T.C. Memo. 2009-266
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
JOEL I. BEELER, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 20892-07L. Filed November 24, 2009.
Richard S. Kestenbaum and Bernard S. Mark, for petitioner.
Marc L. Caine, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
GOEKE, Judge: The issue for decision is whether
respondent’s Appeals officer abused his discretion in sustaining
respondent’s proposed levy action against petitioner to collect
100 percent of quarterly trust fund recovery penalties (TFRP) for
1981 and 1982. Petitioner argues that respondent’s filing of
Form 668 (Z), Certificate of Release of Federal Tax Lien, for a
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related tax lien requires a finding that petitioner’s liability
for the trust fund tax liabilities has been satisfied. For the
reasons stated herein, we find that respondent did not abuse his
discretion in sustaining the proposed levy action.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts are stipulated and are so found. The
stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated
herein by reference. At the time the petition was filed,
petitioner resided in New York.
Petitioner’s tax liability for the TFRP accrued during the
last three quarters of 1981 and the first quarter of 1982 with
respect to withheld income and Social Security taxes of a
corporation of which petitioner was an officer and director. The
liability was assessed March 26, 1985, under section 6672.1
After assessment respondent filed a notice of Federal tax lien
(NFTL) in New York, New York, and Sarasota, Florida.
On November 17, 1986, petitioner commenced an action in the
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,
seeking a refund of payments made towards the assessed amount.
Beeler v. United States, 894 F. Supp. 761 (S.D.N.Y. 1995). On
March 9, 1987, the United States counterclaimed against
petitioner seeking payment for the unpaid portion of the TFRP and
1
Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to
the Internal Revenue Code.
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filed third-party actions against the other two directors and
officers of the corporation, Robert Liebmann and Stuart Ross.
The Government sought to hold each of them liable for the TFRP.
The District Court ordered judgment in favor of the
Government on the counterclaim against petitioner and the
complaints against Mr. Liebmann and Mr. Ross, finding that they
were “responsible persons” who “willfully” failed to pay over
withholding taxes. Beeler v. United States, supra at 777. On or
about September 1, 1995, the District Court entered an order
against petitioner for the TFRP of $154,032.05, plus interest and
statutory additions.
Judgments were also entered against Mr. Liebmann and Mr.
Ross. Account transcripts for Mr. Liebmann and Mr. Ross on or
about November 11, 2007, and May 27, 2002, respectively, contain
entries which read: “Statute Expired-Clear to zero and
Uncollectable Amount Owed.” Account balances for both taxpayers
reflect the corresponding computation of the described
transactions. Mr. Liebmann and Mr. Ross are not parties to this
dispute.
On February 29, 2000, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
filed a Form 668 (Z), dated February 29, 2000, concerning the New
York lien. The IRS also filed a Form 668(Z), dated February 22,
2001, concerning the Sarasota, Florida, lien. Respondent asserts
these certificates of release were erroneously filed.
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On September 25, 2006, respondent issued petitioner a Letter
1058, Final Notice--Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your
Right to a Hearing. Petitioner timely filed a Form 12153,
Request for a Collection Due Process Hearing on October 24, 2006.
On January 30, 2007, the Appeals officer conducted a collection
due process (CDP) hearing with petitioner’s representative and
discussed three issues: (1) Liability for filing penalties; (2)
whether petitioner was liable for TFRP and whether the other two
responsible persons made any payments; and (3) whether a release
of NFTL meant that the underlying TFRP was satisfied. Petitioner
now concedes issues (1) and (2), and focuses on issue (3);
specifically, his argument that respondent’s release of the NFTL
requires a finding that the underlying TFRP was satisfied in
full.
On August 17, 2007, respondent issued to petitioner a Notice
of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section
6320 and/or 6330 (notice of determination) sustaining the
proposed levy. On September 14, 2007, petitioner timely filed
his petition in this Court challenging respondent’s
determination.
OPINION
This collection review proceeding was filed pursuant to
section 6330. Section 6330(a) provides that no levy may be made
on any property or right to property of any person unless the
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Secretary has notified such person in writing of the right to a
hearing before the levy is made. Section 6330(b)(1) and (3)
provide that if a person requests a hearing, that hearing shall
be held before an impartial officer or employee of the IRS Office
of Appeals. At the hearing a taxpayer may raise any relevant
issue, including challenges to the appropriateness of the
collection action. Sec. 6330(c)(2)(A). A taxpayer is precluded
from contesting the existence or amount of the underlying tax
liability at the hearing unless the taxpayer failed to receive a
notice of deficiency for the tax in question or did not otherwise
have an opportunity to dispute the tax liability. Sec.
