2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 208">*208 Motion for summary judgment granted. Decision for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
PANUTHOS, Chief Special Trial Judge: This matter is before the Court on respondent's Motion For Summary Judgment, filed pursuant to
Summary judgment is intended 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 a matter of law. Accordingly, we shall grant respondent's motion for summary judgment.
Background
On or about September 10, 1998, Michael2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 208">*210 Schaper (petitioner) and his wife, Roberta Schaper, submitted to respondent a Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for the taxable year 1997. On the Form 1040, the Schapers listed their filing status as "Married filing joint return".
The Schapers entered zeros on applicable lines of the income portion of their Form 1040, specifically including line 7 for wages, line 22 for total income, and lines 32 and 33 for adjusted gross income. The Schapers also entered a zero on line 53 for total tax. The Schapers claimed an overpayment in the amount of $ 2,065 related to Federal income tax withholding. The Schapers attached to their Form 1040 a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, issued to petitioner by Viking Freight, Inc., disclosing that petitioner was paid wages in the amount of $ 46,359.33 and that Federal income tax in the amount of $ 2,065.46 was withheld.
B. Respondent's Deficiency Notice and Petitioner's
Response
On March 3, 2000, respondent issued a joint notice of deficiency to the Schapers. In the notice, respondent determined a deficiency in the amount of $ 4,736 in the Schapers' Federal income tax for 1997, an addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1) 2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 208">*211 in the amount of $ 667.75, and an accuracy-related penalty under section 6662(a) for negligence or disregard of rules or regulations in the amount of $ 534.20. The deficiency was based principally on respondent's determination that petitioner failed to report the wage income as reported to respondent by Viking Freight, Inc., on Form W-2.
By registered letter dated May 19, 2000, petitioner wrote to the Director of respondent's Service Center in Ogden, Utah, acknowledging receipt of the notice of deficiency dated March 3, 2000, but challenging the Director's authority "to send me the Notice in the first place."
Petitioner knew that he had the right to contest respondent's deficiency determination by filing a petition for redetermination with this Court. 2 However, petitioner chose not to do so. Accordingly, on August 7, 2000, respondent assessed the determined deficiency, addition to tax, and accuracy-related penalty, as well as statutory interest. On that same day, respondent sent petitioner a notice of balance due, informing petitioner that he had a liability for 1997 and requesting that he pay it. Petitioner failed to do so.
On November 16, 2000, respondent sent the Schapers 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 the Schapers' outstanding tax liability for 1997.
On December 13, 2000, petitioner submitted to respondent a Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process Hearing. Petitioner's request stated that he was challenging the validity of the assessments for 1997 on the grounds there is no statute imposing tax liability upon him and he was not served with a valid notice and demand for payment.
By letter dated May 9, 2001, the Appeals Office provided petitioner with a transcript of his account for the taxable year 1997. On June 14, 2001, Appeals Officer Wiley Davis conducted an Appeals Office hearing that petitioner attended. According to a purported transcript of the hearing prepared by petitioner, petitioner declined to discuss collection alternatives. Rather, petitioner stated that he wished to challenge his underlying tax liability, and he requested that the Appeals officer provide verification that all2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 208">*213 applicable laws and administrative procedures were followed in the assessment and collection process.
On December 11, 2001, respondent sent petitioner a Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/ or 6330. 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 liability for 1997.
On February 7, 2002, 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 verification from the Secretary that the requirements of any applicable law or administrative procedure were met as required under
As indicated, respondent filed a Motion For Summary Judgment asserting 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 notice of deficiency dated March 3, 2000, he cannot challenge the existence or amount of his underlying tax liability for 1997 in this proceeding. Respondent further contends that the Appeals officer's review of a transcript of account with regard to petitioner's liability for 1997 satisfied the verification requirement imposed under
Petitioner filed an objection to respondent's motion. Thereafter, pursuant to notice, respondent's motion was called for hearing at the Court's motions session in Washington, D.C.
Discussion
Petitioner challenges the assessments made against him on the ground that the notice of deficiency dated March 3, 2000, is invalid. However, the record shows that petitioner received the notice of deficiency and disregarded the opportunity to file a petition for redetermination with this Court. See
Even if petitioner were permitted to challenge the validity of the notice of deficiency, petitioner's argument that the notice is invalid because respondent's Service Center director is not properly authorized to issue notices of deficiency is frivolous and groundless. See
We likewise reject petitioner's argument 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 question2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 208">*219 about the validity of the assessments or the information contained in the transcript of account. See
Petitioner also contends that he never received a notice and demand for payment for 1997. The requirement that the Secretary issue a notice and demand for payment is set forth in
provided by this title, the Secretary shall, as soon as
practicable, and within 60 days, after the making of an
assessment of a tax pursuant to
each person liable for the unpaid tax, stating the amount and
demanding payment thereof. * * *
The transcript of account that the Appeals officer relied on during the administrative process shows that respondent sent petitioner a notice of balance due on the same date that respondent made assessments2002 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 208">*220 against petitioner for the tax, addition to tax, and accuracy-related penalty determined in the notice of deficiency. A notice of balance due constitutes a notice and demand for payment within the meaning of
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.
In order to give effect to the foregoing,
An appropriate order granting respondent's motion and decision for respondent 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. In this regard, petitioner's letter dated May 19, 2000, stated in pertinent part:
According to your "Deficiency Notice" of above date
(cover sheet attached), there is an alleged deficiency with
respect to my 1997 income tax * * * and if I wanted to
"contest this deficiency before making payment," I must
"file a petition with the United States Tax Court."↩
3. At the time that the petition was filed, petitioner resided in Las Vegas, Nevada. The envelope bearing the petition contains a timely U.S. Postal Service postmark dated Jan. 9, 2002. See