In re: Mark Winters v. ( 2013 )

ELECTRONIC CITATION: 2013 FED App.0008P (6th Cir.)
File Name: 13b0008p.06
BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL OF THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
In re: MARK WESLEY WINTERS, )
)
Debtor. )
______________________________________ )
)
MARK WESLEY WINTERS, )
)
Plaintiff-Appellant, ) No. 13-8025
)
)
v. )
)
DOUGLAS H. SHULMAN, COMMISSIONER )
OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; )
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
THROUGH ITS AGENCY, THE INTERNAL )
REVENUE SERVICE; and )
)
ROBERT H. WALDSCHMIDT, TRUSTEE, )
)
Defendants-Appellees. )
)
______________________________________ )
Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
for the Middle District of Tennessee
No. 311-04072; Adv. No. 312-90369.
Argued: November 5, 2013
Decided and Filed: December 12, 2013
Before: EMERSON, HARRIS, and HUMPHREY, Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Judges.
____________________
COUNSEL
ARGUED: Steven L. Lefkovitz, Nashville, Tennessee, for Appellant. Andrew C. Strelka, UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for Federal Appellees. Robert H.
Waldschmidt, Brentwood, Tennessee, for Appellee Trustee Waldschmidt. ON BRIEF: Steven L.
Lefkovitz, Nashville, Tennessee, for Appellant. Andrew C. Strelka, UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for Federal Appellees. Robert H. Waldschmidt,
Brentwood, Tennessee, for Appellee Trustee Waldschmidt.
____________________
OPINION
____________________
GEORGE W. EMERSON, JR., Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Judge. Debtor Mark Wesley
Winters (“Debtor”) appeals the memorandum opinion and order of the United States Bankruptcy
Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (the “bankruptcy court”) granting partial summary
judgment to Douglas H. Shulman, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, and United States
of America, through its agency, the Internal Revenue Service (hereinafter “IRS”). The bankruptcy
court concluded that the IRS’s claim of $226,142.85, pertaining to the Debtor’s 2004 taxes, was
nondischargeable.
The bankruptcy court also concluded that a tax refund check in the amount of $86,512.32,
which was erroneously issued to the Debtor and subsequently returned to the IRS by the Debtor, was
not property of the estate and therefore not properly subject to turnover to the Chapter 7 Trustee,
Robert H. Waldschmidt (hereinafter “Trustee”). At argument, the parties agreed that this issue is
moot. Appellant did not designate the issue for appeal and conceded at argument that he had
abandoned this issue. There was no cross-appeal filed.
I. ISSUES ON APPEAL
The sole issue on appeal is whether the bankruptcy court erred in finding that the IRS’s claim
of $226,142.85 for tax year 2004 is entitled to priority status in accordance with 11 U.S.C.
§ 507(a)(8) and, as such, is nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(1)(A). The Trustee asserts
that whether the claim is entitled to priority hinges on facts that were not in the record at the
summary judgment stage, that is, whether the statute of limitations had run on the assessment of the
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Debtor’s 2004 taxes. The Appellant asserts a similar sub-issue as to the priority and dischargeability
of the taxes based on the timing of the assessment and the filing of the Debtor’s bankruptcy petition.
II. JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Sixth Circuit has jurisdiction to decide this appeal.
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee has authorized appeals to the
Panel, and no party has timely elected to have this appeal heard by the district court. 28 U.S.C.
§ 158(b)(6), (c)(1). A partial summary judgment order that does not dispose of all parties and all
claims is generally not appealable. Bonner v. Perry, 564 F.3d 424, 427 (6th Cir. 2009). Initially,
the Appellant moved for leave to appeal the partial summary judgment order, which was denied by
order of the Panel (BAP Case No. 13-8008). Subsequently, Appellant filed a motion with the
bankruptcy court for certification of the partial summary judgment order for immediate review by
the BAP. The bankruptcy court granted Appellant’s motion, resulting in this appeal.
A grant of summary judgment is a conclusion of law, reviewed de novo. Medical Mutual of
Ohio v. K. Amalia Enters., Inc., 548 F.3d 383, 389 (6th Cir. 2008). “Summary judgment is proper
if the evidence, taken in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, shows that there are no
genuine issues of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of
law.” Id. (citations omitted). Under a de novo standard of review, the reviewing court decides the
issue independently of, and without deference to, the trial court’s determination. Menninger v.
