marriage and both moved into the home on Fox Lake Lane, the home on Barrington Lane was rented out to Ted and Linda Tate (collectively, the "Tates"). Terrell testimony. Tr. 1, pp. 28-29; Jackson testimony, Tr. 1, p. 200.
14. During the tax years in question, Terrell's teenage daughter drove a 1994 Toyota Camry, his teenage son drove a 1996 Dodge truck, and his wife drove a 1996 Ford Explorer. The combined total of the monthly payments for the three vehicles was $1,527. Exhibit 33; Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, pp. 34-35.
15. At some point in 1998, Terrell purchased a pair of jet skis for his family's use. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, p. 56; Jackson testimony, Tr. 1, pp. 205-06.
16. In October 1999, Terrell had a custom deck built onto his house that cost at least $1,254. Exhibit 81; Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, pp. 50-51.
18. Terrell incorporated Terrell Home Center, Inc. on June 1, 1998. Exhibit 72.
19. On October 15, 1998, the Terrells filed a joint federal personal income tax return for tax year 1997 and signed it under the penalty of perjury. Exhibit 16 at p. 19.
20. For tax year 1997, the Terrells reported adjusted gross income of $10,000. The income consisted solely of W-2 wages for Terrell from Terrell, Inc. The Terrells' reported taxable income was zero, and therefore, their tax liability was zero. In fact, they claimed an Earned Income Tax Credit due them by way of refund. Exhibit 41 at p. 8810-16; Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, p. 72.
21. On April 15, 1999, the Terrells filed a joint federal personal income tax return for tax year 1998 and signed it under the penalty of perjury. Pretrial Order ¶ 3.
22. For tax year 1998, the Terrells reported adjusted gross income of $26,156. The income consisted of:
The Terrells' reported taxable income was $3,957, and, after claiming an Education Tax Credit and a small Earned Income Tax Credit, their income tax liability was $121.
23. On April 17, 2000, the Terrells filed a joint federal personal income tax return for tax year 1999 and signed it under the penalty of perjury. Pretrial Order ¶ 4.
24. For tax year 1999, the Terrells reported adjusted gross income of $45,066. The income consisted of:
The Terrells' reported taxable income was $6,940, and their income tax liability was $709. Exhibit 2.
25. At some point in 1999, the IRS issued a Proposed Assessment of Trust Fund Recovery Penalty in the amount of $117,518.53 for nonpayment of employment taxes by "Terrell Roofing Corporation" ("Trust Fund Recovery Penalty"). Absent evidence in the record of the incorporation of Terrell Roofing Corporation, it was necessary for the Court to search the Oklahoma Secretary of State business records for clarification. Based on that search, it appears Terrell Roofing Corporation may have been a DBA for Terrell's, Inc. and/or was merged into Terrell's, Inc.
26. Also on August 13, 1999, Terrell executed a Form 2848 Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative (the "POA"), authorizing Randall Tollison of Compromise Consultants and Paul McCurtain of C. Michael Clark & Associates to represent him before the IRS with respect to the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty. Curiously, representation under the POA also pertains to Terrell's personal income taxes for years 1997, 1998, and 1999. Exhibit 40 at p. 8763.
27. In November 1999, Randall Tollison, on behalf of Terrell, submitted an Offer in Compromise ("OIC") with respect to the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty against Terrell Roofing Corporation. The November 1999 OIC (the "1999 OIC"), based on doubt as to collectibility due to insufficient assets and income to pay the full amount, offered to pay the IRS only $500 of the $117,518.53 penalty. Exhibit 40 at p. 8757.
28. Although the 1999 OIC related to taxes owed by Terrell Roofing Corporation, the 1999 OIC contained no Collection Information Statement regarding Terrell Roofing Corporation, Terrell's, Inc., or any other business owned by Terrell. The Collection Information Statement for Individuals submitted with the 1999 OIC stated Terrell was employed as the sales manager for Terrell Home Center, Inc., and Mrs. Terrell was self-employed and doing business as Terrell Interiors. Their combined monthly income was stated as $3,664. The only bank account listed was an account at MidFirst Bank allegedly in Mrs. Terrell's name with a balance of $226. Further, the 1999 OIC computes the Terrells' net disposable income as a negative $163 per month and net realizable equity in their assets as $226. Exhibit 40 at pp. 8772, 8875, 8780.
29. When he signed the 1999 OIC on November 10, 1999, claiming only one bank account in Mrs. Terrell's name with a balance of $226, another undisclosed bank account in Mrs. Terrell's name at MidFirst Bank had a balance of $5,363.66. Exhibit 80 at p. 3620.
30. On December 8, 1999, Terrell dissolved two of his corporations: Terrell's, Inc. and Terrell Siding, Inc. Exhibits 71 & 74.
31. In the last two weeks of March 2000, Terrell withdrew funds from and caused cashiers checks, or checks made out to himself, to be issued from the Terrell Home Center Inc. bank account at MidFirst Bank that totaled over $30,000. Exhibit 109.
32. On March 31, 2000, Terrell formed a new corporation named T-Square, L.L.C. Exhibit 73.
33. In July 2000, Terrell completed a "Report of Interview with Individual Relative to Trust Fund Recovery Penalty or Personal Liability for Excise Tax" with respect to Infotel Solutions, Inc. The Report asked the question "Have you ever been involved with another company which had tax problems?" Terrell responded "N/A," notwithstanding the recent Trust Fund Recovery Penalty issues with Terrell Roofing Corporation. Exhibit 42 at p. 8845.
34. In September 2000, Terrell submitted another OIC, this time apparently without professional assistance, with respect to the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty for nonpayment of taxes by Terrell Roofing
35. Notwithstanding his representations to the IRS that he could only afford to pay $500 on his tax liability, on November 11, 2000, Terrell purchased a new Acura paying $5,000 cash toward the purchase price. On February 10, 2001, Terrell purchased yet another new Acura, again paying $5,000 cash toward the purchase price. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, pp. 74-75.
