Benjamin Jeffery Ashmore v. Commissioner , 2017 T.C. Memo. 233 ( 2017 )

T.C. Memo. 2017-233
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
BENJAMIN JEFFERY ASHMORE, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 562-17L. Filed November 27, 2017.
Benjamin Jeffery Ashmore, pro se.
Robert W. Mopsick, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
PANUTHOS, Special Trial Judge: In this collection due process (CDP)
case petitioner seeks review, pursuant to section 6330(d)(1),1 of the determination
1
Unless otherwise indicated, subsequent section references are to the
Internal Revenue Code (Code) in effect at all relevant times, and all Rule
references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
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[*2] by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS or respondent)2 to uphold a notice of
intent to levy. Respondent has moved for summary judgment under Rule 121,
contending that there are no disputed issues of material fact and that the
determination to sustain the proposed collection action was proper as a matter of
law. We agree and accordingly will grant the motion.
Background
The following facts are based on the parties’ pleadings and respondent’s
motion, including the attached declaration and exhibits. The subject matter of this
case relates to overstated Federal income tax withholding for petitioner’s 2009
taxable year. Petitioner resided in New Jersey when the petition was timely filed.
I. 2009 Overstated Tax Withholding and Levy Notice
Accounting Resources3 issued to petitioner two separate Forms W-2, Wage
and Tax Statement, for taxable year 2009: (1) one reporting tax withholding by
the State of New York, gross wages of $9,319, and Federal income tax
withholding of $121 and (2) another reporting tax withholding by the State of New
2
The Court uses the term “IRS” to refer to administrative actions taken
outside of these proceedings. The Court uses the term “respondent” to refer to the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, who is the head of the IRS and is respondent
in this case, and to refer to actions taken in connection with this case.
3
Accounting Resources managed payroll and staffing for petitioner’s
employer, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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[*3] Jersey, gross wages of $20,567, and Federal income tax withholding of $170.
Petitioner’s other employer for the year in issue, CGI Federal, Inc., issued a
Form W-2 to petitioner for taxable year 2009, reporting gross wages of $87,578
and Federal income tax withholding of $8,684. The total amount of wages
reported on these three Forms W-2 is $117,464 ($9,319 % $20,567 % $87,578 '
$117,464) and the total amount of Federal income tax withheld reported on these
three Forms W-2 is $8,975 ($121 % $170 % $8,684 ' $8,975).
Petitioner timely filed his 2009 Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax
Return, on April 15, 2010. Petitioner reported $96,897 in wages and claimed a
withholding credit of $17,990. Petitioner’s return reflected an overpayment of
$15,691. On April 19, 2010, the IRS refunded this overpayment to petitioner.
On September 20, 2012, the IRS adjusted petitioner’s account by reducing
his withholding by $9,017, the difference between the $17,990 withholding credit
claimed by petitioner on his 2009 Form 1040 and the $8,975 reported on his three
Forms W-2.4 Since petitioner had understated his excess Social Security taxes by
$683, the amount of overstated withholding credit determined by the IRS is $8,334
4
While $17,990 & $8,975 ' $9,015, respondent asserts that the $2 difference
($9,017 withholding adjustment & $9,015) is due to a rounding error.
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[*4] ($9,017& $683 ' $8,334). This amount was immediately assessed, and the
IRS did not issue a notice of deficiency for reasons we will discuss infra.
The IRS issued a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to
Hearing (levy notice), dated December 22, 2014, for the overstated withholding
credit of $8,334 for petitioner’s taxable year 2009.5 Petitioner timely submitted a
Form 12153, Request for Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing, signed
and dated January 5, 2015. On his Form 12153 petitioner checked “Other” and
wrote “see attached” as the reason for his dispute with the levy. Petitioner
attached to his Form 12153 a statement in which he asserted that the 2009 liability
was “discharged in my Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Discharge (dated 11/18/13).
