- 8 - requirements will preclude an award of costs. Minahan v. Commissioner, 88 T.C. 492, 497 (1987). For the reasons discussed below, we conclude that petitioner is entitled to recover administrative and litigation costs. Respondent has conceded that petitioner has substantially prevailed and that she meets the net worth requirement. We address the remaining requirements of section 7430 in turn. I. Substantial Justification Respondent's position is substantially justified if the position was justified to a degree that would satisfy a reasonable person. Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 565 (1988); Lenox v. Commissioner, 998 F.2d 244, 248 (5th Cir. 1993), revg. in part T.C. Memo. 1992-382. To meet this standard, respondent's position must have a basis in fact and law. Pierce v. Underwood, supra; Lenox v. Commissioner, supra. To recover administrative and litigation costs, petitioner must prove that respondent's positions in both the administrative proceeding and the proceeding in this Court were not substantially justified. Sec. 7430(c)(4)(A)(i), (7)(A) and (B); Huffman v. Commissioner, 978 F.2d 1139, 1143-1147 (9th Cir. 1992), affg. in part, revg. in part on other grounds and remanding T.C. Memo. 1991-144; Stieha v. Commissioner, 89 T.C. 784, 790 n.5 (1987). This "not substantially justified" standard under section 7430 is applied as of the separate dates respondent took positions in the administrative proceeding and thePage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Next
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