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Glen T. JAMISON, Director of Internal Revenue, Appellant, v. Maria REPETTI, Appellee

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit1956-09-07No. No. 14825
239 F.2d 901

Summary

Holding. An assessment issued under the mathematical error provision of the Internal Revenue Code is void on its face when the tax agency has not actually identified or proven a mathematical error appearing on the face of the return. The trial court therefore had authority to issue an injunction against collection of the void assessment. The judgment was affirmed.

Maria Repetti filed suit to enjoin the Director of Internal Revenue from collecting tax assessments issued against her in December 1952. The Director claimed the assessments were valid under a provision allowing summary assessment for mathematical errors appearing on the face of a tax return. The trial court granted summary judgment in Repetti's favor and issued an injunction against collection.

On appeal, the court examined whether the tax agency properly invoked the mathematical error provision. The court found that the agency had never actually identified or alleged any arithmetical error on the face of the return, either at trial or on appeal. Because the agency failed to establish the existence of a mathematical error—the only basis it relied upon for the summary assessment—the assessment was void on its face. The court also noted that when a tax deficiency does not involve a mathematical error, strict statutory procedures must be followed, including sending notice by registered mail and allowing the taxpayer to petition the Tax Court within ninety days.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether the tax agency properly invoked the mathematical error exception to issue a summary assessment
  • Whether the trial court had power to enjoin collection of internal revenue taxes despite statutory language restricting such injunctions
  • Whether proper procedures were followed for assessing a claimed tax deficiency

Procedural posture

The Director of Internal Revenue appealed from a trial court's grant of summary judgment and issuance of an injunction in favor of the taxpayer against collection of assessments.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

JAMES ALGER FEE, Circuit Judge.

Maria Repetti filed a suit seeking an injunction against the Director of Internal Revenue to restrain the collection of assessments made against her on or about December 12, 1952. A motion by the Director to dismiss the action was denied. The Director then filed an answer setting up the defense that the assessments followed a notice of mathematical error in respect to the tax returns of Maria Repetti and her husband for 1948 and 1949 and the defense that the court was without jurisdiction to enjoin the collection of internal revenue taxes.

Upon respective motions therefor by both parties, the court granted summary judgment to Maria Repetti and issued an injunction against the collection of the taxes.

There has been no question raised as to the procedure of summary judgment. All the pertinent facts were before the court. Only questions of law were presented. No questions of material fact were involved.

The record shows that Maria and A. Repetti, as husband and wife, filed a joint Declaration of Estimated Tax for the calendar year 1945 and paid the sum of $296.00 thereon. No personal income tax returns were filed by either during calendar years 1944 to 1951. A. Repetti died during 1950. On October 23, 1952, María Repetti took credit for the sum paid on the 1945 Declaration of Estimated Tax on the final returns then filed. These credits were for calendar years 1946, $26.00, 1948, $176.00, and 1949, $94.00, respectively. A further tax was paid upon the 1949 return.

The tax agency purported to act under Internal Revenue Code 1939, § 272(f), 26 U.S.C.A. § 272(f), which provides that, in the case of a “mathematical error appearing upon the face of the return,” an assessment may be made summarily for the correct amount of tax. It is plain upon the record and indeed as the trial court noted that the administrative agency made no contention then that such a mathematical, that is, arithmetical, error appeared, nor has it done so before this Court. The attempted assessment was void.

The procedure which must be followed in a case where there is a supposed deficiency upon a basis other than “a mathematical error appearing on the face of the return” is outlined specifically in Internal Revenue Code 1939, § 272(a) (1). There “the Commissioner is authorized to send notice of such deficiency to the taxpayer by registered mail.” The important point is that this provision permits the taxpayer, within ninety days after the mailing of such notice, to petition the Tax Court to redetermine the deficiency. Assessment of deficiency, distraint or proceeding in court is proscribed during the ninety day period and until a decision of the Tax Court becomes final if review is sought. Courts are directly empowered to issue injunctions notwithstanding the wording of § 3653(a). The agency postulates that the deficiency claimed does not fall within the terms of § 272(a) (1), but our only concern is that the procedure adopted for the purported assessment is void on its face.

The trial court has an opinion of record which is persuasive. Repetti v. Jami-son, D.C., 131 F.Supp. 626. No opinion is expressed by this Court as to the jurisdiction of any other court or body in other proceedings or other questions.

We hold that the assessment under Internal Revenue Code 1939, § 272(f), for “mathematical error appearing on the face of the return,” is void on its face and therefore the tidal court had power to issue injunction against proceedings thereunder notwithstanding the provisions of that section.

Affirmed. .