36. Upon inquiry from the IRS, in March 2001, Terrell submitted a letter together with additional documents in support of the 2000 OIC. The letter states "I personally do not have a checking account, nor am I an authorized signer on any checking account." Exhibit 47 at p. 8839. Also included in the documents is an affidavit by Terrell that states "I never personally owned the assets of Terrell Home Center, Inc." Exhibit 47 at p. 8441. Further, the documents include a declaration made under penalty of perjury by Terrell that states "[d]uring the past twelve month period, I have not maintained a checking or savings account in my name or any other name. As of the date shown below, the total cash on hand in my possession or control is $-0-." Exhibit 47 at p. 8842.
37. In March 2001, Terrell also submitted a Form 433-B Collection Information Statement for Businesses with respect to Terrell Home Center, Inc. that stated Mrs. Terrell was president of the corporation, and that it had no bank accounts, no assets, and approximately $610,000 in liabilities. Exhibit 48.
38. At trial, the IRS demonstrated that none of these statements were true. First, Terrell admitted he was the owner and president of Terrell Home Center, Inc., and, during the twelve-month period prior to making the statements, he had authority to issue checks from the account Terrell Home Center, Inc. maintained at MidFirst Bank. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, pp. 88-91. Second, Terrell admitted he has always had a bank account since 1997. Terrell testimony, Transcript of Proceedings Held on June 19, 2018 (second day of trial, hereafter "Tr. 2"), p. 43. Third, during the relevant time period, checks made out to Terrell were deposited into Mrs. Terrell's account at MidFirst Bank. Exhibits 109-110.
39. Terrell's March 2001 submission to the IRS in support of the 2000 OIC did not contain a Form 443-B with respect to T-Square, L.L.C., which Terrell incorporated in March 2000 to conduct the same home improvement business previously operated as Terrell Home Center, Inc. Exhibit 73; Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, pp. 80-82.
40. IRS agents contacted and interviewed Poindexter, Terrell's bookkeeper, with respect to Terrell's personal income tax issues sometime in 2000 or 2001. Poindexter testimony Tr. 1, p. 129.
41. The Terrells filed a joint voluntary chapter 7 petition on April 26, 2001, in this Court, Case No. 01-14289. Pretrial Order ¶ 5.
42. The Terrells' 2001 Schedule B does not list ownership of any business interests. Schedule I states that Terrell has been employed by "Terrell's" as a salesman for a period of one month and has monthly gross wages of $1,000. Exhibit 8. However, the corporation named Terrell's, Inc. was dissolved on December 8, 1999, and Terrell's business was, therefore, likely being operated under T-Square, L.L.C., which was incorporated on March 31, 2000. Exhibits 73 & 74.
44. The Terrells' 2001 Schedule E lists a debt to the IRS in the amount of $50,000. Exhibit 8. No information is given regarding the tax year or tax type of the scheduled IRS debt.
45. During the pendency of the 2001 bankruptcy case, Terrell submitted a POA dated August 23, 2001, authorizing Randall Tollison and Norma Woodard to represent him before the IRS with respect to both personal and corporate income taxes for years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Exhibit 49.
46. Also during the pendency of the bankruptcy case, on January 28, 2002, Terrell purchased a 2002 Acura MDX, paying $41,000 in the form of a cashier's check issued by BankOne, payable to Bob Howard Acura and endorsed by Terrell. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, pp. 98-99; Exhibit 61.
47. After the chapter 7 trustee filed a report of no distribution to creditors [Doc. 35], the Terrells received a discharge on November 12, 2002 [Doc. 37], and the case was closed on January 13, 2003 [Doc. 39]. Exhibit 7.
48. Terrell admitted that he learned of the IRS's criminal investigation into his personal income taxes sometime before 2003. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, p. 103.
49. On October 1, 2004, a federal criminal information was filed against Terrell for filing a fraudulent income tax return for tax year 1997 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma ("District Court"). Pretrial Order ¶ 6.
50. Terrell was initially represented in the tax matter by criminal attorney Merle Gile and entered a plea of guilty. Exhibit 9. However, because he thought his sentence was to include a term of imprisonment, Terrell then stated he was not guilty. Therefore, the District Court did not accept the guilty plea. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1; Calvert testimony, Tr. 2, pp. 51-52.
51. Terrell then retained Calvert, a tax attorney and certified public accountant, to represent him in the criminal tax matter. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1; Calvert testimony, Tr. 2, p. 52.
52. During the IRS's criminal investigation of Terrell, the IRS agents had to "create two separate sets of books out of one set of books." Calvert testimony, Tr. 2, p. 52. It is not clear what books were required to be separated, but it may have been separation of Terrell's home improvement business books from those of InfoTel Solutions, Inc., and/or separation of the books of the three different corporations Terrell conducted business through during the relevant tax years: Terrell's, Inc., Terrell Siding Inc., and Terrell Home Center, Inc.
53. On March 4, 2005, Terrell signed a Petition to Enter Plea of Guilty with respect to the charge of filing a fraudulent income tax return for tax year 1997. Pretrial Order ¶ 7.
54. On the Petition, Terrell stated his employer as Terrell's, Inc., but Terrell's, Inc. was dissolved in 1999. Exhibits 14 & 74.
55. As part of the Petition, Terrell specifically acknowledged he owed taxes for tax years 1997, 1998, and 1999. Pretrial Order ¶ 7.
56. A Plea Agreement was filed on March 9, 2005, in which Terrell pled guilty to violating 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1) by filing a
57. At the plea proceedings, Terrell admitted to the District Court that he deliberately filed his 1997 tax return stating his income as $10,000 when he in fact knew that his income was approximately $130,000. Exhibit 16 at p. 19.
58. On July 5, 2005, the District Court entered a criminal judgment against Terrell for filing a fraudulent 1997 tax return. Pretrial Order ¶ 9.
59. The maximum penalty that could have been imposed on Terrell for his crime was "three (3) years imprisonment or a fine of $100,000.00 (or possible alternative fine of $250,000.00 pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3571), or both such fine and imprisonment, as well as a mandatory special assessment of $100.00, and a term of supervised release of one (1) year." Exhibit 15 at p. 2.
60. At sentencing, the District Court imposed a fine of only $5,000 and did not incarcerate Terrell. Additionally, the criminal judgment ordered Terrell to pay restitution in the amount of $16,422. One of the probation terms of the criminal judgment was that Terrell "comply with the Internal Revenue Service in the compilation and payment of all federal tax due and owing." Exhibit 20 at p. 4; Pretrial Order ¶ 9.
