Perez Morales v. Comm'r

KROUPA, Judge: These consolidated cases are before the Court on Robert Morales and Ronda Morales' joint motion to reconsider the opinion pursuant to *193 Rule 161¹ and their motions to vacate the decisions under Rule 162 in Morales v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2012-341 (Morales I). In Morales I, we held that petitioners were not entitled to a first-time homebuyer credit under section 36 (credit). We further held petitioners liable for an accuracy-related penalty (penalty). Seesec. 6662(a). Petitioners ask that we vacate our decisions and reconsider our opinion as it relates to the penalty. ² For the reasons that follow, we will deny these motions.

We adopt the findings of fact we made in Morales I. For convenience and clarity, we repeat only the facts necessary *203 to resolve these motions.

Petitioners argued they were not liable for the penalty only because they acted in good faith and with reasonable cause in preparing their returns. We held in Morales I that because they failed to act with reasonable cause in preparing the returns, they were liable for the penalty.

*194 Petitioners now concede they were not entitled to the credit. Petitioners now argue, however, that they are not liable for the penalty because respondent failed to show an underpayment for 2008. Seesec. 7491(c).

We are asked to reconsider whether petitioners, who claimed a credit causing negative taxable income, are liable for the penalty when the credit is later denied. Petitioners put forth this new inquiry of whether the claimed credit created an underpayment to which the penalty could apply. This issue is before us on petitioners' motions. We turn now to the motions.

We focus on whether to grant petitioners' motions. This Court has discretion to grant a motion for reconsideration. Estate of Quick v. Commissioner, 110 T.C. 440, 441 (1998); Martin v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2004-14; see also Goettee v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2004-9. We generally *204 do not exercise our discretion absent a showing of unusual circumstances or substantial error of law or fact. Estate of Quick v. Commissioner, 110 T.C. at 441. Reconsideration is intended to correct substantial errors of law or fact and allow introduction of newly discovered evidence that the moving party could not have introduced, by the exercise of due diligence, in the prior proceeding. Id. at 441-442. The purpose *195 of reconsideration is not to rehash previous contentions or present new alternative arguments or legal theories. Id.

This Court also has discretion to vacate a decision. Vaughn v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 164, 166-167 (1986). We refer to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure because Rule 162 does not provide a standard for evaluation. Rule 1(b). The Court may grant a motion to vacate upon a showing of newly discovered evidence, mistake or extraordinary circumstances. SeeFed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(1), (2), (6); Langille v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2010-49, aff'd, 447 Fed. Appx. 130, 135 (11th Cir. 2011).

We first address the reconsideration motion. Petitioners ask us to reconsider our opinion that petitioners are liable for the penalty. Rather than *205 argue as they did at trial, they now argue, with the assistance of counsel, ³ that respondent did not meet his burden of production to establish that petitioners were liable for the penalty. Petitioners argue that respondent must show proof of an underpayment. An underpayment is defined as the amount of tax exceeding the amount shown as the tax by the taxpayer on the return, plus amounts not so shown *196 previously assessed. Sec. 6664(a). Petitioners raise this newly minted argument for the first time in the reconsideration motion.

We turn now to petitioners' argument at trial that the penalty does not apply. An accuracy-related penalty applies to any portion of an underpayment attributable to negligence ⁴ or disregard of rules or regulations. Sec. 6662(a) and (b)(1). The accuracy-related penalty does not apply, however, to portions of an underpayment as to which the taxpayer acted in good faith and with reasonable cause. Seesec. 6664(c)(1); sec. 1.6664-4(a), Income Tax Regs. The Commissioner bears the burden of production regarding penalties and must show sufficient evidence to *206 support imposing a penalty. Seesec. 7491(c); Higbee v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. 438, 446-447 (2001).

In Morales I, we held that respondent satisfied the burden of production by showing petitioners were negligent in claiming the credit. Petitioners failed to show that they acted with reasonable cause in preparing the returns, and they raised no other arguments. Id. Thus, we stand by our finding in Morales I that respondent met his burden of production by establishing that petitioners were *197 negligent in claiming the credit. See, e.g., Carlebach v. Comm'r, 139 T.C. 1, 16 (2012).

We now turn to petitioners' new legal theory that, although petitioners were negligent, there was no underpayment to which the penalty could attach. Petitioners put forth this theory that respondent should have shown that the credit created an underpayment. Essentially, petitioners argue for the first time that the repercussions of *207 erroneously claiming the credit did not create an underpayment under section 6664(a).

Respondent argues that unless petitioners assign error to the penalty, it is not necessary to produce evidence to support the penalty because the penalty is considered conceded. We agree. Petitioners conceded the penalty by failing to assign clear and concise error to respondent's determination of the penalty. SeeRule 34(b)(4); Funk v. Commissioner, 123 T.C. 213 (2004); Swain v. Commissioner, 118 T.C. 358, 362-365 (2002); Stern v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2012-204. Respondent is not required to establish the validity of a conceded issue. Swain v. Commissioner, 118 T.C. at 364.

Petitioners argued only that they acted with reasonable cause in preparing the returns. No other assignments of error were directed toward the penalty before or during trial. Petitioners had ample opportunity to raise this newly minted *198 argument before the disposition of Morales I, by amending the pleadings or presenting it at trial, but failed to do so. SeeRule 41. Petitioners are deemed to have conceded the penalty because they did not timely assign clear and concise error to the penalty. See id.

A motion for reconsideration *208 is not a forum to test new arguments when an opportunity to do so has been previously given. Estate of Quick v. Commissioner, 110 T.C. at 441-442. Petitioners advance a new legal theory. We decline their invitation to entertain this untimely argument.

Further, because we will deny the motion to reconsider, there remains no basis to vacate our decisions in Morales I.

Accordingly, we find it inappropriate to reconsider our opinion or vacate our decisions in Morales I. Petitioners have not demonstrated unusual circumstances or substantial errors of fact or law. Instead, petitioners raise for the first time a new legal theory as to why the penalty should not apply. Petitioners did not raise before or during trial the amount to which a penalty would apply. Therefore, we decline to address petitioners' argument now asserted for the first time. See Stoody v. Commissioner, 67 T.C. 643, 644 (1997).

*199 Accordingly, we will deny petitioners' motion for reconsideration and motions to vacate.

We have considered all remaining arguments the parties made and, to the extent not addressed, we find them to be irrelevant, moot or meritless.

To reflect the foregoing,

Appropriate orders will be issued.