Moreover the 2009 liability is still pending and unresolved * * * on the docket of
the Tax Court (see Docket No. 1146-12 and the most recent orders entered
therein).” By letter dated May 26, 2015, Settlement Officer (SO) Masters notified
petitioner that she would delay the CDP hearing until his case before the Court in
docket No. 1146-12 was resolved.
5
The levy notice also reflected a balance due of $1,296 for taxable year
2008. This was resolved before the CDP hearing.
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[*5] II. Deficiency Proceeding in Docket No. 1146-12 and Bankruptcy
Proceeding
By notice of deficiency dated October 11, 2011, respondent determined a
deficiency of $8,601 in petitioner’s income tax and a section 6662(a) accuracy-
related penalty of $3,387 for petitioner’s taxable year 2009, due in part to
petitioner’s failure to report taxable wages of $20,567. Petitioner timely filed a
petition with the Court in response to the notice of deficiency, commencing the
case at docket No. 1146-12. The amount of petitioner’s overstated withholding
credit for 2009 was not at issue in the deficiency proceeding.6
During the trial held on October 2, 2012, petitioner conceded that he had
failed to report wages totaling $20,567 and stipulated that the sole issue for trial
was whether he was liable for the section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty.
Petitioner also testified about mistakes he made while preparing his 2009 Form
1040, including that he had overstated the amount of Federal income tax withheld
for 2009. On May 30, 2013, the Court filed T.C. Memo. 2013-137 upholding
respondent’s determination of the accuracy-related penalty.
6
Although respondent determined a deficiency related to unreported income,
the attached computation in the notice of deficiency also reflected the overstated
withholding credit of $8,334.
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[*6] On April 8, 2013, petitioner filed a petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
for the District of New Jersey (bankruptcy court) under 11 U.S.C. chapter 7. On
June 21, 2013, respondent filed a notice of proceeding in bankruptcy to notify the
Court of petitioner’s bankruptcy proceeding. By order dated July 2, 2013, the
Court withdrew its opinion in docket No. 1146-12 and ordered that all proceedings
were automatically stayed pursuant to 11 U.S.C. sec. 362(a)(8) (2012).
On November 18, 2013, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New
Jersey granted petitioner a discharge in bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. sec. 727
(2012), and the case was closed on November 22, 2013. On April 2, 2014,
respondent filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting that (1) this Court did
not have jurisdiction to determine whether petitioner’s liability for his 2009
deficiency was discharged in bankruptcy; (2) the 2009 tax liability was not
determined in the bankruptcy court; and (3) with petitioner’s bankruptcy case
closed, the Court had jurisdiction to determine the merits of the case. On April 10,
2014, petitioner filed a cross-motion for summary judgment, asserting that the
2009 tax liability was discharged in bankruptcy.
On March 2, 2016, the Court filed T.C. Memo. 2016-36 (1) granting
respondent’s motion for summary judgment, which was treated as a motion for
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[*7] partial summary judgment;7 (2) denied petitioner’s cross-motion for summary
judgment; and (3) upheld the section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty. The Court
found that petitioner’s 2009 deficiency was not adjudicated in the bankruptcy
court because respondent had not filed a proof of claim in petitioner’s bankruptcy
case and there was no evidence of an adjudication under 11 U.S.C. sec. 505(a)(1).
Ashmore v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2016-36, at *9-*10. The Court
concluded, among other things, that petitioner’s general discharge in bankruptcy
was not a judgment on the merits of petitioner’s 2009 tax issue and did not
confirm that petitioner’s 2009 tax liability was discharged. Id. at *9.
By order dated March 23, 2016, the bankruptcy court granted a motion filed
by the chapter 7 trustee to reopen petitioner’s chapter 7 case for the limited
purpose of administering any potential assets of petitioner which might result from
a whistleblower lawsuit in which petitioner was a plaintiff, then pending in the
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. On April 20, 2016, the
IRS filed a Form 410, Proof of Claim for Internal Revenue Taxes, with the
7
The Court treated respondent’s motion for summary judgment, filed April
2, 2014, as a motion for partial summary judgment, because “even if we grant
respondent’s motion as to the question of our jurisdiction over whether
petitioner’s 2009 deficiency was discharged in bankruptcy, we must still decide
whether the 2009 deficiency was correct.” See Ashmore v. Commissioner, T.C.
