95-1589

Income Tax

Signed 2/29/96

 

BEFORE THE UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION

____________________________________

XXXXX,

Petitioner, : ORDER

:

v. : Appeal No. 95-1589

:

COLLECTION DIVISION, : Account No. XXXXX

UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION, :

:

Respondent. : Tax Type: Income Tax

_____________________________________

STATEMENT OF CASE

This matter came before the Utah State Tax Commission for an Initial Hearing pursuant to the provisions of Utah Code Ann. §59-1-502.5, on XXXXX. Commission Chairman, W. Val Oveson, heard the matter for and on behalf of the Commission. Present and representing Petitioner were XXXXX and XXXXX, CPA. Present and representing Respondent was XXXXX.

1. Petitioner filed the XXXXX tax return in XXXXX on time, but no longer has a copy of the return. Petitioner was advised to keep his returns for seven years.

2. Petitioner claims that the tax at issue is past the statute of limitations for claiming a refund, and should be past the statute of limitations for assessing the tax. He paid the tax because he did not want to hassle with the issue, but does not want to pay the penalty or interest. He would like the tax refunded as well, if it is determined that he did not owe it.

3. Petitioner received no communications from Respondent for 10 years.

4. According to Respondent, Petitioner filed an extension for XXXXX. Petitioner's return was filed on XXXXX and tax was paid. There was a late filing penalty and late payment penalty of $$$$$ assessed at that time, and interest of $$$$$. A bill was sent to Petitioner, and on XXXXX, a check was received from Petitioner in the amount of $$$$$.

5. On XXXXX, an IRS CP-2000 audit was assessed against Petitioner. The audit posted to his account on XXXXX. Notice was sent to Petitioner as follows:

Additional Tax from IRS Audit $$$$$

Less: Original Payment $$$$$

Refund applied from XXXXX Return $$$$$

Adjustment on XXXXX XXXXX

Penalty and Interest Paid $$$$$

Balance Due per the notice >$$$$$

6. A follow up letter was sent by Respondent on XXXXX. A hold code was placed on the account because of a letter sent by Petitioner on XXXXX.

7. On XXXXX, a Notice and Demand letter was sent by Respondent. Shortly thereafter another hold code was placed on the account by XXXXX. The hold code was based on a conversation with Petitioner's CPA, who told XXXXX that Petitioner was appealing the IRS audit, and that Petitioner would inform Respondent of the results of the appeal.

8. On XXXXX, Respondent’s Notice of Assessment of Additional tax was sent.

9. On XXXXX, the packet was returned with a wrong address.

10. On XXXXX, another hold code was placed on the account because of the IRS appeal. Respondent was waiting for the IRS to respond.

11. On XXXXX, Respondent sent a notice of lien to Petitioner.

12. On XXXXX, the lien was withdrawn per XXXXX because the 3 year statute of limitations had run.

13. On XXXXX, Petitioner sent in a waiver request, and on XXXXX, the waiver request was denied by Respondent because the tax had not been paid.

14. On XXXXX, Petitioner called Respondent to find out what needed to be done to reinstate the waiver request.

15. On XXXXX, Respondent received the payment of the tax and sent in a waiver request to the Waiver Unit.

16. On XXXXX, Respondent sent a partial approval of the waiver request as follows:

1. Waived the late payment penalty

2. Did not waive the extension penalty of $$$$$

3. Did not waive the interest of $$$$$ plus.

Respondent stated during the hearing that the lien fee of $$$$$ should also have been removed.

17. On XXXXX, Petitioner filed an appeal of the waiver decision on the interest and penalty that was not waived.

18. Petitioner remembers paying the tax.

19. On XXXXX, Petitioner moved to XXXXX.

20. On XXXXX, Petitioner moved from XXXXX to XXXXX.

21. In July of XXXXX, Petitioner moved to XXXXX.

22. In October of XXXXX, Petitioner moved back to Utah.

23. When Petitioner filed a return for XXXXX he was reconnected in Respondent's computer, and Respondent started to correspond with Petitioner again.

APPLICABLE LAW

The Tax Commission is granted the authority to waive, reduce, or compromise penalties and interest upon a showing of reasonable cause. (Utah Code Ann. §59-1-401(10).)

DECISION AND ORDER

Based upon the information presented at the hearing, and the records of the Tax Commission, the Commission finds sufficient cause does not exist to waive the penalty of $$$$$ which has already been paid. Sufficient cause does exist to waive the interest from the time Petitioner left the country on XXXXX to the current date because of confusion in the notices and lack of notice.

This decision does not limit a party's right to a Formal Hearing. However, this Decision and Order will become the Final Decision and Order of the Commission unless any party to this case files a written request within thirty (30) days of the date of this decision to proceed to a Formal Hearing. Such a request shall be mailed to the address listed below and must include the Petitioner's name, address, and appeal number:

Utah State Tax Commission

Appeals Division

210 North 1950 West

Salt Lake City, Utah 84134

Failure to request a Formal Hearing will preclude any further administrative action or appeal rights in this matter.

DATED this 29 day of February, 1996.

BY ORDER OF THE UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION.

W. Val Oveson Roger O. Tew

Chairman Commissioner

Joe B. Pacheco Alice Shearer

Commissioner Commissioner

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