61. According to Calvert, Terrell believed that the restitution ordered in the criminal matter was the amount of the his income taxes due for 1997 and that, when he paid it, he would have paid his 1997 income taxes in full. Calvert testimony, Tr. 2, p. 68.
62. Calvert advised Terrell that there would be a subsequent civil assessment of liabilities against him for tax years 1997, 1998, and 1999. Calvert testimony, Tr. 2, p. 72.
63. Calvert did not represent Terrell with respect to civil tax matters after the criminal matter was resolved. Calvert testimony, Tr. 2, pp. 60-61.
64. On October 27, 2005, Terrell and Jackson, the former Mrs. Terrell,
65. The Form 4549 Terrell signed states that the deficiency (additional tax due) for tax year 1998 is $98,738. The deficiency for tax year 1999 is stated as $51,422. After the addition of the civil fraud penalty and interest, the amount due for tax year 1998 is stated as $264,712.46, and the amount due for tax year 1999 is stated as $127,190.57. Above Terrell's signature, the Form 4549 states: "I do not wish to exercise my appeal rights with the Internal Revenue Service or to contest in the United States Tax Court the findings of this report. Therefore, I give my consent to the immediate assessment and collection of any increase in tax and penalties... plus additional interest as provided by law." Exhibit 50.
66. The IRS assessed the additional tax due and interest for tax years 1997, 1998, and 1999 on January 2, 2006. Exhibits 4 & 5.
67. On February 6, 2006, the IRS issued notices of intent to levy with respect to taxes for tax years 1998 and 1999. Exhibit 4 at p. 7 & Exhibit 5 at p. 8.
68. Terrell submitted an OIC on May 3, 2007 (the "2007 OIC"), which the IRS rejected several months later. Exhibits 4 & 5 at p. 4; Day testimony, Tr. 1, p. 185.
69. On October 31, 2008, Terrell satisfied payment of his criminal restitution of $16,422. Exhibit 9.
70. On December 12, 2008, only two months after payment in full of his criminal restitution, Terrell submitted another OIC to the IRS, this time with the assistance of Roderick H. Polston (the "2008 OIC"). The 2008 OIC purported to relate to the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty for nonpayment of taxes by Terrell Roofing Corporation, the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty for nonpayment of employment taxes by Infotel Solutions, Inc., and personal and/or corporate income taxes for the thirteen tax years 1996 through 2008. The 2008 OIC states that the total debt owed exceeds $1,500,000, but Terrell offered to pay the IRS only $15,831.19 in $500 monthly payments over a two-year period, with a final payment of $3,831.19. The 2008 OIC is premised, once again, on the basis of doubt as to collectibility due to insufficient assets and income to pay. Exhibit 51.
71. With the 2008 OIC, Terrell submitted a Form 433-A Collection Information Statement for Individuals stating his occupation as self-employed contractor and listing his monthly income as $2,481, composed of $1,000 in wages and $1,481.26 in net business income. Yet, no employer paying wages is identified, and Sections 5 and 6 of the form pertaining to self-employed taxpayers, which Terrell claimed to be, was left blank. Exhibit 51 at pp. 9225-26. The 2008 OIC further indicates Terrell has no cash on hand, no personal bank accounts of any kind, and no assets other than his residence and its furniture contents.
72. Terrell's 2008 OIC neither disclosed ownership of, nor gave any information about, his home improvement business. But it appears that in 2008, Terrell was conducting business under David Terrell, Inc., which he incorporated in June 2005. Exhibit 70. At trial, the IRS established that, during 2008, David Terrell, Inc. maintained a bank account at Bank of Oklahoma and one at Chase Bank. Exhibit 38. Additionally, Terrell admitted he has always had a bank account since 1997. Terrell testimony, Tr. 2, p. 43.
73. Terrell withdrew the 2008 OIC on June 11, 2009. Exhibits 4 & 5.
75. Terrell filed a voluntary chapter 7 petition on November 1, 2010, in this Court, Case No. 10-16662. Pretrial Order ¶ 10.
76. Terrell's 2010 Schedule B listed ownership of 1,000 shares of "Terrills Siding" valued at zero. His Schedule I states his occupation as owner of "Terrill's Siding" (employed 9 years) with gross monthly wages of $2,766.67. Exhibit 23 at p. 16. However, Terrell's Siding, Inc. was dissolved as a corporation in 1999. Exhibit 71 at p. 8920. The document filed as Employee Income Records/Pay Advices [Bankruptcy Doc. 13] was issued by David Terrell, Inc., which was incorporated in June 2005. It states the employee wages total for the period March 1, 2010, to December 31, 2010, as $5,018.78. However, the total amount was received between July 27, 2010, and September 30, 2010.
77. Under Question 18 of his 2010 Statement of Financial Affairs regarding nature, location and name of business, Terrell listed only "Terrill's Siding". Exhibit 23 at p. 25.
78. Terrell's 2010 Schedule B listed no cash on hand and $55 in a checking account. Exhibit 23 at p. 4.
79. Terrell's 2010 Schedule E listed the IRS as an unsecured priority creditor in the amount of $95,000. Pretrial Order ¶ 11. No information is given regarding the tax year or tax type of the scheduled IRS debt.
80. The day before he filed his bankruptcy schedules on November 17, 2010, Terrell traveled for non-business purposes to Austin, Texas, with various expenses paid by check drawn on the David Terrell, Inc. account at Bank of Oklahoma. In December 2010, the same account paid expenses incurred at the luxury resort and spa Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado. Exhibit 123; Terrell testimony, Tr. 1 at pp. 145-48.
81. On January 31, 2011, the chapter 7 trustee filed a report of no distribution to creditors [Dkt. sheet]. Thereafter, Terrell received his discharge on February 16, 2011, and the bankruptcy case was closed on April 5, 2011. Pretrial Order ¶ 12.
82. Shortly after Terrell's bankruptcy case was closed, the IRS again issued a statutory notice of intent to levy on 1998 and 1999 taxes on August 8, 2011. Exhibits 4 & 5 at p. 8.
