T.C. Memo. 2014-112

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

YRC REGIONAL TRANSPORT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES, f.k.a. USF

CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES, Petitioner v.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket No. 27612-11. Filed June 10, 2014. 

Howard J. Levine, Richard Alan Levine, and Libin Zhang, for petitioner.

Deborah H. Delgado and R. Scott Shieldes, for respondent.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

KERRIGAN, Judge: This case is before the Court on petitioner’s motion

for summary judgment filed under Rule 121 upon the question of whether the Tax

Court has jurisdiction over a duplicate refund made to petitioner. Respondent

objects to the motion.
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[*2] On September 29, 2011, respondent issued petitioner a notice of deficiency,

increasing petitioner’s tax liability by $63,854 for tax year 1999. In respondent’s

amended answer respondent asserts that petitioner’s deficiency should be

increased to $327,163, disallowing fully a $351,487 refund issued to petitioner on

April 2, 2010. Regarding the motion for summary judgment, petitioner disputes 1

only respondent’s characterization of the April 2, 2010, refund as a rebate refund. 

Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal

Revenue Code in effect for the year in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax

Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. We round all monetary amounts to the

nearest dollar.

Background

The following facts are not in dispute. Petitioner’s principal place of

business was in Kansas when it filed the petition. 

In May 2005 petitioner was acquired by YRC Worldwide Inc. &

Subsidiaries (YRC Worldwide). 

YRC Worldwide reported a net operating loss on its Form 1120, U.S.

Corporation Income Tax Return, its consolidated return for tax year 2008. YRC

The new deficiency represents an increase of $263,138 from the $63,584

1

deficiency determined in the notice of deficiency.
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[*3] Worldwide carried back a portion of that net operating loss to tax year 1999

for petitioner. In 1999 petitioner was known as USFreightways Corp. &

Subsidiaries. On June 25, 2009, YRC Worldwide filed a Form 1139, Corporation

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Application for Tentative Refund, requesting a $351,487 tentative refund for

petitioner’s 1999 tax year attributable to YRC Worldwide’s 2008 net operating

loss carryback.

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On September 30, 2009, respondent issued to petitioner a $351,966 refund

check, of which $351,487 was a tentative refund of corporate income tax for

petitioner’s 1999 tax year and $479 was net overpayment interest. Petitioner

received and deposited this refund check. The parties agree that the September 30,

2009, refund was a rebate refund within the definition of section 6211(b)(2). 

At a time not apparent from the record respondent “processed” the Form

1139 a second time. On April 2, 2010, respondent issued to petitioner a $357,205

refund check, of which $351,487 was a tentative refund of corporate income tax

for petitioner’s 1999 tax year and $5,718 was net overpayment interest. Petitioner

received and deposited this refund check. 

Since 1999 petitioner has also been known as USF Corp. & Subsidiaries. 2

YRC Worldwide also filed two Forms 1139 requesting tentative refunds of

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$269,383 and $423,553 for subsidiaries Yellow Corp. & Subsidiaries and

Roadway Express, respectively.
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[*4] Neither petitioner nor YRC Worldwide filed an independent claim for

petitioner’s 1999 tax year that would have resulted in the two tax refund payments

of $351,487, plus interest, issued to petitioner on September 30, 2009, and April 2,

2010. 

At a time not apparent from the record respondent decreased YRC

Worldwide’s net operating loss for tax year 2008. Because of this decrease,

respondent determined that $182,441 of YRC Worldwide’s net operating loss

carryback as attributed to petitioner’s 1999 tax year should be disallowed. In the

notice of deficiency, respondent determined that this disallowance resulted in a

deficiency of $63,854 for petitioner’s 1999 tax year.

In the amended answer, however, respondent requests that petitioner’s

deficiency for tax year 1999 be increased from $63,854 to $327,163 so as to

disallow “the double NOL deduction that arises from a duplicate processing of a

tentative refund”.

Discussion

I. Summary Judgment

Summary judgment may be granted where the pleadings and other materials

show that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that a decision

may be rendered as a matter of law. Rule 121(b); Sundstrand Corp. v.
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[*5] Commissioner, 98 T.C. 518, 520 (1992), aff’d, 17 F.3d 965 (7th Cir. 1994). 

The burden is on the moving party (in this case, petitioner) to demonstrate that

there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that he or she is entitled to

judgment as a matter of law. FPL Grp., Inc. & Subs. v. Commissioner, 116 T.C.

73, 74-75 (2001). In considering a motion for summary judgment, we view

evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Bond v.

Commissioner, 100 T.C. 32, 36 (1993). The nonmoving party may not rest upon

the mere allegations or denials of his or her pleading but must set forth specific

facts showing there is a genuine dispute for trial. Sundstrand Corp. v.

Commissioner, 98 T.C. at 520.

