The three elements of any legal case are issues, facts and law. Issues You are the plaintiff in a Tax Court case. That is to say, you are suing the IRS. Although we have become accustomed to the idea that American citizens are “innocent until proven guilty” that’s not how it works in Tax Court. The IRS is the defendant, or respondent. You are the plaintiff, called the petitioner in Tax Court. You have the burden of proof to show you do not owe the money the IRS claims you owe. See Tax Court Rule 142(a). Proving you don’t owe something is a daunting burden. As the petitioner, however, you determine what the trial will be about. The trial will be held to settle the issues you raise in your petition. You will be able to object to any attempt by your opponent to bring up issues that are “outside the pleadings” and he will have the burden of proof on any increases in the deficiency or “new matters.” New matters are issues that did not appear in the notice that got you to Tax Court. Check the answer you receive to your petition carefully to see if any new issue appears there in the form of an allegation not made in the notice. If one does, the respondent will have the burden of proof on it. Otherwise, you state the issues in your petition, and it is up to you to keep the trial focused on those issues.
Issues, Facts and Law
Issues, Facts and Law
Issues, Facts and Law
The three elements of any legal case are issues, facts and law. Issues You are the plaintiff in a Tax Court case. That is to say, you are suing the IRS. Although we have become accustomed to the idea that American citizens are “innocent until proven guilty” that’s not how it works in Tax Court. The IRS is the defendant, or respondent. You are the plaintiff, called the petitioner in Tax Court. You have the burden of proof to show you do not owe the money the IRS claims you owe. See Tax Court Rule 142(a). Proving you don’t owe something is a daunting burden. As the petitioner, however, you determine what the trial will be about. The trial will be held to settle the issues you raise in your petition. You will be able to object to any attempt by your opponent to bring up issues that are “outside the pleadings” and he will have the burden of proof on any increases in the deficiency or “new matters.” New matters are issues that did not appear in the notice that got you to Tax Court. Check the answer you receive to your petition carefully to see if any new issue appears there in the form of an allegation not made in the notice. If one does, the respondent will have the burden of proof on it. Otherwise, you state the issues in your petition, and it is up to you to keep the trial focused on those issues.