6330(c)(2)(B); see also Sego v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 604, 609
(2000).
Following a hearing, the Appeals officer must make a
determination whether the levy action may proceed and is required
to consider: (1) Whether the Secretary has met the requirements
of applicable law and administrative procedure; (2) the relevant
issues raised by the taxpayer; and (3) whether the proposed
collection action appropriately balances the need for efficient
collection of taxes with a taxpayer’s concerns that the levy
action be no more intrusive than is necessary. Sec. 6330(c)(3).
Section 6330(d) grants the Court jurisdiction to review the
determination by the Appeals officer to proceed with collection
action via the levy after the CDP hearing. Where the validity of
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the underlying tax liability is at issue in a collection review
proceeding, the Court will review the matter de novo. Davis v.
Commissioner, 115 T.C. 35, 39 (2000). Where the underlying tax
liability is not at issue, however, the Court will review the
determination of the Appeals officer for abuse of discretion.
Goza v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 176, 182 (2000).
Because petitioner had an opportunity before the CDP hearing
to contest his 1982 tax liability in the District Court action,
the underlying liability is not properly at issue in this case,
and we review respondent’s determination for abuse of discretion.
Abuse of discretion is proven by showing that the Commissioner
exercised his discretion arbitrarily, capriciously, or without
sound basis in fact or law. Woodral v. Commissioner, 112 T.C.
19, 23 (1999).
Pursuant to the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Pub. L. 109-
280, sec. 855, 120 Stat. 1019, this Court has exclusive
jurisdiction to review determinations under section 6330,
effective for determinations made after October 16, 2006.
Generally, as described under section 6330(c)(2), failure of the
taxpayer to raise an issue during the section 6330 hearing will
preclude our consideration of that issue. Giamelli v.
Commissioner, 129 T.C. 107, 112-113 (2007); Magana v.
Commissioner, 118 T.C. 488, 493 (2002). However, the Appeals
officer’s mandated verification under section 6330(c)(1) that the
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requirements of any applicable law or administrative procedure
have been met is subject to review without regard to a challenge
by the taxpayer at the hearing. Hoyle v. Commissioner, 131 T.C.
, (2008) (slip op. at 11).
Petitioner argues that: (1) The statute of limitations bars
collection, and (2) the tax liability is satisfied. These issues
are within those requiring verification by the Appeals officer
under section 6330(c)(1) and therefore are subject to our review.
See id.
A. Statute of Limitations
Section 6502(a) prescribes the period during which any tax
may be collected following assessment. At the time of the
initial assessment in this case, section 6502 provided a 6-year
period for collection by levy. Congress amended section 6502
twice. In 1988 Congress amended section 6502 so that a court
proceeding filed by the United States during the 6-year period
extended the collection period until any liability was satisfied.
Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 (TAMRA), Pub. L.
100-647, sec. 1015(u), 102 Stat. 3373. The purpose of the 1988
amendment was to conform liens and levies. Before the amendment,
a judicial proceeding would not toll the limitations period for
levies, but would for liens. See United States v. Wodtke, 627 F.
Supp. 1034, 1041 (N.D. Iowa 1985), affd. without published
opinion 871 F.2d 1092 (8th Cir. 1988). The legislative history
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of TAMRA states that the 1988 amendment was to conform section
6502 so that a court proceeding filed during the 6-year period
would keep the collection period open. H. Conf. Rept. 100-1104
(Vol. II), at 5-6 (1988), 1988-3 C.B. 473, 495-496. In 1990
Congress amended section 6502 to extend the 6-year period for
collection to 10 years. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1990, Pub. L. 101-508, sec. 11317(a), (c), 104 Stat. 1388-458.
The 1988 amendment is effective for all levies issued after
November 10, 1988, and the 1990 amendment applies to taxes
assessed after November 5, 1990, and taxes assessed on or before
November 5, 1990, if the period specified in section 6502 for
collection of such taxes has not expired.
Section 6502 currently provides that an assessed tax may be
collected by levy or by a proceeding in court if the levy is made
or the proceeding began within 10 years after date of assessment.
Sec. 6502(a)(1). If a timely proceeding is commenced in court,
the period during which such tax may be collected by levy shall
not expire until the liability for the tax is satisfied. Sec.
6502(a).
