The Tax Court in Brief October 4 – October 8, 2021

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The Tax Court in Brief October 4 – October 8, 2021

Freeman Law’s “The Tax Court in Brief” covers every substantive Tax Court opinion, providing a weekly brief of its decisions in clear, concise prose.

For a link to our podcast covering the Tax Court in Brief, download here or check out other episodes of The Freeman Law Project.

Tax Litigation: The Week of October 4 – October 8, 2021


Tax Court Case:

Crim v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2021-117

October 4, 2021 | Lauber, J. | Dkt. No. 16574-17L

Short Summary: During tax years 1999 through 2003, Mr. John Crim promoted a tax shelter scheme involving domestic and offshore trusts. In 2008, Mr. Crim was convicted of certain crimes (conspiracy to defraud the United States and a corrupt endeavor to interfere with the administration of the internal revenue laws) and imprisoned until 2014.

The Internal Revenue Service notified Mr. Crim that it proposed to assess penalties under Section 6700(a) by letter dated June 16, 2010. On July 26, 2010, the Internal Revenue Service assessed the proposed penalties. On November 18, 2011, the Internal Revenue Service filed a notice of federal tax lien. On March 8, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service sent Mr. Crim a Letter 1058, Notice of Intent to Levy.

Mr. Crim’s representative timely filed a request for CDP hearing. At the hearing, Mr. Crim’s representative made various legal arguments, including that the penalties had been assessed and/or collected after the relevant period of limitations had expired. The Internal Revenue Service sustained the collection action. On August 4, 2017, Mr. Crim timely filed his petition with the Tax Court. On November 14, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service filed a motion for summary judgment.

Key Issues:

Primary Holdings:

Key Points of Law:

Insight: Crim highlights the fact that the Tax Court reviews a settlement officer’s determination for abuse of discretion. Taxpayers should be prudent in contesting tax and penalty assessments at the appropriate time. Further, taxpayers should be cognizant of the applicability of periods of limitation to certain types of penalties, including Section 6700 penalties. Finally, taxpayers should be wary of bombarding the Tax Court with multiple filings/”mountains of paper” that lacks certain critical support, such as personal affidavits from the taxpayer.


Tax Court Case:

Leyh v. Comm’r, 157 T.C. No. 7

October 4, 2021 | Greaves, J. | Dkt. No. 20533-18

Short Summary:  Pursuant to a separation agreement, Mr. Leyh agreed to pay his then spouse’s health insurance premiums through a “cafeteria plan” provided by his employer.  Mr. Leyh excluded from his gross income an amount equal to the health insurance premiums pursuant to section 106 and section 125 of the Code and also claimed an alimony deduction pursuant to section 62 and section 215 for the portion of the premiums covering his then spouse.

Key Issues:

Primary Holdings:

Key Points of Law:

Insight:  The practical effect of the Leyh decision may be limited due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s permanent disallowance of alimony deductions.  However, although the alimony deduction does not currently sunset, Congress may revisit the deductibility of alimony at a later date.  If this occurs, taxpayers who have health care cafeteria plans and who pay alimony may want to remember the Leyh decision, which is taxpayer favorable.


Tax Court Case:

Suzanne Jean McCrory v. Comm’r, T.C. Memorandum 2021-116

October 4, 2021 | Jones, J. | Dkt. Nos. 11798-18W, 12956-18W

Short SummaryThe case analyzed whether the IRS abused its discretion when rejecting whistleblower’s claims under section 7623(b)(4). The Court ruled that the IRS did not abuse its discretion when rejecting the claims for awards when the IRS’ rejects such claims on the basis that the information provided was speculative.

Ms. McCrory (the petitioner) submitted 19 Applications for Awards for Original Information (claims for awards) under section 7623(b)(4), alleging that certain individuals may not have reported their taxable income from settlements or jury awards. The allegations were based on a hypothesis and were supported by public information.

The Whistleblower Office of the IRS processed the claims, one of the IRS’ employees prepared the respective Award Recommendation Memorandums (ARM) for each claim. The ARM includes a section for the “basis for the recommendation”, under which the IRS stated the various reasons that supported the recommendation, including that the claim failed to include specific and credible information or for some claims, that the claim was speculative. None of the ARMs recommendations was based on the publicly available information. The ARM recommended to reject the claim.

The Court, ruling under Rule 122, sustained the IRS’ determinations.

Key Issues: Whether the IRS abuses its discretion when it rejects a claim under section 7623(a) when the determination made by the IRS states that the information provided is speculative?

Primary Holdings: The IRS does not abuse its discretion when it rejects a claim on its face under section 7623(a) on the basis that the information provided is speculative.

Key Points of Law:

Insight:  This case outlines the basic scheme for whistleblower claims. More importantly, it clearly shows that such claims must provide credible or not speculative information to not be rejected on its face. Failure to meet such requirements will almost result in the claims to be rejected, and in ambiguous cases, to a denial.

 

Tax Court Litigation Attorneys

Need assistance litigating in the U.S. Tax Court? Freeman Law’s tax attorneys are experienced litigators with trial-tested litigation skills and in-depth substantive tax knowledge, having collectively litigated hundreds of cases before the U.S. Tax Court. Our tax controversy lawyers have extensive experience in Tax Court matters involving partnership audits and litigation under both the TEFRA and BBA regimes, international tax penalties, foreign trusts, valuation, reasonable compensation disputes, unreported income, fraud penalties, other tax penalties, and many other matters. We draw on our experience and wealth of tax knowledge to advise and guide clients through the entire tax controversy process, building the right strategy to resolve tax controversies from day one. Schedule a consultation or call (214) 984-3000 to discuss your Tax Court concerns or questions.