Penalties Under the Code
Abuse of Discretion

Middleton v. Commissioner
T.C. Memo. 2022-28

On April 4, 2022, the Tax Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in the case of Middleton v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2022-28). The primary issues presented in Middleton v. Commissioner were (i) whether the taxpayer could challenge the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty at his CDP hearing; and (ii) whether the taxpayer established that he was not “responsible person” for collecting, accounting for, and paying over employees’ income and employment taxes. Background to Middleton v. Commissioner In

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Scott St. Amand November 22, 2022
Penalties Under the Code
Challenging Levy

Kazmi v. Commissioner
T.C. Memo. 2022-13

On March 1, 2022, the Tax Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in the case of Kazmi v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2022-13). The primary issues presented in Kazmi v. Commissioner were (1) whether the petitioner is entitled to challenge the underlying liabilities, and if so, whether he is a responsible person who willfully failed to pay over employment taxes under IRC § 6672, and (2) whether the Appeals abused its discretion in sustaining the collection action.

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Scott St. Amand May 20, 2022
Procedural Issues
Cash Bond

Ahmed v. Commissioner
T.C. Memo. 2021-142

On December 28, 2021, the Tax Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in the case of Ahmed v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2021-142). The primary issue presented in Ahmed was whether the taxpayer’s payment of all monies owed mooted his challenge to the IRS’s imposition of a lien and the trust fund recovery penalty (“TFRP”). Held: Yup. Background to Ahmed v. Commissioner In June 2020, the petitioner sent to the IRS a check for $625,000 along with

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Scott St. Amand April 28, 2022
Penalties Under the Code
Challenging Underlying Liability

Cashaw v. Commissioner
T.C. Memo. 2021-123

On October 26, 2021, the Tax Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in the case of Cashaw v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2021-123). The primary issue presented in Cashaw v. Commissioner was whether the petitioner is liable for trust fund recovery penalties. Held: Yup. Background to Cashaw v. Commissioner The petitioner was presented with difficult choices during her tenure as temporary chief administrator of a hospital. The hospital was under a state order freezing its bank accounts

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Scott St. Amand November 12, 2021
Business Related Issues
Employee

A Primer on Employment Tax Withholding

When the IRS is involved, monetary transactions are never as simple as they appear on the surface. The late, great comedian Mitch Hedberg once told a story about being given a receipt after buying a doughnut. I bought a doughnut, and they gave me a receipt for the doughnut. I don’t need a receipt for the doughnut. I’ll just give you the money, and you give me the doughnut, end of transaction. We don’t need

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Scott St. Amand October 18, 2021
Procedural Issues
Assessable Penalties

Current Developments on Prior Written Supervisory Approval under IRC § 6751(b)(1)

The Statute No penalty under the Code[1] may be assessed unless the initial determination of such assessment is personally approved in writing by the immediate supervisor of the individual/agent making such determination (or another appropriate higher-level official).[2] This approval requirement, introduced in 1998, was the subject of only three substantial decisions prior to 2020. This year, however, was a boon for taxpayers, and the full opinions of the Tax Court defined the metes and bounds

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Scott St. Amand April 30, 2021
Procedural Issues
CDP

Barnhill v. Commissioner (155 T.C. No. 1)

On July 21, 2020, the Tax Court issued its opinion in Barnhill v. Commissioner (155 T.C. No. 1). The issue presented in Barnhill v. Commissioner is whether a taxpayer, who receives a Letter 1153 (Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP) Letter), and who timely appeals the TFRP, but who does not receive a meaningful opportunity to challenge his liability for the TFRP (because the taxpayer, for instance and as here, did not receive subsequent correspondence scheduling

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Scott St. Amand July 21, 2020
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Middleton v. Commissioner
T.C. Memo. 2022-28

On April 4, 2022, the Tax Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in the case of Middleton v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2022-28). The primary issues presented in Middleton v. Commissioner were (i) whether the taxpayer could challenge the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty at his CDP hearing; and (ii) whether the taxpayer

Read More »
Scott St. Amand November 22, 2022

Kazmi v. Commissioner
T.C. Memo. 2022-13

On March 1, 2022, the Tax Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in the case of Kazmi v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2022-13). The primary issues presented in Kazmi v. Commissioner were (1) whether the petitioner is entitled to challenge the underlying liabilities, and if so, whether he is a responsible person

Read More »
Scott St. Amand May 20, 2022

Ahmed v. Commissioner
T.C. Memo. 2021-142

On December 28, 2021, the Tax Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in the case of Ahmed v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2021-142). The primary issue presented in Ahmed was whether the taxpayer’s payment of all monies owed mooted his challenge to the IRS’s imposition of a lien and the trust fund

Read More »
Scott St. Amand April 28, 2022

Cashaw v. Commissioner
T.C. Memo. 2021-123

On October 26, 2021, the Tax Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in the case of Cashaw v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2021-123). The primary issue presented in Cashaw v. Commissioner was whether the petitioner is liable for trust fund recovery penalties. Held: Yup. Background to Cashaw v. Commissioner The petitioner was

Read More »
Scott St. Amand November 12, 2021

A Primer on Employment Tax Withholding

When the IRS is involved, monetary transactions are never as simple as they appear on the surface. The late, great comedian Mitch Hedberg once told a story about being given a receipt after buying a doughnut. I bought a doughnut, and they gave me a receipt for the doughnut. I

Read More »
Scott St. Amand October 18, 2021

Barnhill v. Commissioner (155 T.C. No. 1)

On July 21, 2020, the Tax Court issued its opinion in Barnhill v. Commissioner (155 T.C. No. 1). The issue presented in Barnhill v. Commissioner is whether a taxpayer, who receives a Letter 1153 (Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP) Letter), and who timely appeals the TFRP, but who does not

Read More »
Scott St. Amand July 21, 2020