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Michael Gordon BANKS, Petitioner-Appellant, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent-Appellee.
MEMORANDUM *
Michael Gordon Banks appeals pro se from the Tax Court's decision to sustain the Commissioner of Internal Revenue's notice of federal tax lien related to his outstanding tax liabilities from the years 2013 and 2015. We have jurisdiction under 26 U.S.C. § 7482(a)(1). We review the Tax Court's decision de novo, meaning we engage in “a fresh analysis of whether the Commissioner abused his discretion.” Fargo v. Comm'r, 447 F.3d 706, 709 (9th Cir. 2006). Finding no basis to conclude there was an abuse of discretion, we affirm.
The Tax Court correctly determined that it was not an abuse of discretion to sustain the rejection of Banks's offer in compromise of $12,000. Banks did not dispute that his assets totaled more than $110,000, nor did he provide evidence that paying the outstanding $23,000 liability in full would cause him economic hardship. See id. at 709 (describing the economic hardship analysis as one focused on basic living expenses). It was not an abuse of discretion to reject Banks's offer in compromise on these facts. See Keller v. Comm'r, 568 F.3d 710, 717–18 (9th Cir. 2009) (finding no abuse of discretion where calculations revealed the taxpayers could afford to pay substantially more than their offers).
The Tax Court correctly determined that it was not an abuse of discretion to decline to withdraw the notice of federal tax lien. Although the Taxpayer Advocate Service found that withdrawal of the lien would be in Banks's best interest, there has never been a determination that withdrawal would also be in the best interest of the United States as required by I.R.C. § 6323(j)(1)(D). There is no support for Banks's argument that the notice was prematurely filed because his offer in compromise was pending.
Finally, we reject as meritless Banks's claims that the Commissioner engaged in criminal activity or failed to follow proper procedures.
AFFIRMED.
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Docket No: No. 20-72163
Decided: August 06, 2021
Court: United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
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