T.C. Memo. 1999-426

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

NATHAN T. OLPIN, Petitioner v.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket No. 10437-99. Filed December 30, 1999. 

W. Kevin Jackson, for petitioner.

Pamela J. Sewell, for respondent.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

DEAN, Special Trial Judge: This case is before us on 

petitioner's motion for summary judgment and respondent's crossmotion for summary judgment filed pursuant to Rule 121. Unless

otherwise indicated, section references are to the Internal
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Revenue Code in effect for the year in issue, and all Rule

references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. 

Respondent determined a deficiency of $6,092 in petitioner's

1995 Federal income tax based on a finding that petitioner had

not filed a valid 1995 Federal income tax return and that

petitioner's proper filing status was married filing separately. 

Petitioner resided in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the time he filed

his petition. 

Petitioner moves for summary judgment in his favor, arguing

that as a matter of law, he filed a valid 1995 joint Federal

income tax return with his former spouse and that he is entitled

to joint filing status. Respondent initially objected to 

petitioner's motion, arguing that there was a genuine issue of

fact regarding the intent of petitioner's former spouse to file a

joint return. Both parties agreed, however, during a subsequent 

conference call with the Court that there are no genuine issues

of material fact with respect to the issue of whether petitioner

filed a valid 1995 Federal income tax return. Respondent filed a

cross-motion for summary judgment focusing on the requirements of

a valid return. 

The sole issue presented for summary judgment is whether

petitioner filed a valid 1995 Federal income tax return. 

Although there has been no stipulation of facts, we set

forth a summary of facts relevant to our discussion, which from
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1 Respondent's answer to petitioner's petition admitted

petitioner's allegation that he and his ex-wife obtained an

extension for filing for the 1995 tax year on Form 4868 and an

additional extension by filing Form 2688. Although respondent

denied this allegation in his response to petitioner's motion for

summary judgment, respondent has not sought to amend his answer

admitting this fact, and respondent's memorandum in support of

respondent's motion for summary judgment acknowledges that time

extensions were requested by petitioner and granted by the IRS. 

See Rules 36, 41. 

the pleadings, affidavits, and the parties' memoranda in support

of their motions do not appear to be in dispute. We treat these

facts as true only for purpose of ruling on the motions.

Background 

Petitioner and his former spouse, Susan Olpin (now known as

Susan Stroup but hereafter referred to as Mrs. Olpin), were

legally married throughout 1995 and were divorced on September 5,

1996. Petitioner and Mrs. Olpin filed and obtained two

extensions of time to file their 1995 return.1 On October 15,

1996, a Form 1040 was sent to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

which petitioner argues is a joint 1995 Federal income tax return

(the purported return). The purported return was not signed by

either petitioner or Mrs. Olpin but was signed by their tax

preparer. Respondent initially processed the purported return as

a joint Federal income tax return for petitioner and Mrs. Olpin

for the 1995 tax year, and petitioner made payments totaling

$4,560.93 to satisfy the liability reflected on the purported

return. 
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The IRS' tax account transcripts for the 1995 tax year

originally recorded the receipt of the purported return as the

filing of a joint income tax return by petitioner and Mrs. Olpin. 

The IRS, however, on or about September 14, 1998, "reversed" its

original processing of the purported return to reflect that a

valid return was not filed by petitioner.

Although Mrs. Olpin stated in a sworn affidavit that in 1996

she intended to file a joint income tax return with petitioner

for tax year 1995, Mrs. Olpin signed and filed an individual

Federal income tax return with a filing status of married filing

separately for tax year 1995 on or about February 9, 1998. In

her affidavit, Mrs. Olpin explained that during the course of a

chapter 13 bankruptcy proceeding that she initiated, the IRS

filed a proof of claim asserting a tax liability for the 1995 tax

year. Mrs. Olpin further explained that the proof of claim was

based upon unreported income for Nathan Olpin and upon an

unsigned joint tax return for the year in issue. Mrs. Olpin's

affidavit also stated that because she had no independent

knowledge of petitioner's income and had not seen the unsigned

tax return, she signed and filed a separate 1995 individual

Federal income tax return at the suggestion of the IRS. 

Petitioner nevertheless contends that he and Mrs. Olpin

filed a valid joint Federal income tax return for the 1995 tax

year. He argues that the subsequent filing of a separate Federal
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income tax return by Mrs. Olpin was not valid because Mrs. Olpin

had already filed a joint return with petitioner. According to

petitioner, Mrs. Olpin was unlawfully advised to file the tax

return during the bankruptcy proceeding. On the basis of these

contentions, petitioner concludes that no adjustments may be

properly made to his filing status for the 1995 tax year. 