Memo. 2016-36, at *2-*3.
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[*8] bankruptcy court. The Form 410 reflects that petitioner was then indebted to
the United States in the amount of $18,579 for taxable year 2009. On the basis of
this record, this balance due is the total of (1) the balance due for the tax liability
and section 6662(a) penalty for 2009 as a result of the decision in docket No.
1146-12, (2) the balance due as a result of petitioner’s overstated withholding for
2009, which was not at issue in docket No. 1146-12, and (3) interest to date of
$1,655. Subsequently the IRS sent petitioner a Notice CP21E dated October 10,
2016, which reflected a balance due of $20,866, including interest to date of
$3,942.
III. CDP Hearing
The Court entered a decision in docket No. 1146-12 on May 26, 2016.
After petitioner’s case in docket No. 1146-12 was closed with the filing of the
decision, the Appeals Office resumed with the CDP hearing relating to the levy
notice dated December 22, 2014. By letter dated November 7, 2016, SO Masters
scheduled a telephone hearing for November 28, 2016. The letter informed
petitioner that SO Masters could not consider any collection alternatives unless he
provided a completed Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement for Wage
Earners and Self-Employed Individuals, by November 21, 2016. The letter also
stated that IRS records reflected that petitioner’s Federal income tax returns for
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[*9] taxable years 2013, 2014, and 2015 had not been filed, and SO Masters
requested signed copies of these returns by November 21, 2016.
Before the scheduled hearing petitioner did not contact SO Masters and did
not provide a Form 433-A or copies of his tax returns as requested. On November
28, 2016, SO Masters and petitioner held a telephone hearing during which
petitioner (1) asserted that the bankruptcy case had been reopened and that the
automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. sec. 362(a) would prevent the IRS from taking
collection action and (2) requested the contact information for SO Masters’
Appeals team manager (ATM). SO Masters informed petitioner that IRS records
reflected that his bankruptcy case was closed. On November 28, after the
telephone hearing, SO Masters brought petitioner’s case to ATM Banks. ATM
Banks unsuccessfully tried to reach petitioner by telephone that same day and also
over the next three days.
On December 1, 2016, ATM Banks documented in SO Masters’ case
activity record her understanding of the IRS’ rights with regard to assessment and
collection. ATM Banks indicated the following: (1) the 2009 liability reflected in
the levy notice was the result of the adjustment in petitioner’s account due to the
incorrect withholding credit claimed; (2) the 2009 liability at issue was not subject
to deficiency procedures because it was the result of only overstated withholding;
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[*10] (3) the automatic stay did not apply because the bankruptcy case was
reopened for a limited purpose that did not apply to the IRS; and (4) the liability
was not dischargeable in bankruptcy pursuant to 11 U.S.C. sec. 507(a)(8)(A)(i)
(2012).
On December 5, 2016, petitioner sent to SO Masters via facsimile copies of
the following documents: (1) a cover sheet in which petitioner again asserted that
his bankruptcy case remained open; (2) SO Masters’ letter dated November 7,
2016, on which petitioner had handwritten some notes; (3) the Form 410 filed by
the IRS on April 20, 2016; (4) the Notice CP21E dated October 10, 2016; and
(5) a letter dated October 18, 2016, which petitioner asserts he mailed to the IRS
in response to the Notice CP21E. In the letter dated October 18, 2016, petitioner
repeats his assertions that (1) his bankruptcy case remains open and (2) his 2009
tax year was already litigated before the Tax Court (in docket No. 1146-12).
Petitioner did not include with these documents a Form 433-A or copies of his tax
returns for tax years 2013 through 2015.
