MEMORANDUM OPINION
RUWE,
This case was calendared for hearing on respondent's above-referenced motions in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 15, 2008. Upon further review, it is determined that no material fact is in dispute and the arguments petitioner raised are unavailing; therefore a decision on the merits will be entered pursuant to the information contained in the record.
At the time the petition in this case was filed, petitioner resided in McDonough, Georgia.
Petitioner failed to timely file a Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for the tax year 2003, and respondent sent petitioner a notice of deficiency. Petitioner filed a petition with this Court at docket No. 15548-05 that was replete with frivolous and/or groundless protester-type arguments. By order and decision, this Court granted respondent's motion for summary judgment, finding that petitioner had continued his efforts to advance the same meritless contentions he had raised in two previous proceedings and sustained respondent's deficiency determinations. The two previous cases were
Respondent sent to petitioner a Final Notice, Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing (notice), regarding the unpaid tax liability that had been assessed for the 2003 tax year. The notice advised petitioner of his option to schedule a collection due process (CDP) hearing with respondent's Appeals Office.
In response to the notice, petitioner submitted a Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing, to respondent's Appeals Office. Petitioner's stated reason for the CDP hearing was: Return has been filed with the Atlanta Service Center. See attached. Request Audit Redetermination. Levy premature. Request alternative collection procedures and reduction in penalties based on 1995 PRA [Paperwork Reduction Act]. OMB [Office of Management and Budget] # 1545-0074 was not issued in accordance with
Petitioner did not offer any collection alternatives or spousal defenses.
By letter dated September 28, 2007, 2008 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 192">*195 respondent's Appeals officer advised petitioner that a telephonic conference call was scheduled for October 30, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. (central time). Ten days before the scheduled telephonic conference call, petitioner sent a letter to the Appeals officer, dated October 20, 2007, in which he stated: "We will be out of town at the time of the phone conference. Please continue by correspondence." Attached to petitioner's letter was an "Appeals Protest". The "Appeals Protest" contained petitioner's continued attempt at advancing the same frivolous and groundless arguments he had asserted in prior proceedings. Petitioner's primary argument in this and prior proceedings revolves around his theory that the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) shields him from tax liability.
On December 13, 2007, respondent's Appeals Office issued to petitioner a notice of determination sustaining the proposed levy. Petitioner timely filed a petition with the Court that contained the same frivolous and groundless arguments that the "public protection clause" of the PRA shields him from being assessed any penalties or additions to tax. Petitioner states: "No person can be subject to any penalty for failing to file a 2008 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 192">*196 form not issued in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, ("PRA"), as delineated at
Respondent filed a motion for summary judgment alleging that petitioner's petition is based on frivolous allegations and arguments and asks for a penalty under
Summary judgment is intended to expedite litigation and avoid unnecessary and expensive trials.
In both the motion for summary judgment and the motion to permit levy, respondent argues that because petitioner's prior proceeding in
SEC. 6330. NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR HEARING BEFORE LEVY. * * * * * * * (c) Matters Considered at Hearing. -- In the case of any hearing conducted under this section -- * * * * * * * (2) Issues at hearing. -- * * * * * * * (B) Underlying liability. -- The person may also raise at the hearing challenges to the existence or amount of the underlying tax liability for any tax period if the person did not receive any statutory notice of deficiency for such tax liability or did otherwise have an opportunity to dispute such tax liability.
Where the validity of the underlying tax liability is not properly at issue, the Court will review the Commissioner's administrative determination for abuse of discretion.
In his responses to respondent's motions, petitioner has not presented any plausible arguments or alleged 2008 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 192">*200 any facts to show that respondent abused his discretion. Instead petitioner's responses are replete with previously rejected tax protester types of arguments based primarily on the PRA. As petitioner has previously been told, his reliance on the PRA is frivolous and groundless.
As indicated above, petitioner advanced the same frivolous and groundless arguments in three prior proceedings before this Court. Petitioner was warned that a
SEC. 6330. NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR HEARING BEFORE LEVY. * * * * * * * (e) Suspension of Collections and Statute of Limitations. -- (1) In general. -- Except as provided in paragraph (2), if a hearing is requested under subsection (a)(3)(B), the levy actions which are the subject of the requested hearing and the running of any period of limitations under section 6502 (relating to collection after assessment), section 6531 (relating to criminal prosecutions), or section 6532 (relating to other suits) shall be suspended for the period during which such hearing, and appeals therein, are pending. * * * (2) Levy upon appeal. -- Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a levy action while an appeal is pending if the underlying tax liability is not at issue in the appeal and the court determines that the Secretary has shown good cause not to suspend the levy.
We have previously held that "respondent may show good cause that a levy should not be suspended where, as here, the taxpayer has used the collection review procedure to espouse frivolous and groundless arguments and otherwise needlessly delay collection."
Petitioner's use of frivolous and groundless arguments in this proceeding can only be regarded as an attempt to delay collection. Accordingly, we shall grant respondent's motion to permit levy.
To the extent not herein discussed, we have considered petitioner's other arguments and found them to be without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
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 the motion for summary judgment, respondent notes that petitioner's delinquent 2003 Federal income tax return had been recently processed by respondent's Audit Reconsideration Division. After reconsideration, a portion of petitioner's tax liability for 2003 was abated as of Mar. 31, 2008. Pursuant to Form 4340, Certificate of Assessments, Payments, and Other Specified Matters, petitioner's 2003 tax liability, including interest and failure-to-pay penalties, now totals $ 115,514.09. The Appeals officer did not abuse his discretion by declining to delay his determinations to await the uncertain outcome of petitioner's 11th hour request for audit reconsideration and the uncertain outcome of any audit reconsideration that might be granted. See
3. Petitioner's second warning came in the proceeding at