Greenberg Brothers Partnership #12, a.k.a. Lone Wolf McQuade Associates, and Richard M. Greenberg, Tax Matters Partner v. Commissioner., United States Tax Court - Memorandum Decision, T.C. Memo. 1998-198, Docket No. 22780-91., Filed May 28, 1998

Greenberg Brothers Partnership #12, a.k.a. Lone Wolf McQuade Associates, and Richard M. Greenberg, Tax Matters Partner v. Commissioner.

United States Tax Court - Memorandum Decision

T.C. Memo. 1998-198

Docket No. 22780-91.

Filed May 28, 1998.

Thomas E. Redding and Sallie W. Gladney, for the participants Herman M. and Gloria R. Nirschl. Joseph F. Long and Gerald A. Thorpe, for the respondent.

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

POWELL, Special Trial Judge: This case is before the Court on participants Herman M. and Gloria R. Nirschl's (the Nirschls) motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. The underlying dispute arises from the Nirschls' interest in Greenberg Brothers Partnership #12, a.k.a. Lone Wolf McQuade Associates (Lone Wolf or the partnership). The parties agree that for the partnership taxable years in issue Lone Wolf is subject to the unified audit and litigation procedures of sections 6221 through 6231 ¹ enacted by the Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA), Pub. L. 97-248, sec. 402(a), 96 Stat. 648. They further agree that a timely petition was filed and, accordingly, this Court has jurisdiction over this case. The Nirschls, however, argue that they entered into a settlement agreement with respondent which converted their partnership items to nonpartnership items and, with respect to them, ousted this Court's jurisdiction pursuant to sections 6226(d)(1)(A) and 6231(b)(1)(C). The issue is whether the Nirschls and respondent entered into a binding settlement agreement with respect to adjustments relating to the Nirschls' investment in Lone Wolf for the 1983 through 1986 partnership taxable years.

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¹ Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

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FINDINGS OF FACT

Lone Wolf is one of a number of partnerships formed to purchase and exploit the rights to certain films. The general partners of those partnerships were Richard M. Greenberg and/or A. Frederick Greenberg. ² Respondent began an examination of the partnership at some point in the mid-1980's as part of a national project focusing on the various partnerships of the Greenberg Brothers (the Greenberg Brothers project). Richard M. Greenberg, who was then the tax matters partner (TMP) of Lone Wolf, retained attorney Peter L. Faber (Mr. Faber) to represent the partners at the partnership level during respondent's examination. ³ Mr. Faber also represented the partners at the partnership level upon filing the petition in this case.

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² On its partnership returns for the years in issue, Lone Wolf claimed loss deductions based on the alleged purchase of the films "Lone Wolf McQuade" starring Chuck Norris, and "Strange Invaders".

³ Richard M. Greenberg became disqualified from acting as the TMP when an involuntary petition in bankruptcy was filed against him in January 1994. See sec. 6231(c); sec. 301.6231(a)(7)-1(1)(1)(iv), Proced. & Admin. Regs.; sec. 301.6231(c)-7T, Temporary Proced. & Admin. Regs., 52 Fed. Reg. 6793 (Mar. 5, 1987).

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The Nirschls were limited partners in Lone Wolf during the partnership taxable years in issue. The Nirschls have elected to participate in these proceedings pursuant to section 6226(c)(2) and Rule 245(b).

Joseph F. Long (Mr. Long), an attorney in respondent's District Counsel office in Hartford, Connecticut, represented respondent in the settlement negotiations for the Greenberg Brothers project. After Mr. Long was assigned to the project, he and Mr. Faber discussed the possibility of settling the Greenberg Brothers partnership cases by a settlement at the partnership level.

On or about August 6, 1990, Mr. Long wrote to Mr. Faber regarding the Greenberg Brothers project, listing Lone Wolf in the subject portion of the letter. In the letter, Mr. Long expressed respondent's willingness to settle both docketed and nondocketed cases on the basis of an "at risk settlement" under section 465. In closing, the letter stated: "This offer to settle is open until September 28, 1990."