Respondent has failed to show that there is a genuine dispute for trial. As

discussed below, respondent contends merely that the second “processing” was

sufficient to render the April 2, 2010, refund a rebate refund. Consequently, we

conclude there is no dispute as to any material fact and that a decision may be

rendered as a matter of law.

II. Rebate Refunds and Nonrebate Refunds

The Internal Revenue Code recognizes two types of refunds: rebate and

nonrebate. O’Bryant v. United States, 49 F.3d 340, 342 (7th Cir. 1995), aff’g 839

F. Supp. 1321 (C.D. Ill. 1993); Acme Steel Co. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.
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[*6] 2003-118, slip op. at 27. Rebate refunds are issued on the basis of a

substantive recalculation of a taxpayer’s tax liability, e.g., the amount of tax due is

less than the tax shown on the return. Acme Steel Co. v. Commissioner, slip op. at

27; see sec. 6211(b)(2). If the recalculation of tax liability is correct, the taxpayer

may retain the refund; however, if the recalculation of tax liability is incorrect, the

Commissioner must recover the erroneous refund. Acme Steel Co. v.

Commissioner, slip op. at 27. Rebate refunds issued in error may be recovered

through the deficiency procedures of sections 6211-6215 or an action for recovery

of an erroneous refund under section 7405. Id.

Nonrebate refunds, on the other hand, bear no relation to a recalculation of

tax liability, and they are often issued to taxpayers because of clerical or computer

errors. Id., slip op. at 28; see also O’Bryant, 49 F.3d at 342. Examples of

nonrebate refunds include those issued because the Commissioner credited a

taxpayer’s payment twice or because the Commissioner applied a payment to the

wrong tax year. Acme Steel Co. v. Commissioner, slip op. at 28.

O’Bryant dealt with a nonrebate refund. In O’Bryant, 49 F.3d at 342, the

Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that the refund at issue was a

nonrebate refund because it was paid by reason of an accounting error by the
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[*7] Commissioner. The refund in that case was caused by the Commissioner’s

crediting a payment twice to the taxpayers’ account. O’Bryant, 839 F. Supp. at

1323. In making its decision, the Court of Appeals emphasized the fundamental

difference in character between rebate and nonrebate refunds: Refunds issued by

the Commissioner by accident are nonrebate refunds, while rebate refunds are

issued because of the taxpayer’s tax liability. O’Bryant, 49 F.3d at 346; see also

Clark v. United States, 63 F.3d 83, 86 n.5 (1st Cir. 1995). 

The Commissioner may recover a nonrebate refund only under section

7405 or under administrative collection procedures if those are available. Clark,

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63 F.3d at 88; Acme Steel Co. v. Commissioner, slip op. at 28; Clayton v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1997-327, slip op. at 7, aff’d without published

opinion, 181 F.3d 79 (1st Cir. 1998). The deficiency procedures are not available

to the Commissioner to recover nonrebate refunds because of the definition of

“deficiency” in section 6211(a). Acme Steel Co. v. Commissioner, slip op. at 28. 

Section 6211(a) provides that a “deficiency” is the amount by which the tax

actually imposed exceeds--

Sec. 7405(b) authorizes the United States to recover erroneous nonrebate

4

refunds pursuant to a civil suit, but such a suit ordinarily must be filed within two

years after the making of the refund. Sec. 6532(b); see also Clayton v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1997-327, slip op. at 7-8, aff’d without published

opinion, 181 F.3d 79 (1st Cir. 1998).
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[*8] (1) the sum of

(A) the amount shown as the tax by the taxpayer upon his

return, if a return was made by the taxpayer and an amount was 

shown as the tax by the taxpayer thereon, plus 

(B) the amounts previously assessed (or collected without

assessment) as a deficiency, over--

(2) the amount of rebates, as defined in subsection (b)(2), made.

In Lesinski v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1997-234, we held that we do not have

jurisdiction over nonrebate refunds. See also Acme Steel Co. v. Commissioner,

slip op. at 28.

III. The April 2, 2010, Refund

The parties agree that there is no dispute as to whether the April 2, 2010,

refund was a duplicate tentative refund of corporate income tax for petitioner’s

1999 tax year. They dispute only whether the second “processing” that occurred

was sufficient to render the April 2, 2010, refund a rebate refund. The issue is

whether the April 2, 2010, refund was issued to petitioner on the basis of a

substantive recalculation of tax liability (making it a rebate refund) or because of

clerical or computer errors (making it a nonrebate refund). For the reasons

discussed below we find that a clerical error occurred rather than a substantive

recalculation of petitioner’s tax liability.
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[*9] As discussed above the parties agree that the September 30, 2009, refund

was a rebate refund. The September 30, 2009, refund was made close to 90 days

from the date on which YRC Worldwide filed the Form 1139 for petitioner. See

sec. 6411(b) (within 90 days after the date of the application for a tentative

carryback adjustment, the Secretary shall make a limited examination of the

application and shall make a refund, if appropriate, within that 90-day period); see

also Pesch v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 100, 115 (1982) (holding that a refund may

still be a rebate refund even if the Commissioner issued it more than 90 days from

the date of the application). On the September 30, 2009, refund check respondent

wrote “199912” (to signify tax year 1999) and “INT 1,275.63”.

