                              T.C. Memo. 2015-132



                         UNITED STATES TAX COURT



                  KENNETH A. MCRAE, Petitioner v.
           COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent



      Docket No. 10233-14L.                        Filed July 20, 2015.



      Kenneth A. McRae, pro se.

      Kris H. An, for respondent.



                           MEMORANDUM OPINION


      LAUBER, Judge: In this collection due process (CDP) case, petitioner

seeks review pursuant to sections 6320(c) and 6330(d)(1)1 of a determination by



      1
       All statutory references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect at all
relevant times, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and
Procedure. We round all monetary amounts to the nearest dollar.
                                         -2-

[*2] the Internal Revenue Service (IRS or respondent) to sustain the filing of a

notice of Federal tax lien (NFTL). Respondent has moved for summary judgment

under Rule 121, contending that there are no disputed issues of material fact and

that his determination to sustain this collection action was proper as a matter of

law. We agree and accordingly will grant the motion.

                                     Background

      The following facts are based on the parties’ pleadings and the affidavits

and exhibits attached to the pleadings and respondent’s motion. See Rule 121(b).

Petitioner resided in California when he filed his petition. The lien at issue relates

to petitioner’s Federal income tax liabilities for 2004, 2006, and 2008.

      Petitioner filed a timely return for 2004. The IRS conducted an examination

of that return and the record reflects issuance of a notice of deficiency based on

this examination; petitioner does not dispute that he received this notice and did

not contest the deficiency by filing a petition in this Court. The IRS then assessed

the tax and interest due from petitioner for 2004, totaling $1,053.

      Petitioner filed a late return for 2006. The IRS received this return on April

17, 2009, ruled it frivolous, and assessed a $5,000 penalty against petitioner under

section 6702(a). The IRS thereafter prepared a substitute for return (SFR) meeting

the requirements of section 6020(b). The record reflects issuance of a notice of
                                         -3-

[*3] deficiency based on this return; petitioner does not dispute that he received

this notice and did not contest the deficiency by filing a petition in this Court. The

IRS then assessed the tax and interest due from petitioner for 2006, totaling

$3,315. Petitioner later filed an amended return for 2006; the IRS likewise deter-

mined that return to be frivolous and assessed a second $5,000 penalty under

section 6702(a). The total assessment under section 6702(a) for 2006, including

interest, is $10,901.2

      Petitioner did not file a Federal income tax return for 2008. The IRS pre-

pared an SFR meeting the requirements of section 6020(b). The record reflects

issuance of a notice of deficiency based on this return; petitioner does not dispute

that he received this notice and did not contest the deficiency by filing a petition in

this Court. The IRS subsequently assessed the tax and interest due, as well as

additions to tax for failure to pay timely under section 6651(a)(2) and failure to

pay estimated tax under section 6654(a), for a total assessment of $12,014.

      On May 7, 2013, in an effort to collect these outstanding liabilities, the IRS

sent petitioner a Notice of Federal Tax Lien Filing and Your Right to a Hearing.

Petitioner timely requested a CDP hearing. In fact, he demanded four separate

      2
       On March 25, 2012, petitioner submitted a check to the IRS in purported
payment of his 2004 and 2006 liabilities. This check was returned and, on April
30, 2012, the IRS assessed a penalty for dishonored payment under section 6657.
                                       -4-

[*4] CDP hearings--one for each year at issue and a fourth hearing for the

frivolous return penalties.

      On August 6, 2013, a settlement officer (SO) from the IRS Appeals Office

wrote petitioner, scheduling a single CDP hearing by telephone for September 10,

2013. Petitioner was asked to notify the SO within 14 days if he wished to have a

face-to-face conference. The SO informed petitioner that she could not consider

collection alternatives unless petitioner submitted, within 14 days, a completed

Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-

Employed Individuals, and proof of filing tax returns for 2011 and 2012.

      Petitioner did not propose a collection alternative, provide the requested

financial information, or submit a copy of a tax return for 2011 or 2012. On

September 10, 2013, petitioner and the SO participated in the scheduled telephone

conference. Petitioner provided no meaningful information during this conference

but insisted on a face-to-face hearing. The SO referred this request to the IRS

Appeals Office in Los Angeles.

      On November 5, 2013, a settlement officer from the IRS Appeals Office in

Los Angeles (SO2) sent petitioner a letter scheduling a telephone CDP hearing for

March 5, 2014. This letter acknowledged petitioner’s request for a face-to-face

conference. SO2 explained, however, that petitioner would first have to submit
                                         -5-

[*5] the required financial information (Form 433-A and tax returns for 2011 and

2012) in order to qualify for a face-to-face conference.