Petitioner agrees that all issues turn on whether he filed a

valid 1995 Federal income tax return. 

Respondent argues that summary judgment in favor of the IRS

is appropriate because there are no genuine issues of material

fact with respect to whether petitioner filed a valid 1995

Federal income tax return and that as a matter of law petitioner

did not file a valid return. 

Discussion

Summary judgment is intended to expedite litigation and

avoid unnecessary and expensive trials. See Florida Peach Corp.

v. Commissioner, 90 T.C. 678, 681 (1988). A motion for summary

judgment is appropriate "if the pleadings, answers to

interrogatories, depositions, admissions, and any other

acceptable materials, together with the affidavits, if any, show

that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that a

decision may be rendered as a matter of law." Rule 121(b); see

Sundstrand Corp. v. Commissioner, 98 T.C. 518, 520 (1992), affd.

17 F.3d 965 (7th Cir. 1994); Zaentz v. Commissioner, 90 T.C. 753,
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754 (1988); Naftel v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 527, 529 (1985). The

moving party bears the burden of showing that there is no genuine

issue of material fact, and factual inferences are viewed in the

light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See Preece v.

Commissioner, 95 T.C. 594, 597 (1990). The existence of any

reasonable doubt as to a material fact will result in denial of

the motion for summary judgment. See Hoeme v. Commissioner, 63

T.C. 18, 20 (1974). A fact is material if it "'tends to resolve

any of the issues that have been properly raised by the

parties.'" Boyd Gaming Corp. v. Commissioner, 106 T.C. 343, 347

(1996)(quoting 10A Wright et al., Federal Practice and Procedure:

Civil, sec. 2725, at 93 (2d ed. 1983)). Where both parties move

for summary judgment, each motion must be examined to determine

whether it has been established that there is no genuine issue as

to any material fact and that a decision may be entered as a

matter of law. See Take v. Commissioner, 82 T.C. 630, 633

(1984), affd. 804 F.2d 553 (9th Cir. 1986). 

We agree with the parties that there are no material facts

at issue with regard to whether petitioner filed a valid 1995

Federal income tax return. Having determined that this is a

proper case for summary judgment, we focus on the legal

requirements of what constitutes a Federal income tax return. 

Section 6011(a) provides that "any person made liable for

any tax * * * shall make a return * * * according to the forms
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and regulations prescribed by the Secretary." A return required

to be filed "shall contain or be verified by a written

declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury." 

Sec. 6065. Section 6061 provides the general rule that "any

return, statement, or other document required to be made under

any provision of the internal revenue laws or regulations shall

be signed in accordance with forms or regulations prescribed by

the Secretary." The regulations promulgated under section 6061

require that "Each individual * * * shall sign the income tax

return required to be made by him, except that the return may be

signed for the taxpayer by an agent who is duly authorized in

accordance with paragraph (a)(5) or (b) of section 1.6012-1 to

make such return." Sec. 1.6061-1(a), Income Tax Regs. The

signature of petitioner's tax preparer does not qualify, nor does

petitioner suggest that it qualifies, as the signature of a duly

authorized agent as described by the regulations. 

The law is well settled that a Form 1040 that is not duly

signed and verified under penalties of perjury does not

constitute a valid Federal income tax return. See Elliott v.

Commissioner, 113 T.C. 125, 128 (1999); Richardson v.

Commissioner, 72 T.C. 818, 823 (1979); Cupp v. Commissioner, 65

T.C. 68, 78-79 (1975), affd. without published opinion 559 F.2d

1207 (3d Cir. 1977); Vaira v. Commissioner, 52 T.C. 986, 1005

(1969), revd. on other grounds 444 F.2d 770 (3d Cir. 1971);
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2 Petitioner also suggests that the IRS is required to

abide by its initial processing of the purported return as the

joint return of petitioner and Mrs. Olpin. The IRS' processing

of the purported return and its acceptance of petitioner's

payments of the tax liability reflected on the form, however, can

not cure the absence of a signature. See Lucas v. Pilliod Lumber

Co., 281 U.S. 245 (1930)(finding that no IRS officer had the

power to override the requirement that a tax return be signed for

purposes of the statute of limitations); Vaira v. Commissioner,

52 T.C. 986, 1004 (1969), revd. on other issues 444 F.2d 770 

(3d Cir. 1971); Smart v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1987-279. 

Although there is a case suggesting that the actions of the

IRS may constitute "acceptance" of an unsigned return, the

present case is distinguishable. In Dowell v. Commissioner, 614

F.2d 1263, 1266-1267 (10th Cir. 1980), vacated and remanded 465

U.S. 1001 (1984), the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

determined that the IRS, in relying on unsigned amended tax

returns to convict taxpayers of willfully filing fraudulent

returns and to determine additional taxes due, had "accepted" the

amended returns and could no longer argue that there was no

limitation period for assessment of tax shown on the original

(continued...)

