WATSON v. COMMISSIONER , 82 T.C.M. 412 ( 2001 )

ROY WATSON, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

WATSON v. COMMISSIONER

No. 3609-00L

United States Tax Court

T.C. Memo 2001-213; 2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 247; 82 T.C.M. 412;

August 10, 2001, Filed

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">*247 Decision will be entered for respondent.

Roy Watson, pro se.

Pamela J. Sewell, for respondent.

Halpern, James S.

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HALPERN

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

HALPERN, JUDGE: This case is based on a petition filed under section 6330(d) for review of a determination made by respondent's Office of Appeals (Appeals) that respondent's action to collect certain taxes may proceed. By Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/or 6330, dated February 24, 2000 (the notice), Appeals determined that respondent's Collection Division be allowed to proceed with appropriate action to collect from petitioner certain income taxes for 1991 and 1992. Petitioner asks us to review such determination.

Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code presently in effect.

FINDINGS OF FACT

At the time the petition was filed, petitioner resided in Provo, Utah.

On September 28, 1994, respondent mailed a notice of deficiency (the notice of deficiency) to petitioner, determining deficiencies in, and additions to, his Federal income taxes for petitioner's taxable (calendar) years 1991 and 1992. On October 18, 1994, petitioner">*248 received the notice of deficiency and signed the domestic return receipt, Postal Service Form 3811, which accompanied the notice of deficiency.

On March 13, 1995, respondent assessed taxes, an estimated tax penalty, and late filing penalty in the amounts of $ 10,138, $ 581, and $ 2,535, respectively, for 1991. Also, on March 13, 1995, respondent assessed taxes, an estimated tax penalty, and late filing penalty in the amounts of $ 10,394, $ 453, and $ 2,599, respectively, for 1992.

On June 15, 1999, respondent mailed a final notice of intent to levy to petitioner. That notice states that petitioner owed taxes, penalties, and interest totaling $ 26,169.72 and $ 25,040.72 for 1991 and 1992, respectively.

On July 15, 1999, petitioner submitted requests for collection due process hearings for 1991 and 1992 (the requests). In the requests, petitioner states his basis for the hearing as follows: "I deny that I had 'income' for the year of 1991 [1992] that is the subject of A tax."

On January 31, 2000, in response to the requests, Appeals Officer Jose Gonzales sent a letter to petitioner (the letter). Among other things, the letter informs petitioner that, since petitioner had received">*249 the notice of deficiency, petitioner could not, under section 6330, appeal his tax liability for 1991 and 1992. The paragraph of the letter preceding the valediction states:

     If you wish to make arrangements to pay the tax for 1991

   and 1992 please provide Forms 433A and/or 433B or if you have

   other collection alternatives you would like to discuss, such as

   Installment Agreements or Offer-In-Compromise, contact me by

   February 15, 2000. This will be your opportunity for a hearing.

   For the reasons stated above I will not discuss the liabilities

   for 1991 and 1992 unless it pertains to filing correct returns

   due to IRC section 6330(c)(2)(B). If I receive no response I

   will send a determination letter providing your judicial rights.

   I can be reached at the telephone number shown above.

Petitioner did not reply to the letter or otherwise contact Appeals Officer Gonzales prior to February 15, 2000.

On February 24, 2000, respondent mailed the notice to petitioner. In part, the notice states: "We have reviewed the proposed collection action for the period(s) shown above. This">*250 letter is your legal Notice of Determination, as required by law." The notice includes the following "Summary of Determination": "It is Appeals' decision that Collection be allowed to proceed with the appropriate collection action." Accompanying the notice is the following explanation:

Attachment - 3193

ENCLOSURE TO NOTICE OF DETERMINATION ROY A. WATSON

   The Secretary has provided sufficient verification that the

   requirements of any applicable law or administrative procedure

   have been met.

   Your request for a hearing with Appeals was made under IRC

   section 6330 to prevent appropriate collection action. You state

   in your request that you deny that you had income for 1991 and

   1992 that is subject to tax. Tax was assessed for the years 1991

   and 1992 under IRC section 6020(b) because you failed to

   voluntarily file income tax returns. You were provided an

   opportunity to dispute the assessments. You responded with

   arguments previously determined by the courts to be frivolous.

   IRC section 6330(c)(2)(B) precludes">*251 you from raising liability

   as an issue at your hearing. You were offered the opportunity

   for a hearing with Appeals to discuss alternative collection

   proposals and the filing of corrected returns for the years at

   issue. You did not respond.