After receiving Mr. Long's letter, Mr. Faber contacted Mr. Long to discuss whether investment tax credits would be allowed under the settlement offer outlined in his letter. In response to this query, Mr. Long followed up with a letter dated November 1, 1990, to Mr. Faber. This letter stated in relevant part:

By letter dated August 6, 1990, we extended an offer to settle the above mentioned movie partnerships. We offered to settle these cases on the basis of and [sic] I.R.C. [sec.] 465 "at risk" settlement. * * *

We originally requested that you accept, or reject, the offer to settle by September 28, 1990. * * * Since we were unable to respond to your question within a reasonable time before the September 28, 1990, deadline, we advised you that we would tender a subsequent offer to you which would address the investment tax credit issue.

The purpose of this letter is to extend a new offer to settle these cases on the basis of an "at risk" settlement under I.R.C. [sec.] 465.

In closing, Mr. Long wrote that: "This offer is open for fourty-five [sic] days, after the date of this letter." Mr. Faber rejected this settlement offer on behalf of the partners.

On July 8, 1991, respondent issued notices of final partnership administrative' adjustment (FPAA's) ⁴ to the TMP, determining adjustments to partnership items for the 1983 through 1986 partnership taxable years. On October 7, 1991, the TMP timely filed a petition with this Court on behalf of the partnership for a readjustment of the partnership items. At the time the petition in this case was filed, the partnership's principal place of business was located at Greenwich, Connecticut.

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⁴ The FPAA is the notice provided to affected taxpayer-partners of respondent's final administrative adjustment for specific partnership tax years. The FPAA is to the litigation of partnership items the equivalent of the statutory notice of deficiency in other cases. Sirrine Bldg. No. 1 v. Commissioner [Dec. 50,610(M)], T.C. Memo. 1995-185, affd. without published opinion 117 F.3d 1417 (5th Cir. 1997).

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Almost 1 year after the filing of the petition in this case, Mr. Long again wrote to Mr. Faber on the subject of the Greenberg Brothers project, listing Lone Wolf in the subject portion of the letter. The letter dated September 9, 1992, stated that

We are offering to settle the above referenced movie tax shelters on the basis of an "at risk" settlement under I.R.C. [sec.] 465. For purposes of the settlement taxpayers are considered at risk to the extent of their initial cash investment in the movie, with no amounts allowed for notes executed by the partnership, or the assumption agreement executed by the partners. After the cash is used up the amount at risk is zero. However, to the extent the partnership earns net income in later years, the amount at risk will be increased in accordance with I.R.C. [sec.] 465.

For the purposes of settlement the respondent will concede all additions to tax, but respondent will not concede additional interest under I.R.C. [sec.] 6621(c).

You have thirty days to accept this settlement offer. After said date it is withdrawn.

The settlement offer made to Mr. Faber was intended as an offer to settle at the partnership level and was not intended to be made to the individual partners. Mr. Faber was of the opinion that during this time there were continuing settlement negotiations going on that may have produced better terms. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Faber withdrew as counsel of record.

In late 1992, George J. Noumair (Mr. Noumair) began settlement discussions with Mr. Long on behalf of partners who wanted to settle. Pursuant to inquiries from Mr. Noumair concerning settlement, Mr. Long wrote to Mr. Noumair on April 22, 1993, with regard to Lone Wolf. The letter stated that

A number of the limited partners have contacted the respondent and indicated their interest in accepting respondent's settlement offer. We are, therefore, going to have the Service Center make the settlement offer directly to the limited partners, so that those interested in settling can close out their interest in this partnership.

In the course of ongoing discussions with Mr. Long, Mr. Noumair indicated that he would survey the partners in order to ascertain who desired to settle. On June 24, 1993, Mr. Noumair sent a memorandum to the Lone Wolf limited partners in which he stated: "If you wish to `opt out' and settle individually at this time, please advise us * * *. We will then arrange for the appropriate documents to be sent to you."

