2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*339 Judgment entered for respondent.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
HAINES, Judge: In these consolidated cases, 1 respondent determined the following deficiencies, additions to tax, and penalties in petitioner's Federal income taxes:
Additions to Tax | Penalties | ||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6651(a)(1) | Sec. 6662 |
1996 | $ 2,617 | $ 750 | $ 523 |
1997 | 6,292 | 1,605 | 1,258 |
2000 | 5,723 | --- | 837 |
The issues for decision are: (1) Whether petitioner is liable for the deficiencies respondent determined in the notices of deficiency for 1996, 1997, and 2000 (years in issue); 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*340 (2) whether petitioner is liable for additions to tax for failing to timely file his Federal income tax returns (tax returns) under
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. At the time he filed the petitions, petitioner resided in Chicago, Illinois.
On May 28, 1999, respondent received from petitioner tax returns for 1996 and 1997 signed by petitioner and2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*341 purportedly signed by Lori Israel, petitioner's former spouse, reporting wages received by petitioner from the U.S. Postal Service. Petitioner attempted to file these tax returns with the filing status of "Married filing joint return" by signing Lori Israel's name. On or about April 26, 2000, petitioner filed amended tax returns for 1996 and 1997, reporting taxable income of zero and requesting a refund of all Federal income taxes withheld for both years.
Petitioner timely filed his tax return for 2000. On this tax return, petitioner reported zero taxable income and requested a refund of all Federal income tax withheld. Petitioner attached to the tax return: (1) A Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, reporting that petitioner received $ 36,591 in wages and had $ 1,538 of Federal income tax withheld by the U.S. Postal Service; and (2) a two-page form letter containing tax-protester boilerplate.
On February 15, 2002, respondent sent petitioner a notice of deficiency for 2000. Respondent determined that petitioner failed to report wages from the U.S. Postal Service, gain from the sale or exchange of assets from National Financial Services Co., and interest income from National Financial2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*342 Services Co.
On March 28, 2002, respondent sent petitioner a notice of deficiency for 1996 and 1997 with regard to the original tax returns filed on May 28, 1999. Respondent determined that petitioner failed to report capital gain income and interest income from National Finance Services Co. and that petitioner was not allowed to file a joint return.
On May 16, 2002, petitioner filed a petition with the Court disputing the notice of deficiency for 2000. 3 On October 10, 2002, petitioner filed an amended petition, which stated:
2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*343 1) Notice of deficiency is not the statutory notice called for
by code
initial assessment is made by the "Secretary" 3) Section
delegate 4)
that petitioner owe any more in Federal tax than the zero shown
on the return. 5) by definition
deficiency can exist with respect to a zero return please see
page 11 of petitioner answer to jurisdiction to hear the matter!
6)
of deficiency 7)
On June 26, 2002, petitioner filed a petition with the Court disputing the notice of deficiency for 1996 and 1997. 4 On September 16, 2002, petitioner filed an amended petition. Petitioner stated:
(1)
returns: 941, 940, 942, 943, 11(b), 720, 2290, 4638, 0141, 1065-
form 1040 is not2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*344 applicable. (2) Code
"The Secretary of Treasury" determines a deficiency &
the "Secretary" or his delegate shall notify taxpayer.
(3) Code
demand" form 17A must be sent to taxpayer none was sent by
"Secretary" (4)
a tax based on a return omitted (5) No statute makes me liable
for tax
On July 9, 2003, the Court issued
2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*345 Finally, although petitioner did not receive a notice of
deficiency [before the
petitioner's unpaid liability for 1995 and 1996, the Court finds
the contentions and arguments which petitioner advanced at his
Appeals Office hearing, in his petition, and in petitioner's
trial memorandum and which challenge the existence or the amount
of each such unpaid liability to be frivolous and/or groundless.
Id. As a result of petitioner's position and actions with respect to the unpaid liabilities for 1995 and 1996, the Court also imposed a penalty on petitioner pursuant to
In preparation for the Court's trial session in Chicago, Illinois, beginning September 22, 2003, the parties submitted for each docket a supplemental stipulation of facts, in which petitioner admitted to receiving all the disputed income. Each supplemental stipulation, however, contained the following statement: "It is petitioner's position that this amount is2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*346 not subject to income tax because the statutory notice of deficiency was not properly issued under federal law by the Secretary of Treasury." Further, petitioner filed with the Court trial memoranda which contained similar frivolous and groundless arguments.