   Without further cooperation, it is Appeals [sic] decision that

   the proposed collection action balances the need for efficient

   collection of taxes with the taxpayer's legitimate concern that

   any collection action be no more intrusive than necessary.

   In the petition, petitioner assigns the following errors: the

   Service was willfully negligent when it failed to provide an

   Pre-Determination Evidentiary hearing and make available to me:

        a.) presentment of copies of all evidence used by the

     government against me;

        b.) meaningful hearing on all of the facts of this

     case;

        c.) notification of procedure, forms, or opportunity

     to refute the evidence against me (which is also the making

     of contentions of factual nature);

">*252         d.) hearing before an independent and impartial

     hearing officer; and

        e.) opportunity to confront and cross-examine all

     adverse witnesses, for the creation of a complete defense

     and administrative record to support any subsequent appeal.

OPINION

I. SECTION 6331

Section 6331(a) provides that, if any person liable to pay any tax neglects or refuses to pay such tax within 10 days after notice and demand for payment, the Secretary is authorized to collect such tax by levy upon property belonging to the taxpayer. Section 6331(d) provides that the Secretary is obliged to provide the taxpayer with notice, including notice of the administrative appeals available to the taxpayer, before proceeding with collection by levy on property of the taxpayer.

II. SECTION 6330

Section 6330 generally provides that respondent cannot proceed with collection of taxes by way of levy on a taxpayer's property until the taxpayer has been given notice of and the opportunity for an administrative review of the matter (in the form of a section 6330(b) hearing). ^{Section 6330(e) provides for the suspension">*253 of the period of limitations on collection while the hearing and any appeals are pending, and, in no event shall such period of limitations expire before the 90th day after the day on which there is a final determination in the hearing.}

Section 6330(c) prescribes the matters that may be raised by the taxpayer at a section 6330(b) hearing. In pertinent part, section 6330(c)(2)(B) provides: "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".

Section 6330(d) provides for judicial review of the determination resulting from the section 6330(b) hearing.

">*254 III. PETITIONER'S CLAIMSA. MEANINGFUL HEARING

In the petition, petitioner claims that he was not afforded a meaningful hearing on all of the facts of the case, apparently because respondent erred in failing to allow petitioner the right to examine documents, present his case as he saw fit, and cross-examine witnesses. In Davis v. Commissioner, 115 T.C. 35">115 T.C. 35, 115 T.C. 35">41-42 (2000), we rejected similar claims, finding that, in providing to a person the right to request a section 6330(b) hearing, Congress intended an informal administrative hearing, of the type that, traditionally, had been conducted by appeals and was prescribed by section 601.106(c), Statement of Procedural Rules. We held that the right to a section 6330(b) hearing does not include the right to subpoena witnesses. 115 T.C. 35">Id. at 42. We stated: "The nature of the administrative Appeals process does not include the taking of testimony under oath or the compulsory attendance of witnesses." 115 T.C. 35">Id. at 41-42. We concluded that the taxpayer could have a meaningful hearing without being accorded rights to subpoena witnesses and documents. Id. Petitioner has failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to any">*255 relief on account of his claim that respondent erred in failing to allow him the right to examine documents, present his case as he saw fit, and cross-examine witnesses.

B. HEARING BEFORE AN INDEPENDENT AND IMPARTIAL HEARING OFFICER

In the petition, petitioner claims he was not afforded a hearing before an independent and impartial hearing officer. If petitioner's complaint is that Appeals Officer Gonzales was not independent and impartial, see sec. 6330(b)(3), petitioner did not pursue that issue at trial. Therefore, we assume, that he has abandoned that issue, and we shall not further discuss it. See, e.g., Bernstein v. Commissioner, 22 T.C. 1146">22 T.C. 1146, 22 T.C. 1146">1152 (1954), affd. 230 F.2d 603">230 F.2d 603 (2d Cir. 1956); Lime Cola Co. v. Commissioner, 22 T.C. 593">22 T.C. 593, 22 T.C. 593">606 (1954).

C. NO HARM IN FACT

Moreover, as to any other complaint of petitioner with respect to the notice, we note that, at trial, the Court had an extended discussion with petitioner concerning the exact nature of the claim that brought him to this Court. Petitioner agreed more than once that he had been afforded the opportunity for a hearing. His only claim was that he had no tax liability because his">*256 indebtedness to the Internal Revenue Service had been assumed by the Federal government:

     MR. WATSON: That House Joint Resolution 192 of June 5th and

   6th, 1933, which was the suspension of the gold standard specie

   which kept the nation stable only discharged the debt, not pay

   debt.