83. Terrell then filed another OIC on October 25, 2011, this time assisted by Jay Flinton, CPA, Inc., paying the $150 OIC submission fee and an additional $400 (the "2011 OIC"). The 2011 OIC purports to relate to personal income taxes for 1997, 1998, 1999, 2008, and 2009, as well as to a "1998 Civil Penalty," and offers to pay a total of $2,000. Exhibit 54; Day testimony, Tr. 1 at pp. 190-91.
84. During the pendency of his 2011 OIC, on February 13, 2012, Terrell wrote himself a check from a "Terrell's" bank account at Bank of Oklahoma for $7,000. Exhibit 86; Terrell testimony, Tr. 1 at p. 161.
85. Terrell withdrew his 2011 OIC on May 10, 2012. Exhibits 4 at p. 5 & Exhibit 5 at p. 6.
86. Other than the $550 submitted with the 2011 OIC, which was credited to his 1999 tax liabilities, Terrell has made no payments toward the 1998 or 1999 taxes he owes. Day testimony, Tr. 1 at pp. 186, 190-91; Exhibits 4 & 5.
88. In December 2012, Terrell moved to reopen his bankruptcy case for purposes of determining the dischargeability of his taxes, and the Court entered an order granting the motion on January 4, 2013. However, Terrell took no further action, and the bankruptcy case was subsequently closed on February 25, 2014. Pretrial Order ¶ 13.
89. The IRS issued yet another statutory notice of intent to levy on the 1998 and 1999 taxes on January 12, 2015. Exhibits 4 & 5 at p. 8.
90. In June 2015, Terrell again moved to reopen his bankruptcy case for the purpose of determining the dischargeability of his income taxes, and the Court again entered an order granting the motion on July 14, 2015. Pretrial Order ¶ 14.
91. Notwithstanding that he pled guilty to and was convicted of filing a fraudulent return for tax year 1997, on November 3, 2015, Terrell filed Adversary Proceeding No. 15-01272 seeking a determination that his 1997 taxes had been discharged in his 2010 bankruptcy case. Pretrial Order ¶ 15.
92. On March 21, 2016, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of the IRS in Adversary Proceeding No. 15-01272 on the ground that Terrell's prior fraud conviction for tax year 1997 collaterally estopped him from challenging the nondischargeability of the associated tax debt. Pretrial Order ¶ 16.
93. Terrell appealed this Court's summary judgment in Adversary Proceeding No.15-01272 to the United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Tenth Circuit, which affirmed this Court's decision on February 17, 2017. Pretrial Order ¶ 17.
94. While Adversary Proceeding No. 15-01272 relating to his 1997 taxes was pending on appeal, Terrell commenced this adversary proceeding on October 31, 2016, seeking a determination that his 1998 and 1999 tax obligations were discharged in his 2010 bankruptcy case. Pretrial Order ¶ 18.
95. After the Scheduling Conference [Doc. 17] was held and the Scheduling Order entered [Doc. 18], the IRS served Terrell with its Interrogatories, Requests for Admissions, and Requests for Production of Documents on March 24, 2017. On April 18, 2017, Terrell provided a combined response to the IRS's discovery requests and produced no documents. The IRS followed-up Terrell's responses with a letter highlighting the deficiencies in his discovery responses. Terrell unsatisfactorily supplemented his answers to the discovery requests, and the IRS was then forced to file a motion to compel [Doc. 20]. The Court entered an order compelling Terrell to answer interrogatories and produce documents [Doc. 45] on July 19, 2017.
96. Terrell eventually produced some of the more recent documents that were requested by the IRS. However, Terrell ultimately failed to produce any documents reflecting his actual income received or reported in 1998 and 1999, failed to produce any documents relating to the businesses he operated during that period, and failed to produce any documentation of his business or personal expenses from 1998 to 2007.
97. On October 30, 2017, the IRS filed a motion for summary judgment [Doc. 64] arguing it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law because Terrell willfully attempted to evade or defeat the taxes. The summary judgment motion did not argue that Terrell had filed fraudulent returns. The Court denied the IRS's summary judgment motion by order entered on February 6, 2018 [Doc. 90] because the issue of Terrell's intent to willfully evade or defeat taxes was a disputed material fact.
98. Terrell admitted he knew he had a duty to file accurate federal income tax returns. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, p. 21.
99. Terrell admitted he knew he had a duty to report his business income in some form on his personal income tax return. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, p. 20-21.
100. Terrell's business paid personal expenses on his behalf. He testified it was his practice to account for these expenses by having them booked to his "draw account," with those amounts being reported as income to him by issuance of a Form 1099. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, p. 22.
101. Poindexter testified that Terrell would tell her whether an expense should be noted as his personal expense in the general ledger account of the business' bookkeeping software program, and that, at the end of the year, Terrell and his accountant would get together to review the personal expenses. Poindexter testimony, Tr. 1, p. 127.
102. Terrell admitted he provided his tax preparer with the financial information necessary to complete his tax returns and reviewed the returns before he signed them. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, p. 22.
103. For tax year 1998, Terrell reported no partnership/S corporation income from Terrell's, Inc., Terrell's Siding, or Terrell's Home Center, Inc. Exhibit 39. Additionally, no 1099's were issued to Terrell by his business on account of the personal expenses paid or, if issued, were not reported. At trial, the IRS demonstrated the Terrells had
Rental income $4,500 Exhibit 102
Business checks deposited
in personal account $21,873 Exhibit 96
Country club fees
paid by business12 $6,461 Exhibit 99
Family car payments
paid by business $9,904.54 Exhibit 97
MISC-1099 James M. Taylor Designs $13,984 Exhibit 43 MISC-1099 Terrell Home Center $27,500 Exhibit 43 (Pam Terrell) Business checks deposited in personal account $9,612.10 Exhibit 105 Country club fees paid by business $4,493.91 Exhibit 106 Family car payments paid by business $7,668.89 Exhibit 103 Deck on house paid by business $1,254.00 Exhibit 81 Elliptical purchased by business $1,410.34 Exhibit 82
105. Between the time he submitted his 2008 OIC on December 12, 2008, and the time he filed his schedules in his 2010 bankruptcy on November 17, 2010, Terrell appears to have made considerable principal payments with respect to the note and mortgage on his home. The 2008 OIC, Exhibit 51, states the fair market value of Terrell's home at $275,000 and the outstanding mortgage as $204,168.81. Less than two years later, his 2010 Schedules A and D lists the fair market value at $320,580 and the outstanding mortgage as $170,000. Exhibit 23 at pp. 3, 8.