Also on December 5, 2016, petitioner and SO Masters spoke on the
telephone again. During the telephone call SO Masters explained to petitioner
why the 2009 liability was not dischargeable in bankruptcy and that the CP21E
notice included (1) the balance due for 2009 as a result of the Tax Court
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[*11] proceeding in docket No. 1146-12 and (2) the balance due as a result of the
overstated withholding for 2009. Petitioner did not agree to a collection
alternative and merely reiterated his position that the IRS could not collect
because of an automatic stay and that the 2009 liability had been discharged in
bankruptcy. As of December 7, 2016, petitioner had not provided a completed
Form 433-A or signed copies of his requested income tax returns to SO Masters or
ATM Banks.
IV. Petition and Respondent’s Motion for Summary Judgment
On December 21, 2016, respondent issued a Notice of Determination
Concerning Collection Action(s) under Section 6320 and/or 6330 (notice of
determination) for the year in issue, sustaining the levy notice to collect
petitioner’s overstated withholding for 2009, because “[w]e could not reach an
agreement, extend any relief to you, or even consider any alternative to the
proposed levy. You have not provided a completed Form 433-A Collection
Information Statement with all the required supporting documentation nor did you
provide proof that you filed your missing returns.”
Petitioner timely mailed a petition on January 6, 2017, which was filed by
the Court on January 9, 2017. Petitioner asserts that (1) the automatic stay
pursuant to 11 U.S.C. sec. 362 is still in effect because his bankruptcy was
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[*12] reopened and (2) the additional $8,334 assessed for 2009 had not been
previously assessed and was not stipulated in his case at docket No. 1146-12.
Petitioner requested that he be awarded (1) “costs in connection with the filing of
this petition” and (2) “the attorneys fees I have incurred for consultations with my
attorneys of record noted on the enclosed bankruptcy court docket, in connection
with this matter and the erroneous Levy. Under either I.R.C. 7433(e)(1) or 11
USC 362(k) such relief is appropriate.” Petitioner also attached to his petition a
copy of a Notice of Federal Tax Lien Filing and Your Right to a Hearing Under
IRC 6320 (lien notice), dated December 13, 2016.8
8
Petitioner requests that the lien be lifted. The Court notes that petitioner
did not attach to his petition a copy of a notice of determination with respect to the
lien notice dated December 13, 2016, and did not assert that he received any such
notice. We do not consider petitioner’s request in this proceeding.
In a collection review action this Court’s jurisdiction under secs. 6320 and
6330 depends, in part, on the issuance of a notice of determination by the IRS
Appeals Office after the taxpayer has requested an administrative hearing
following the issuance by the IRS Collection Division of either a final notice of
intent to levy, see sec. 6330(a), or a notice of filing of Federal tax lien, see sec.
6320(a); Sarrell v. Commissioner, 117 T.C. 122, 125 (2001); Moorhous v.
Commissioner, 116 T.C. 263, 269 (2001); Offiler v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 492,
498 (2000); see also Rule 330(b). Since petitioner has not provided a copy of such
a notice of determination, the Court does not have jurisdiction over the lien notice
dated December 13, 2016. Accordingly, all references to the lien notice in the
petition shall be deemed stricken.
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[*13] On April 17, 2017, respondent filed the motion for summary judgment.
Respondent asserts that (1) petitioner’s debt for his unpaid tax for 2009 that
resulted from the overstated withholding was not discharged, by reason of the
exceptions to discharge set out in 11 U.S.C. sec. 523(a)(1)(A); (2) the reopening of
petitioner’s bankruptcy case on March 23, 2016, did not reinstate the automatic
stay under 11 U.S.C. sec. 362(a)(6); (3) petitioner’s liability for overstated
withholding is not subject to deficiency procedures; (4) the SO did not abuse her
discretion in sustaining the levy; and (5) the Appeals Office fully complied with
the requirements of section 6330(c)(3).
On May 22, 2017, petitioner filed his opposition to respondent’s motion for
summary judgment and an accompanying declaration. In his opposition petitioner
repeats his prior assertions regarding the effect of his bankruptcy case on the CDP
proceeding and that the 2009 liability reflected in the levy notice had not been
previously assessed, and asserts that respondent “mischaracterizes” the record. In
his declaration petitioner asserts:
The characterizations of my actions in connected with the Collections
Due Process hearing I requested * * * are not accurate. Upon infor-
mation and belief, the documents I submitted to the IRS in connection
with this request (which are notably omitted from the SJM’s [motion
for summary judgment] filing), and the audio-recorded voicemails left
for me by Ms. Masters and Ms. Banks, and the fully-disclosed audio-
recordings of various calls between myself and Ms. Banks and Ms.
