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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-18-14 (3) IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA n �_:� _�? � ,� .. ,.n .,c.� _�_, ,.-. _ .r_ � ; ,- �- r ; �r.�_ , ��.:. -'T: _�.-- IN RE: . ORPHANS ' COURT DIVI�-�Q�I c:� � -:� ' � t 4� i ESTATE OF JACK C. EADS, JR. , � ' `; DECEASED . FILE N0. 21 12-0822 v-�' � '- `^Tt �-� 1 �r `J �•`� "{") G`y APPLICATION FOR SUMMARY RELIEF Introduction 1 . Respondent, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue, hereby applies for Summary Relief pursuant to Pa. R.A. P. 1532 (b) . Statement of Facts 2 . On July l, 2013, the Department of Revenue issued two Notices of Inheritance Tax Appraisement, Allowance or Disallowance of Deductions and Assessment of Tax on Jointly Held or Trust Assets (��Notices") to Petitioner, Michael A. Eads . The Notices assessed inheritance tax for amounts due on jointly held bank accounts . The assessments were based upon Section 2107 (b) of the Inheritance and Estate Tax Act of 1991, which subjects transfers of property to tax. 72 P. S. � 9107 (b) . 3 . On September 27, 2013, Petitioner filed a protest of the Department' s assessments with the Department of Revenue' s Board of Appeals . 4 . On December 16, 2013, the Department' s Board of Appeals sustained the original assessments . 5 . On January 24, 2014, Petitioner mailed a letter titled "Petitioner Appeal of DECISION and ORDER of Initial Appeal of said case . " Statement of Reasons in Support of Summary Relief 6. In the opening sentence of Petitioner' s Appeal, he states that ��I am writing to appeal the decision . . see enclosed copy . . of the initial appeal in this case because said appeal was not filed on time, ie the allotted 60 days . " 7 . The Inheritance and Estate Tax Act of 1991 provides that any party in interest not satisfied with an appraisement, the allowance or disallowance of deductions, or the assessment of tax, must file a written protest with the Department within sixty days of receipt of the notice. 72 P. S . � 9186 (a) (1) . 8 . In Dixon Estate, 443 Pa. 303, 279 A. 2d 39 (1971) , a case in which that Estate filed an inheritance tax protest untimely due to the attorney' s unfamiliarity with the time limits, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held that where an act of assembly fixes the time within which an appeal may be taken, that time may not be extended in the absence of fraud or its equivalent, and that there may be no extension of time as a matter of indulgence. Also see Commonwealth v. Bey, 437 Pa. 134, 262 A. 2d 144 (1970) and Nixon v. Nixon, 329 Pa. 256, 198 A. 154 (1938) . -2- 9 . The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania determined the only procedural issue raised by Petitioner, contrary to the position advocated by Petitioner. 10 . Respondent' s right to relief is clear. Relief Sought Wherefore, as Petitioner admitted the untimely filing of his Protest, and alleged no fraud, Respondent prays the Court grant summary relief and affirm the order of the Board of Appeals . Respectfully submitted by, i i Lora . � Attorney for Respondent PA Department of Revenue Office of Chief Counsel P.O. Box 281061 Harrisburg, PA 17128-1061 Attorney I . D. No. 69436 -3- IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IN RE: . ORPHANS ' COURT DIVISION ESTATE OF JACK C. EADS, JR. , . DECEASED . FILE N0. 21 12-0822 VERIFICATION Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1024 and Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 123 (c) , Lora A. Kulick, Senior Counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue, Respondent, states under the penalties provided in 18 Pa.C. S. � 4904 (relating to unsworn falsification to authorities) that the averments made in the foregoing Application are true upon my personal knowledge, information and belief. � Lora . ck Attorney for Respondent PA Department of Revenue Office of Chief Counsel P.O. Box 281061 Harrisburg, PA 17128-1061 Attorney I . D. No. 69436