106. Several months after Terrell's 2010 bankruptcy case closed, and immediately prior to filing his 2011 OIC offering
107. While Terrell's 2011 OIC was pending, he incurred the following expenses:
108. Between December 2012 and March 2017, Terrell continued to incur expenses for travel to Las Vegas, Disney World, cruises, and more. Altogether, the IRS quantified $30,794.05 vacation-related expenses between August 2008 and March 2017, exclusive of airfare. Exhibit 123. According to the IRS, Terrell's airfare expenses between August 2010 and August 2017 totaled $18,060. Exhibit 126.
109. Since at least 2008, Terrell has routinely spent hundreds of dollars a month on non-medically prescribed health and wellness products. All tolled, for the period 2008 to February 2017, the IRS quantified health and wellness expenses of $51,975.14. Exhibit 125.
110. Between February 2011 and April 2017, the IRS quantified expenses of $25,262.57 incurred by Terrell for seminar fees. Exhibit 121.
111. Between December 2008 and June 2017, the IRS quantified investment expenses of $69,969.05 incurred by Terrell. Exhibit 124.
112. At some point, Terrell became a member of Ranch Country Club, located in Westminster, Colorado. Between July 2014 and July 2017, Terrell spent over $20,000 on Ranch Country Club fees and expenses. Terrell testimony, Tr. 1, p. 166; Exhibit 122; Pretrial Order at p. 14.
113. Between February 2012 and May 2016, the IRS quantified golf-related expenses (independent of the Ranch Country Club fees) of $21,649.22 incurred by Terrell. Exhibit 127.
114. For the tax years 2008 to 2016, Terrell took charitable contribution deductions on his tax returns in the total amount of $42,041. Exhibit 129.
115. On June 27, 2017, Terrell wrote a letter to Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma thanking him for his and his staff's "help in my IRS matter." In that letter, Terrell stated "When we left Criminal Court that day, I felt we had won and it was finally behind me ... But my attorney said `they will probably come after you on the civil side now.'" Terrell's letter to Senator Inhofe also suggests that the IRS is targeting him because he is a "Conservative Christian businessman." Exhibit 58.
116. Nevertheless, at trial Terrell testified that after he made payment of the restitution ordered by the District Court in the amount of $16,422, he believed the "IRS was paid in full," and "they would not be coming after [him] for any more money." Terrell testimony, Tr. 2, p. 7.
117. The Court found Day, Poindexter, and Calvert all to be credible witnesses, but it cannot say the same of Terrell.
118. When being examined by counsel for the IRS, Terrell was evasive, uncooperative, defensive, and often pretended to be confused. His testimony was inconsistent with prior depositions and requests for admission. Terrell repeatedly gave gratuitous information beyond the scope of the question asked, even after being admonished not to do so by the Court. He remembered very little and would have the Court believe he never read anything he ever signed, even important documents submitted to the IRS, which must be signed under penalty of perjury. However, when being examined by his counsel, Terrell had a completely different temperament and demeanor, a much better memory, and much improved mental acuity.
The Bankruptcy Code endeavors to provide the honest but unfortunate debtor a fresh start, but at the same time, it may not be used as a tax evasion device.
Thus, there are two prongs—or two different types of activity by a debtor—that can lead to nondischargeability of taxes under Section 523(a)(1)(C): (i) filing a fraudulent return; or (ii) attempting to evade or defeat a tax obligation. The Section 523(a)(1)(C) exception to discharge contains no time restrictions or limitations period. As a result, any tax liability involving a fraudulent return or a willful attempt to evade or defeat payment of the tax liability is nondischargeable, regardless of when it arose.
A discharge under Section 727 does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt for a tax with respect to which the debtor made a fraudulent return. The elements of a claim for nondischargeability under Section 523(a)(1)(C) based on a fraudulent return are similar to both (i) the fraud and false statements criminal offense in Section 7206(1) of the Internal Revenue Code,
The IRS may prove Terrell filed fraudulent returns for tax years 1998 and 1999 within the meaning of Section 523(a)(1)(C) by establishing that he: (1) had knowledge of the falsehood of the returns; (2) had an intent to evade taxes; and (3) underpaid his taxes.
A taxpayer's conduct prior to filing a tax return is relevant evidence concerning whether the taxpayer's subsequent actions were the result of honest mistake or deliberate evasion.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that consistent understatement of income with consequent underpayment of taxes is strong evidence of the intent to evade taxes required for a finding of fraud.
The record before this Court is replete with evidence to support a determination of nondischargeability of Terrell's taxes under Section 523(a)(1)(C) for filing fraudulent income tax returns for tax years 1998 and 1999. Terrell's conduct
Terrell's failure to pay over employment (income and FICA) taxes withheld from the paychecks of "Terrell Roofing Corporation's" employees is the first of many indicia of his cavalier attitude towards legal tax duties and obligations. As owner and president of his business, Terrell was a responsible party
Although he may have formed a new corporation in an attempt to protect his business assets, as a responsible party, Terrell could not escape personal liability for the employment taxes of Terrell Roofing Corporation. Nonremittance of trust fund taxes withheld from employees' paychecks is effectively stealing from the U.S. Treasury.
The Internal Revenue Code authorizes compromises of tax liabilities (usually by filing an OIC) when it is unlikely that the tax liabilities can be collected
Beginning with the first OIC he filed in November 1999, Terrell
In July 2000, Terrell was again interacting with the IRS regarding nonremittance of trust fund taxes, this time with respect to Infotel Solutions, Inc. Terrell submitted another OIC in September 2000 with respect to both Terrell Roofing Corporation's and Infotel Solutions, Inc.'s outstanding employment taxes, again offering to pay a measly $500. Like the 1999 OIC, the 2000 OIC was demonstrably false and misleading, containing only outdated 1999 information similar to that given in connection with the previously submitted 1999 OIC, and most importantly, again failing to disclose his business interests.
