Ruiz v. Department of Revenue

IN THE OREGON TAX COURT
MAGISTRATE DIVISION
Income Tax
PRIMITIVO T. RUIZ and SIRIA B. RUIZ, )
)
Plaintiffs, ) TC-MD 111204N
)
v. )
)
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, )
State of Oregon, )
)
Defendant. ) DECISION OF DISMISSAL
Plaintiffs‟ filed their Complaint on November 14, 2011, challenging Defendant‟s
Distraint Warrants and Writs of Execution for tax years 1974 through 1976 and 1978 through
1987.1 (Ptfs‟ Compl at 1-3, 8-12.) Plaintiffs request “[f]ull release of all Distraint Warrants and
State Tax Liabilities and Damages for Pain and Suffering.” (Ptfs‟ Compl at 1.) On
December 20, 2011, Defendant filed its Answer, requesting dismissal of Plaintiffs‟ appeal. In
response, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on March 12, 2012. The parties filed
additional responses and replies.
A. Factual background and contentions of the parties
Plaintiffs state that they “filed all State and Federal Tax Returns for the period involved,
1974-1988.” (Ptfs‟ Compl at 2.) Defendant agrees that “Plaintiff[s] filed tax returns for the
years in question and self assessed tax due.” (Def‟s Ans at 1.) Defendant states that it “has not
set up any deficiencies or assessment for these years[,]” and requests dismissal of Plaintiffs‟
appeal because “there is nothing for [Plaintiffs] to appeal for the years in question.” (Id. at 1.)
Defendant cites OAR 150-314.430(2), stating that “[n]o statute of limitations runs on a tax self-
1
In their Complaint, Plaintiffs state that they appeal “tax years 1974 Through 1988;” however, the relevant
Distraint Warrants reveal the years at issue to be 1974-76 and 1978-87. (Ptfs‟ Compl at 1, 8-12.)
DECISION OF DISMISSAL TC-MD 111204N 1
assessed or additionally assessed by the Department in the time allowed by ORS 314.410 and
collectible by warrant.” (Id. at 1.)
Plaintiffs respond, identifying five “causes” for summary judgment in their favor. (Ptfs‟
Mot for Summ J; Ptfs‟ Notice of Errors to Resp at 2.) First, Plaintiffs seek damages for pain and
suffering based on their allegation that a revenue agent, “Terri M.,” made an “unannounced
surprise[] visit” to Plaintiffs in March 2010, during which she “made threats to Plaintiffs after
handing them Distraint Warrants to taking their home away if not paid.” (Ptfs‟ Mot for Summ J
at 1-2.) Second, Plaintiffs argue that “[t]he rule of „Laches‟ applies in this case as it is confirmed
that [] Defendant did not act to contact [] Plaintiffs for some four and one half years before
rudely and abruptly showing up in March, 2010 at Plaintiff[s‟] home.” (Id. at 2.) Third,
Plaintiffs argue that estoppel applies here because “[i]t is clear from [] Defendant‟s web site
relative to how long to keep records and the statement made „until the Statute of Limitations
(SOL) expires for that return.‟ ” (Id.) Fourth, Plaintiffs argue that the penalties and interest
imposed by Defendant “violate[] the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment[s] to the U.S.
Constitution.” (Id. at 3.) Fifth, Plaintiffs request “compensatory damages of all collections made
under levies and garnishments and received by Defendant plus interest from time payments were
received to the date of compensation.” (Ptfs‟ Notice of Errors to Resp at 2.)
B. Analysis
Plaintiffs appeal from distraint warrants for tax years 1974 through 1976 and 1978
through 1987, issued by Defendant pursuant to ORS 314.430.2 Defendant reported that it did
“not set up any deficiencies or assessment” for those tax years. (Def‟s Ans at 1.) Plaintiffs‟
Oregon income taxes were “considered as „assessed‟ on the due date of the return * * * or the
2
All references to the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) are to 2009.
DECISION OF DISMISSAL TC-MD 111204N 2
date the return is filed, whichever is later.” ORS 314.407(1). Thus, as Defendant correctly
states, “[t]here is nothing for [Plaintiffs] to appeal” with respect to Plaintiffs‟ tax liability for the
years at issue. (Def‟s Ans at 1.) Plaintiffs‟ arguments based on estoppel and laches have no
applicability in this case.