Accredited Home Lenders (In re Morgeson), 371 B.R. 798, 800 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2007).
III. FACTS
In the bankruptcy proceeding below, the parties stipulated to the following facts, reproduced
verbatim herein from the bankruptcy court’s Memorandum Opinion:
1. Mark Wesley Winters (“Debtor”) filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 7
on April 20, 2011.
2. Robert H. Waldschmidt (“Trustee”) was appointed as Trustee in the
bankruptcy proceeding, and is currently serving in that capacity.
3. The Debtor and his wife filed their 2004 tax return on or about September 19,
2005.
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4. The Debtor and his wife filed their 2007 tax return on or about November 17,
2008.
5. The Debtor and his wife filed their 2008 tax return on or about November 23,
2009.
6. On or about December 3, 2009, a Notice of Deficiency was sent to the Debtor
and his spouse for tax year 2004, asserting that an additional amount of
$143,445.00 in taxes were due from that year, plus penalties of $28,689.00.
7. On or about May 26, 2011, a Notice of Deficiency was sent to the Debtor and
his spouse for tax years 2007 and 2008 asserting that an additional amount
of $138,907.00 in taxes were due for 2007, plus penalties of $27,781.40, and
further asserting that an additional amount of $109,648.00 in taxes were due
for 2008, plus penalties of $21,929.60.
8. A petition was filed with the U.S. Tax Court by the Debtor and his spouse on
March 8, 2010, challenging the Notices of Deficiency for the 2004 tax year.
Mark W. & Liya I. Winters v. Commissioner, Dkt. #00586-10 (T.C.).
9. A petition was filed with the U.S. Tax Court by the Debtor and his spouse on
August 26, 2011, challenging the Notices of Deficiency for the 2007 and
2008 tax years. Liya I. Winters v. Commissioner, Dkt. #019757-11 (T.C.).
That matter was dismissed as to the Debtor because of the imposition of the
automatic stay.
10. Post-petition, the Debtor received a $86,512.32 tax refund check from the
IRS in August 2011, based on his 2005 tax return.
11. The Trustee requested from counsel for the Debtor, in August 2011, that the
tax refund check be sent to the Trustee.
12. The Debtor filed a motion to convert his case to Chapter 11 on August 16,
2011; that motion was withdrawn on October 5, 2011.
13. The Debtor sent the $86,512.32 tax refund check back to the IRS in October
2011, together with a cover letter.
14. The IRS sent a “Refund Check Identification” to the Debtor on or about
November 10, 2011.
15. The Trustee filed a motion for turnover of the refund on October 26, 2011;
The Debtor objected to said motion on November 17, 2011; said objection
did not disclose anything about any receipt or disposition of a tax refund
check.
16. On or about December 26, 2011, the IRS tendered a tax refund check in the
amount of $32,555.15 to the Debtor, relating to the Debtor’s 2005 taxes.
17. The $32,555.15 refund check was received by the Trustee, and the funds are
currently being held by the Trustee.
Stip. of Facts and Exs. at 1-3, Adv. Proc. No. 12-90369, ECF No. 13.
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Additionally, on June 28, 2012, the Debtor filed an adversary complaint, naming the Trustee
and IRS as defendants, seeking a determination of the amount of tax liability owed pursuant to 11
U.S.C. § 505(a)(1) and for turnover of funds if the IRS’s claim was disallowed. The Debtor took
the position that “if the claim of the Internal Revenue Service is allowed, then the refund checks
were sent to the Debtor in error due to the fact that the IRS had a prepetition right of setoff and/or
offset against said funds. If it is determined that the claim of the IRS is disallowed, then the IRS
should be required to turn over $86,512.32 to the Chapter 7 Trustee.” Pl.’s Compl. at 4, Adv. Proc.
No. 12-90369; ECF No. 1.
On July 2, 2012, the Chapter 7 Trustee answered and filed a crossclaim against the IRS and
a counterclaim against the Debtor. The Trustee denied that the IRS was entitled to retain the refund
check. In his crossclaim, the Trustee requested a determination of the IRS’s claim, a determination
that the IRS was not entitled to a set-off against the tax refund check and an order requiring the IRS
to turn over the $85,512.32 refund. In his counterclaim against the Debtor, the Trustee sought a
determination that by returning the tax refund check to the IRS, the Debtor knowingly and
fraudulently failed to deliver property to the Trustee and as such his discharge, if obtained, should
be revoked pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 727(d)(2).
