IN THE MATTER OF JIMMY FRANK MURPHY, BANKRUPT. JIMMY FRANK MURPHY, APPELLANT,
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, APPELLEE
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The court held that a 100 percent penalty tax for withholding and F.I.C.A. taxes is a nondischargeable tax liability, not a dischargeable penalty, and the bankruptcy court has jurisdiction to determine its dischargeability even without a prior IRS claim.
A responsible corporate officer sought to have a 100 percent penalty tax for withholding and F.I.C.A. taxes declared dischargeable in his personal ban…
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PER CURIAM:
In this case the district court reversed a bankruptcy judge’s determination that a 100 percent penalty tax for withholding and F.I.C.A. taxes assessed against a responsible corporate officer, 26 U.S.C.A. § 6672 was a dischargeable debt, the collection of which was barred by the discharge granted to the officer in his personal bankruptcy proceeding. Having been adjudicated a bankrupt and released from all his dischargeable debts, the bankrupt filed an application seeking a determination of the discharge-ability of the tax assessments made against him. The bankrupt’s appeal from the adverse decision of the district court raises two issues of law: first, does the bankruptcy court have jurisdiction to determine the dischargeability of tax liability where the United States did not file a proof of claim in the bankruptcy proceeding, and second, did the district court correctly hold that'the tax liability of the bankrupt was not dis-chargeable in bankruptcy?
Jurisdiction is established by 1966 and 1970 amendments to the bankruptcy laws. 11 U.S.C.A. §§ ll(a)(2A) and 35(c). This Court has noted that the language of 11 U.S.C.A. § ll(a)(2A) conflicts with the report of the Senate Finance Committee. In re Statmaster Corp., 465 F. 2d 978, 979-981 (5th Cir. 1972). See In re Durensky, 519 F. 2d 1024, 1025 n. 2 (5th Cir. 1975). In adhering to the language of the statute, we adopt the reasoning of Judge Mahon stated in his thorough opinion on the same issue in another case. In re Durensky, 377 F.Supp. 798 (N.D.Tex.1974), appeal dismissed, 519 F. 2d 1024 (5th Cir. 1975). Our holding follows that of the Ninth Circuit where the Court stated:
We hold that the Bankruptcy Court has jurisdiction under § 35(a) and (c) to adjudicate the Bankrupt’s indebtedness for the federal income taxes due and owing by the Bankrupt, as determined under § ll(a)(2A), to be discharged in bankruptcy, notwithstanding the lack of a prior claim therefor or other proof thereof by IRS.
Gwilliam v. United States, 519 F. 2d 407, 412 (9th Cir. 1975). See Bostwick v. United States, 521 F. 2d 741 (8th Cir. 1975); In re Century Vault Co., 416 F. 2d 1035 (3d Cir. 1969):
As to the second issue, we adopt the reasoning of Judge Allgood given in this instant case, where the court determined that the 26 U.S.C.A. § 6672 liability is, for purposes of the bankruptcy law, a nondischargeable tax governed by 11 U.S.C.A. § 35(a) rather than a dischargeable penalty which is governed by 11 U.S.C.A. § 93(j). In re Murphy, 381 F.Supp. 813 (N.D.Ala. 1974).
AFFIRMED.
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Citator
Cited By
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United States v. Sotelo et ux., 436 U.S. 268 (U.S. 1978)
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In re Onofre J. Sotelo and Naomi Sotelo, 551 F.2d 1090 (7th Cir. 1977)
Authorities Cited
- In re Durensky v. Durensky, 519 F.2d 1024 (5th Cir. 1975)
- In re Bostwick v. United States, 521 F.2d 741 (8th Cir. 1975)
- In re Gwilliam v. United States, 519 F.2d 407 (9th Cir. 1975)
- In re Century Vault Co., Inc., 416 F.2d 1035 (3d Cir. 1969)
- In re Statmaster Corp. v. United States, 465 F.2d 978 (5th Cir. 1972)