IN RE KARE KEMICAL, INC., DEBTOR. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
v.
KARE KEMICAL, INC., DEFENDANT-APPELLEE
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A bankruptcy court cannot order the IRS to allocate tax payments to trust fund taxes in a Chapter 11 liquidation proceeding.
The IRS assessed unpaid employment taxes against a Chapter 11 debtor. The debtor sought to allocate its limited funds to pay the principal portion of …
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HATCHETT, Circuit Judge:
In this Chapter 11 liquidation proceeding, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assessed against the debtor, Kare Kemical, $89,661 in unpaid employment taxes (trust fund taxes), $2,791 in interest, and $20,437 in penalties. The sale of Kare Kemical’s assets produced a $200,000 gross estate for distribution to creditors, of which Kare Kemical received $90,038.
With only $90,038 to pay its tax debt, Kare Kemical sought approval of a liquidation plan requiring the IRS to first satisfy the principal portion of the taxes owing and thereafter the accrued interest and penalties. The bankruptcy court approved Kare Kemical’s plan finding sufficient elements of voluntariness to permit payment allocation. United States v. A & B Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., 823 F. 2d 462, 465 (11th Cir.1987), vacated for mootness, 486 U.S. 1002, 108 S.Ct. 1724, 100 L.Ed.2d 189 (1988). The district court affirmed 112 B.R. 38 citing In re Energy Resources Co., Inc., 871 F. 2d 223, 230 (1st Cir.1989), aff'd, United States v. Energy Resources Co., — U.S. -, 110 S.Ct. 2139, 109 L.Ed.2d 580 (1990), which adopted A & B Heating’s, rationale.
In this court, the United States challenges the district court’s approval of Kare Kemical’s liquidation plan. The United States contends that the district court erred in relying on In re Energy Resources, because its holding applies only to Chapter 11 reorganization cases.
We agree with the United States that In re Energy Resources applies to Chapter 11 reorganization cases and not to liquidation cases. In affirming the First Circuit, the Court stated:
[A] bankruptcy court has the authority to order the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to treat tax payments made by Chapter 11 debtor corporations as trust fund payments where the bankruptcy court determines that this designation is necessary for the success of a reorganization plan.
In re Energy Resources, — U.S. at-, 110 S.Ct. at 2140, 109 L.Ed.2d at 584. The Court’s reasons for allowing payment allocation in Chapter 11 reorganizations, regardless of whether tax payments are properly characterized as “voluntary,” are not present in liquidation cases. See In re Energy Resources, at -, 110 S.Ct. at 2142, 109 L.Ed.2d at 586. Consequently, we reverse.
REVERSED.
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United States v. Lewis Pepperman for Keith T. Sorensen, 976 F.2d 123 (3d Cir. 1992)…en’s section 6672 liability. The vast majority of courts that have addressed the issue of the scope of the Energy Resources decision have declined to extend its application beyond the Chapter 11 reorganization context. See In re Kare Kemical, Inc., 935 F. 2d 243, 244 (11th Cir.1991) (Chapter 11 liquidation); Jehan-Das, 925 F. 2d at 238 (same); In re Equipment Fabricators, 127 B.R. 854, 858 (D.Ariz.1991) (same); In re Visiting Nurse Ass’n, 128 B.R. 835, 837 (Bankr.M.D.Fla.1991) (same); Frank Meador Buick, 19…
Authorities Cited
- United States v. Energy Res. Co., Inc., 495 U.S. 545 (U.S. 1990)
- In re A & B Heating & AIR Conditioning v. A & B Heating & AIR Conditioning, Inc., 823 F.2d 462 (11th Cir. 1987)
- In re Energy Res. Co., Inc. v. Energy Res. Co., Inc., 871 F.2d 223 (1st Cir. 1989)
- Ewing v. Arizona, 486 U.S. 1002 (U.S. 1988)
- Aranda v. Texas, 486 U.S. 1002 (U.S. 1988)