2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 226">*226 Respondent's motion for summary judgment granted and respondent's request for imposition of penalty denied.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
ARMEN, Special Trial Judge: This matter is before the Court on respondent's Motion For Summary Judgment And To Impose A Penalty Under
Summary judgment is intended2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 226">*227 to expedite litigation and avoid unnecessary and expensive trials.
As explained in detail below, there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, and a decision may be rendered as a2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 226">*228 matter of law. Accordingly, we shall grant respondent's motion for summary judgment.
Background
The record establishes and/or the parties do not dispute the following.
Petitioner has a history of failing to file Federal income tax returns. Specifically, petitioner failed to file Federal income tax returns for 1990 through 1993, the four taxable years in issue. The record suggests that petitioner also failed to file Federal income tax returns for 1994 through 1999.
On May 17, 1994, respondent issued a notice of deficiency to petitioner for 1990. In the notice, respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's Federal income tax in the amount of $ 3,121, an addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1) in the amount of $ 585 for failure to file a tax return, and an addition to tax under section 6654(a) in the amount of $ 148 for failure to pay estimated tax. The deficiency in income tax was based on respondent's determination that petitioner failed to report wages, unemployment compensation, and interest income as reported to respondent by various third-party payors.
On April 13, 1995, respondent issued separate2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 226">*229 notices of deficiency to petitioner for 1991, 1992, and 1993. In the notices, respondent determined deficiencies in, and additions to, petitioner's Federal income taxes as follows:
Additions to Tax
______________________________
Year Deficiency Sec. 6651(a)(1) Sec. 6654(a)
____ __________ _______________ ____________
1991 $ 198 $ 100 --
1992 15,240 3,810 $ 663
1993 5,781 1,445 239
The deficiencies in income taxes were based on respondent's determination that petitioner failed to report nonemployee compensation, interest income, and unemployment compensation as reported to respondent by various third-party payors.
Respondent's records reflect that the notices of deficiency were not returned undelivered to respondent by the U.S. Postal Service. Notably, petitioner has not denied that she received the notices.
Petitioner did not file a petition for redetermination with this Court challenging2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 226">*230 the notices of deficiency. See sec. 6213(a). Accordingly, on October 24, 1994, respondent assessed the determined deficiency and additions to tax for 1990, as well as statutory interest. On that same day, respondent sent petitioner a notice of balance due, informing petitioner that she had a liability for 1990 and requesting that she pay it. Petitioner failed to do so. On November 13, 1995, respondent assessed the determined deficiencies and additions to tax for 1991, 1992, and 1993, as well as statutory interest. On that same day, respondent sent petitioner notices of balance due, informing petitioner that she had liabilities for 1991, 1992, and 1993, and requesting that she pay them. Petitioner failed to do so.
On October 25, 1999, respondent sent petitioner a Final Notice -- Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing (the Final Notice). The Final Notice was issued in respect of petitioner's outstanding liabilities for 1990 through 1993.
On November 23, 1999, petitioner submitted to respondent Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process Hearing. Petitioner's request stated in pertinent part: "The basis2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 226">*231 of my complaint is what I believe to be the lack of a valid summary record of assessment pursuant to
On June 22, 2000, Veronica Lindersmith of respondent's Appeals Office in Las Vegas, Nevada, conducted an administrative hearing by way of a telephone conference with petitioner's representative, Thomas W. Roberts. 2 By letter dated August 8, 2000, the Appeals officer provided Mr. Roberts with copies of Forms 4340 (Certificate of Assessments, Payments, and Other Specified Matters) for each of the years 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993. Copies of the Forms 4340 are attached to respondent's motion for summary judgment, which was served on petitioner.
On August 28, 2000, respondent sent petitioner a Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/or 6330. 2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 226">*232 The notice stated that the Appeals Office had determined that it was appropriate for respondent to proceed with the collection of petitioner's outstanding tax liabilities for 1990 through 1993.
On September 29, 2000, petitioner filed with the Court a petition for lien or levy action seeking review of respondent's notice of determination. 3 The petition includes allegations that: (1) The Appeals officer failed to obtain proper verification from the Secretary that the requirements of all applicable laws and administrative procedures were met as required by
On July 20, 2001, respondent filed a Motion For Summary Judgment And To Impose A Penalty Under
Contrary to her representation to the Court, petitioner failed to file tax returns for the years in issue or to work with respondent's counsel toward that end. As a result, on February 8, 2002, respondent filed a second Motion For Summary Judgment And To Impose A Penalty Under
In his motion, respondent asserts that there is no dispute as to a material fact and that respondent is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. In particular, respondent contends that because petitioner received the notices2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 226">*234 of deficiency dated May 17, 1994, and April 13, 1995, she cannot challenge the existence or amount of her underlying tax liabilities for 1990 through 1993 in this collection review proceeding. Respondent further contends that the Appeals officer's review of Forms 4340 with regard to petitioner's account for 1990 through 1993 satisfied the verification requirement imposed under
The Court issued a notice of filing to petitioner directing her to file an objection, if any, to respondent's motion. Petitioner failed to respond. Thereafter, pursuant to notice, respondent's motion was called for hearing at the Court's motions session in Washington, D. C. Counsel for respondent appeared at the hearing and presented argument in support of the pending motion. Although there was no appearance by or on behalf of petitioner at the hearing, she did file a statement pursuant to Rule 50(c).
Discussion
Petitioner asserts that the Appeals officer failed to obtain verification from the Secretary that the requirements of all applicable laws and administrative procedures were met as required by
Federal tax assessments are formally recorded on a record of assessment.
Petitioner has not alleged any irregularity in the assessment procedure that would raise a question about the validity of the assessments or the information contained in the Forms 4340. See
Petitioner also contends that the Appeals officer failed to provide her with requested documents such as a summary record of assessment. We note that
Petitioner has failed to raise a spousal defense, make a valid challenge to the appropriateness of respondent's intended collection action, or offer alternative means of collection. These issues are now deemed conceded.
We turn now to that part of respondent's motion that moves for the imposition of a penalty on petitioner under
As relevant herein,
In the present case, we shall give petitioner the benefit of the doubt and not impose a penalty under
In order to give effect to the foregoing,
An order and decision will be entered granting respondent's motion for summary judgment and denying respondent's request for the imposition2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 226">*240 of a penalty under
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. The conference was conducted by telephone in order to accommodate Mr. Roberts, whose office was located out of state.↩
3. At the time that the petition was filed, petitioner resided in Henderson, Nevada.↩
4. Petitioner has not expressly challenged the existence or amount of her underlying tax liabilities in this collection review proceeding. However, to the extent that one might regard petitioner's statement at the hearing on Sept. 10, 2001, that she intended to file tax returns for the years in issue as tantamount to such a challenge, we note that a taxpayer's receipt of a notice of deficiency, coupled with the taxpayer's failure to file a petition for redetermination with this Court, bars the taxpayer from challenging the existence or amount of his or her underlying tax liability.