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[*14] Masters, that will be submitted into the evidentiary record at expected
trial, will impeach the characterizations set forth in the Masters
declaration and the accompanying exhibits. I am prepared to testify
at trial as to these matters, if necessary.
Petitioner did not assert any specific facts and did not provide documentation or
other evidence to support these assertions.
Discussion
I. Summary Judgment
Summary judgment serves to “expedite litigation and avoid unnecessary and
expensive trials.” Fla. Peach Corp. v. Commissioner, 90 T.C. 678, 681 (1988).
Either party may move for summary judgment upon all or any part of the legal
issues in controversy. Rule 121(a). We may grant summary judgment only if
there is no genuine dispute of any material fact. Naftel v. Commissioner, 85 T.C.
527, 529 (1985). Respondent, as the moving party, bears the burden of proving
that no genuine dispute exists as to any material fact and that respondent is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law. See FPL Grp., Inc. v. Commissioner, 115 T.C.
554, 559 (2000). In deciding whether to grant summary judgment, we must
consider the factual materials and inferences drawn from them in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party. See id. However, the nonmoving party is
required “to go beyond the pleadings and by * * * [his] own affidavits, or by the
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[*15] ‘depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,’ designate
‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’” Celotex Corp. v.
Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986).
We conclude there is no dispute as to a material fact and that respondent is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law sustaining the notice of determination upon
which this case is based.
II. Collection Due Process
A. Generally
The Secretary is authorized to collect tax by levy upon a taxpayer’s property
if any taxpayer liable to pay any tax neglects or refuses to pay it within 10 days
after notice and demand for payment. Sec. 6331(a). Before the Secretary may
levy upon the taxpayer’s property, the Secretary must first notify the taxpayer of
the Secretary’s intent to levy. Id. subsec. (d)(1). The Secretary must also notify
the taxpayer of his or her right to a CDP hearing. Sec. 6330(a)(1).
If the taxpayer makes a timely request for a hearing, the hearing is
conducted by the Appeals Office. Id. subsec. (b)(1). At the hearing the taxpayer
may raise any relevant issue relating to the unpaid tax or the proposed collection
action. Id. subsec. (c)(2)(A). Following a CDP hearing the settlement officer
must determine whether to sustain the proposed levy.
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[*16] Section 6330(d)(1) does not prescribe the standard of review that this Court
should apply in reviewing an IRS administrative determination in a CDP case.
The general parameters for such review are set by caselaw. Where the validity of
the underlying tax is properly at issue, the Court reviews the Commissioner’s
determination de novo. Goza v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 176, 181-182 (2000).
We review other issues for abuse of discretion. Id. at 182.
B. Underlying Liability
The Tax Court is a court of limited jurisdiction and we may exercise
jurisdiction only to the extent expressly authorized by Congress. Sec. 7442; Neely
v. Commissioner, 115 T.C. 287, 290-291 (2000). The Court has jurisdiction to
review all notices of determination issued pursuant to section 6330. Sec.
6330(d)(1); McNeill v. Commissioner, 148 T.C. __, __ (slip op. at 11-12) (June
19, 2017).
Where, as here, the Court lacks original jurisdiction over the underlying
liability (overstated withholding credit),9 it nonetheless has exclusive jurisdiction
9
Sec. 6213(a) allows the taxpayer to seek judicial review of a proposed
deficiency before this Court. The amount of an overstated withholding credit may
be summarily assessed and is not subject to the deficiency procedures prescribed
in sec. 6213. Sec. 6201(a)(3); Bregin v. Commissioner, 74 T.C. 1097, 1104-1105
(1980). Further, sec. 6213 (b)(1) specifically provides that assessments arising out
of mathematical or clerical errors are not subject to the restrictions on assessments
(continued...)
