Vierow
Vierow v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Michael E. Vierow appeals pro se the tax court’s decision sustaining the Commissioner of Internal Revenue’s (“Commissioner”) collection action related to tax years 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7482 . We review de novo the tax court’s conclusions of law and review for clear error findings of fact. Baizer v. Comm’r, 204 F.3d 1231, 1233-34 (9th Cir.2000). We affirm.
The tax court correctly concluded that the appeals officer did not abuse his discretion in verifying that all legal and administrative requirements had been met. See Nestor v. Comm’r, 118 T.C. 162, 167 , 2002 WL 236682 (2002); Hughes v. Comm’r, 953 F.2d 531, 535-36 (9th Cir. 1992) (Form 4340 is presumptive proof of a valid assessment).
Vierow’s contention that the tax court considered documents outside of the administrative record is without merit. All of the documents the appeals officer reviewed during the collection due process hearing were part of the administrative record before the tax court. See, e.g., Thompson v. U.S. Dep’t of Labor, 885 F.2d 551, 555 (9th Cir.1989) (the administrative record includes “all documents and materials directly or…