1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 216">*216 (1)
(2)
SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM OPINION
SIMPSON,
The1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 216">*219 parties' computations conflict because of disagreement over the following matters: (1) Whether the petitioners are entitled to an overpayment of $8,969.88 for 1963; and (2) whether certain corporate distributions in 1966 and 1968 received by the petitioner, Manuel M. Koufman, may be considered in computing the deficiencies for such years. We treat each of these matters in turn.
1.
The petitioners, in their
In our prior opinion, we held that the 3-year statute of limitations barred the Commissioner from seeking to collect any taxes for 1963 since he had failed to establish the applicability of the 6-year statute of limitations. In view of that holding, we concluded that agreements entered into by the petitioners, purporting to extend the statute of limitations, were void and without legal effect under
At the outset, it appears that the petitioners' claim for an overpayment has been presented too late. It is well settled that in submitting computations under
In addition, the Commissioner objects to the petitioners' claim to an overpayment on the ground that under
(b) Overpayment Determined by Tax Court--
(1) Jurisdiction to determine.--Except as provided by paragraph (2) * * * if the Tax Court finds that there is no deficiency and further finds that the taxpayer has made an overpayment of income tax for the same taxable year * * * or finds that there is a deficiency but that the taxpayer has made an overpayment of such tax, the Tax Court1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 216">*222 shall have jurisdiction to determine the amount of such overpayment, and such amount shall, when the decision of the Tax Court has become final, be credited or refunded to the taxpayer.
(2) Limit on amount of credit or refund.--No such credit or refund shall be allowed or made of any portion of the tax unless the Tax Court determines as part of its decision that such portion was paid--
(A) after the mailing of the notice of deficiency,
(B) within the period which would be applicable under section 6511(b)(2), (c), or (d), if on the date of the mailing of the notice of deficiency a claim had been filed (whether or not filed) stating the grounds upon which the Tax Court finds that there is an overpayment, or
(C) within the period which would be applicable under section 6511(b)(2), (c), or (d), in respect of any claim for refund filed within the applicable period specified in section 6511 and before the date of the mailing of the notice of deficiency--
(i) which had not been disallowed before that date,
(ii) which had been disallowed before that date and in respect of which a timely suit for refund could have been commenced as of that date, or
(iii) in respect of which a1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 216">*223 suit for refund had been commenced before that date and within the period specified in section 6532.
Since the petitioners paid the amount in question prior to the mailing of the notice of deficiency, they cannot rely on
Under the terms of such provision, we may allow an overpayment only if a claim therefor would have been timely under section 6511(b)(2), (c), or (d), if filed on the date the notice of deficiency was mailed. In relevant part, section 6511(b)(2) provides:
(2) Limit on amount of credit or refund--
(A) Limit where claim filed within 3-year period.--If the claim was filed by the taxpayer during the 3-year period prescribed in subsection (a), the amount of the credit or refund shall not exceed the portion of the tax paid within the period, immediately1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 216">*224 preceding the filing of the claim, equal to 3 years plus the period of any extension of time for filing the return. * * *
(B) Limit where claim not filed within 3-year period.--If the claim was not filed within such 3-year period, the amount of the credit or refund shall not exceed the portion of the tax paid during the 2 years immediately preceding the filing of the claim.
Had the petitioners filed a claim for refund on August 23, 1972, it would have been more than 3 years from the date they filed their 1963 return, and more than 2 years from the date they paid such tax.Thus, it would not have been timely within the meaning of section 6511(b)(2). Section 6511(d) provides limitation periods for the filing of a refund claim with respect to certain situations, none of which is applicable in this case.
In support of their claim, the petitioners rely upon section 6511(c), which extends the filing date for a refund claim "[if] an agreement under the provisions of
The petitioners contend that the Commissioner is barred from raising
2.
The parties also disagree about whether certain amounts which we found to have been corporate distributions to the petitioner are to be included in computing the deficiencies for the years when they were made. We found that the petitioner received a $500 corporate distribution from Northeast Properties, Inc., in 1966 and a $16,752 distribution in 1968 from Koufman Construction Co. of Boston. In the notice of deficiency for such years, the Commissioner did not mention such distributions and did not determine them to be dividends or corporate distributions to the petitioner.However, the parties filed a joint exhibit which contained a list of withdrawals made1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 216">*227 by the petitioner and also specified which constituted dividends "per 90 day letter." Such exhibit specified that both withdrawals in question were determined by the Commissioner to have been dividends, and our conclusion to such effect was based upon such joint exhibit. Yet, the Commissioner has never moved to amend his pleadings to claim the additional deficiency. The petitioners do not deny receiving such distributions, but they now contend that they did not intend to agree that such distributions constituted dividends.
According to the Commissioner's computations, increasing the petitioners' income in 1968 by the $16,752.00 distribution increases the deficiency set forth in the notice of deficiency for that year from $6,331.15 to $13,940.03.
(a) Jurisdiction as to Increase of Deficiency, Additional Amounts, or Additional Amounts, or Additions to the Tax.--Except as provided by section 7463, the Tax Court shall have jurisdiction to redetermine the correct amount of the deficiency even if the amount so redetermined is greater than1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 216">*228 the amount of the deficiency, notice of which has been mailed to the taxpayer, and to determine whether any additional amount, or addition to the tax should be assessed, if claim therefor is asserted by the Secretary at or before the hearing or a rehearing.
Thus, unless the Commissioner has asserted a "claim" for an additional deficiency, we are without jurisdiction to find a deficiency in excess of the amount set forth in the statutory notice of deficiency. The "claim" for the increased deficiency must be made in specific terms in the Commissioner's pleading, and it must explicitly request an increase in the deficiency and adequately state the grounds therefor.
In view of such facts, we are without jurisdiction to redetermine an increase in the deficiency due to the petitioners' withdrawal from Koufman Construction Co. during 1968. With respect to another distribution in that year, the petitioners agree that it increases their deficiency for 1968, and do not contend that the Commissioner failed to properly "claim" such increase. Hence, for 1968, a decision will be entered determining the deficiency to be that computed by the petitioners.
The petitioner's receipt of a $500 dividend in 1966 presents a different situation, because even including it in income for that year will not result in a deficiency in excess of that determined by the Commissioner in his notice of deficiency. Thus, the jurisdictional problems which are posed in regard to the 1968 distribution are not present with regard to such distribution. As to such distribution, there is no merit in the petitioners' contention that they were surprised by the Commissioner's position that it constituted a dividend. The distribution, together with a statement as to the Commissioner's treatment1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 216">*231 of it, was included in an exhibit in which both parties joined in filing. Cf.
1977 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 216">*232 The petitioners do not contest the correctness of the Commissioner's calculation of deficiencies for 1965, 1967, and 1969 and of an addition to tax under section 6651(a) for 1967; hence, decisions for those years will be entered in accordance with the Commissioner's computations.
1. All references to a Rule are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. All statutory references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as in effect for the years in issue.↩
3. Obviously, if the $500 distribution raised a new issue, not set forth in the Commissioner's notice of deficiency or in his pleading, and one which caught the petitioners by surprise, it could not be considered in computing the deficiency for that year, even if the amount of the deficiency, including such item, would not exceed the original deficiency determination. See