Philip and Margery Skalka - Page 19

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          their ability to use tax preferences, and, accordingly, the AMT             
          is not applicable in this instance because petitioners paid over            
          $70,000 in Federal income tax for the year at issue.  This                  
          argument is also without merit.  If a taxpayer is subject to the            
          regular tax, the taxpayer is also subject to the AMT.  Sec.                 
          55(b)(2).  However harsh and unfair the AMT may seem to                     
          petitioners, Congress enacted the law, and we have no authority             
          to disregard the AMT Code provisions.  See Holly v. Commissioner,           
          T.C. Memo. 1998-55.                                                         
          Interest Abatement                                                          
               The Tax Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, and we may           
          exercise our jurisdiction only to the extent authorized by                  
          Congress.  Naftel v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 527, 529 (1985).                 
          Whether this Court has jurisdiction is fundamental and may be               
          raised by a party or on the Court’s own motion.  Fernandez v.               
          Commissioner, 114 T.C. 324, 328 (2000); Naftel v. Commissioner,             
          supra at 530.                                                               
               Consistent with section 6404(g)(1), the Court’s jurisdiction           
          depends on a valid final determination letter and a timely filed            
          petition for review.  See Rule 280(b); Gati v. Commissioner, 113            
          T.C. 132, 134 (1999); White v. Commissioner, 109 T.C. 96, 98                
          (1997).  The Commissioner’s final determination letter “is a                








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