Harry K. Amesbury, Petitioner

T.C.

Court: United States Tax Court

Citations: 2010 T.C. Memo. 148

Decision Date: 7/12/2010

Docket Number: 23871-08

Bluebook Citation: Harry K. Amesbury, Petitioner, 2010 T.C. Memo. 148 (T.C. 2010)

More Cases: T.C. decisions from 2010

vc3M t-r °r Ci T .C . Memo . 2 010-14 8 UNITED STATES TAX COUR T HARRY K . AMESBURY, Petitioner v . COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Responden t Docket No . 23871 - 08 . Filed July 12, 2010 .

Harry K . Amesbury, pro se .

Stephen R . Takeuchi , for respondent .

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINIO N COHEN, . Judge : Respondent determined a deficiency of $3,614 in petitioner's Federal income tax for 2004 and additions to tax under sections 6651(a)(1) and (2) and 6654(a) . Respondent ha s now conceded the addition to tax under section 6651(a)(2)' . The main issue for decis.ion .is whether : petitioner is liable for-th e 10-percent penalty -for early withdrawal from an individual .

SERVED JUL f`:2 2010.; . .retirement account (IRA) . All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the year in issue, and all .

Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure .

FINDINGS OF FACT Some of the facts have been deemed stipulated under Rule ,91(f) by reason of petitioner's failure to respond to an order to ,show cause . Petitioner resided in Florida at the time that he filed his petition .

During 2000, petitioner purchased securities through E-Trade Securities . . At some point in 2000, the securities were sold t o satisfy petitioner's debt for stocks acquired on margin .

:Petitioner did not file a .Federal income tax return for 2000 .

.about 2003, he was contacted by : the Internal Revenue Servic e (IRS) because the proceeds of the securities sold to pay his debt 'were reported to the IRS . The IRS assessed a tax liability fo r 2000 and placed a lien on petitioner's property .

During 2004, in order to avoid IRS-collection efforts related to the assessment .for 2000, . petitioner withdrew $20,444 from his USAA Federal Savings Bank . IRA . Petitioner also .receive d 1$3.61 in interest during 2004 . Thereafter petitioner was able t show that he did not. have a gain on sale of the securities, the assessment was abated, and the lien was released .

.Petitioner did not file a Federal income tax return for 2003 or 2004 . Respondent . determined a deficiency for 2004 that included income tax and an additional tax-of 10 percent on the early withdrawal from the IRA, as well aspadditions to tax for failure to file and for failure to pay estimated taxes .

OPINION

Section .72(t)(1) imposes an additional tax of 10 percent on amounts received-from a qualified retirement plan, absent exceptions set forth in section 72(t)(2) .

Petitioner does not dispute his receipt of income or his failure to file a return for 2004 .' His entire argument is that the IRS was wrong in actions taken starting in 2003 to collect taxes . erroneously determined for 2000 and that the wrongful conduct caused the early withdrawal, from . his IRA .

Although petitioner's liability for the tax year 2000 is not before us, the parties were invited to supplement the record after trial with an explanation of what occurred with respect t o petitioner's 2000 liability, but petitioner declined the invitation., He 'prefers to assert, without factual foundation, that he was treated wrongfully by the IRS and that, therefore, should not be held liable for the amounts determined for 2004 .

Even if he were correct that IRS actions with respect to 2000 .

were erroneous , which we cannot conclude , those actions would not affect his liability for 2004 .

He has not shown any error in r`espondent's determination, and he has not shown any applicabl e exception to the additional tax imposed under section 72(t) .

1 3 Because the material facts in this case are deemed stipulated an d otherwise _are undisputed, there is no issue with respect to .burden of production or burden of proof under section 7491 .

Petitioner's argument does not constitute reasonable caus e for his failure to file a return for 2004, and he is liable for the addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1) . Because he faile d to file a return for 2003, he was required to .pay estimated taxe s equal to 90 percent of the tax owed for 2004 . See sec .

6654(d)(1)(B) . He failed to make those payments, and no exception to the addition to tax under section 6654 applies . . Se e . Grosshandler v . Commissioner , 75 T .C . 1, 20-21 (1980) .

To reflect .the foregoing, including respondent's concession, .

Decision will be entered for respondent except for the .

section 6651(a)(2) addition to tax .

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