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[*17] to review appeals from the Commissioner’s levy determinations. McNeill v.
Commissioner, 148 T.C. at __ (slip op. at 12-14); see also Yari v. Commissioner,
143 T.C. 157, 161-163 (2014), aff’d, 669 F. App’x 489 (9th Cir. 2016); Mason v.
Commissioner, 132 T.C. 301, 316 (2009); Callahan v. Commissioner, 130 T.C. 44,
47-49 (2008). Further, since petitioner did not receive a statutory notice of
deficiency for the overstated withholding credit for 2009 and did not have a prior
opportunity to dispute this liability, he could challenge the existence or amount of
his underlying tax liability during the CDP proceeding. See sec. 6330(c)(2)(B);
Montgomery v. Commissioner, 122 T.C. 1, 9 (2004). Therefore, we have
jurisdiction to review respondent’s determination as it relates to the 2009
underlying liability resulting from petitioner’s overstated withholding credit.
However, “[a] taxpayer is precluded from disputing the underlying liability
[in this Court] if it was not properly raised in the CDP hearing.” Thompson v.
Commissioner, 140 T.C. 173, 178 (2013). An issue is not properly raised if the
taxpayer either does not request consideration or requests consideration but fails to
provide evidence on the issue at the CDP hearing after being given a reasonable
9
(...continued)
in sec. 6213(a) and respondent is not prohibited from collecting the amount
assessed; an erroneous claim of a credit for taxes withheld on wages is treated as a
mathematical or clerical error. Bregin v. Commissioner, 74 T.C. 1104.
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[*18] opportunity to do so. Sec. 301.6330-1(f)(2), Q&A-F3, Proced. & Admin.
Regs. On the basis of this record, petitioner did not assert at any point during the
CDP hearing that the IRS erred in determining that he had overstated his
withholding credit for 2009, nor did he provide SO Masters with documentation or
evidence to support such an assertion.10 Therefore, he did not properly raise the
issue of his underlying liability at the CDP hearing.
C. Collection Issues
Since petitioner’s underlying tax liability is not properly at issue, we
consider in the context of the motion for summary judgment whether the Appeals
Officer abused her discretion. See Goza v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 181-182.
An abuse of discretion occurs if the Appeals Office exercises its discretion
“arbitrarily, capriciously, or without sound basis in fact or law.” Woodral v.
Commissioner, 112 T.C. 19, 23 (1999). It is well settled that it is not an abuse of
discretion for the Appeals Office to sustain a proposed collection action against a
taxpayer who fails to submit requested documentation and/or financial
information. Pough v. Commissioner, 135 T.C. 344, 351 (2010). The record
reflects that petitioner did not provide a completed Form 433-A or copies of the
10
Further, petitioner’s assertion that his unpaid liabilities for 2009 were
discharged in bankruptcy does not amount to a challenge to the underlying tax
liability at issue, as discussed infra.
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[*19] tax returns requested by SO Masters. See id. Therefore, SO Masters did not
abuse her discretion by sustaining the proposed collection action.
The record also reflects that petitioner did not request a collection
alternative such as an offer-in-compromise or an installment agreement and did
not submit to SO Masters any specific offer or propose any specific terms. The
Appeals Office does not abuse its discretion in failing to consider an offer that a
taxpayer never made. Huntress v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2009-161, 2009
WL 1883984, at *5.
D. Discharge in Bankruptcy
Petitioner also asserted during his CDP hearing that his 2009 liability was
discharged in bankruptcy. The Court has jurisdiction in a levy proceeding to
determine whether a taxpayer’s unpaid liabilities were discharged in bankruptcy.
Swanson v. Commissioner, 121 T.C. 111, 117 (2003); see also Washington v.
Commissioner, 120 T.C. 114, 120-121 (2003). A taxpayer’s assertion that his tax
liabilities were discharged in bankruptcy amounts to a challenge to the
appropriateness of the collection action under section 6330(c)(2)(A). Bussell v.