      On February 12, 2014, petitioner wrote SO2 reiterating his demand for a

face-to-face hearing. Petitioner disputed the necessity of providing any specific

documents in order to obtain such a hearing. According to petitioner, whether he

was required to file Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for 2011 and

2012 “was a matter to be determined at the CDP hearing.” Petitioner apparently

intended to argue that he was relieved of the duty to file Federal income tax

returns when the IRS did not sufficiently respond to his Freedom of Information

Act requests demanding documents detailing the legal basis for such filing

requirement.

      SO2 contacted petitioner by telephone, explaining once again that petitioner

did not qualify for a face-to-face conference. SO2 nevertheless offered to meet

with petitioner in the Los Angeles IRS Appeals Office on March 5, 2014, at the

time already scheduled for the telephone conference. Petitioner declined this offer

of a face-to-face meeting.

      On March 5, 2014, SO2 called petitioner for the scheduled CDP hearing.

Petitioner did not answer the phone or call back. Later that day, SO2 mailed peti-

tioner a “last chance letter” stating that, if he did not hear from petitioner within
                                         -6-

[*6] 14 days, he would make his decision based on the existing administrative file.

On March 10, 2014, petitioner wrote SO2 reiterating his demand for a face-to-face

hearing but provided none of the requested documents.

       At this point SO2 reviewed the administrative file and confirmed that the

tax, interest, additions to tax, and penalties for 2004, 2006, and 2008 had been

properly assessed and that all requirements of applicable administrative procedure

had been met. SO2 concluded that petitioner did not qualify for a collection

alternative because he had not requested such an alternative and in any event had

failed to submit the required financial information. SO2 accordingly closed the

case and, on April 1, 2014, sent petitioner a notice of determination sustaining the

tax lien filing.

       Petitioner timely sought review in this Court. The sole allegation of error

set forth in his petition is that SO2’s denial of a face-to-face hearing violates sec-

tion 6330(b)(1) and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Respondent

moved for summary judgment. Petitioner replied to this motion with a one-page

objection; he did not address the relevant facts or law but simply insisted that the

case be remanded to the IRS Appeals Office “for a meaningful hearing.”

Petitioner signed that document as “Private Citizen Kenneth A. McRae, Republic

State of California.”
                                        -7-

[*7]                                Discussion

A.     Summary Judgment

       The purpose of summary judgment is to expedite litigation and avoid

unnecessary and time-consuming trials. Fla. Peach Corp. v. Commissioner, 90

T.C. 678, 681 (1988). The Court may grant summary judgment when there is no

genuine dispute as to any material fact and a decision may be rendered as a matter

of law. Rule 121(b); Sundstrand Corp. v. Commissioner, 98 T.C. 518, 520 (1992),

aff’d, 17 F.3d 965 (7th Cir. 1994). Where the moving party properly makes and

supports a motion for summary judgment, “an adverse party may not rest upon the

mere allegations or denials of such party’s pleading,” but must set forth specific

facts showing that there is a genuine dispute for trial. Rule 121(d).

       In directing petitioner to respond to the summary judgment motion, the

Court instructed him to “point out the specific facts in dispute.” His one-page

response refers to no facts at all, much less any facts in dispute. We conclude that

this case is appropriate for summary adjudication.

B.     Standard of Review

       Where the amount of a taxpayer’s underlying tax liability is properly at

issue in a CDP case, we review the Commissioner’s determination de novo. Goza

v. Commissioner, 114 T.C. 176, 181-182 (2000). We review the settlement offi-
                                         -8-

[*8] cer’s determinations regarding nonliability issues for abuse of discretion.

Hoyle v. Commissioner, 131 T.C. 197, 200 (2008); Goza, 114 T.C. at 182. Abuse

of discretion exists when a determination is arbitrary, capricious, or without sound

basis in fact or law. See Murphy v. Commissioner, 125 T.C. 301, 320 (2005),

aff’d, 469 F.3d 27 (1st Cir. 2006).