By letter dated November 30, 1993, Mr. Noumair wrote to Mr. Long with regard to partners in Lone Wolf and seven other Greenberg Brothers partnerships who desired "to accept the IRS settlement offer and opt out of the TEFRA proceeding". The letter also stated: "I would appreciate it if, with respect to the partners who wish to opt out, you would send to me the documents you will require to be executed for filing in the Tax Court." Attached to the letter was a separate list for each partnership, indicating the names and interests of the partners wishing to opt out of the TEFRA proceeding; the Nirschls are listed on an attachment titled "Limited Partners in Lone Wolf McQuade Associates Who Want to Opt Out and Settle as of 11/30/93". According to Mr. Long, at that time, settlement would be "achieved" by signing a Form 870 or entering into a closing agreement. Mr. Faber also had understood "that there would be some documents that would have to be executed to implement * * * [a settlement]." The Nirschls never executed either a Form 870 or a closing agreement.

OPINION

The Tax Court is a Court of limited jurisdiction and may exercise jurisdiction only to the extent expressly permitted by statute. See sec. 7442; Trost v. Commissioner [Dec. 46,991], 95 T.C. 560, 565 (1990). We have jurisdiction to decide whether we have jurisdiction. Pyo v. Commissioner [Dec. 41,573], 83 T.C. 626, 632 (1984). Section 6226(f) vests this Court with subject matter jurisdiction to determine all partnership items of the partnership for the partnership taxable year to which the FPAA relates and the proper allocation of such items among the partners. ⁵ This Court's jurisdiction over a partnership action is predicated upon the mailing of a valid FPAA by the Commissioner to the TMP and the timely filing by the TMP or other eligible partner of a petition seeking a readjustment of partnership items. Rule 240(c); Seneca, Ltd. v. Commissioner [Dec. 45,492], 92 T.C. 363, 365 (1989), affd. without published opinion 899 F.2d 1225 (9th Cir. 1990). Neither the Nirschls nor respondent disputes that the FPAA's were valid and that the petition was timely filed in this case.

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⁵ Partnership items include each partner's proportionate share of the partnership's aggregate items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit. Sec. 6231(a)(3); sec. 301.6231(a)(3)-1(a)(1)(i), Proced. & Admin. Regs. Nonpartnership items are items that are not partnership items. Sec. 6231(a)(4). An affected item is any item to the extent such item is affected by a partnership item. Sec. 6231(a)(5); sec. 301.6231(a)(5)-1T(a), Temporary Proced. & Admin. Regs., 52 Fed. Reg. 6790 (Mar. 5, 1987). Some affected items are subject to the deficiency procedures contained in secs. 6211 through 6215.

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Pursuant to the TEFRA provisions the tax treatment of partnership items generally is to be determined at the partnership level. See Maxwell v. Commissioner [Dec. 43,431], 87 T.C. 783, 788 (1986). Section 6226(c)(1) provides that if a partnership action is brought under either section 6226(a) or (b) each person who was a partner in such partnership at any time during the year in issue shall be treated as a party to such action. However, section 6226(d)(1)(A) provides, in pertinent part, that section 6226(c) shall not apply to a partner "after the day" on which the partnership items of such partner for the particular partnership taxable year become nonpartnership items by reason of one of the events described in section 6231. A settlement agreement between the Secretary and a partner is among the events causing the conversion of partnership items into nonpartnership items. Sec. 6231(b)(1)(C). Section 6224(c) provides that in the absence of a showing of fraud, malfeasance, or misrepresentation of fact a settlement agreement between the Secretary and a partner with respect to the determination of partnership items for any partnership taxable year shall be binding on all parties to such agreement.

Whether, with respect to the Nirschls, we have jurisdiction over their partnership items depends upon whether they entered into a binding settlement agreement with respondent. Underlying that question is whether the period of limitations for making an assessment may have run.

Settlement Agreements in TEFRA Proceedings

General principles of contract law govern the settlement of tax cases. Dorchester Indus. Inc. v. Commissioner [Dec. 52,011], 108 T.C. 320, 329-330 (1997). A prerequisite to the formation of a contract is an objective manifestation of mutual assent to its essential terms. Manko v. Commissioner [Dec. 50,412(M)], T.C. Memo. 1995-10. Mutual assent generally requires an offer and an acceptance. Id. "`An offer is the manifestation of willingness to enter into a bargain, so made as to justify another person in understanding that his assent to that bargain is invited and will conclude it.'" Dorchester Indus. Inc. v. Commissioner, supra at 330 (quoting 1 Restatement, Contracts 2d, sec. 24 (1981)). Settlements offers made and accepted by letters are enforced as binding agreements. Dorchester Indus. Inc. v. Commissioner, supra at 330-333; Haiduk v. Commissioner [Dec. 46,888(M)], T.C. Memo. 1990-506.