Commissioner, 130 T.C. 222, 236 (2008); Swanson v. Commissioner, 121 T.C.
119. As previously discussed, we review such a challenge for abuse of discretion.
See Goza v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 181-182.
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[*20] A debtor’s discharge under 11 U.S.C. sec. 727 does not include debts for
taxes of the kind and for the periods specified in 11 U.S.C. sec. 507(a)(8)(A). See
id. sec. 523(a)(1)(A). The taxes that are not dischargeable under that provision
include (1) income tax which became due within three years before the date that
the bankruptcy was filed, (2) income tax assessed within 240 days of the date the
bankruptcy was filed, and (3) income tax not assessed before the bankruptcy was
filed but still assessable thereafter. See id. sec. 507(a)(8)(A). In other words,
taxes which fall within any of the three exceptions listed in 11 U.S.C. sec.
507(a)(8)(A) are not dischargeable and can be collected by the IRS. See Turner v.
United States (In re Turner), 182 B.R. 317, 321 (N.D. Ala. 1995).
Petitioner’s 2009 Form 1040 was due April 15, 2010, which is less than
three years before April 8, 2013, the date of the filing of his bankruptcy petition.
Thus, petitioner’s 2009 liability was not dischargeable and can be collected by the
IRS. See 11 U.S.C. sec. 507(a)(8)(A)(i); Turner, 182 B.R. at 321. We are
satisfied that there is no material dispute of fact and that as a matter of law the
Appeals Office correctly concluded that petitioner’s tax debt for taxable year 2009
was not discharged in his bankruptcy proceeding. Therefore, we conclude that the
decision to sustain the levy was not an abuse of discretion.
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[*21] E. Section 6330(c)(3) Requirements
In making the determination whether to sustain the proposed levy, section
6330(c)(3) requires the settlement officer to consider: (1) whether the
requirements of any applicable law or administrative procedure have been met;
(2) any issues appropriately raised by the taxpayer; and (3) whether the collection
actions balance the need for the efficient collection of taxes and the legitimate
concern of the taxpayer that any collection action be no more intrusive than
necessary. See also Lunsford v. Commissioner, 117 T.C. 183, 184 (2001).
SO Masters and ATM Banks each verified that the levy notice issued to
petitioner reflected an amount due as a result of petitioner’s overstated
withholding for 2009 and the resulting adjustment. They further verified that the
deficiency from petitioner’s prior case before the Court was not included in the
levy notice and thus not at issue for the CDP hearing. The record reflects that SO
Masters properly verified that the requirements of all applicable law and
administrative procedure were met in the processing of petitioner’s case and that
the collection action balances the Government’s need for the efficient collection of
taxes with petitioner’s concerns that the collection action be no more intrusive
than necessary.
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[*22] III. Automatic Stay Under 11 U.S.C. Sec. 362(a)(6)
Petitioner also asserts that respondent violated the automatic stay provision
of 11 U.S.C. sec. 362(a)(6), which operates as a stay of any actions by a creditor to
collect a debt that arose before the commencement of the bankruptcy case. The
bankruptcy court may issue an order granting relief from the automatic stay. 11
U.S.C. sec. 362(d). Absent such an order, the automatic stay generally remains in
effect until the earliest of the closing of the case, the dismissal of the case, or the
grant or denial of a discharge. 11 U.S.C. sec. 362(c)(2); see Allison v.
Commissioner, 97 T.C. 544, 545 (1991); Smith v. Commissioner, 96 T.C. 10, 14
(1991); Neilson v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 1, 8 (1990). When the bankruptcy case
is closed, dismissed, or discharged, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. sec.
362(a)(6) is terminated, and the reopening of a case does not reimpose the stay,
absent an order from the bankruptcy court. Allison v. Commissioner, 97 T.C.
547.