     Under House Joint Resolutions, all debts, public and

   private, the Government agreed to assume.

     THE COURT: So your basic position is that your debt to the

   Internal Revenue Service was assumed by the Federal Government?

     MR. WATSON: That is correct, through that resolution. And I

   believe in good faith that all matters have been brought to a

   conclusion by accord and satisfaction by the presentation to the

   agency, the Internal Revenue Service, for them to present the

   1040-ESs [Forms 1040-ES: Estimated Tax Payment Vouchers] for

   payment through the Secretary of the Department of

   Transportation or the Secretary of the Department of Treasury

   and that would close the matter.

     THE COURT: Sir, let me see if I understand your">*257 position.

           *   *   *   *   *   *   *

   your position is that declarations of estimated tax by a

   taxpayer received by the IRS * * * should be presented to the

   Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary of Treasury for

   payment?

     MR. WATSON: Yes, sir.

     THE COURT: And that would discharge your tax liability?

     MR. WATSON: Yes, sir.

     THE COURT: And that's why you don't owe anything to the

   Government?

     MR. WATSON: Yes, sir.

     THE COURT: That's your case; right?

     MR. WATSON: Yes, sir.

D. SECTION 6330(c)(2)(B)

Petitioner can only challenge the underlying tax liability if he did not receive the notice of deficiency. See sec. 6330(c)(2)(B).

Petitioner claims that he did not receive the notice of deficiency. By letter dated November 18, 1994, however, petitioner acknowledges receiving correspondence from respondent dated September 28, 1994, the date of the notice of deficiency. With respect to that correspondence, petitioner states: "[H]owever, I am not a person required to">*258 file." Respondent also has a return receipt from the U.S. Postal Service showing receipt by petitioner of the notice of deficiency. That receipt shows a signature in petitioner's name. Petitioner denies that he signed the receipt. Petitioner offers no explanation for the signature. We do not believe petitioner when he claims that he did not sign the receipt and did not receive the notice of deficiency. We have found that petitioner did receive the notice of deficiency.

E. CONCLUSION

We have reviewed the notice in light of petitioner's claims and we find no error. We deny petitioner any relief.

IV. SECTION 6673(a)(1)

In pertinent part, section 6673(a)(1) provides a penalty of up to $ 25,000 if proceedings before the Tax Court have been instituted or maintained by the taxpayer primarily for delay or the taxpayer's position in the proceeding is frivolous or groundless. In the petition and in communications to respondent and this Court, petitioner insists that he has no tax liability notwithstanding that he has paid nothing to respondent. He insists that he has submitted to respondent declarations of estimated tax, which should be presented to the Secretary of Transportation for payment, ">*259 which would discharge petitioner's tax liability. Petitioner's argument is a frivolous tax-protester argument. In addition, petitioner adopted tactics at trial, such as initially refusing to state his name, that delayed this proceeding. At the conclusion of the trial, at petitioner's request, the Court left the record open for any support of petitioner's legal position that he could provide. Petitioner submitted a document entitled "Letter of Correction" (the letter of correction) that we have filed as such. The letter of correction claims: "An error was made by submitting a 1040ES form and is therefore canceled by this letter of correction." Attached to the letter of correction is a copy of respondent's trial memorandum bearing repeated stampings by petitioner stating:

   Accepted for value $ 51,210.44. This property is Exempt from Levy

   and account is prepaid.

   Please adjust this account and release the proceeds; products,

   accounts; and fixtures and release the order or orders of the

   court to Me immediately.

   Date February 16, 2001

   Employer ID # 530149347

   Endorsement [signed] Roy-Allen: Watson

Whatever credit">*260 we might give petitioner for the implied concession in the letter of correction that petitioner owes tax is negated by the attachment to that letter, which makes no sense, and seems just another frivolous argument or groundless claim.

Because of petitioner's frivolous and groundless arguments, and his tactics, which we conclude petitioner engaged in only to delay these proceedings, the Court imposes on petitioner a penalty under section 6673(a) of $ 1,500. See Hoffman v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2000-198.

Decision will be entered for respondent.

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Footnotes

• 1. In pertinent part, section 6330(a)(1) provides:

     No levy may be made on any property or right to property of any

     person unless the Secretary has notified such person in writing

     of their right to a hearing under this section before such levy

     is made.

     * * *↩