1 All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code

in effect for the years in issue. All Rule references are to the

Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

T.C. Memo. 1997-501

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

JOSEPH S. KING, Petitioner v.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket No. 7532-94. Filed November 6, 1997.

Joseph S. King, pro se.

 Margaret A. Martin, for respondent.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

GOLDBERG, Special Trial Judge: This case was assigned

pursuant to the provisions of section 7443A(b)(3) and Rules 180,

181, and 182.1 This matter is before the Court on respondent’s

Motion for Summary Judgment pursuant to Rule 121.
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In the motion, respondent contends that the Court should

sustain additions to tax for the taxable years 1985 and 1986, in

the amounts of $7,242 and $5,580, respectively, pursuant to

section 6651(a).

Background

In two notices of deficiency, both dated February 23, 1994,

respondent determined that there are additions to tax due from

petitioner pursuant to section 6651(a) for the taxable years 1985

and 1986, in the amounts of $7,242 and $5,580, respectively. The

section 6651(a) late filing addition is the only issue in this

case.

Petitioner resided in Kennewick, Washington, when he filed

his petition on May 9, 1994. After several procedural matters

were resolved by Order dated January 22, 1996, respondent filed a

Notice of Proceeding in Bankruptcy on July 22, 1996. By Order

dated July 24, 1996, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. section

362(a)(8)(1994), all proceedings before this Court were

automatically stayed. In a status report filed September 27,

1996, respondent informed the Court that petitioner received a

discharge in his bankruptcy case on August 22, 1996. Thereafter,

on September 27, 1996, we issued an Order lifting the stay of

proceedings. On August 7, 1997, respondent filed the present

motion. We notified petitioner of the filing and requested that

he file an objection with the basis therefor, on or before
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September 17, 1997. To date, we have not received an objection

from petitioner.

Discussion

Summary judgment is intended to expedite litigation and

avoid unnecessary and expensive trials. Florida Peach Corp. v.

Commissioner, 90 T.C. 678, 681 (1988). It is appropriate if the

pleadings and other acceptable materials show that there is no

genuine issue as to any material fact and a decision may be

rendered as a matter of law. Rule 121(b); Naftel v.

Commissioner, 85 T.C. 527, 529 (1985). The moving party bears

the burden of proving that summary judgment is warranted. 

Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986); Espinoza v.

Commissioner, 78 T.C. 412, 416 (1982). In deciding a motion for

summary judgment, the Court will construe factual inferences in a

manner most favorable to the opposing party. Dahlstrom v.

Commissioner, 85 T.C. 812, 821 (1985).

Based on the exhibits attached to the motion, the pleadings,

and declarations, we find the following. 

1. Petitioner filed a joint income tax return for the

taxable year 1985, which was received by respondent’s Ogden,

Utah, Service Center on August 28, 1986. The return was due to

be filed on or before April 15, 1986.

2. Petitioner filed a joint income tax return for the

taxable year 1986, which was received by respondent’s Ogden,
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Utah, Service Center on July 27, 1987. The return was due to be

filed on or before April 15, 1987.

3. Respondent reviewed the administrative file for each

taxable year in issue. The files contain no extensions of time

for filing of a Federal income tax return, nor are there any

explanations from petitioner as to reasonable cause for late

filings.

4. Respondent reviewed the transcripts of account for each

taxable year in issue. The transcripts of account revealed that

no extensions of time for filing of Federal income tax returns

were sought or granted.

5. In the preparation of this case for trial, respondent

requested, in a letter dated May 20, 1997, that petitioner

provide respondent with a written statement explaining why the

addition to tax for late filing under section 6651(a) would not

be applicable if petitioner chose not to concede the issue.

6. Petitioner did not answer respondent’s May 20, 1997,

letter.

Section 6651(a)(1) imposes an addition to tax for failure to

file a timely tax return. The addition to tax is equal to 5

percent of the amount of the tax required to be shown on the

return if the failure to file is not more than 1 month. An

additional 5 percent is imposed for each month or fraction

thereof in which the failure to file continues, to a maximum of
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25 percent of the tax. The addition to tax is applicable unless

petitioner establishes that the failure to file was due to

reasonable cause and not willful neglect.

Here petitioner has not opposed respondent’s motion. He has

not offered any explanation to establish that the late filing of

his 1985 and 1986 income tax returns was due to reasonable cause. 

Therefore, there is no genuine issue as to any material fact. 

Accordingly, respondent is entitled to a summary adjudication

with respect to petitioner’s liability for the additions to tax

as a matter of law.

To reflect the foregoing,

 An appropriate order and decision

 will be entered for respondent.