Plaintiffs also argue for relief based on tort liability and the Eighth Amendment to the
United States Constitution. As noted by Defendant, there is a question of this court‟s jurisdiction
with respect to Plaintiffs‟ tort claim. (See Def‟s Resp to Ptfs‟ Notice of Errors at 1.) The tax
court has jurisdiction over “all questions of law and fact arising under the tax laws of this state.”
ORS 305.410(1). The Court held that tort claims do not arise under the tax laws of this state and
are not within the jurisdiction of the tax court: “A tort is not a tax matter simply because the
tortfeasors are tax assessors. Plaintiff‟s tax claims are unaffected by whether the assessors
committed any torts. Even if defendants maliciously harassed plaintiff, the assessment may be
correct.” Sanok v. Grimes, 294 Or 684, 697-98, 662 P2d 693 (1983). Plaintiffs‟ claims of abuse
and harassment by Defendant‟s revenue agent are not within the jurisdiction of the court.
Plaintiffs argue that penalties and interest imposed by Defendant violate the Eighth
Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Eighth Amendment states that “[e]xcessive
bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
inflicted.” (US Const, Amend VIII.) “The purpose of the Eighth Amendment * * * was to limit
the government‟s power to punish. The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause is self-evidently
concerned with punishment. The Excessive Fines Clause limits the government‟s power to
extract payments, whether in cash or in kind, „as punishment for some offense.‟ ” Austin v. U.S.
(Austin), 509 US 602, 609-610, 113 S Ct 2801 (1993) (internal citations omitted; emphasis in
original). The [Supreme Court in Austin] held that “the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth
DECISION OF DISMISSAL TC-MD 111204N 3
Amendment [is] not limited to criminal actions.” Little v. Comm’r (Little), 106 F3d 1445, 1454
(9th Cir 1997) (citing Austin, 509 US at 610). In Little, the Ninth Circuit determined that
penalties for “substantial understatement of tax [did] not violate the excessive fines clause of the
Eighth Amendment.” (Id.) The court found that the penalties and other additions to tax were
“purely revenue raising because they serve only to deter noncompliance with the tax laws by
imposing a financial risk on those who fail to do so.” Id.3 Thus, Defendant‟s imposition of
penalties and interest do not constitute an “excessive fine” under the Eighth Amendment.
Summary judgment is appropriate when “the pleadings, depositions, affidavits,
declarations, and admissions on file show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact
and that the moving party is entitled to prevail as a matter of law.” Tax Court Rule 47 C.
Plaintiffs‟ tort claims are outside the jurisdiction of this court under ORS 305.410(1). The
penalties and interest imposed by Defendant are not in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
Plaintiffs‟ Motion for Summary Judgment is denied. Defendant did “not set up any deficiencies
or assessment” for the tax years at issue and “there is nothing for [Plaintiffs] to appeal * * *.”
(Def‟s Ans at 1.) Thus, Defendant‟s motion to dismiss must be granted. Now, therefore,
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3
See also Helvering v. Mitchell, 303 US 391, 401, 58 S Ct 630, 634 (1938), in which the Court stated: “The
remedial character of sanctions imposing additions to a tax has been made clear by this Court in passing upon
similar legislation. They are provided primarily as a safeguard of the protection of the revenue and to reimburse the
government for the heavy expense of investigation and the loss resulting from the Taxpayer‟s fraud.”
DECISION OF DISMISSAL TC-MD 111204N 4
IT IS DECIDED that Plaintiffs‟ Motion for Summary Judgment is denied.
IT IS FURTHER DECIDED that Defendant‟s motion to dismiss is granted.
Dated this day of June 2012.
ALLISON R. BOOMER
MAGISTRATE
If you want to appeal this Decision, file a Complaint in the Regular Division of
the Oregon Tax Court, by mailing to: 1163 State Street, Salem, OR 97301-2563;
or by hand delivery to: Fourth Floor, 1241 State Street, Salem, OR.
Your Complaint must be submitted within 60 days after the date of the Decision
or this Decision becomes final and cannot be changed.
This document was signed by Magistrate Allison R. Boomer on June 29, 2012.
The Court filed and entered this document on June 29, 2012.
DECISION OF DISMISSAL TC-MD 111204N 5