On August 7, 2012, the IRS filed its answer to the complaint and crossclaim and included
its own crossclaim against the Trustee. The IRS estimated that the Debtor owed approximately
$254,831.85 to the IRS for tax years 2004, 2007 and 2008. Further, the IRS alleged that $32,555.15
was refunded to the Debtor and subsequently received by the Trustee but that the IRS was entitled
to recover the refund from the Trustee and credit that amount against the Debtor’s prepetition tax
liabilities. (As set forth in the Stipulations recited above, this tax refund related to the Debtor’s 2005
tax liabilities).
On August 8, 2012, the Trustee answered the IRS’s crossclaim. On September 11, 2012, the
parties entered into a joint stipulation of facts and exhibits, as fully recited above. On September
28, 2012, the IRS filed a motion for summary judgment, alleging, among other things, that because
the tax liabilities for 2004, 2007 and 2008 had not yet been assessed but otherwise would have been
assessable after the petition date, the tax liabilities were entitled to priority under 11 U.S.C. § 507.
In its motion for summary judgment, the IRS conceded that the amount of the debtor’s 2004 tax
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liability was not ready for a final determination and requested that this issue be a topic for discussion
at a later pretrial conference. IRS’s Mot. Summ. J. at 3-4, Adv. Proc. No. 12-90369, ECF No. 15.
The IRS also conceded at that time that the refund check in the amount of $32,555.15 was property
of the estate. Id. at 8.
On October 2, 2012, the Trustee filed a motion for partial summary judgment and brief in
support. Importantly, the Trustee requested that the following determinations be made via summary
judgment: 1) that the IRS’s claim for the 2004 tax year is not entitled to priority status; 2) that the
$32,555.15 tax refund check is property of the estate; 3) that the $86,512.32 tax refund check is
property of the estate that the Debtor was obligated to turn over to the Trustee; and 4) that the IRS
be ordered to pay to the Trustee funds in the amount of $53,957.17, representing the difference
between the refund check issued in error ($86,512.32) and what the Trustee had actually received
($32,555.15).
On October 3, 2012, the Debtor filed his motion for partial summary judgment and brief in
support which proposed that summary judgment was appropriate as to the issue of the priority of the
IRS’s tax claim for year 2004 as well as the issues of whether the refund checks were property of the
Debtor’s bankruptcy estate and should be turned over to the Trustee.
On November 13, 2012, a hearing was held on the parties’ motions. At the hearing, the IRS
conceded that the $32,555.15 was property of the estate. Hr’g Tr. at 8, November 13, 2012.
In its opinion, the bankruptcy court distilled the issues to two: 1) whether the IRS’s claim for
2004 taxes is a nondischargeable priority claim; and 2) whether an erroneous refund sent to the
Debtors postpetition, and then returned by the Debtors to the IRS, is property of the estate. The
bankruptcy court adopted the parties’ undisputed joint stipulation of facts in its memorandum
opinion.
Debtor failed to designate the bankruptcy court’s conclusions regarding the second issue for
this appeal as required by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 8006. In addition, at oral argument,
the parties agreed that the issue of whether the erroneous refund was property of the estate was moot.
Therefore, that issue is not reviewable. See Ford v. United States, No. 94-3469, 36 F.3d 1097, 1994
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WL 521119, at *2 (6th Cir. 1994) (unpublished) (citing Boyd v. Ford Motor Co., 948 F.2d 283, 284
(6th Cir. 1991)). Accordingly, the Panel will not address the issue.
IV. DISCUSSION
The bankruptcy court correctly noted that the priority status of the IRS’s claim for 2004
income taxes was to be determined by 11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(8)(A) and that the dischargeability of such
claim is governed by 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(1)(A).
11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(8)(A)(iii) provides for the prioritization of “allowed unsecured claims of
governmental units, only to the extent that such claims are for a tax on or measured by income or
gross receipts for a taxable year ending on or before the date of the filing of the petition, . . . other
than a tax of a kind specified in section 523(a)(1)(B) or 523(a)(1)(C) of this title, not assessed before,
but assessable, under applicable law or by agreement, after, the commencement of the case.”
