1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*86
In connection with P's 1987 income tax liability, R subpoenaed various documents from a bank (the bank) where P maintained an account. A number of the documents subpoenaed contain information relating to an alleged tax protester organization (the organization) and its individual members (the members). The organization, as an "other affected person", filed a motion and supplemental motion for a protective order under
99 T.C. 604">*605 OPINION
Jacobs,
Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's 1987 Federal income tax as follows:
Additions to tax | ||||
Sec. | Sec. | Sec. | Sec. | |
Deficiency | 6653(a)(1)(A) | 6653(a)(1)(B) | 6654 | 6661 |
$ 238,606 | $ 11,930 | 1 | $ 12,881 | $ 59,652 |
All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for 1987, and unless otherwise indicated, all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*88 The matters presently before the Court are a motion under
The facts recited herein are derived from moving papers and affidavits provided by the parties and NCBA/NCE. Recital of those facts for purposes of this opinion implies no conclusion on our part that they will ultimately be established at trial or otherwise.
99 T.C. 604">*606 Petitioner was a resident of San Jose, California, at the time she filed her petition. She is the widow of John Grandbouche (Grandbouche). Grandbouche was the founder of NCBA and NCE (a "service wing" of NCBA), and various other groups involved in the tax protester movement. Grandbouche died in 1986.
Grandbouche, NCBA, NCE, and individuals associated with them have been under investigation by respondent over a number of years because of their 1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*89 suspected tax protester activities. 1
NCBA has been described as an "unincorporated, 1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*90 voluntary, political association of individuals whose members promote individual civil liberties, and extensive tax and monetary reforms".
NCBA is an association dedicated to limited government, privacy in personal and financial affairs, and the protection of private property. NCBA advocates * * * the abolition of the Internal Revenue Service, and a return to the gold standard. It disputes the constitutionality of the Federal Reserve System and many of the federal administrative agencies. * * *
NCBA also provides its members with various financial services. For example, members can participate in a plan under which NCBA pays legal expenses for IRS audits and criminal tax prosecutions. * * * NCBA operates, through its wing NCE, a service through which members can purchase precious metals and pay bills with a1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*91 minimum of recordkeeping. * * *
[
In addition, NCE has been described as a "warehouse bank" which operates as follows:
members send their federal reserve notes to the NCE, which converts the notes into silver and gold. Thereafter, when directed by a payout authorization signed by a customer, the NCE reconverts the silver and gold into federal reserve notes and makes payment directly to the customer's 99 T.C. 604">*607 designated creditors. NCE literature claims that the NCE protects customer privacy "by providing a bill-paying service through which you can pay your creditors without generating a paper trail in the Federal Reserve System which is traceable back to you." That same literature declares that "should [NCE] receive an order from a court of competant [sic] authority directing that records of an account-holder be turned over to the I.R.S., etc., the legal resources of [NCBA] will fight the order." [
Further, NCE has been found to be an organization designed1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*92 to operate in secrecy, leave no paper trail, and avoid service of process by means of the following:
[NCE] [provides] a bill paying service that leaves no paper trail through the Federal Reserve System (even NCE's cancelled checks representing payment of bills for its account holders are destroyed after 90 days). To avoid taxation and scrutiny from any source, Grandbouche designed an "unincorporated association" apparently with no formal governing structure, oral irrevocable delegations, and no paper records (except the "Common Law" contract, the ledger showing gold and silver balances, and checks that cleared within the last 90 days). * * * [
On audit respondent determined that petitioner had unreported income for 1987 from certain NCBA currency transactions. Such deficiency determination was based on certain currency transaction reports (Form 4789) which the bank completed and submitted to respondent. These reports reflected currency transactions involving NCBA and NCE which referenced petitioner's Social Security number. Petitioner timely filed a petition with this Court for review of respondent's determinations.
Thereafter, on1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*93 October 9, 1991, respondent served a subpoena duces tecum on Cindy S. Hathaway (Ms. Hathaway) in her capacity as a vice president of the bank (the first subpoena). The first subpoena commanded Ms. Hathaway to appear before the Court on November 4, 1991, and to bring with her:
The following records and any other written documents in your possession and control and/or to which you have access and a right to possession and control of or relating to all banking transactions between December 1, 1986, and February 1, 1988, in the name of Joanna M. Grandbouche or using or referencing the Social Security number of Joanna M. Grandbouche, * * *, including specifically, but without limitation, the following:
99 T.C. 604">*608 1. All Internal Revenue Service Forms 1099 issued to Joanna M. Grandbouche or under * * * [her] taxpayer identification number.
2. All signature cards, bank statements, checks, microfilm of checks, deposit slips, and microfilm, or other record, of deposit items for each bank account in the name of Joanna M. Grandbouche.