This collection action originates from respondent’s March
26, 1985, section 6672 assessment. Respondent’s assessment of
the TFRP penalty was timely and is undisputed. Respondent issued
the Letter 1058 to collect petitioner’s liability by levy on
September 25, 2006; i.e., more than 10 years after the date of
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assessment. However, respondent filed a counterclaim in Beeler
v. United States, 894 F. Supp. 761 (S.D.N.Y. 1995), on March 9,
1987, within the then-existing 6-year period of limitations on
assessment. Because the 1988 amendment of section 6502 is
applicable to the assessment at issue, respondent’s commencement
of this proceeding within the requisite 6-year period under
section 6502(a)(1) served to extend the period for collection
until petitioner’s liability is satisfied; petitioner has not
satisfied his liability. Thus respondent is entitled to collect
by levy.
B. Satisfaction of Liability
Petitioner argues that respondent’s levy is inappropriate
because respondent filed two Forms 668 (Z) releasing the New
York, New York, and Sarasota, Florida, liens. Petitioner
contends that respondent’s filing of the Forms 668 (Z) proves
that petitioner’s liability has been satisfied. Respondent
concedes that two releases were filed and a third release was
prepared but never filed. Respondent argues that the Forms 668
(Z) do not prove that petitioner has satisfied his liability.
Section 6321 imposes a lien in favor of the United States on
all property and rights to property of a taxpayer liable for
taxes when a demand for payment of the taxes has been made and
the taxpayer has failed to pay those taxes. The lien arises by
operation of law when the IRS assesses the amount of unpaid tax.
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Sec. 6322. However, the lien imposed by section 6321 shall not
be valid against any purchaser, holder of a security interest,
mechanic’s lienor, or judgment lien creditor until notice of
meeting the requirements of section 6323(f) has been filed by the
Secretary. Section 6323(f) provides the rules that govern when
and where a notice under section 6323(a) must be filed. The IRS
files an NFTL to preserve priority and put other creditors on
notice. See sec. 6323.
The NFTLs filed in New York, New York, and Sarasota,
Florida, were the notices required by section 6323(a) and (f).
The Forms 668 (Z) that respondent concedes were filed
extinguished these NFTLs. However, the issue here is whether the
Forms 668 (Z) extinguish the tax liability.
Petitioner’s contention that the Forms 668 (Z) indicate that
his liability has been satisfied is incorrect. The underlying
tax liability is not extinguished when an NFTL filed pursuant to
section 6323 is released. Commissioner v. Angier Corp., 50 F.2d
887, 892 (1st Cir. 1931), affg. in part and vacating in part 17
B.T.A. 1376 (1929); Baker v. Commissioner, 24 T.C. 1021, 1025
(1955); Miller v. Commissioner, 23 T.C. 565, 569 (1954), affd.
231 F.2d 8 (5th Cir. 1956); Boyer v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.
2003-322; Hohenstein v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1997-56; sec.
301.6325-1(a)(1), Proced. & Admin. Regs. The underlying tax
liability remains outstanding until the tax is paid in full or
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the statutory period for collection expires. Sec. 301.6325-
1(a)(1), Proced. & Admin. Regs. Petitioner remains liable for
his underlying liability even though respondent released the
NFTLs filed pursuant to section 6325. Commissioner v. Angier
Corp., supra; Baker v. Commissioner, supra; Miller v.
Commissioner, supra.
C. Duty of Consistency
Petitioner next argues that section 6672 imposes a duty of
consistency on respondent and that respondent must release him
from his liability because his colleagues were released.
Petitioner argues that the District Court’s finding in Beeler v.
United States, supra at 771, that the parties are “jointly and
severally liable for the one hundred percent penalty sought by
the government pursuant to § 6672(a)”, requires the Commissioner
to treat all three parties identically. This argument was first
raised on brief and is not properly before us. See Giamelli v.
Commissioner, 129 T.C. 107 (2007).
Even if this argument were properly before us, however, it
would not be valid. A finding of joint and several liability
does not require the IRS to collect the penalty proportionally
among such parties or require the IRS to offer petitioner the
same favorable treatment offered to another responsible party.
Section 6672 allows the Government to collect from any
responsible party as long as it does not collect more than the
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amount of the liability. Sec. 6672(a), (d); see also McClure v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2008-136. There is no duty of
consistency under section 6672 or 6502 that prevents respondent
from collecting from petitioner despite releasing the other
responsible parties.
D. Conclusion
We conclude that the statutory period for collection remains
open, and petitioner’s liability was not extinguished by the
filing of the Forms 668 (Z). Accordingly, we hold that
respondent satisfied the requirements of section 6330 and did not
abuse his discretion in sustaining the NFTL filed against
petitioner and may proceed by levy to collect petitioner’s unpaid
tax.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered
for respondent.