Respondent has provided two documents that clarify what happened during

the second “processing”. First, respondent provided a declaration by the lead

revenue agent assigned to the corporate income tax examination of YRC

Worldwide and its subsidiaries. The declaration included a copy of YRC

Worldwide’s Form 1139 for petitioner. On the copy of the Form 1139, the lead

revenue agent wrote: “1) 10/26/09. Per Michele: IRS stated over a month (1 mo.)

ago that the refund is being paid. However, the refund not [sic] received. 2)

Transcript reflects pending payment at 10/20/09.” The lead revenue agent was

referring to Michele Legg, to whom YRC Worldwide gave a power of attorney. 
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[*10] Second, respondent provided a Form 3753, Manual Refund Posting

Voucher, that an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee completed on April 1,

2010. The manual refund posting voucher is for a refund of $357,205 to be issued

to petitioner, of which $351,487 is principal and $5,718 is interest. On the form,

the IRS employee wrote “5330-PO” under “Form number”. Under “Reason” she

checked “Tentative carry back” and “Other: 42ND DAY IS PAST”. Under

“Evidence of Credit Condition” she checked “Transcript of account”. We note

that the Internal Revenue Manual acknowledges that manual refunds have

“potential for erroneous/duplicate refunds”. Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) pt.

4.4.19.1(1) (July 11, 2005); see also id. pt. 21.4.4.4(1) (Oct. 1, 2013) (noting that

“[m]anual refund is exception [sic] processing and has a greater margin for

error.”).

These documents show that respondent did not substantively recalculate

petitioner’s tax liability for tax year 1999. Respondent’s transcripts for

petitioner’s 1999 tax year also show that respondent did not substantively

recalculate petitioner’s tax liability. A Form 4340, Certificate of Assessments,

Payments, and Other Specified Matters, for petitioner’s 1999 tax year states as

follows:
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[*11] 

Date

Explanation of

transactions

Assessment,

other debts

(reversal)

4/01/2010 Prior tax abated (351,487.00)

4/01/2010 Interest due taxpayer (5,717.83)

4/01/2010 Refund 357,204.83

4/01/2010 Cancelled refund check (357,204.83)

4/01/2010 Refund 357,204.83

4/01/2010 Interest correction 5,717.83

9/29/2009 Interest due taxpayer (1,275.63)

9/29/2009 Refund 351,965.94

4/01/2010 Interest due taxpayer (5,717.83)

An official IRS non-master-file transcript for petitioner’s 1999 tax year shows the

same activity occurring in the same manner. Thus, the record does not reflect that

the April 2, 2010, refund was the result of a substantive recalculation of tax

liability. The difference in the refund amounts is attributed to accrued interest.

The record convinces us that the April 2, 2010, refund was a clerical error. 

The manual refund posting voucher shows that an IRS employee manually issued

the second refund using a Form 5330-PO and based the refund on petitioner’s

transcript of account. We note that neither petitioner’s tax liability for tax year

1999 nor the amount of tentative carryback refund requested changed between
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[*12] September 30, 2009, when the first refund was issued, and April 2, 2010. 

On the manual refund posting voucher the IRS employee wrote that the relevant

form number was 5330-PO. Likewise, on the April 2, 2010, refund check,

respondent wrote “F5330”. Form 5330, Return of Excise Taxes Related to 5

Employee Benefits Plans, deals with excise taxes and not tentative carryback

refunds.

Consequently, we hold that the April 2, 2010, refund was a nonrebate

refund. Respondent may not use this deficiency procedure to recover the April 2,

2010, refund. See Acme Steel Co. v. Commissioner, slip op. at 28; Lesinski v.

Commissioner, slip op. at 7. Respondent may pursue recovery under section 7405

in a District Court or under administrative collection procedures, if either of those

is available. See Clayton v. Commissioner, slip op. at 7; Lesinski v.

Commissioner, slip op. at 7. We will grant petitioner’s motion for summary

judgment.

The record reflects that this discrepancy confused petitioner. In a 5

memorandum to petitioner’s file dated May 10, 2010, Ms. Legg stated that they

thought at first that the April 2, 2010, refund check was related to the Form 1139,

but that upon further review the coding on the check convinced them that the

refund check was related to excise tax. Ms. Legg was not sure who filed a Form

5330 to request an excise tax refund.
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[*13] Any contentions we have not addressed are irrelevant, moot, or meritless.

To reflect the foregoing,

An appropriate order and decision

will be entered.