Reaves v. Commissioner, 31 T.C. 690, 713 (1958), affd. 295 F.2d

336 (5th Cir. 1961); Dixon v. Commissioner, 28 T.C. 338, 346-348

(1957). 

Petitioner acknowledges the "traditional general" rule

requiring signatures on tax returns but contends that the

unsigned 1040 Form sent to the IRS for tax year 1995 is a valid

return because both he and his former spouse intended to file a

joint return, and they inadvertently failed to sign the purported

return. Petitioner relies on two arguments: (1) Recent Federal

law has eliminated the manual signature requirement, and (2) the

facts of this case fall within an exception to the general rule

requiring tax returns to be signed.2 
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2(...continued)

returns. On remand, the Court of Appeals did not address the

issue of whether the IRS' treatment of an unsigned tax form could

constitute "acceptance". See Dowell v. Commissioner, 738 F.2d

354 (10th Cir. 1984). In contrast to the situation in Dowell

where the Commissioner did not challenge the efficacy of the

amended returns except with respect to the statute of limitations

issue, the Commissioner in the instant case determined that the

form filed by petitioner is not a return. 

3 Sec. 6061(b) was enacted as part of the Internal Revenue

Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-206,

sec. 2003(a)(1), 112 Stat. 685, 724, effective on July 22, 1998. 

It is not clear for what taxable years the statute authorizes the

Secretary to waive signature requirements for electronic filings. 

The legislative history suggests that the authority may apply

only to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1998. See S.

Rept. 105-174 (1998) ("The provision requires the Secretary to

establish procedures, to the extent practicable, to receive all

forms electronically for taxable periods beginning after December

31, 1998."). 

Petitioner asserts that in recent years, the manual

signature requirement has become more relaxed and that section

6061(b) eliminates the requirement. Petitioner cites no

authority to support his contention that the law is becoming more

relaxed regarding the signing and verification of tax returns. 

As evidenced by our recent ruling in Elliott v. Commissioner,

supra, failure to satisfy the signature requirement remains fatal

to the validity of a return. Furthermore, section 6061(b) has

not eliminated the requirement. 

Assuming arguendo that section 6061(b) pertains to a notice

of deficiency filed on May 21, 1999, for the 1995 taxable year,3

it is clear on the face of the statute that it applies only to
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electronic filings. Section 6061(b), titled "ELECTRONIC

SIGNATURES", provides that "The Secretary shall develop

procedures for the acceptance of signatures in digital or other

electronic form." It authorizes the Secretary to "waive the

requirement of a signature" until such procedures are in place. 

Sec. 6061(b)(1)(A). If there were any doubt, however, as to the

application of the statute, it is clear from its legislative

history that section 6061(b) was promulgated to promote paperless

electronic filing by eliminating the need to file a paper form

with a manual signature in addition to the electronic filing. 

See S. Rept. 105-174 (1998). Furthermore, even if section

6061(b) did authorize the Secretary to waive the signature

requirement for any tax return, the language of the statute is

discretionary and does not require such a waiver. 

Petitioner's second argument that the purported return is a

valid 1995 Federal income tax return because he and his former

spouse intended it to be their joint return at the time of filing

also is without merit. We have long held that if an "income tax

return is intended by both spouses as a joint return, the absence

of the signature of one spouse does not prevent their intention

from being realized." Estate of Campbell v. Commissioner, 56

T.C. 1, 12 (1971) (emphasis added); see Ebeling v. Commissioner,

T.C. Memo. 1994-277, affd. without published opinion 76 F.3d 385

(9th Cir. 1996); Hammann v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1987-260. 
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We thus have carved out an exception to the general rule that a

tax return must be signed by both spouses in order for the return

to constitute a joint return if one spouse has signed the return

and if the nonsigning spouse intended the return to be a joint

return. It does not follow that in the absence of both spouses'

signatures on a joint return, a valid tax return has been filed

merely because the couple intended the form to be their joint

return. Taxpayers may not circumvent the signature requirement

simply by attempting to elect to file a joint return.

Accordingly, petitioner and Mrs. Olpin's intent to file a

joint tax return has no bearing on whether they actually filed a

valid return. 

As a matter of law, we find that petitioner did not file a

valid 1995 Federal income tax return and must compute his tax on

the basis of a married individual filing separately. Respondent

thus is entitled to a grant of summary judgment. 

We have carefully considered all arguments made by

petitioner and find them either irrelevant or without merit to 

the extent they are not specifically addressed herein.

To reflect the foregoing,

An appropriate order and 

decision will be entered.