1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*39 On Apr. 26, 1976, petitioner filed a voluntary bankruptcy petition in the District Court. The next day he was adjudicated a bankrupt and a receiver was appointed. The first meeting of creditors was held on June 7, 1976, and the last date for filing proofs of claims was fixed at Dec. 7, 1976. Respondent mailed petitioner a notice of deficiency on Aug. 28, 1976, covering income tax deficiencies for the years 1966 through 1969 and an addition to tax under
1. The Tax Court lacks jurisdiction to redetermine the income tax deficiencies.
2. The Tax Court lacks jurisdiction to redetermine the addition to tax under
69 T.C. 19">*20 OPINION
This matter1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*43 is before the Court on respondent's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. Petitioner has filed objections to the motion.
We are confronted with two issues: (1) Whether this Court lacks jurisdiction under
The pertinent facts may be summarized as follows:
On 1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*44 April 26, 1976, petitioner herein filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. On April 27, 1976, petitioner was adjudicated a bankrupt and a receiver was appointed. On or about May 10, 1976, the District Court issued its order setting the first meeting of creditors on June 7, 1976, and thereby fixing the last date on which to file claims as December 7, 1976. Such order was served on all creditors named in the bankruptcy petition including respondent herein.
On August 28, 1976, respondent issued to petitioner a statutory notice of deficiency setting forth the following income tax deficiencies for the taxable years 1966 through 1969 and an addition to tax for the year 1969:
Addition to tax | ||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6651(a) |
1966 | $ 278,589.64 | |
1967 | 79,556.02 | |
1968 | 177,411.54 | |
1969 | 83,662.23 | $ 8,366.22 |
On November 22, 1976, respondent filed a timely proof of claim in petitioner's bankruptcy proceeding, scheduling as priority items the amounts set forth above as income tax deficiencies. The addition to tax for the year 1969 was not scheduled on the proof of claim.
On November 30, 1976, a petition1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*45 captioned in the name of Charles N. Sharpe, Jr., was filed with the Tax Court seeking a redetermination of the income tax deficiencies and the addition to tax for the years in issue.
On January 21, 1977, respondent filed an answer to the Tax Court petition.
On January 25, 1977, pursuant to
On January 27, 1977, an amended proof of claim was filed in petitioner's bankruptcy proceeding for the income taxes due and 69 T.C. 19">*22 owing for the years 1966 through 1969 to reflect interest on the claimed deficiencies to April 26, 1976, and to reflect the date upon which the deficiencies were assessed. The addition to tax for the year 1969 was not scheduled on the January 27, 1977, amended proof of claim.
On January 27, 1977, Form L-296 was sent to the petitioner, in care of the trustee in petitioner's bankruptcy proceeding, advising that the income tax deficiencies and the addition to tax were being assessed under the provisions of
On July 25, 1977, the trustee and the petitioner (bankrupt) jointly filed an objection to the respondent's proof of claim as not timely filed.
The usual procedures for the redetermination and assessment of income tax deficiencies are set forth in sections 6212 21977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*47 and 6213. 3 These sections provide that if the Secretary or his delegate determines a deficiency, he must send notice of deficiency to the taxpayer. The taxpayer has 90 days in which to appeal that 69 T.C. 19">*23 determination to the Tax Court. As a general rule, no assessment of the deficiency may be made prior to the issuance of the notice of deficiency, during the 90-day period, or, if a petition is filed, until the decision of the Tax Court becomes final.
