In re Turner

• Decision Date: 23 January 1984
• Docket Number: Bankruptcy No. 82-05130,Adv. No. 82-7343.
• Citation: 37 BR 376
• Parties: In re Charles Wayne TURNER, f/d/b/a Turner Spraying Service, Debtor. Charles Wayne TURNER, f/d/b/a Turner Spraying Service, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY/INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, Defendant.
• Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court — District of North Dakota

37 B.R. 376 (1984)

In re Charles Wayne TURNER, f/d/b/a Turner Spraying Service, Debtor.

Charles Wayne TURNER, f/d/b/a Turner Spraying Service, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY/INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, Defendant.

Bankruptcy No. 82-05130, Adv. No. 82-7343.

United States Bankruptcy Court, D. North Dakota.

January 23, 1984.

Roger J. Minch, Fargo, N.D., for plaintiff.

Frank G. Gokey, Washington, D.C., Rodney S. Webb, U.S. Atty., Fargo, N.D., for defendant.

SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER

WILLIAM A. HILL, Bankruptcy Judge.

This Court entered its Memorandum and Order on November 15, 1983, finding the Plaintiff/Debtor individually liable for withheld but unpaid payroll taxes. 35 B.R. 811. The United States Department of the Treasury, as prevailing party, was directed to prepare a proposed judgment. The judgment as submitted made provision for interest on the unpaid taxes to which the Plaintiff/Debtor objected. The Plaintiff has furnished a memorandum arguing that the IRS at no time sought judgment for interest and penalties on the original $17,536.74 assessment which was made pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6672. The IRS takes the position that its right to interest flows by law from the underlying tax liability, citing, 26 U.S.C. § 6601(a) and (e).

While the Court did not directly address the matter of interest in its November 15, 1983, Memorandum, interest and penalties were from the inception at issue. The Notice of Lien filed with the Register of Deeds for Cass County, North Dakota, on March 18, 1982, was for $17,536.74 plus additional penalties, interest and costs that might accrue. The Proof of Claim for Internal Revenue taxes filed with the Bankruptcy Court set forth the interest which had accrued to petition date and further stated that postpetition interest may be payable. Both of these documents were referred to in the Plaintiff's Complaint whereby he prayed that the Court invalidate the tax lien filed with the Cass County Register of Deeds and further find the assessment to be invalid. By its answer, the IRS asked the Court to find that its claim as filed be excepted from discharge. By its November 15, 1983, Memorandum Opinion, the Court granted the IRS's Motion for Summary Judgment.

It is settled law that bankruptcy proceedings will not dispose of interest on Federal tax claims. This question has been laid to rest by the United States Supreme Court in Bruning v. U.S., 375 U.S. 920, 84 S.Ct. 264, 11 L.Ed.2d 164 (1964) wherein the court...