Charles P. Stepnowski - Page 13

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          Commissioner, 37 F.3d 216, 219 (5th Cir. 1994), affg. 102 T.C.              
          558 (1994) and T.C. Memo. 1992-698.  The legislative history of             
          section 7476 makes clear that Congress did not expect the Court             
          to conduct a trial de novo in declaratory judgment actions                  
          arising under that section, no matter whether that action arose             
          with respect to the initial qualification or the continuing                 
          qualification of a retirement plan.  See Tamko Asphalt Prods.,              
          Inc. v. Commissioner, 658 F.2d 735, 738-739 (10th Cir. 1981),               
          affg. 71 T.C. 824 (1979); H. Rept. 93-807, at 108 (1974), 1974-3            
          C.B. (Supp.) 236, 343; S. Rept. 93-383, at 114 (1973), 1974-3               
          C.B. (Supp.) 80, 193; see also Wenzel v. Commissioner, 707 F.2d             
          at 696.  Therefore, discovery or introduction of extrinsic                  
          evidence in such cases is inconsistent with the legislative                 
          intent that such cases be resolved without a trial based solely             
          on the materials contained in the administrative record.  See               
          Dr. Erol Bastug, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1989-262 (“The            
          rule of law cited in Houston Lawyer Referral and Tamko Asphalt is           
          predicated upon the legislative concern that the Court not bypass           
          the administrative determination procedure without good cause.”);           
          see also Note to Rule 217(a), 68 T.C. 1048 (1977); Prefatory Note           
          to amendments to this Court’s Rules in respect of declaratory               
          judgments under section 7476, 64 T.C. 1177-1179 (1975).                     
          Consistent with this legislative intent, the Court has previously           
          held that it will not permit the administrative record to be                






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