NIXON v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE (1999)

This case raises an issue of first impression for this Court concerning our appellate jurisdiction.   Appellants, Jimmy and Rita Nixon, filed a petition with the Tax Court complaining about deficiency notices that were issued to them for the years from 1987 through 1991 and 1993 through 1996.   After determining that deficiency notices had been issued to the Nixons only for the years 1994 and 1995, the Tax Court dismissed the Nixons' petition as to the other years for lack of jurisdiction.   The Nixons then filed a notice of appeal to this Court.   We now consider whether a Tax Court order disposing of only some of the claims in a taxpayer's petition is appealable and find that it is not.

We join the majority of the other circuit courts that have considered this issue in finding that a decision by the Tax Court that does not dispose of all the issues presented in a taxpayer's petition is not a final order for purposes of an appeal.   See, e.g., Brookes v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 163 F.3d 1124, 1127-29 (9th Cir.1998) (holding that an order partially disposing of a taxpayer's petition was not appealable);  Shepherd v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 147 F.3d 633, 635 (7th Cir.1998) (same);  Schrader v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 916 F.2d 361, 363 (6th Cir.1990) (same);  Estate of Yaeger v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 801 F.2d 96, 97 (2d Cir.1986) (same).   But see InverWorld, Ltd. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 979 F.2d 868, 871-75 (D.C.Cir.1992).   Therefore, unless the Tax Court enters a separate Rule 54(b)-type order indicating that there is no just reason for delaying appellate review of a partially resolved petition, this court lacks jurisdiction to hear an appeal until a final judgment is entered.   In so holding, we expressly adopt the sound reasoning articulated in Judge Posner's decision for the Seventh Circuit in Shepherd.

As there was no Rule 54(b)-type order entered by the Tax Court in this case, the Nixons' appeal is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.

PER CURIAM: