2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 122">*122 Petitioner had unreported wage income for his taxable year 1997. Petitioner was liable for his taxable year 1997 for addition to tax.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
CHIECHI, Judge: Respondent determined the following deficiency in, and additions to, petitioner's Federal income tax (tax): 1
Additions to tax
Year Deficiency
1997 $ 3,088 $ 694.35 $ 570.91 $ 166.23
The issues remaining for decision are: 3
(1) Does petitioner have unreported wage income for his taxable year 1997? We hold that he does.
2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 122">*123 (2) Is petitioner liable for his taxable year 1997 for an addition to tax under
(3) Is petitioner liable for his taxable year 1997 for an addition to tax under
Background
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found.
Petitioner had a mailing address in Moweaqua, Illinois, at the time he filed the petition.
During 1997, R.W.P. Enterprises, Inc., d nba Rat's Whole Place, paid petitioner wages of $ 11,130. That company withheld from those wages FICA tax and Medicare tax of $ 690 and $ 161, respectively.
During 1997, Trading Specialties International, Inc., paid petitioner wages of $ 15,522. That company withheld from those wages Federal income tax, FICA tax, and Medicare tax of $ 2, $ 962, and $ 225, respectively.
During 1997, World of Powersports, Inc., paid petitioner wages of $ 38. That company withheld from those wages FICA tax of $ 2.
During 1997, petitioner did not make any estimated tax payments to the Internal Revenue Service.
Petitioner did not file a tax return for his taxable year 1997.
On January 31, 2002, petitioner filed the petition2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 122">*124 in this case. The petition contains allegations, contentions, arguments, and questions that the Court finds to be frivolous and/or groundless.
On March 7, 2003, respondent submitted respondent's trial memorandum in this case. Attached to respondent's trial memorandum was a copy of a draft of a stipulation of facts proposed by petitioner (petitioner's proposed stipulation of facts) as well as petitioner's cover letter dated February 28, 2003, transmitting such proposed stipulation of facts to respondent's counsel (petitioner's February 28, 2003 transmittal letter).
In an Order dated March 10, 2003 (March 10, 2003 Order), the Court ordered respondent's trial memorandum, including the attachments thereto, to be filed as of the date of receipt by the Court. In that Order, the Court found that certain statements and arguments set forth in petitioner's proposed stipulation of facts and petitioner's February 28, 2003 transmittal letter are frivolous and/or groundless. In the March 10, 2003 Order, the Court reminded petitioner about
On March 10, 2003, petitioner submitted petitioner's trial memorandum to the Court. In an Order dated March 11, 2003 (March 11, 2003 Order), the Court ordered petitioner's trial memorandum to be filed as of the date of receipt by the Court. In that Order, the Court found that petitioner's trial memorandum set forth issues, statements, contentions, and arguments that are frivolous and groundless. In the Court's March 11, 2003 Order, the Court reminded petitioner about its March 10, 2003 Order and issued a second reminder to petitioner about
On March 24, 2003, at the call of this case from the calendar (calendar call) at the Court's trial session in Chicago, Illinois, the Court again reminded petitioner that, in the event he advanced frivolous and/or groundless contentions and arguments at trial, the Court would impose a penalty on him under 2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 122">*126
On March 24, 2003, this case was called for trial. Petitioner was the only witness. The following colloquy took place between the Court and petitioner during petitioner's testimony:
THE COURT: * * * Mr. Hilvety, you may now testify to any
facts that are relevant to resolving the determinations in the
notice of deficiency that remain at issue in this case.
THE WITNESS: Well, the fact is that the notice of
deficiency is deficient on its face because it has no section
listed for the deficiency.
THE COURT: That's a legal argument. I want any facts that
you want to testify to that * * * [are] relevant to resolving
the issues that remain in this case.
THE WITNESS: Well, the Internal Revenue Service2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 122">*127 is required
to state what the tax is derived from under
THE COURT: That's an argument, and it's a frivolous
argument, and I told you this morning and I'll tell you now.
I'll give you one more chance, and unless you're going to start
testifying to facts that are relevant to resolving the issues in
this case as opposed to making frivolous and/or groundless
contentions and arguments, you will be excused from testifying
altogether, and I will entertain a motion to dismiss for failure
to properly prosecute this case.
Do you understand what I'm saying to you?
THE WITNESS: Yes, I do.
THE COURT: Okay. Now, what facts that are relevant to
resolving the issues that remain in this case do you want to
testify about?
THE WITNESS: In light * * * [of] what you've just said, I
have nothing else.
On cross-examination, the following dialogue took place between respondent's counsel and petitioner:
Q Mr. Hilvety, you did not file a tax return for taxable
year 1997, did you?
2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 122">*128 A I could not find in the Internal Revenue Code anywhere
where I was required by law, written by Congress, to file a
return.
Q Sir, did you or did you not file a tax return for 1997?
* * * * * * *
THE WITNESS: No, I did not.
The Court did not order any posttrial briefs in this case. Nonetheless, on March 26, 2003, petitioner submitted to the Court a document that the Court had filed as petitioner's supplement to petitioner's trial memorandum (petitioner's supplement). Petitioner's supplement contains questions, statements, contentions, and arguments that the Court finds to be frivolous and/or groundless. Petitioner's supplement also argues for the first time that respondent mailed the notice to him with respect to his taxable year 1997 after the period of limitations prescribed by
Discussion
Petitioner has introduced no credible evidence with respect to any factual issue relevant to ascertaining whether the determinations in the notice are erroneous. We find that petitioner has the burden2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 122">*129 of proving that those determinations are wrong.
Petitioner proffered no evidence and advanced no argument establishing that respondent's determination that he had wage income for 1997 totaling $ 26,690 is in error. Indeed, petitioner concedes in the parties' stipulation of facts in this case that he had that amount of wage income for that year.
Nor has petitioner proffered any evidence or advanced any argument establishing that respondent is wrong in determining that he is liable for his taxable year 1997 for additions to tax under
We now turn to
On the instant record, we find that petitioner's position in this case is frivolous and/or groundless 5 and2003 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 122">*131 that he instituted and maintained this proceeding primarily for delay. Accordingly, we shall impose a penalty on petitioner under
We have considered all of petitioner's contentions, arguments, and requests that are not discussed herein, and we find them to be without merit and/or irrelevant.
To reflect the foregoing and respondent's concession,
Decision will be entered under
1. Respondent also determined interest on the amounts of those items as provided by law.↩
2. All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the year at issue. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. ↩
3. Respondent concedes that petitioner is not liable for his taxable year 1997 for an addition to tax under
4. Petitioner conceded on cross-examination at trial and in petitioner's supplement to petitioner's trial memorandum that he did not file a return for his taxable year 1997. We conclude that respondent has satisfied respondent's burden of production under
5. Although not pled in the petition, petitioner argues for the first time in petitioner's supplement to petitioner's trial memorandum that the period of limitations under