Congress has specifically charged the Tax Court with the duty to decide certain income tax matters. See sec. 7442. Petitioner, knowing that the Judges of the Court are compensated by the Federal Government, chose to avail himself of the opportunity to file a petition with the Court. See sec. 6213. Petitioner has offered only his bald assertion that, but no explanation of why, compensation of judges by the Federal Government financed, in part, by tax revenues1 creates a bias requiring Federal judges to recuse themselves from tax cases. There is no such bias requiring Federal judges to recuse themselves in all cases relating to the collection of tax revenues. See United States v. Bell, 80 AFTR 2d 97-6455 (E.D. Cal. 1997). Petitioner's other arguments fall into the category of "because I think someone else is getting away with something, I should, too." None of the specious arguments cited by petitioner, even if true, show that he exercised ordinary business care and prudence and was nevertheless unable to file his return within the prescribed time. The Court finds that petitioner, without reasonable cause, failed to timely file a Federal income tax return for 1996 and 1The Federal Government receives, in addition to taxes, funds from items such as customs duties, civil and criminal fines and penalties, fees, interest, proceeds from the lease and sale of Government property, amounts recovered due to legal actions, and borrowed funds.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011