- 14 - taxpayer takes positions that are frivolous or groundless or has instituted or maintained proceedings primarily for delay. A taxpayer’s position is frivolous if it is contrary to established law and unsupported by a reasoned, colorable argument for change in the law. Takaba v. Commissioner, 119 T.C. 285, 287 (2002). The inquiry is objective; if a person should have known that his position is groundless, a court may and should impose sanctions. Id. Furthermore, a taxpayer’s failure to provide the Commissioner with requested information and his failure to offer evidence at trial pertaining to the substantive issues raised in the notice of deficiency are evidence that a suit in this Court was instituted primarily for delay. Stamos v. Commissioner, 95 T.C. 624, 638 (1990), affd. without published opinion 956 F.2d 1168 (9th Cir. 1992). Respondent asks that we impose a penalty on petitioner pursuant to section 6673(a)(1). Respondent argues that, by his conduct, it is evident that petitioner instituted and maintained these proceedings for delay, as well as to advance frivolous arguments. Respondent asks us to consider the following. Petitioner never substantively addressed the pertinent issues in this case, which relate to the correct determination of tax and various additions to tax for the years in issue. In contravention of the Court’s Rules on assigning errors with specificity, petitioner’s petition and amended petition averred no particular facts with respect to respondent’s numerousPage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011