DONALD P. ARNETT,
Petitioner-Appellant, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent-Appellee. |
|
Mr. Arnett offers no facts or evidence that call into question the impartiality of the tax court judge. The fact the judge ruled against him on more than one issue is insufficient to demonstrate bias or prejudice. See Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555 (1994).
The tax court's discovery, evidentiary, and sanctions determinations are all reviewed for abuse of discretion. Wayte v. United States, 470 U.S. 598, 624 (1985) (discovery rulings); Gen. Elec. Co. v. Joiner, 522 U.S. 136, 141 (1997) (evidentiary rulings); Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384, 405 (1990) (sanctions). "Under this standard, we will not disturb a trial court's decision absent a definite and firm conviction that the lower court made a clear error of judgment or exceeded the bounds of permissible choice in the circumstances." Kidd v. Taos Ski Valley, Inc., 88 F.3d 848, 853 (10th Cir. 1996) (citations and quotations omitted). None of the decisions of which Mr. Arnett complains shows a clear error of judgment or conduct outside the bounds of permissible choice.
Mr. Arnett's arguments about the tax court's decision on the merits of his case are not persuasive, and we affirm that decision substantially for the reasons expressed in the tax court's June 27, 2006, opinion. Finally, while the tax court apparently did not address Mr. Arnett's late-raised argument that he was denied an administrative appeal, the record indicates that Mr. Arnett did not request an appeal within thirty days of the Internal Revenue Service's preliminary letter to him. T.C. Ex. 5-P (Mr. Arnett's May 10, 2004, letter responding to March 18, 2004, IRS letter). Thus, his request was untimely and the Service proceeded in accordance with regulation. See 26 C.F.R. § 601.105(d)(1) ("If the taxpayer does not respond to the letter within 30 days, a statutory notice of deficiency will be issued . . . .").
Mr. Arnett's reply-brief request to submit a supplemental brief is DENIED. The judgment of the tax court is AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
Circuit Judge
*. After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
1. A party appealing a tax court decision must file a notice of appeal within ninety days of the entry of the decision. 26 U.S.C. § 7483. Mr. Arnett's notice of appeal was postmarked September 25, 2006, the ninetieth day after entry of the decision in this case, but it not filed in the tax court until October 2, 2006. Under the date-of-mailing provisions of 26 U.S.C. § 7502(a), however, the notice of appeal was timely. See Umbach v. CIR, 357 F.3d 1108, 1111 (10th Cir. 2003).