      Petitioner was entitled to contest the frivolous return penalties at his CDP

hearing because he “did not otherwise have an opportunity to dispute such tax

liability.” Sec. 6330(c)(2)(B). This Court may consider such a challenge, how-

ever, only if the taxpayer properly raised it before the settlement officer, Giamelli

v. Commissioner, 129 T.C. 107, 115 (2007), and again in his petition to this Court,

see Rule 331(b)(4) (“Any issue not raised in the assignments of error shall be

deemed to be conceded.”). An issue is not properly raised at the Appeals Office if

the taxpayer fails to request consideration of the issue or fails to present any

evidence after being given a reasonable opportunity to do so. Sec. 301.6320-

1(f)(2), Q&A-F3, Proced. & Admin. Regs.; see Thompson v. Commissioner, 140

T.C. 173, 178 (2013) (citing Giamelli, 129 T.C. at 114).

      In order to raise in this Court his liability for the frivolous return penalties,

petitioner was required to contest those penalties explicitly at the CDP hearing and

present evidence concerning his liability for them. Our review of the record estab-
                                         -9-

[*9] lishes that petitioner did not clearly do the former and definitely did not do

the latter. Indeed, the only argument that he clearly advanced at the Appeals

Office or in this Court was his supposed entitlement to a face-to-face hearing.

Because petitioner did not properly raise his underlying tax liability at the CDP

hearing or in his petition, we may not consider it. We will accordingly review

SO2’s determination for abuse of discretion only.

C.    Analysis

      In deciding whether a settlement officer abused his discretion in sustaining

an NFTL, we consider whether he: (1) properly verified that the requirements of

any applicable law or administrative procedure have been met; (2) considered any

relevant issues petitioner raised; and (3) determined whether “any proposed col-

lection action balances the need for the efficient collection of taxes with the

legitimate concern of * * * [petitioner] that any collection action be no more

intrusive than necessary.” Sec. 6330(c)(3).

      Assuming arguendo that we may properly consider the verification

requirement, our review of the administrative record establishes that SO2 properly

verified that the IRS fulfilled all legal and regulatory requirements for assessment,

notification, and collection of the underlying liabilities. See Dinino v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2009-284 (citing Rule 331(b)(4) for the proposition
                                        - 10 -

[*10] that the Court is required to consider the verification requirement under

section 6330(c)(1) only if the taxpayer has adequately raised the issue in his

petition); see also Triola v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2014-166, at *9.

Additionally, we conclude that SO2 appropriately balanced the need for efficient

collection with petitioner’s interests. Petitioner failed to propose any collection

alternative or present the necessary documents to be eligible for one. We have

repeatedly held that a settlement officer does not abuse his discretion when he

declines to consider a collection alternative under these circumstances. See

McLaine v. Commissioner, 138 T.C. 228, 243 (2012); Kendricks v.

Commissioner, 124 T.C. 69, 79 (2005); Orum v. Commissioner, 123 T.C. 1, 13

(2004), aff’d, 412 F.3d 819 (7th Cir. 2005).

      Petitioner’s sole contention is that SO2 abused his discretion in not pro-

viding him a face-to-face hearing. The regulations provide that a “CDP hearing

may, but is not required to, consist of a face-to-face meeting.” Sec. 301.6330-

1(d)(2), Q&A-D6, Proced. & Admin. Regs. We have repeatedly held that a face-

to-face CDP hearing is not required. Katz v. Commissioner, 115 T.C. 329, 337-

338 (2000); Williamson v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2009-188; Stockton v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2009-186. The denial of a face-to-face hearing does

not constitute an abuse of discretion where (as here) a taxpayer fails to present
                                       - 11 -

[*11] relevant evidence and refuses to provide requested financial information.

Toth v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2010-227; Zastrow v. Commissioner, T.C.

Memo. 2010-215; Moline v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2009-110, aff’d, 363

Fed. Appx. 675 (10th Cir. 2010). If a face-to-face meeting is not held, a hearing

conducted by telephone, correspondence, or review of documents will suffice. See

sec. 301.6330-1(d)(2), Q&A-D6, Proced. & Admin. Regs.

      Petitioner was repeatedly advised that he had to provide relevant docu-

mentation (Form 433-A and completed tax returns for 2011 and 2012) in order to

be eligible for a face-to-face hearing. He repeatedly refused to submit these docu-

ments. SO2 would not have abused his discretion by denying him a face-to-face

hearing outright. Nonetheless, SO2 offered petitioner a face-to-face hearing at the

date and time already scheduled for the telephone hearing, and petitioner declined

that offer. Finding no abuse of discretion in any respect, we will grant summary

judgment for respondent and sustain the proposed collection action.

      To reflect the foregoing,


                                                An appropriate order and decision

                                      will be entered.
