- 11 - conduct to settled tax principles. Coleman v. Commissioner, supra; see also Takaba v. Commissioner, 119 T.C. 285, 295 (2002); Grasselli v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1994-581. Section 6673 is a penalty provision intended to deter and penalize frivolous claims and positions in proceedings before this Court. Bagby v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 596, 613-614 (1994). In this proceeding now before the Court, petitioner asserts nothing but frivolous and groundless arguments. We believe that petitioner will continue to do so unless and until he is sent a message that his behavior is unacceptable. Petitioner raised the same arguments in Lange involving his purported return for 2000. We advised petitioner then that his arguments were frivolous and that he risked a section 6673 penalty if he proceeded. We also advised petitioner on three occasions in the current proceeding (at calendar call, at trial, and in a subsequent order) that he risked incurring a section 6673 penalty if he persisted in advancing frivolous arguments. Following one warning that he was wasting the Court’s time with his frivolous arguments, petitioner replied: “I understand what you are saying” but “I don’t consider it a waste.” It is apparent from the entire record that petitioner instituted or maintained this proceeding primarily, if not exclusively, as a protest against the Federal income tax system and his proceeding in this Court is merely a continuation of petitioner’s refusal to acknowledge and satisfy his tax obligations. We therefore shall require petitioner to pay a penalty of $5,000 pursuant to section 6673(a)(1). In addition,Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011