T.C. Memo. 1998-327
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
ROGER FARMER, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 18946-96. Filed September 17, 1998.
Roger Farmer, pro se.
Michelle Or, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
NAMEROFF, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant
to the provisions of section 7443A(b)(3) and Rules 180, 181, and
182.1 Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner's 1990
1
Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to
the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years at issue. All
Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and
Procedure.
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and 1991 Federal income taxes in the amounts of $2,734 and
$6,418, respectively.
The issue for decision is whether petitioner is entitled to
carry forward 1983 and 1984 net operating losses to the tax years
at issue.
Some of the facts have been stipulated, and they are so
found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are
incorporated herein by this reference. At the time he filed his
petition, petitioner resided in Arcadia, California.
Background
Petitioner operated a sole proprietorship selling yachts
during the years relevant to this case. In 1983, he incurred a
net operating loss (NOL) of $27,488. In 1984, petitioner
incurred another NOL in the amount of $11,064. Petitioner
carried the NOL’s forward, and because of additional NOL’s
incurred in 1985 and 1986, the losses were carried forward to the
years in issue, 1990 and 1991.2 Petitioner did not carry the
1983 and 1984 NOL’s back to prior years, nor did he make an
election to waive carryback to prior years. If petitioner had
carried the 1983 and 1984 NOL’s back, they would have been fully
absorbed in 1981.
2
Respondent’s determination in the notice of deficiency
includes the allowance of the carryforward of the 1985 and 1986
losses and their full absorption in 1990.
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Respondent disallowed the 1983 and 1984 NOL’s in 1990 and
1991, contending that petitioner failed to first carry the losses
back and also failed to make an election to waive the carryback.
Petitioner admitted that the NOL's were carried forward
erroneously. Petitioner contended that if the NOL’s are
disallowed for 1990 and 1991, he should be entitled to carry them
back for refund to the proper years, 1980 and 1981, under the
mitigation provisions of the Code. Alternatively, he contended
that the refund should offset the deficiencies herein under some
equitable recoupment theory.
Discussion
Individuals are permitted to carry net operating losses from
one taxable year to another. Sec. 172(a). In general, taxpayers
who sustain NOL’s must first carry such losses back 3 years, and,
if unabsorbed by those years, then forward 15 years. Sec.
172(b)(1)(A) and (2). However, the taxpayer may elect to
relinquish the entire carryback period and simply carry the loss
forward for 15 succeeding years. Sec. 172(b)(3). To make this
election, the statute expressly requires the taxpayer to file the
election to relinquish the carryback period by the due date,
including extensions of time, for filing the taxpayer’s return
for the taxable year of the NOL. The election, once made, is
irrevocable. Moreover, the statute directs that the election
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shall be made in the manner prescribed by the Secretary. Sec.
172(b)(3).
Such an election:
shall be made by a statement attached to the
return (or amended return) for the taxable
year. The statement required * * * shall
indicate the section under which the election
is being made and shall set forth information
to identify the election, the period for
which it applies, and the taxpayer’s basis or
entitlement for making the election.
Sec. 301.9100-12T(d), Temporary Proced. & Admin. Regs., 57 Fed.
Reg. 43896 (Sept. 23, 1992) (redesignating sec. 7.0, Temporary
Income Tax Regs., 42 Fed. Reg. 1470 (Jan. 7, 1977)).
Petitioner did not file an election under section 172(b)(3).
In addition, it was agreed that if the 1983 and 1984 NOL’s had
been properly carried back, both NOL’s would have been entirely
absorbed in the carryback period. Therefore, we must conclude
that petitioner is not entitled to any carryover to 1990 and
1991.
Petitioner argues that the mitigation provisions, sections
1311 through 1314, apply in this circumstance, and he should be
allowed to carry back the NOL’s to 1980 and 1981. Respondent
argues that the Court is without jurisdiction to consider
petitioner’s mitigation argument because the tax years 1980 and
1981 are not before the Court and there has not been a
determination as required under section 1313(a).
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Where applicable, the mitigation provisions permit the
correction of an item that is shown to be erroneous by a
determination in an administrative or judicial proceeding
relating to another year. Fruit of the Loom, Inc. v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1994-492, affd. 72 F.3d 1338 (7th Cir.
1996). If the mitigation provisions apply, the taxable income
for the year of the error may be adjusted under section 1314.
Sec. 1311(a). In essence, the mitigation provisions of the Code
act as an exception to the statute of limitations. If the
requirements of sections 1311 through 1314 are met, a year closed
by the statute of limitations can be reopened for the limited
purposes of the mitigation sections. In this case, if mitigation
were to apply, it would mean reopening 1980 and 1981 in order to
carry back the 1983 and 1984 NOL’s.
However, respondent determined deficiencies for 1990 and
1991, which petitioner petitioned for review. We have
jurisdiction only to redetermine the 1990 and 1991 deficiencies.
The mitigation provisions do not apply to 1990 and 1991.
Accordingly, we lack jurisdiction to redetermine petitioner’s
income tax liability for 1980 and 1981. Sec. 6214(b).
Finally, petitioner requests that the refunds that would be
generated as a result of the carrybacks to 1980 and 1981 apply as
a credit to offset the tax liability he owes for 1990 and 1991.
Petitioner is, in effect, raising the theory of equitable
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recoupment. Putting aside questions of the Court’s jurisdiction
to apply equitable recoupment, see Estate of Mueller v.
Commissioner, __ F.3d __ (6th Cir., Aug. 20, 1998), affg. 107
T.C. 189 (1996), it is not available in these circumstances.
Equitable recoupment may apply in certain circumstances to
overcome the bar of the statute of limitations. “[A] claim of
equitable recoupment will lie only where the Government has taxed
a single transaction, item, or taxable event under two
inconsistent theories.” United States v. Dalm, 494 U.S. 596, 605
n.5 (1990). Here, there are no inconsistent theories of taxation
involved. If an NOL is claimed in the wrong year, it is not
allowable, and that is respondent’s consistent position.
Therefore there is no basis for petitioner’s equitable recoupment
claim.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered
for respondent.