Docket No. 16492 | Tax Ct. | Nov 23, 1948
Lead Opinion
OPINION.
The petition purports to challenge a deficiency in income tax said to have been determined for the year 1943 in the amount of $1,097.08. Petitioner filed the return here involved with the collector for the fifth district of New Jersey.
Although neither petitioner nor anyone representing him appeared to prosecute the case, a hearing was had, and upon the evidence so taken respondent filed a motion to dismiss the proceeding for lack of jurisdiction.
The records of the office of the collector of internal revenue for the fifth district of New Jersey in respect to income and estimated tax of petitioner for the years 1942 and 1943 indicate the following:
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Petitioner made net payments of $9,738.80 on his 1943 income and victory tax liability of $9,735.74, as computed under the Current Tax Payment Act of 1943, all of which was paid prior to August 20, 1947. A letter bearing that date, purporting to determine a deficiency of $1,097.08
On November 18,1947, he filed a petition with this Court, seeking a redetermination of the deficiency asserted to have been so determined.
On December 15,1947, respondent filed an answer to the petition.
On these facts, the question is as to our jurisdiction. As we said in Everett Knitting Works, 1 B. T. A. 5, 6:
* * * The statute gives the taxpayer the right to appeal to the Board in eases where there is a statutory deficiency * * *
Evidently the amount previously collected must be subtracted from the amount of tax imposed by the statute in order to arrive at the statutory deficiency * * *
* * * Payment has already been made and there is nothing upon which the determination of the Board can effectively operate. The taxpayer has now, as lie has heretofore had, a right of action in court to recover any amount erroneously collected.
Since, on the date of the mailing of the letter purporting to be a notice of deficiency, it appears that the tax there involved had already been paid, it must be held that the letter was not a valid notice of deficiency within the definition of the Internal Revenue Code. See Internal Revenue Code, section 271 (a). The inescapable prerequisite of our jurisdiction is consequently lacking. Cf. Will County Title Co., 38 B. T. A. 1396. Accordingly, notwithstanding the failure of petitioner to appear at the hearing and his default in prosecution of this appeal, this
Proceeding is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
The assumed deficiency of $1,097.08 fails to take into account the $1,100 paid on May 17, 1946.