Diesel Performance, Inc. - Page 9




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          from taking a position one year, and then a contrary position in            
          a later year after the period of limitations has expired on the             
          first year.  See id. at 541-542; see also United States v.                  
          Matheson, 532 F.2d 809, 819 (2d Cir. 1976)(estate estopped to               
          deny decedent's U.S. citizenship after she represented to the               
          U.S. Government for a period of more than 20 years that she was a           
          citizen of the United States).  Petitioner argues that under                
          certain circumstances, the duty of consistency may also apply to            
          the Commissioner.  See, e.g., Conway Import Co. v. United States,           
          311 F. Supp. 5, 14-15 (E.D.N.Y. 1969)(Commissioner estopped to              
          apply ruling retroactively to recordkeeping system that had been            
          substantially accepted for a long period of time and reviewed by            
          many agents at different levels of authority).  This type of                
          situation is not present here.  Petitioner made an honest mistake           
          in preparing a return, which respondent discovered on audit.  The           
          duty of consistency does not apply against respondent.                      
               Although petitioner argues the duty of consistency applies,            
          petitioner also mentions equitable estoppel and argues on brief             
          that respondent was not timely in reviewing the invalid election,           
          and thereby "provided a wrongful misleading silence upon which              
          the taxpayer relied".  To invoke estoppel against the Government,           
          the party seeking estoppel must show at a minimum:  (1) The                 
          existence of a false representation or wrongful misleading                  
          silence by the other party; (2) ignorance of the facts; (3)                 





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