1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*48 However, in the case of a taxpayer who is adjudicated a bankrupt,
1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*49 The voluntary filing of a petition by an individual in a liquidating bankruptcy proceeding operates as an adjudication with the same force and effect as a decree of adjudication. Since this petitioner filed a voluntary petition in a liquidating bankruptcy, the provisions of
The petitioner seeks to avoid this result by arguing that the issuance of the notice of deficiency on August 28, 1976, constitutes an "election" by respondent, so that concurrent jurisdiction would lie in the bankruptcy court and in this Court. The argument is erroneous because
The second issue is more complicated. We must decide whether this Court also lacks jurisdiction with respect to the addition to tax under
In two cases,
The addition to tax was not scheduled on the original or amended proof of claim because of the Supreme Court's decision in
In
Hear and determine, or cause to be heard and determined, any question arising as to the amount or legality of any unpaid tax, whether or not previously assessed, which has not prior to bankruptcy been contested1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*54 before and adjudicated by a judicial or administrative tribunal of competent jurisdiction, * * *
The jurisdictional grant under the first part of section 2a(2A) to hear and determine "any question arising as to the amount or legality of any unpaid tax" is limited by only two factors. First, the "tax" must not have been paid; and second, the disputed tax 69 T.C. 19">*26 item must not have been contested and adjudicated prior to bankruptcy. It is immaterial to the bankruptcy court's jurisdiction whether or not a proof of claim is filed for the "tax." Actually, if a proof of claim has been filed for the tax claim, the bankruptcy court has
Section 2a(2A) is an express grant of jurisdiction, and there is now considerable authority for the proposition that the bankruptcy court does have jurisdiction to determine the dischargeability of tax claims, whether or not a proof of claim is filed. See
In the Bankruptcy Amendments of 1966,
The new section 2a(2A) is a revision and transposition of section 64a(4)'s second proviso. Some difference of opinion has developed respecting the effect of the new language. Does it codify or change existing law? The Senate Finance Committee approved this amendment of the law, stressing at the time its understanding that it made no change in present law under which a bankruptcy court cannot adjudicate the merits of any claim, including a federal tax claim which has not been asserted in the bankruptcy proceeding by the filing of a proof of claim. Even if it were true that the amendment effects no change, it has long been clear that the bankruptcy court may determine in summary proceedings the amount and legality of any tax claim against property in the custody of the court, including1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*56 any tax claim secured by a lien, whether or not a proof of claim is filed. The committee's reading of this explicit grant of jurisdiction would reduce it to a nullity, since it is clear without the provision that the bankruptcy court can determine the amount and legality of any claim duly filed in a bankruptcy case.
Amendments to the Bankruptcy Act made in 1970, which were not applicable nor considered in
(1) The bankrupt or any creditor may file an application with the court for the determination of the dischargeability of any debt.
69 T.C. 19">*27 * * * *
(3) After hearing upon notice, the court shall determine the dischargeability of any debt for which an application for such a determination has been filed, shall make such orders as are necessary to protect or effectuate a determination that any debt is dischargeable and, if any debt is determined to be nondischargeable, shall determine the remaining issues, render judgment, and make all orders necessary for the enforcement thereof.
With respect to section 17(c) it has been said, particularly in light of1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*57 the provision of section 14(f) whereby judgments of nonbankruptcy courts can be rendered "null and void as a determination of the personal liability of the bankrupt," that "an interpretation giving pre-eminent jurisdiction to the bankruptcy court is clearly plausible." D. Cowans, Bankruptcy Law and Practice, sec. 433 at 102 (1973 supp.). And in The New Dischargeability Law,
section 17c(3) does, I believe, require the bankruptcy court to take a tax case from the Tax Court or a district court when judgment has not yet been rendered on an undischarged tax claim. There is no suggestion in the legislative history that multiple litigation over tax claims was any less to be avoided than multiple litigation over any other claims. If the concern is for judicial dignity, no greater claim can be made for the Tax Court than for other courts of original jurisdiction, nor for a federal district court sitting in a tax case than for such a court sitting in any other case. Or if the concern is over the competence of referee1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*58 to handle tax cases, or the wisdom of burdening them with such cases, Congress seems to have resolved that issue in 1966 when it added § 2a (2A) giving the bankruptcy courts jurisdiction to "hear and determine, or cause to be heard and determined, any question arising as to the amount of any unpaid tax * * * which has not prior to bankruptcy been contested before and adjudicated by a judicial or administrative tribunal * * *" -- a provision which seems applicable to questions of tax liability committed to the bankruptcy court by § 17c(3).
It is our present view that by establishing a different method for assessment and collection of taxes where bankruptcy intervenes, Congress intended that "tax" matters in their entirety be settled by the bankruptcy court under bankruptcy procedures instead of by the Tax Court under the procedures set forth in sections 6212(a) and 6213(a), except where the Tax Court petition antedates the petition in bankruptcy. See
By its terms section 2a(2A) of the Bankruptcy Act does not limit the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court to debts claimable from the bankrupt's estate. See and compare
In our opinion the underlying rationale of
Although it is true that the bankruptcy court may not allow a claim for an addition to tax in view of section 57j of the Bankruptcy Act, an addition to tax is not only a "tax" but also a provable1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 39">*61 debt under section 63 of the Bankruptcy Act.
69 T.C. 19">*29 The rationale of
A logical extension of the expanding construction of the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court is that it should be able to assume jurisdiction over an addition to tax which relates to and 69 T.C. 19">*30 is, in amount, dependent upon a tax deficiency which is plainly, properly, and solely within the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court. Such an extension would not run afoul of
One final, practical point. If the notice of deficiency had not been sent to the petitioner in this case, all else being equal, the bankruptcy court would have been the only forum available to him.