On November 18, 2013, the bankruptcy court issued an order to generally
release petitioner from all dischargeable debts, and the case was closed on
November 22, 2013. This action terminated the automatic stay. The IRS did not
send the levy notice to petitioner until December 22, 2014, a full year after the
discharge. By its order dated March 23, 2016, the bankruptcy court reopened
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[*23] petitioner’s chapter 7 case for the limited purpose of administering any
potential assets of petitioner which might result from a whistleblower case. The
record does not reflect and petitioner has not asserted that the bankruptcy court
issued an order to reimpose the automatic stay after the discharge. See 11 U.S.C.
sec. 362(c)(2), (d); Allison v. Commissioner, 97 T.C. 545, 547; Smith v.
Commissioner, 96 T.C. 14; Neilson v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 8. Therefore,
the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. sec. 362(a)(6) has not been in effect since the
bankruptcy case was discharged on November 18, 2013, and respondent has not
violated any such automatic stay by proceeding with the collection action for
petitioner’s overstated withholding credit since the discharge.
IV. Petitioner’s Requests for Costs and Attorney’s Fees
Petitioner requests that the Court order respondent to pay his costs
associated with the filing of the petition. Section 7430 provides for the award of
reasonable costs incurred in any administrative or court proceeding against the
United States in connection with the determination, collection, or refund of any
tax, interest, or penalty pursuant to the Code. Litigation and administrative costs
may be awarded where: (1) the taxpayer is the “prevailing party”; (2) the taxpayer
did not unreasonably protract the administrative or court proceedings; (3) the
amount of costs requested is reasonable; and (4) all administrative remedies
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[*24] available to the taxpayer have been exhausted. Sec. 7430(a), (b)(1), (3), (c).
To be a prevailing party, the taxpayer must: (1) substantially prevail with respect
to either the amount in controversy or the most significant issue or set of issues
presented and (2) satisfy the applicable net worth requirement. Id. subsec.
(c)(4)(A).
Rule 331(b) (flush language) provides that “[a] claim for reasonable
litigation or administrative costs shall not be included in the petition in a lien or
levy action.” Instead, a taxpayer who has substantially prevailed and who wishes
to claim reasonable litigation and administrative costs may file a motion within 30
days after the service of a written opinion determining the issues in the case. Rule
231(a)(2).
For reasons discussed herein the claim for costs in the petition is premature.
See Rules 331(b) (flush language), 231(a)(2). Further, even if the claim was not
premature, petitioner is not a prevailing party within the meaning of section 7430,
and thus he is not entitled to an award for litigation and administrative costs. See
sec. 7430(c)(4)(A). Accordingly, we will deny petitioner’s claim.
Petitioner also requests that the Court order respondent to pay his attorney’s
fees pursuant to 11 U.S.C. sec. 362(k) or section 7433(e)(1). The Court notes that
under 11 U.S.C. sec. 362(k)(1) a party injured by “any willful violation of a stay
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[*25] provided by this section” may seek recovery of “actual damages, including
costs and attorneys’ fees, and, in appropriate circumstances * * * punitive
damages.” Under section 7433(e)(1), a taxpayer may petition the bankruptcy court
to recover damages in the case of a willful violation of any provision of 11 U.S.C.
sec. 524 or 362.11 Thus, petitioner must bring such a claim before a bankruptcy
court. Additionally, if petitioner meant to make a claim pursuant to section
7433(a) through (d), which provides for up to $1 million in civil damages for
certain unauthorized collection actions, such claims must be brought in a U.S.
District Court. See sec. 7433(a); Gerakios v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2004-
203; Chocallo v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2004-152.
V. Conclusion
Reviewing the factual materials and inferences against respondent, the
Court concludes that there are no genuine disputes of material fact in this case and
the respondent is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Further, respondent’s
determination to sustain the levy was not an abuse of discretion.
11
The Court also notes that, as previously discussed, respondent was not in
violation of 11 U.S.C. sec. 362.
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[*26] The Court notes that nothing prevents petitioner from providing appropriate
financial information in the future so that respondent may consider collection
alternatives, but not as part of this proceeding or subject to review by this Court.
We have considered all of the parties’ arguments, and, to the extent not
addressed herein, we conclude that they are moot, irrelevant, or without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
An appropriate order and decision
will be entered.