3. All signature cards, bank statements, checks, microfilm of checks, deposit slips, and microfilm, or other record, of deposit items for each bank account1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*94 in the name of the National Commodity and Barter Association and/or the National Commodity Exchange, including, specifically, but without limitation for account number 014 756 3.
4. All Form 4789 Currency Transaction Reports completed in the name of the National Commodity and Barter Association and/or the National Commodity Exchange.
5. All Form 4789 Currency Transaction Reports completed in the name of Joanna M. Grandbouche and/or using [her] Taxpayer Identification Number/Social Security Number * * *.
6. All microfilm or other copies of the checks cashed for currency and referenced in the currency transaction reports described in paragraphs numbered 4. and 5. above.
7. All correspondence and memoranda of conversations with Joanna M. Grandbouche and with the National Commodity and Barter Association and/or the National Commodity Exchange, or their representatives, concerning the subject currency transaction reports.
On October 28, 1991, NCBA mailed to respondent a document captioned for this case entitled "Motion with Points and Authorities to Modify Tax Court Subpoena for Records". NCBA did not file this document with the Court. Also on October 28, 1991, NCBA's attorney telephoned1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*95 respondent's attorney to request that respondent agree to modify the first subpoena. Respondent rejected such request.
By order dated October 29, 1991, on motion by petitioner, this case was stricken from the calendar for the November 4, 1991, Denver, Colorado, trial session and continued indefinitely. As a result, the first subpoena was not returnable on the November 4, 1991, calendar call date.
On February 4, 1992, respondent served another subpoena duces tecum on Ms. Hathaway (the second subpoena). The second subpoena commanded Ms. Hathaway to appear before the Court on May 11, 1992, and to bring with her the same documents previously identified in the first subpoena.
On March 26, 1992, petitioner served a subpoena duces tecum on Frank Taylor (Mr. Taylor), president of the bank (the third subpoena). The third subpoena commanded Mr. Taylor to appear before the Court on April 16, 1992, and to bring with him those bank records relating to petitioner. The 99 T.C. 604">*609 third subpoena identified only those records reflecting petitioner's name or taxpayer identification number and documents pertaining to the bank's policy and instructions in preparing and filing currency transaction1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*96 reports.
NCBA filed a motion for a protective order with supporting affidavit on April 3, 1992. In its motion, NCBA alleges that some of the bank records requested in the second subpoena contain names and other information identifying members of NCBA and NCE. NCBA asks the Court to order the bank to redact all information identifying NCBA members other than petitioner from the documents requested in the second subpoena before such documents are delivered to respondent. In its motion, NCBA argues that the disclosure of the names and other information of NCBA members "would violate the NCBA members' rights to anonymity and associational privacy."
On May 4, 1992, NCBA filed a supplemental motion for a protective order with supporting affidavits. Attached to NCBA's supplemental motion were three redacted, supporting affidavits from members of NCBA in which the affiants swore, in effect, that allowing respondent to have access to NCBA's bank records would have a chilling effect on their membership in NCBA. Respondent filed an objection to these on April 13, 1992.
On May 6, 1992, petitioner filed a response to respondent's objection to NCBA's motions for a protective order. In her1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*97 response, petitioner alleges that the second subpoena is overbroad because it enables respondent to abuse the subpoena power by obtaining unwarranted information about NCBA/NCE. Petitioner, thus, asks the Court to quash respondent's second subpoena or limit its scope 2 to include only those documents which contain: Evidence of payments to known creditors of petitioner; petitioner's name; or petitioner's Social Security number (the limited subpoena).
A hearing on NCBA's motions for a protective order was held in Denver, Colorado, on May 11, 1992 (the hearing). As commanded by the second subpoena, Ms. Hathaway appeared at the hearing on behalf of the bank with copies of the documents identified in the second subpoena. These documents 99 T.C. 604">*610 were not relinquished to either party, pending resolution of NCBA's motions for a protective order.
At the hearing, petitioner1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*98 withdrew her request for the records specified in the third subpoena. Also at the hearing, the bank requested reimbursement for costs incurred with regard to the production of documents identified in the second subpoena. The bank indicated that if it were required to screen the documents as directed by the limited subpoena, it should be reimbursed for any additional costs expended for that purpose.
On June 26, 1992, the bank filed a motion for award of costs. The bank seeks reimbursement of the $ 5,475.60 it incurred to produce the 20,153 documents required by the second subpoena, as well as reimbursement for those expenses it will incur if it is required to screen these documents prior to their release to respondent, as commanded by the limited subpoena.