In connection with the 2000 OIC, Terrell, once more, blatantly lied to the IRS, under penalty of perjury, by stating that he never owned the assets of Terrell Home Center, Inc., and that his wife was president of the corporation. However, by that time, Terrell had already withdrawn all the funds in Terrell Home Center, Inc.'s bank account and formed a new corporation named T-Square, L.L.C. (not disclosed on
Thus, when the IRS detected Terrell's nonremittance of the employment taxes and sought to impose a penalty on him, Terrell attempted to compromise the penalty but did not deal with the IRS in a forthcoming or good faith manner. He obfuscated his true circumstances rather than providing all relevant information while simultaneously transferring his business operations to new corporations to escape detection. As discussed further below, Terrell repeats this concealment of assets and true financial condition numerous times with respect to OICs and even bankruptcy filings. The Court concludes Terrell's pattern of conduct—his consistent failure to disclose assets in legal documents made under penalty of perjury—is circumstantial evidence that Terrell knowingly filed fraudulent returns for tax years 1998 and 1999.
In April 2001, after Terrell learned the IRS had begun investigating his personal income tax returns, the Terrells filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy relief. The bankruptcy petition triggered the Section 362 automatic stay, again protecting Terrell from any collection efforts by the IRS. In his 2001 chapter 7 filing, Terrell failed to schedule ownership of his home improvement business. His 2001 schedules portray Terrell as a salesman employed by "Terrell's" (a corporation no longer in existence) for a period of one month with monthly gross wages of $1,000, rather than the 100% owner of a home improvement business in continuous operation in Oklahoma City since the early 1980s (probably under the corporate name T-Square, L.L.C. at that time).
Moreover, Terrell's schedules indicated he had $100 cash on hand and no checking, savings, or other bank accounts, yet during the pendency of the 2001 bankruptcy case, he purchased a 2002 Acura MDX with a $41,000 cashier's check. A few months later, the Terrells received a bankruptcy discharge wiping their slate clean, but their creditors received no distribution whatsoever. See ¶¶ 42, 43, 46, 47 above.
In October of 1998, Terrell filed an admittedly fraudulent personal income tax return for tax year 1997. After the 2001 bankruptcy case was closed in 2003, the IRS pursued its criminal investigation of the Terrells with respect to tax years 1997, 1998, and 1999. Terrell eventually pled guilty to filing a fraudulent 1997 return. On his 2005 Petition to Enter Plea of Guilty, Terrell stated his employer as "Terrell's, Inc." even though that corporation had been dissolved in 1999 and never identified himself as a business owner.
Terrell's admission about his 1997 tax return gives the Court reason to believe he also knowingly filed fraudulent returns for tax years 1998 and 1999 in April 1999 and April 2000, respectively. This is especially the case when considered together with Terrell's other evasive actions during the relevant time period: (i) Terrell submitted OICs in 1999 and 2000 with respect to trust funds taxes in which he neglected to divulge his business ownership interests; (ii) Terrell dissolved corporations and formed new corporations to carry on the same business in an effort to avoid creditors (
Further, in his 1997 fraudulent return Plea Agreement, Terrell admitted that there was a tax loss to the IRS for tax years 1998 and 1999. The Plea Agreement states that "[i]f defendant enters a plea of guilty as described above and fully meets all obligations under this agreement, he will not be further prosecuted by the United States for any crimes related to his participation in making and subscribing false tax returns during the period from 1998 through 2000."
Additionally, following Terrell's criminal judgment and sentencing, he signed IRS Form 4549 consenting to assessment and collection of taxes for tax years 1998 and 1999,
After the IRS assessed the 1997-1999 tax deficiencies and fraud penalties and issued notices of intent to levy, Terrell filed another OIC in May 2007. The 2007 OIC was rejected by the IRS, but Terrell followed it up with yet another OIC in December 2008. Terrell's 2008 OIC offered to pay only one percent of the more than $1,500,000 in taxes, interest, and penalties owed. He proposed to pay $15,831.19 by remitting $500 with the 2008 OIC submission and then making 23 monthly installments of $500 and a final payment of $3,831.19. He did not remit the first $500 payment with his 2008 OIC. Exhibits 4 & 5. Moreover, the 2008 OIC once again neglected to disclose any information about his business interests. Instead, Terrell claimed to be a self-employed contractor with monthly income of $2,481. The 2008 OIC remained pending until Terrell withdrew it in June 2009.
After Terrell withdrew the 2008 OIC and the IRS issued notices of intent to levy, Terrell filed his 2010 chapter 7 bankruptcy case staying any IRS action against him. Terrell's 2010 Schedule B listed ownership of 1,000 shares of "Terrills Siding" valued at zero. His Schedule I states his occupation as owner of "Terrill's Siding" (employed 9 years) with gross monthly wages of $2,766.67. Similarly, Terrell's 2010 statement of financial affairs regarding nature, location and name of business, discloses only "Terrill's Siding." However, Terrell's Siding, Inc. was dissolved as a corporation in 1999, more than ten years
Terrell's 2010 Schedule E lists a debt to the IRS in the amount of $95,000, but no further information is given regarding the type of tax or year to which the taxes related. The amount of tax liabilities, as well as the lack of detail, is surprising given that Terrell (i) had been under investigation by the IRS with respect to personal income taxes for 1997, 1998, and 1999, and in 2005 plead guilty to filing a fraudulent tax return for 1997, (ii) thereafter consented to assessment and collection of tax deficiencies and fraud penalties by signing Form 4549, and (iii) subsequently submitted the 2008 OIC to the IRS attempting to compromise his outstanding tax liabilities of over $1,500,000 (with no payments on such debt having been made in the interim). Notwithstanding Terrell's nondisclosure of assets, as in his previous bankruptcy case, the trustee filed a report of no distribution, i.e., Terrell received a discharge, and his creditors received nothing.
As noted above, a taxpayer's failure to maintain accurate records is a strong indicum of fraud with intent to evade taxes. Terrell did not maintain adequate records because, according to Calvert, "one set of books had to be separated into two sets of books" by the IRS agents during their criminal investigation of Terrell.
