In re Turchon, Bankruptcy No. 183-30007-260.
| Decision Date | 20 June 1986 |
| Docket Number | Bankruptcy No. 183-30007-260. |
| Parties | In re Jack TURCHON and Lenore Turchon, Debtors. |
| Court | United States Bankruptcy Courts. Second Circuit. U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of New York |
Platzer & Fineberg, New York City (Ira L. Herman, of counsel), for debtors.
Raymond J. Dearie, U.S. Atty., E.D.N.Y., Brooklyn, N.Y. (Thomas P. Battistoni, of counsel), Kenneth C. Brown, Trial Atty., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C., for IRS.
DECISION AND ORDER
This is a motion by joint Chapter 13 debtors to expunge a claim filed by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). The motion is granted.
The debtor, Jack Turchon, was the President of Measurematic Corporation ("Measurematic"). On August 11, 1982 Measurematic filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in this court. On January 3, 1983 Jack Turchon and his wife Lenore filed a joint petition for relief under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, also in this court. Both cases were referred to the undersigned Bankruptcy Judge.
On January 18, 1983 the IRS filed a proof of claim in the Measurematic proceeding for $227,526.81 which represented unpaid FICA, withholding, unemployment and corporate income taxes due from the debtor corporation, including penalties and interest for periods between 1979 and 1981. The claim was a secured claim based upon federal tax liens filed by the IRS against Measurematic.
In order to fund a plan of reorganization Measurematic undertook to liquidate its real property so as to provide the funds necessary for a liquidating plan, and thus, create a fund for ultimate distribution to its creditors. Accordingly, in April of 1984, pursuant to order of this court, and after notice and a hearing, the debtor sold its real property. Approximately $327,000 was realized after the satisfaction of a mortgage. Such proceeds were subject to the payment of all other remaining liens affecting the property, including the tax liens of the IRS.
The motion was served upon the District Director of the Internal Revenue Service and on the United States Attorney. On March 26, 1985 a hearing was held before this court on the motion. The IRS did not object to the claim as scheduled in the motion, nor did it appear at the hearing. Consequently, this court entered an Order dated March 26, 1985 (the "Order") which provided:
In compliance with that Order, Measurematic made payment of $227,526.81 to the IRS by a check dated April 11, 1985. The front of the check indicated that it was "payment in full per Order of 3/26/85." The back of the check showed that it was deposited by the IRS without protest and without reservation of rights.
In addition to paying the IRS at that time, Measurematic paid all other parties which held valid liens on the real property in full as directed in the Order. At the time of that distribution, Measurematic had approximately $350,000 in treasury notes representing principal and interest available for distribution. The total distribution made to the lienors specified in the Order was $243,943.83, inclusive of the liens of the IRS. Thus, when distribution was made there were adequate funds in the Measurematic estate to pay in full any additional claims which the IRS could at that time have asserted.
In accordance with the terms of Measurematic's plan of reorganization, confirmed by order of this court December 12, 1985, the funds remaining were distributed in payment of administration expenses and priority claims with the balance remaining distributed on a pro rata basis to the remaining general unsecured creditors whose claims had been allowed.
After the distribution had been made to the IRS, on April 29, 1985 it filed a priority tax claim in Turchon's Chapter 13 case for $23,039.02 for unpaid federal income taxes due from him for 1978 and 1979. That claim was amended on June 27, 1985 by adding a further claim for $5,847.54 representing interest on the withholding and FICA portion of taxes due from Measurematic for the quarter ended September 30, 1981. It is to be noted that those taxes due for that period were included in the claim of the IRS which was paid in full by check dated April 11, 1985. The additional claim for interest was calculated from August 11, 1982 on which date the Measurematic petition was filed, to January 3, 1983 on which date the Turchon Chapter 13 petition was filed. It was based on an assessment made pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 26 U.S.C. Section 6672, against Jack Turchon as a "responsible person" of Measurematic.2
Turchon argues that although the tax liability of a corporation imposed on a responsible person pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Section 6672 may be a separate and distinct liability of that individual, there is no individual liability to be assessed against a responsible person where the corporate liability has been paid in full which he argues was done in this case.
Accordingly, Turchon objects to the assessment against him arising out of taxes due from Measurematic. He argues that after the IRS claim against Measurematic was fixed in the Bankruptcy Court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Sections 505 and 506 it was paid in full. The IRS had notice and an opportunity to be heard in this court regarding the calculation of the liability owed it. At that time there were funds available in the Measurematic estate to make the additional interest payment now requested.
The IRS maintains that while 26 U.S.C. Section 6672 provides that it may seek collection of applicable unpaid taxes from either a corporation or a responsible person, it is a long-standing policy to collect those taxes only once. Here it contends that it has not been paid once and that only a portion of the amount due was paid by Measurematic pursuant to the Order. The IRS reasons as follows: the $227,526.81 paid by Measurematic to the IRS was the amount of the IRS' proof of claim as of Measurematic's Chapter 11 petition date, August 11, 1982; payment of that amount to the IRS was not made until April, 1985; post-petition interest was therefore not paid on the taxes due; interest is presently due and owing from Measurematic's petition date, August 11, 1982 through the date of payment; and consequently, it has not completely collected those taxes once until the interest is paid.
Section 505(a) of the Bankruptcy Code vests jurisdiction in the Bankruptcy Court to determine the amount of a tax or of any fine or penalty relating to any tax. 3 Collier on Bankruptcy, Para. 505.4 (15th ed. 1985). As stated earlier, Measurematic in its Chapter 11 case made a motion for a determination of all taxes due the IRS, including FICA and withholding. As noted above, the IRS did not appear at that hearing, nor did it request a determination of post-petition interest due it as a secured creditor under Section 506. It did not object to the amount specified by Measurematic. The IRS claim was, therefore, fixed at $227,526.81 which was memorialized in the Order. The IRS did not appeal that Order, which is now final. Rather, it accepted the check marked "payment in full."
Apparently, the IRS is now attempting in the Turchon Chapter 13 to indirectly accomplish that which has been precluded by the Measurematic case.
In United States v. Huckabee Auto Co., 783 F.2d 1546, 1548, 14 C.B.C.2d 483, 486 (11th Cir.1986), the Eleventh Circuit explains the purpose of 26 U.S.C. Section 6672, as well as the relationship between corporate and "responsible person" liability:
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