In the bank's June 26, 1992, motion for award of costs, the bank alleges that if it is required to expedite production of the documents specified in the limited subpoena, it will have to hire additional help to screen the 20,153 documents, at a cost of $ 1,200. However, if the Court were to allow the bank 90 days to comply with the limited subpoena, the bank could use current staff to screen the required documents and the cost1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*99 of doing such would be $ 680. Respondent objects to the granting of the bank's motion.
Petitioner objects to paying all or any part of the bank's expenses in complying with the limited subpoena. Petitioner posits that since she no longer desires the records specified in the third subpoena, she is not the "person in whose behalf the subpoena is issued" under
A.
NCBA, as an "other affected person", has filed a motion and supplemental motion for a protective order under
(a)
* * *
(7) That a trade secret or other information not be disclosed or be disclosed only in a designated way.
In its motions for a protective order, NCBA requests that the Court order the bank to redact all information which identifies 1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*100 NCBA members, other than petitioner, from all documents commanded to be produced under the second subpoena. NCBA maintains that enforcement of the second subpoena without limitation would significantly impinge on its members'
NCBA, however, has no objection to the release of the bank records to respondent if the documents released are limited to: Documents evidencing payments to known creditors of petitioner; documents which reference petitioner's name; and documents which reference petitioner's Social Security number. Likewise, petitioner does not object to the release of the bank records if they are so limited.
Respondent argues that the manner in which NCBA operates makes it necessary for respondent to have access to all the bank records requested in the second subpoena in order to fully investigate petitioner's activities. We disagree.
It is well established that an organization or association has standing to represent the interests of its members and contributors. 1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*101
99 T.C. 604">*612 In determining whether a claim of infringement of
This two-part test is an adaptation of the analysis utilized by the Supreme Court in
In
99 T.C. 604">*613 In order to make a prima facie showing of arguable
(1) harassment, membership withdrawal, or discouragement of new members, or (2) other consequences which objectively suggest an impact on, or "chilling" of, the members' associational rights. * * * [
Through the affidavits of three of its members, NCBA has made an uncontroverted showing that the revelation of the identity of its members will have a chilling effect on NCBA's membership. Thus, NCBA has made a prima facie showing of arguable
In order for the Government to establish a need for material which identifies the members of a group in violation of their
The instant case involves petitioner's 1987 income tax liability. Many of the bank records identified in the second1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*106 subpoena relating to NCBA/NCE have no bearing on the issues involved herein. Under the facts and circumstances of this 99 T.C. 604">*614 case, we conclude that respondent has made no showing that the identities of NCBA members, with the exception of petitioner herself, are rationally connected to respondent's investigation of petitioner's 1987 tax liability or that the disclosure of that information is sufficiently cogent and compelling to outweigh the legitimate and constitutionally protected interests of NCBA's members in having that information remain private.
At the hearing on May 11, 1992, respondent conceded that "there is some logic to limiting the subpoena to the known creditors of Ms. Grandbouche and * * * any documents that would reference her name or her [Social Security] number." In addition, as a result of responses to certain discovery requests, respondent now has available sufficient information to narrow the scope of the second subpoena. Respondent's continued press for unlimited compliance with the second subpoena is unwarranted. Therefore, we shall grant NCBA's motion for a protective order by limiting production of the documents identified in the subpoena duces tecum1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*107 served February 4, 1992, on Ms. Hathaway to those documents which contain: Evidence of payments to known creditors of petitioner; petitioner's name; or petitioner's Social Security number. Such a narrowly drawn subpoena will adequately protect the
B.
The bank has filed a motion for a protective order under
The pertinent provisions of
(a)
* * *
(9) That expense involved in a method or procedure be borne in a particular manner or by specified person or persons.
99 T.C. 604">*615
1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*108 * * *
(b)
1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*109 The bank argues that respondent should be required to reimburse the bank for its costs associated with the production of the subpoenaed documents. In support of its argument, the bank alleges that respondent failed to narrow the scope of document production under the first and second subpoenas even after NCBA's repeated warnings that the subpoenas were overbroad. The bank suggests that respondent's failure to issue an IRS summons to the bank for these documents during the examination stage indicates that the Government's true target was the NCBA/NCE, not petitioner. The bank, in essence, argues that respondent issued the subpoenas in bad faith. The bank, however, presents no evidence to support its argument of bad faith on the part of respondent.
Respondent contends that the bank should not prevail because it did not make a timely motion to modify or quash the second subpoena or seek a protective order "before the time specified in the subpoena for compliance therewith".
99 T.C. 604">*616
In the instant case, the bank raised the issue of reimbursement of costs at the May 11, 1992, hearing, the time specified to comply with the second subpoena. Therefore, the bank's motion was timely. Having determined that the bank's motion for a protective order seeking reimbursement of its costs was timely, we now address whether and to what extent the motion should be granted.
