1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 645">*645 An order granting respondent's Motion for Summary Judgment and decision will be entered.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
ARMEN, SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE: This matter is before the Court on respondent's Motion for Summary Judgment filed pursuant to
1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 645">*646 BACKGROUND
Respondent issued a notice of deficiency to Lloyd D. Shepherd (petitioner) determining deficiencies in and additions to his Federal income taxes for the taxable years and in the amounts as follows:
Additions to Tax | ||||
Sec. | Sec. | Sec. | ||
Year | Deficiency | 6651(a) | 6653(a)(1) | 6654 |
1988 | $ 4,994 | $ 1,248.50 | $ 249.70 | $ 320.74 |
1989 | 5,553 | 1,388.25 | -- | 376.04 |
1990 | 5,385 | 1,346.25 | -- | 393.91 |
1991 | 5,811 | 1,452.75 | -- | 334.24 |
1992 | 5,722 | 1,430.50 | -- | 249.56 |
1993 | 3,449 | 862.25 | -- | 144.50 |
The notice of deficiency includes an explanation that, in the absence of adequate records, respondent reconstructed petitioner's taxable income for the years in issue based upon an indirect method of proof.
Petitioner invoked this Court's jurisdiction by filing a timely petition for redetermination. 2 Respondent filed a timely answer to the petition.
Respondent subsequently served petitioner with a request for admissions (with attached exhibits) pursuant to
1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 645">*648 The following is a summary of the matters that petitioner is deemed to have admitted pursuant to
Petitioner was pastor of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Union City, Indiana, during the taxable years 1988 through 1993. Petitioner did not file income tax returns for the taxable years 1988 through 1993. Petitioner had taxable income in the amounts of $19,930, $21,599, $21,736, $23,369, $23,221, and $15,201 during the taxable years 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993, respectively. Petitioner is liable for deficiencies in income tax in the amounts of $4,994, $5,553, $5,385, $5,811, $5,722, and $3,449 for the taxable years 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993, respectively.
Petitioner is also deemed to have admitted, pursuant to
Petitioner has provided no reasonable cause for his failure to file income tax returns for the taxable years 1988 through 1993. Petitioner is liable for the additions to tax pursuant to section 6651(a)(1) for each of the years in issue as determined in the notice of deficiency. Petitioner has provided no basis for his failure to pay estimated taxes1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 645">*649 for the taxable years 1988 through 1993. Petitioner is liable for the additions to tax pursuant to section 6654(a) for each of the years in issue as determined in the notice of deficiency. Petitioner's failure to file his tax return for 1988 is due to negligence or disregard of rules or regulations. Petitioner is liable for the addition to tax pursuant to
As indicated, respondent filed a Motion for Summary Judgment seeking judgment in respondent's favor on all issues. Respondent contends that the matters deemed admitted in this case pursuant to
On November 3, 1997, the Court issued an order calendaring respondent's motion for hearing and directing petitioner to file a response to respondent's motion by November 21, 1997. The order also included a reminder to the parties of the applicability of Rule 50(c). Petitioner failed to file a response to respondent's motion.
Respondent's motion was called for hearing at the motions session of the Court 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 645">*650 held in Washington, D.C., on December 3, 1997. Counsel for respondent appeared at the hearing and presented argument in support of the motion. No appearance was entered by or on behalf of petitioner, nor did petitioner file a statement with the Court pursuant to Rule 50(c).
DISCUSSION
Summary judgment is intended to expedite litigation and avoid unnecessary and expensive trials.
When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this Rule, an adverse party1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 645">*651 may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of such party's pleading, but such party's response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this Rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If the adverse party does not so respond, then a decision, if appropriate, may be entered against such party.
See
Based upon our review of the record, and as a consequence of petitioner's failure to respond to respondent's Motion for Summary Judgment, we are satisfied that there is1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 645">*652 no genuine issue of material fact and that respondent is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
The deficiencies determined by respondent in this case arise from a reconstruction of petitioner's taxable income because of petitioner's failure to provide respondent with adequate records or file income tax returns for the taxable years in issue. The factual allegations deemed admitted by petitioner under
In sum, the factual allegations deemed admitted by petitioner under
In the absence of any dispute as to a material fact in this case, we will grant respondent's Motion for Summary Judgment.
To reflect the foregoing,
An order granting respondent's Motion for Summary Judgment and decision will be entered.
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. At the time that the petition was filed, petitioner resided at Union City, Indiana.↩
3.
(a) SCOPE AND TIME OF REQUEST: A party may serve upon any other party a written request for the admission, for purposes of the pending action only, of the truth of any matters which are not privileged and are relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action, but only if such matters are set forth in the request and relate to statements or opinions of fact or of the application of law to fact, including the genuineness of any documents described in the request. * * *
* * * * * * *
(c) RESPONSE TO REQUEST: Each matter is deemed admitted unless, within 30 days after service of the request or within such shorter or longer time as the Court may allow, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the requesting party (1) a written answer specifically admitting or denying the matter involved in whole or in part, or asserting that it cannot be truthfully admitted or denied and setting forth in detail the reasons why this is so, or (2) an objection, stating in detail the reasons therefor. * * * ↩