Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Statutory Interpretation – Tax Code

By: Derek Hawkins//April 5, 2018//

Statutory Interpretation – Tax Code

By: Derek Hawkins//April 5, 2018//

Listen to this article

United States Supreme Court

Case Name: Marinello v. United States

Case No.: 16-1144

Focus: Statutory Interpretation – Tax Code

A clause in §7212(a) of the Internal Revenue Code makes it a felony “corruptly or by force” to “endeavo[r] to obstruct or imped[e] the due administration of this title.” 26 U. S. C. §7212(a). The question here concerns the breadth of that statutory phrase. Does it cover virtually all governmental efforts to collect taxes? Or does it have a narrower scope? In our view, “due administration of [the Tax Code]” does not cover routine administrative procedures that are near-universally applied to all taxpayers, such as the ordinary processing of income tax returns. Rather, the clause as a whole refers to specific interference with targeted governmental tax-related proceedings, such as a particular investigation or audit.

Reversed and Remanded

Dissenting: THOMAS, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which ALITO, J., joined.

Concurring:

Full Text


Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.

Polls

What kind of stories do you want to read more of?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Legal News

See All Legal News

WLJ People

Sea all WLJ People

Opinion Digests