This Court has the power to "make any order which justice requires to protect a party or other person from * * * undue burden or expense", including requiring that "expense involved in a method or procedure be borne in a particular manner or by specified person or persons".
When a discovery subpoena is issued to a person and that person objects to the disclosure of information called for, that person can move for either a protective order pursuant to
The bank argues that respondent's method of discovery caused the bank to incur duplicative document production costs with regard to the subpoenas issued in this case. Respondent disagrees. 5 Instead, respondent posits that such duplication is the result of the Court's proposed narrowing of the scope of the second subpoena. Respondent further contends that, at the time the second subpoena was served on the bank, respondent did not have sufficient information to limit the request as proposed1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*113 by the Court because such information became available only after petitioner responded to respondent's discovery requests. In addition, respondent contends that respondent based the determination that petitioner had omitted income for 1987 on the bank's currency transaction reports, which reflected petitioner's Social Security number. Therefore, respondent argues, under the rationale set forth in
The Supreme Court has found that the Government has a right to every individual's evidence and that every individual has the duty to provide that1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*114 testimony.
The Court has discretion to decide whether costs will be allowed.
Nonparty witnesses are powerless to control the scope of litigation and discovery, and should not be forced to subsidize an unreasonable share of the costs of a litigation to which they are not a party. * * * a witness's nonparty status is an important factor to be considered in determining whether to allocate discovery costs on the demanding or the producing party. [
Where the recipient of a subpoena duces tecum or summons is a bank, courts have been reluctant to condition compliance with the subpoena or summons on the reimbursement of the expenses incurred or expected to be incurred.
Respondent relies on
Compliance with a subpoena duces tecum will necessarily involve some costs.
We went on to say that:
It follows that the power to exact reimbursement as the price of enforcement is soundly exercised only when the financial burden of compliance exceeds that which the party ought reasonably be made to shoulder. And what is reasonable will depend -- as over the legal spectrum it ultimately does -- upon the circumstances of each case. [
Among the factors that may affect the Court's determination of whether the advancement of costs is warranted are: (1) The nature of the recipient's business, (2) the size of the recipient's business, (3) the estimated cost of compliance, and (4) the extent to which the recipient must compile information from his records or documents.
Based1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*120 on the record in this case, the bank has failed to show that the costs of responding to the second subpoena are not reasonably incident to the normal conduct of the bank's business. The bank, therefore, must bear these expenses as a cost of doing bank business.
1992 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 86">*121 The additional expenses the bank will incur (additional costs) to comply with the limited subpoena, however, are a different matter. The bank argues that since NCBA had objected to the first subpoena on the basis of infringement of 99 T.C. 604">*621 its members'
Under these circumstances, we believe that it is proper for respondent to reimburse the bank for the additional costs it will incur. These additional costs are not reasonably incident to the normal conduct of the bank's business. In addition, given the cost of such duplicative work and the extent to which the bank must now re-compile and re-sort over 20,000 documents in order to comply with the limited subpoena, we feel that under the facts and circumstances analysis prescribed in
The bank states that it will have to hire additional full-time staff to screen the 20,153 documents produced pursuant to the second subpoena unless it is given at least 90 days from the date of any order limiting the scope of the second 99 T.C. 604">*622 subpoena to comply therewith. In order to allow the bank to comply with the limited subpoena and incur the least possible expense, we shall order that the bank will have at least 90 days to comply with the limited subpoena. Since we shall order that the bank has at least 90 days to comply with the limited subpoena, we shall order respondent to remit $ 680 (80 hours of labor at $ 8.50 per hour) to the bank, the sum the bank indicated that it would have to expend as additional costs in order to comply with the limited subpoena.
To reflect the foregoing,
1. 50 percent of the interest due on the entire deficiency.↩
1.
2. Petitioner argues that it is appropriate to limit production of the bank records because of the
3. The two-part test enunciated in
4. The applicable substance of
5. Likewise, petitioner denies responsibility for the bank's costs. Because petitioner withdrew her request for the documents specified in the third subpoena, we conclude that petitioner is not the "person in whose behalf the subpoena is issued" under
6. In support of its claim for its original costs with regard to the second subpoena, the bank alleges that its employees expended 170 hours to locate and photocopy 20,153 documents as commanded by the second subpoena. The bank has submitted to respondent a Form 6863 (Invoice and Authorization for Payment of Administrative Summons Expenses) in the amount of $ 5,475.60 for the costs it incurred to produce the documents identified in the second subpoena. The bank alleges that it has not received payment for the costs reported on Form 6863.↩