The Debtor asserts that the bankruptcy court erred in finding the 2004 tax debt
nondischargeable because the three-year statute of limitations had already run before the IRS filed
its notice of deficiency in December 2009. On appeal, the IRS contends that the three-year period
is extended to six years because the Debtor omitted more than 25 percent of the amount of gross
income stated in his 2004 return. See 26 U.S.C. § 6501(e)(1)(A). Meanwhile, the Trustee contends
that a remand is necessary because neither the bankruptcy court nor the Tax Court has finally
determined the amount of the 2004 tax debt. In other words, whether the 2004 tax debt is
nondischargeable depends on the whether the Debtor omitted more than 25 percent of the amount
of gross income stated in his 2004 tax return.
The Panel finds instructive the Supreme Court’s recent decision in United States v. Home
Concrete & Supply, LLC, 132 S. Ct. 1836 (2012), a case that none of the parties cited in briefing
before the bankruptcy court or on appeal. In Home Concrete, the Supreme Court was asked to
determine whether the longer six-year period in § 6501(e)(1)(A) applied when the underreporting
of gross income was due to the taxpayer overstating his basis in property that was sold. The
Supreme Court explained the issue as follows:
Ordinarily, the Government must assess a deficiency against a taxpayer within
‘‘3 years after the return was filed.’’ 26 U.S.C. § 6501(a). The 3–year period is
extended to 6 years, however, when a taxpayer ‘‘omits from gross income an amount
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properly includible therein which is in excess of 25 percent of the amount of gross
income stated in the return.’’ § 6501(e)(1)(A) (emphasis added). The question before
us is whether this latter provision applies (and extends the ordinary 3–year limitations
period) when the taxpayer overstates his basis in property that he has sold, thereby
understating the gain that he received from its sale. . . .
[We] take as undisputed that the Commissioner asserted the relevant deficiency
within the extended 6–year limitations period, but outside the default 3–year period.
Thus, unless the 6–year statute of limitations applies, the Government’s efforts to
assert a tax deficiency came too late. . . .
132 S. Ct. at 1839.
In reviewing the record in the present case, it is apparent that neither the bankruptcy court
nor the parties focused on whether the statute of limitations had already run on the 2004 tax debt
before the IRS filed its notice of deficiency in December 2009. Rather, the bankruptcy court and the
parties looked to the events after the filing of the notice of deficiency, including the Debtor filing a
petition with the Tax Court in March 2010 challenging the notice of deficiency for the 2004 tax debt.
The bankruptcy court correctly noted that the filing with the Tax Court prevented the IRS from
assessing the Debtor’s tax liability for 2004. The bankruptcy court, however, failed to address
whether the statute of limitations had already run on the 2004 tax debt before the IRS filed its notice
of deficiency in December 2009.
The IRS maintains on appeal that the record already establishes that the Debtor underreported
his 2004 gross income by more than 25 percent, thereby making the 2004 tax debt subject to the
longer six-year period under § 6501(e)(1)(A). Nevertheless, the debtor’s 2004 tax liability has yet
to be finally determined. The debtor’s case in the Tax Court remains stayed under 11 U.S.C.
§ 362(a)(8). Nor has the bankruptcy court determined the amount of the Debtor’s 2004 tax liability
under 11 U.S.C. § 505(a). The IRS’s motion for summary judgment only sought a determination
regarding the priority and nondischargeability of the Debtor’s 2004 tax liability, not the amount. The
amount of the Debtor’s 2004 tax liability was to be the subject of a later pretrial, which has yet to
be held. IRS’s Mot. Summ. J. at 3-4, Adv. Proc. No. 12-90369, ECF No. 15.
In short, whether the debtor’s 2004 tax liability is ultimately nondischargeable depends upon
the amount, if any, by which the Debtor underreported his 2004 income. Only if the underreporting
is sufficient to extend the statute of limitations from three years to six years would the 2004 tax
liability be nondischargeable. See 26 U.S.C. § 6501(e)(1)(A); Home Concrete, 132 S. Ct. at 1839.
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That determination has not been made yet by an appropriate tribunal and until that determination is
made, the statute of limitation, priority, and nondischargeability issues cannot be resolved.
V. CONCLUSION
Because the applicable statute of limitations was not addressed by the bankruptcy court, was
not addressed by any party to the appeal, and was not the subject of a stipulation on summary
judgment below, the bankruptcy court’s grant of summary judgment as to the priority and
nondischargeability of the IRS’s claim for tax year 2004 is reversed. This case is remanded for
further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
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