Kunkel v. Comm’r of Internal Revenue

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After auditing the 2008-2010 returns filed by Integra, the IRS concluded that they owed more taxes. Integra hired Bastian, a lawyer and CPA. As the three-year limitations deadline, 26 U.S.C. 6501(a) for the 2008 tax year approached (February 15, 2012), Bastian signed a waiver. Negotiations failed. In November 2012 the IRS sent notices of deficiency, seeking nearly $800,000 for the three years, including a 20% penalty for filing substantially inaccurate returns. More negotiations ensued; the taxpayers did not contest revised calculations for 2009 and 2010, but contended that they owed nothing for 2008 because the notice was untimely. They argued that the waivers applied to the 2011 tax year, based on language that: “Federal Income tax due on any return(s) made by or for the above taxpayer(s) for the period(s) ended February 15, 2012 may be assessed at any time on or before December 31, 2012.” The IRS had typed the wrong year, overlooking that Integra’s 2008 tax “period ended” in November 2008. The Tax Court reformed the document to cure a mutual mistake, stating that Bastian is knowledgeable about tax law and had been dealing with the IRS about specific years. The Seventh Circuit affirmed. If the IRS believed that Bastian had tried to "hoodwink it," he might lose his credentials as a tax representative; everyone simply missed the error. View "Kunkel v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue" on Justia Law

Posted in: Tax Law

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