Respondent argues that only a properly executed Form 870-P or a closing agreement (Form 906) constitutes a settlement agreement for purposes of sections 6224(c) and 6231(b)(1)(C). ⁶ Without the requirement of a formal written agreement, respondent anticipates confusion and judicial inefficiency: disputes will arise over whether there was a settlement and will necessitate judicial review as to whether there was a settlement and the terms thereof. Since respondent and the Nirschls have not executed either form, respondent contends that they have not entered into a settlement agreement.

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⁶ Neither the Code nor respondent's regulations defines what constitutes a "settlement agreement" for purposes of secs. 6224(c) and 6231(b)(1)(C). A closing agreement (Form 906) statutorily authorized by secs. 7121 and 7122 has been used to settle TEFRA cases. See, e.g., Pack v. United States [93-1 USTC ╤ 50,277], 992 F.2d 955, 956 (9th Cir. 1993); Monge v. United States [93-1 USTC ╤ 50,192], 27 Fed. C1. 720, 722 n.3 (1993). In addition, we have held that a Form 870-P qualifies as a settlement agreement under sec. 6224(c). Korff v. Commissioner [Dec. 48,837(M)], T.C. Memo. 1993-33.

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While respondent's position may have the advantages that respondent attributes to it, we believe that it is unnecessary to decide that issue in the circumstances presented here. Where settlement is conditioned upon the execution of respondent's forms, the execution of such forms controls resolution of whether a settlement agreement was in fact made. See, e.g., Estate of Ray v. Commissioner [Dec. 51,020(M)], T.C. Memo. 1995-561, affd. [97-1 USTC ╤ 50,412] 112 F.3d 194 (5th Cir. 1997); see also Brookstone Corp. v. United States, 74 AFTR 2d 94-6025, 94-2 USTC par. 50,474 (S.D. Tex. 1994), affd. per curiam without published opinion 58 F.3d 637 (5th Cir 1995). We turn to the question whether the settlement was so conditioned.

The Nirschls were never involved directly in the settlement negotiations. Those negotiations were done by Messrs. Long, Faber, and Noumair. Mr. Long testified that he intended that in order to consummate any settlement with the partners, a Form 870-P and/or a closing agreement would be executed by the taxpayer or the taxpayer's representative. This was consistent with Mr. Faber's understanding when he was involved with the case that further documents would have to be executed. The only other person with direct knowledge of what happened during this time was Mr. Noumair, and he did not testify. We have no reason to believe, however, that his testimony would have been different and, indeed, his June 24, 1993, memorandum to the limited partners and his November 30, 1993, letter to Mr. Long recognized that further documents were required. Although there may have been a general understanding of the terms of settlement, to effectuate the settlement it was understood that the taxpayer would execute either a Form 870 or a closing agreement.

Furthermore, all the parties understood that the settlement terms were not limited to the Greenberg Brothers cases that were currently before the Court. It also included issues involving the additions to tax that are affected items and the applicable interest, issues that were not before the Court. Moreover, the settlement terms dealt with the tax effects of the Greenberg Brothers partnerships in future years. At that time, Mr. Long was of the opinion that either a closing agreement or a Form 870 was necessary to effect a settlement of a partner's various liabilities. ⁷

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⁷ Whether this opinion was correct or not is beside the point.

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The Nirschls may have attempted to accept an offer from respondent to settle the case. It is clear, however, that all the parties directly connected with the settlement negotiations understood that to effectuate the settlement either a closing agreement or a Form 870 had to be executed. It is also clear that the Nirschls never executed either, and, consequently, there was no settlement of their case. ⁸

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⁸ We leave for a subsequent opinion the question whether the Nirschls may be entitled to consistent settlement terms pursuant to sec. 6224(c)(2) and sec. 301.6224(c)-3T, Temporary Proced. & Admin. Regs., 52 Fed. Reg. 6787 (Mar. 5, 1987).

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To reflect the foregoing,

An appropriate order will be issued denying the Nirschls' motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.

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