For the reasons previously stated, we now regard the
Accordingly, we hold that this Court lacks jurisdiction to redetermine the income tax deficiencies for the years 1966 through 1969 and the addition to tax under
Sterrett,
Simpson,
The Court has found that because of recent changes in the bankruptcy law and rules, the bankruptcy court may take jurisdiction over claims for additions to tax and that the bankrupt may raise the issue before the bankruptcy court even though the Commissioner has not presented the claim for adjudication. For those reasons, the Court concludes that we do not have jurisdiction over such claims. Yet, it is not altogether clear that the taxpayer will always have an opportunity for an adjudication of the tax claims in the bankruptcy court. The courts have not settled the question yet as to whether the 69 T.C. 19">*32 bankruptcy court has jurisdiction over a claim for fraud or a claim for taxes arising shortly before the beginning of the bankruptcy proceeding. Compare
Clearly, there are advantages in having all of the tax claims presented to the bankruptcy court for adjudication, and it would be very simple for the Commissioner to achieve that objective by presenting all of his claims to that court. However, when he fails to present a claim to that court and yet asks us to hold that we lack jurisdiction to consider the claim, I find his actions unpersuasive. I believe that we would be better advised to follow the course which we adopted in
1. All statutory references herein are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, unless otherwise indicated.↩
2. SEC. 6212. NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY.
(a) In General. -- If the Secretary or his delegate determines that there is a deficiency in respect of any tax imposed by subtitle A or B or chapter 42 or 43, he is authorized to send notice of such deficiency to the taxpayer by certified mail or registered mail.
(b) Address for Notice of Deficiency. -- (1) Income and gift taxes and taxes imposed by chapter 42. -- In the absence of notice to the Secretary or his delegate under section 6093 of the existence of a fiduciary relationship, notice of a deficiency in respect of a tax imposed by subtitle A, chapter 12, chapter 42, or chapter 43, if mailed to the taxpayer at his last known address, shall be sufficient for purposes of subtitle A, chapter 12, chapter 42, chapter 43, and this chapter even if such taxpayer is deceased, or is under a legal disability, or, in the case of a corporation, has terminated its existence.↩
3. SEC. 6213. RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO DEFICIENCIES; PETITION TO TAX COURT.
(a) Time for Filing Petition and Restriction on Assessment. -- Within 90 days, or 150 days if the notice is addressed to a person outside the States of the Union and the District of Columbia, after the notice of deficiency authorized in section 6212 is mailed (not counting Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday in the District of Columbia as the last day), the taxpayer may file a petition with the Tax Court for a redetermination of the deficiency. Except as otherwise provided in section 6861 no assessment of a deficiency in respect of any tax imposed by subtitle A or B or chapter 42 or 43 and no levy or proceeding in court for its collection shall be made, begun, or prosecuted until such notice has been mailed to the taxpayer, nor until the expiration of such 90-day or 150-day period, as the case may be, nor, if a petition has been filed with the Tax Court, until the decision of the Tax Court has become final. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7421(a), the making of such assessment or the beginning of such proceeding or levy during the time such prohibition is in force may be enjoined by a proceeding in the proper court.↩
4.
(a) Immediate Assessment. -- Upon the adjudication of bankruptcy of any taxpayer in any liquidating proceeding, the filing or (where approval is required by the Bankruptcy Act) the approval of a petition of, or the approval of a petition against, any taxpayer in any other bankruptcy proceeding, or the appointment of a receiver for any taxpayer in any receivership proceeding before any court of the United States or of any State or Territory or of the District of Columbia, any deficiency (together with all interest, additional amounts, or additions to the tax provided by law) determined by the Secretary or his delegate in respect of a tax imposed by subtitle A or B upon such taxpayer shall, despite the restrictions imposed by section 6213(a) upon assessments, be immediately assessed if such deficiency has not theretofore been assessed in accordance with law.
(b) Claim Filed Despite Pendency of Tax Court Proceedings. -- In the case of a tax imposed by subtitle A or B claims for the deficiency and such interest, additional amounts, and additions to the tax may be presented, for adjudication in accordance with law, to the court before which the bankruptcy or receivership proceeding is pending, despite the pendency of proceedings for the redetermination of the deficiency in pursuance of a petition to the Tax Court; but no petition for any such redetermination shall be filed with the Tax Court after the adjudication of bankruptcy, the filing or (where approval is required by the Bankruptcy Act) the approval of a petition of, or the approval of a petition against, any taxpayer in any other bankruptcy proceeding, or the appointment of the receiver.↩
5. References herein are to sections of the Bankruptcy Act rather than to corresponding sections contained in Title 11, U.S.C.↩
6. Where, as here, the Commissioner sends a notice of deficiency after the adjudication of bankruptcy and during the pendency of such proceeding, the notice of deficiency is rendered a nullity. See