At trial, Terrell admitted he knew that personal expenses paid by his company should be booked to his draw account and that they should be reported as income to him on a Form 1099. But no Form 1099 was issued to Terrell for this purpose in either tax year 1998 or 1999. The Court would perhaps understand a personal expense here or there inadvertently not being recorded in Terrell's draw account and then reported as income on a Form 1099. However, in this case, no personal expenses whatsoever were recorded to the draw account—not even monthly recurring car payments and country club fees. Therefore, no Form 1099 was issued. Failure to report personal expenses paid by one's business is a "type of unreported income the courts view with disfavor."
Terrell's primary excuse for filing "inaccurate" tax returns in 1998 and 1999 is that he relied on his tax accountant. This does not, however, mitigate Terrell's culpability.
Moreover, Terrell had an obligation to provide his tax accountant with full and accurate tax-related information. In the absence of personal expenses paid by Terrell's business being booked to his draw account, Terrell's tax accountant would have no way of knowing whether a check to "UMB Oklahoma Bank" or "Bank One," without further notation, was a car payment for a vehicle driven by one of Terrell's family members and a personal expense. Any attempt by Terrell to shift the blame to his accountant requires Terrell to establish that: (1) he provided the preparer full disclosure of tax-related information; (2) he took no steps to mislead the preparer; and (3) he filed the return as prepared without having reason to believe it was incorrect.
Based on Terrell's conduct prior to 1999, during 1999 and 2000, and after 2000, the Court finds there is more than sufficient evidence to conclude Terrell filed fraudulent
In addition to contending Terrell filed fraudulent returns, the IRS argues Terrell's 1998 and 1999 taxes are not dischargeable because Terrell willfully evaded or attempted to defeat those taxes. As discussed below, the Court agrees.
Whether or not a debtor has willfully attempted to evade or defeat a tax for purposes of Section 523(a)(1)(C) is a question of fact.
In
Courts have considered many different types of conduct factors in assessing whether a debtor has willfully attempted to evade or defeat taxes. Those factors include, but are not limited to, the following acts of commission and culpable omission: (1) concealment of income and/or assets; (2) fraudulent transfers; (3) conducting business affairs in such a manner that is intended to make finding, tracking, or levying on income more difficult; (4) significant understatements of income; (5) repeated failure to file returns or habitually late filings in the wake of past compliance and governmental demands; (6) implausible or inconsistent behavior by the taxpayer; (7) failure to cooperate with the taxing authorities; and (8) frustrating tax collection efforts.
Additionally, courts have focused on a debtor's unreasonable or lavish spending in the face of outstanding tax obligations. "[C]aselaw applying section 523(a)(1)(C) has consistently held section 523(a)(1)(C)'s requirements to be satisfied in situations where the debtor—even without fraud or evil motive—has prioritized his or her spending by choosing to satisfy other obligations and/or pay for other things (at least for non-essentials) before the payment of taxes, and taxes knowingly are not paid."
The majority of courts addressing nondischargeability on the basis of willful evasion or defeat of a tax, including this Court, have determined that the mental state requirement of Section 523(a)(1)(C) is met by showing that: "(1) the debtor has a duty under the law; (2) the debtor knew of that duty; and (3) the debtor voluntarily and intentionally violated that duty."
There is no dispute that Terrell knew he originally had a duty to pay income taxes for tax years 1998 and 1999. He filed income tax returns in April 1999 and April 2000, respectively, signed them under penalty of perjury, and paid a minimal amount of tax.
Terrell disputes that "he knew he still had a duty" to pay the additional 1998 and 1999 taxes, arguing: (i) he thought that payment of the restitution ordered in his 1997 criminal case was payment in full of his taxes for 1997, 1998, and 1999; and (ii) he believed his 1998 and 1999 tax debts
In connection with his 2005 plea of guilty to filing a fraudulent 1997 tax return, Terrell was ordered to pay $16,422 in restitution. Terrell completed payment of the restitution in October 2008.
Terrell's own words and actions, both in the past and more recently, demonstrate the untruthfulness of Terrell's testimony that he believed restitution was payment in full of his outstanding tax liabilities. First, in October 2005,
Next, Terrell's acts of submitting OICs to the IRS in 2007 and 2008 attempting to compromise his outstanding tax obligations are contrary to his asserted belief regarding the effect of making restitution. If Terrell truly believed that payment of restitution was payment in full of his taxes, there would have been no reason for him to submit OICs to the IRS in 2007 and 2008,
Finally, in June 2017, only a year before trial of this matter, Terrell wrote a letter to Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma complaining about the IRS's "targeting" of him as a "conservative Christian businessman." In the letter, Terrell specifically acknowledged that at the conclusion of the 1997 criminal tax matter, Calvert told him the IRS would now come after him on the civil side.
In sum, the Court does not accept as credible Terrell's argument that he believed the 1998 and 1999 tax obligations were discharged by completing payment of
Terrell also testified that he thought his 1998 and 1999 tax obligations were discharged in his 2010 bankruptcy case. On the other hand, the IRS argues Terrell knew the taxes for 1998 and 1999 were not discharged because, in October 2011, after the conclusion of his bankruptcy case, he submitted the 2011 OIC covering his 1997, 1998, 1999, 2008, and 2009 outstanding tax obligations. The Court agrees that Terrell's submission of the 2011 OIC supports the IRS's contention that Terrell "knew he
Additionally, the Court considers it telling that the only debt Terrell scheduled to the IRS in his 2010 bankruptcy case was a priority debt of $95,000 (with no additional information) on Schedule E. Such a tax debt is one within Section 507(a)(8)
Under Section 523(a)(3)(A), a debt that is not scheduled in time to permit timely filing of a proof of claim is not discharged unless such creditor had notice or actual knowledge of the case in time for such timely filing. The Court is aware that, based on a plain meaning reading of Section 523(a)(3)(A), many courts, including the Tenth Circuit, hold that it has no impact on a no-asset chapter 7 case, and, therefore, a debt is discharged regardless of whether or not the debtor scheduled the claim.
The Court has already detailed Terrell's long history of concealing assets and income and his failure to be honest and forthcoming with the IRS and the bankruptcy court. In light of that history, the Court highly doubts Terrell disclosed sufficient and proper information, if any information at all, regarding the IRS's investigation and his criminal tax matter to his 2010 bankruptcy attorney. Terrell did not testify that his bankruptcy attorney specifically advised him that his 1998 and 1999 taxes would be discharged in his 2010 bankruptcy case. Therefore, it is difficult to fathom on what legitimate basis Terrell could possibly claim to believe his 1998 and 1999 taxes were dischargeable and/or discharged.