At trial, the Court warned petitioner on three separate occasions that the arguments he was making have been deemed frivolous by the Court and that the Court has imposed penalties under
OPINION
Petitioner argues that the2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*347 person who sent the notices of deficiency did not have the delegated authority to send them. Respondent argues that, in light of the stipulations of facts in which petitioner admits to receiving the disputed income, the only issues in dispute are the additions to tax and penalties.
The parties stipulated that for 1996 and 1997, petitioner received payments for the sale of stocks/bonds and interest income from National Financial Services Co., which form the basis of the adjustments determined in the notice of deficiency. The parties also stipulated that for 2000, petitioner received payments from the U.S. Postal Service for wages and payments for the sale of stocks/bonds and interest income from National Financial Services Co., which form the basis of the adjustments determined in the notice of deficiency.
Further, petitioner's argument that the person who sent the notices of deficiency did not have the delegated authority to send them has been deemed by this Court to be frivolous. Petitioner bases his argument on the Court's decision in
Petitioner also argued that the "refund" requested on his 2000 tax return was incorrectly applied to the tax liabilities for 2000 rather than being refunded to him. We disagree.
We do not find that petitioner made an overpayment in 2000 that should be refunded to him. In general, if a taxpayer has made an "overpayment" and the overpayment is not applied against any of the taxpayer's outstanding tax liabilities, the Secretary must refund the payment, including interest.
We look to caselaw to define "overpayment" because there is no specific definition of the term "overpayment" in the Code which applies to the facts of these cases. 6 Id. This Court has interpreted an overpayment as occurring when the taxpayer has made a payment of tax greater than the amount properly due.
As determined above, petitioner is liable for the tax liability for 2000 which exceeded the withholding payment of $ 1,538, as respondent determined in the notice of deficiency. As a result, there is no overpayment that petitioner is entitled to because he did not make a payment of tax greater than the amount properly due.
III. Additions2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*351 to Tax
Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for additions to tax pursuant to
If petitioner establishes that the failure to file timely returns was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, he can avoid the addition to tax.
A.
Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for accuracy-related penalties under
2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*353
The 2000 return petitioner filed reported zero on all income entries and no taxable income even though respondent and petitioner stipulated that petitioner received $ 3,209 in 2000 from the sale of stock, $ 17 interest on an account with National Financial Services Co., and $ 36,591 as wages from the U.S. Postal Service. Respondent has met his burden of production for his determination of the accuracy-related penalty under
Even though respondent has met his burden of production,2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*354 the accuracy-related penalty will not be imposed if petitioner can establish that he acted with reasonable cause and in good faith. See
B.
Respondent does not ask the Court to impose a penalty on petitioner under
In
advanced, we believe primarily for delay, frivolous and/or
groundless contentions, arguments, and requests with respect to
petitioner's unpaid liabilities for 1995 and 1996, thereby
causing the Court to waste its limited resources in addressing
such matters. * * *
At trial in the instant cases, the Court warned petitioner on three separate occasions that the Court has penalized taxpayers under
Despite the warnings of the Court, petitioner has continued to assert groundless arguments. Under the circumstances, we shall, on our own motion, impose a penalty on petitioner pursuant to
We have considered all of petitioner's contentions, arguments, and requests that are not discussed herein, and we conclude2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 339">*356 that they are without merit or irrelevant.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decisions will be entered for respondent.
1. These cases were consolidated for purposes of trial, briefing, and opinion.↩
2. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.↩
3. The petition was originally filed under
4. The petition was originally filed under
5. After petitioner filed a petition with this Court to review the notice of determination for 1996, on Mar. 28, 2002, respondent issued to petitioner the notice of deficiency for 1996 and 1997 on the basis of omitted capital gain and interest income that was not at issue in the
6.
The term "overpayment" includes that part of the amount
of the payment of any internal revenue tax which is assessed or
collected after the expiration of the period of limitation
properly applicable thereto.↩