An appropriate order and decision will be entered.
LARO,
Respondent selected petitioner Jeffrey S. Kurtz's (Mr. Kurtz) 2005 Federal income tax return for audit. As a result of that audit, respondent issued to Mr. Kurtz a notice of deficiency dated August 7, 2008 (first notice of deficiency). In the first notice of deficiency, respondent determined 2011 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 170">*171 a $20,532 deficiency in Mr. Kurtz's 2005 Federal income tax, a $4,106 addition to tax under
Respondent also selected petitioners' 2006 and 2007 Federal income tax returns for audit. As a result of that audit, respondent issued to petitioners a second notice of deficiency dated August 7, 2008 (second notice of deficiency). In the second notice of deficiency, respondent determined deficiencies of $24,624 and $18,956 in petitioners' 2006 and 2007 Federal income taxes, respectively, accuracy-related penalties under
By letter dated March 15, 2009, petitioners' representative acknowledged receipt of the first and second notices of deficiency. Mr. Kurtz did not petition the Court to challenge respondent's determinations in the first notice of deficiency. Nor did petitioners petition the Court to challenge respondent's determinations in the second notice of deficiency. Respondent assessed the liabilities determined in the first and second notices of deficiency 2011 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 170">*172 in due course.
On April 9, 2009, respondent sent to Mr. Kurtz a Letter 1058, Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing (final levy notice), with respect to (1) his 2005 Federal income tax liability, and (2) petitioners' 2006 and 2007 Federal income tax liabilities. The final levy notice informed Mr. Kurtz that respondent intended to levy upon his property to collect unpaid tax liabilities for 2005, 2006, and 2007. The final levy notice also advised Mr. Kurtz that he was entitled to a hearing with Appeals to review the propriety of the proposed levy.
In response to the final levy notice petitioners sent to respondent Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing, for the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Federal income tax liabilities. On that Form 12153 petitioners aggregated Mr. Kurtz's 2005 Federal income tax liability with petitioners' 2006 and 2007 Federal income tax liabilities. Petitioners asserted that the proposed levy was inappropriate because respondent's auditor did not evaluate the documentation which they submitted in connection with the audit of their 2005, 2006, and 2007 Federal income tax returns. Petitioners did not request an installment 2011 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 170">*173 agreement or an offer-in-compromise on that Form 12153.
On March 19, 2010, a settlement officer in Appeals held a face-to-face collection due process (CDP) hearing with petitioners' representative. The settlement officer determined that petitioners had been provided with several opportunities to dispute their 2005, 2006, and 2007 Federal income tax liabilities but were unable to convince respondent's auditor that they were not liable for those taxes. Following the CDP hearing Appeals issued to petitioners three separate notices of determination, one for each of the years 2005, 2006, and 2007. By notice of determination dated April 13, 2010 (notice), Appeals sustained the proposed collection action for 2007. 2
The notice stated that Appeals had verified or received verification that the requirements of applicable law and administrative procedure for the proposed levy had been met. That notice stated that collection alternatives were discussed but none was initiated. That notice determined that petitioners had been given 2011 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 170">*174 several prior opportunities to dispute their 2007 Federal income tax liability but failed to do so. Finally, the notice balanced the proposed collection action with the concern that such action be no more intrusive than necessary. In response to the notice petitioners petitioned the Court on May 4, 2011. 3
We decide whether to grant respondent's motion for summary judgment in this collection review proceeding. 4Summary judgment may be granted with respect to any part of the legal issue in controversy "if the pleadings, answers to interrogatories, depositions, admissions, and any other acceptable materials * * * show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that a decision may be rendered as a matter of law."
Respondent supports his motion for summary judgment with the pleadings, a declaration from the Appeals manager who supervised petitioners' CDP hearing, and various exhibits. Petitioners, in failing to respond to respondent's motion for summary judgment, have failed to raise any genuine issue of material fact. We therefore conclude that this case is ripe for summary judgment.
A taxpayer may generally challenge the existence or amount of an underlying tax liability only if he or she did not receive a statutory notice of deficiency for such liability or did not otherwise have an opportunity to dispute that tax liability.
Under
We conclude that Appeals did not abuse its discretion in sustaining the proposed levy on petitioners' property to satisfy their 2007 Federal income tax liability. Accordingly, we will grant respondent's motion for summary judgment.
To reflect the foregoing,
1. Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code, and Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. Some dollar amounts are rounded.↩
2. By separate notices of determination dated Apr. 6, 2010, Appeals sustained the proposed collection action for petitioners' 2005 and 2006 Federal income tax liabilities.↩
3. Mr. Kurtz also petitioned the Court in response to the notice of determination for 2005, and petitioners petitioned the Court in response to the notice of determination for 2006.↩
4. Respondent has filed a separate motion for summary judgment with respect to each petition filed in response to the 2005, 2006, and 2007 collection actions. We address these motions in separate Memorandum Opinions because these cases were not consolidated.↩