Moreover, a discharge in bankruptcy is a privilege, not a right, and "[a] debtor who has not been honest and forthcoming —particularly in connection with the bankruptcy itself—does not deserve that privilege."
Based on the foregoing, the Court concludes Terrell knew he had a continuing duty to pay the additional 1998 and 1999 taxes assessed by the IRS beyond paying his restitution in full as well as beyond the discharge he received in his 2010 bankruptcy case.
Since nonpayment of a tax obligation only partially satisfies the conduct requirement of the test for willful evasion under Section 523(a)(1)(C), in order to obtain a nondischargeability determination, the IRS must also demonstrate additional acts of commission or culpable omission on Terrell's part and that he possessed the required mental state. In this case, much of the evidence discussed above in connection with Terrell's filing of fraudulent returns also supports a conclusion that Terrell willfully attempted to evade or defeat his 1998 and 1999 taxes. To briefly restate, Terrell: (i) dodged creditors, including the IRS, by continuously forming new corporations to carry on the same business; (ii) frustrated tax collection by repeatedly filing OICs with the IRS that were not in good faith (offering only trivial compromise amounts that did not represent his true ability to pay); and (iii) concealed assets and income when filing both OICs and bankruptcy schedules. Additionally, Terrell frustrated tax collection by resisting discovery in this adversary proceeding, which he filed, and the IRS was forced to obtain a Court order compelling Terrell's cooperation.
Other courts have specifically found that inaccurate information submitted with an OIC is evidence of evading or defeating payment of taxes. In an analogous Louisiana nondischargeability adversary proceeding, a debtor submitted an OIC to the IRS with Forms 443-A that under reported his income. That bankruptcy court reasoned that the clear implication of concealing income on the OIC forms was the debtor's attempt to defeat the IRS from collecting taxes owed. Therefore, the court held the debtor's taxes nondischargeable because "frustrating collection efforts" is evidence of willful tax evasion.
Terrell may have testified that he did not intend to evade or defeat payment of his 1998 and 1999 taxes. But as the Court has already stated, Terrell simply was not a credible witness. As a result, Terrell's intent can be inferred from his conduct notwithstanding his contrary testimony. As other courts have pointed out, litigants in this type of case should heed the age-old adage that "actions speak louder than words."
The Court finds the inconsistency between Terrell's words and actions similar to that of the
The IRS contends the conduct requirement for willful evasion under Section 523(a)(1)(C) is also met because Terrell neglected to pay his outstanding tax debts while at the same time making substantial expenditures on various items that are not essential or necessary. As set forth above in the Findings of Fact, these nonessential expenditures include purchases of new luxury vehicles, a multitude of expensive vacations, a plethora of golfing expenses, charitable contributions, vitamins, health supplements and juices, and discretionary investments.
The Court finds that detailed analysis of the numerous expenditures is unnecessary —the bottom line is Terrell had resources with which he could have paid at least some of the outstanding taxes he owed and simply chose not to. Terrell's conduct in this regard is evidence that he willfully attempted to evade or defeat taxes.
In fact, viewing Terrell's history as a whole, the only logical inference is that Terrell
The Court concludes it is also appropriate to take into consideration Terrell's previous guilty plea and sentencing with respect to filing a fraudulent tax return for 1997. In the Plea Agreement, Terrell acknowledged tax losses for 1998 and 1999 and promised to pay those taxes. In return for his promise, the District Court was quite lenient in sentencing Terrell, relative to the maximum penalties that could have been imposed.
In a similar Texas nondischargeability adversary, the debtor under IRS investigation for multiple tax periods had plead guilty to filing a fraudulent return for one taxable period and, in her plea agreement, stipulated to tax losses for other tax periods and promised to pay those taxes. When the debtor subsequently filed bankruptcy and attempted to discharge the taxes for those other periods, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals stated that debtor's promise to pay those taxes was an integral condition of her sentence. The Fifth Circuit concluded that
Here, Terrell's Plea Agreement with respect to his fraudulent 1997 return also stipulates to tax losses for years 1998 and 1999 and further provides that, "[i]f defendant enters a plea of guilty as described above and fully meets all obligations under this agreement, he will not be further prosecuted by the United States for any crimes related to his participation in making and subscribing false tax returns during the period from 1998 through 2000." The IRS has not prosecuted Terrell for filing fraudulent returns in 1998 and 1999, and Terrell received a light sentence for his fraudulent 1997 return, but Terrell has yet to make good on his promise to pay his 1998 and 1999 taxes. A determination that those taxes are dischargeable would render the Plea Agreement ineffective and give Terrell significantly more than the benefit of the bargain.
Based on the above discussion, the Court concludes that Terrell willfully evaded and defeated payment of his 1998 and 1999 taxes. Therefore, they are not dischargeable.
The Court has determined that, pursuant to Section 523(a)(1)(C), Terrell's 1998 and 1999 income taxes are not dischargeable because he filed fraudulent returns
Section 523(a)(7) concerns dischargeability of debts for certain fines, penalties, and forfeitures. It provides that the discharge does not apply to any debt —
11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7). As recently explained by another Oklahoma bankruptcy court:
On the other hand, any interest imposed and accrued on Terrell's unpaid nondischargeable taxes is also nondischargeable. Unlike tax penalties, no specific section of the Bankruptcy Code supplies the rule for dischargeability of interest on nondischargeable taxes. However, the United States Supreme Court provided an early pre-Bankruptcy Code answer to the question in
Terrell filed fraudulent income tax returns for tax years 1998 and 1999. Additionally, Terrell willfully attempted to evade or defeat those taxes. Therefore, Terrell's 1998 and 1999 income taxes, the amount of which are to be determined by the District Court, together with any interest imposed and accrued on Terrell's unpaid non-dischargeable taxes, are nondischargeable. Any penalties imposed in connection with the 1998 and 1999 taxes are dischargeable to the extent they relate to transactions or events occurring more than three years prior to the 2010 bankruptcy petition date. However, interest on the nondischargeable taxes is also nondischargeable.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Exhibit 29 at p. 3, Interrogatories ¶ 4. Additionally,
11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(8).
