CHURCH OF SPIRITUAL TECHNOLOGY, Plaintiff,
v.
The UNITED STATES, Defendant.
No. 581-88T.
United States Claims Court.
Oct. 2, 1989.
Church brought suit seeking a declaration that the Commissioner of Internal
Review wrongfully denied its initial application for exempt status. The Claims
Court, Bruggink, J., held that Tax Court rule defining administrative record
presumptively excluded third-party materials.
Order in accordance with opinion.
INTERNAL REVENUE
Tax Court rule defining administrative record presumptively excluded third-
party materials. Tax Court Rule 210(b)(11), 26 U.S.C.A. foll. s 7453.
*247 Monique E. Yingling, Washington, D.C., for plaintiff. Thomas C.
Spring, of counsel.
David Gustafson, with whom was Asst. Atty. Gen. Shirley D. Peterson,
Washington, D.C., for defendant.
OPINION
BRUGGINK, Judge.
The Church of Spiritual Technology ("CST") brings this suit for
declaratory judgment under section 7428 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954 ("I.R.C."), 26 U.S.C. s 7428. CST filed its complaint on October 6,
1988 following an adverse exemption ruling by the Internal Revenue Service
("IRS"). Plaintiff seeks a declaration that the Commissioner wrongly denied
its initial application for exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the
I.R.C., 26 U.S.C. s 501(c)(3) (1982).
The record filed by defendant on April 20, 1989 fills eleven boxes. It
includes CST's application materials dating back to its initial application in
1983, IRS communications with CST from the same time period and CST on-site
review materials. On May 12, 1989, plaintiff filed a motion excepting to the
record, as filed. CST's motion requests the following:
1) to include as part of the administrative record four boxes of documents
which will be referred to hereafter as "the Commercialism Submission";
2) to revise the description in the record index;
3) to exclude materials CST alleges are third-party materials;
4) to include documents misplaced by the defendant;
5) to substitute original documents for defendant's inadequate copies; and
6) to include documents relating to the IRS on-site review.
The issue has been fully briefed. Oral argument was held on August 22, 1989.
After argument the court denied the motion insofar as CST sought to exclude
what CST refers to as third-party materials, specifically, *248 newspaper
articles and court opinions sent by the IRS to CST for comment. Also during
argument, defendant agreed to remedy the other deficiencies complained of with
the exception of item one above--failure to include the Commercialism
Submission. As to that matter, the parties were afforded the opportunity to
file additional affidavits. Plaintiff filed the affidavit of William C. Walsh,
attorney for CST during the relevant administrative phase. Defendant elected
not to file an additional affidavit and responded by brief to the new
assertions. After consideration of the submissions and oral argument, the
court concludes that the motion should be denied insofar as it seeks inclusion
of the Commercialism Submission.
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The facts are drawn from uncontested parts of the record filed by defendant,
and, for purposes of this motion, from the motion papers. They are largely
uncontested. On certain key points, however, the parties disagree. The
disagreements relate primarily to how the parties characterize events
surrounding the post-protest conference of right. In any event, solely for
purposes of this motion, the court will presume that plaintiff's version of
disputed events is correct.
CST is a church of Scientology. At the time CST had its exemption application
pending, two other churches of Scientology--the Church of Scientology
International ("CSI") and the Religious Technology Center ("RTC")--also had
exemption applications pending under section 501(c)(3). Each had applied
separately. CST stated that its application was "not a group application" and
should be considered solely on the basis of information furnished by it.
On January 7, 1986, the IRS issued virtually identical initial adverse
rulings to the three applicants. In this initial ruling, the IRS stated, among
other things, that CST would not be considered in isolation from other
organizations within the Church of Scientology; that CST exercises a decisive
influence over other such organizations; that CST was not operated for exempt
purposes because it operated in a commercial manner; and that CST had failed
to provide requested information necessary for a ruling. On July 3, 1986, each
party filed under separate cover what plaintiff refers to as identical
protests. CST's protest consists of 251 items which comprise Part II of the
Administrative Record. None of those items are at issue in this motion.
The IRS in an October 10, 1986 letter granted CST's request for a conference.
In a letter dated November 21, 1986, CST's representative wrote the IRS that,
in confirmation of two telephone conversations, there were to be two
conferences, one dealing with issues common to the three entities, the other
dealing exclusively with CST. In fact, only one conference, lasting six days,
was ultimately held. In a telephone conversation between CST's representative
and the IRS on December 10, 1986, the IRS scheduled a post-protest conference
of right. One of the items the IRS proposed for discussion was whether CST's
operation furthers nonexempt commercial interests. The IRS later notified CST
that the conference would include CSI and RTC.
On January 14, 1987, representatives of CST, CSI and RTC met with IRS
officials for a six-day conference to clarify the issues. In his affidavit for
the plaintiff, William C. Walsh recites that he attended the conference of
right, and participated in the preliminary arrangements. He recites that
during the conference, IRS representatives discussed their belief that CST
controlled or influenced other churches of Scientology. He also states that
CST's representative stated that there was an issue as to whether CST's
activities would be considered exclusively on the basis of its own activities.
IRS representatives responded that they believed CST's application was "tied
into" the applications of CSI and RTC. CST contends that it advised the IRS at
that meeting that it provides no religious services to Scientology
parishioners; rather, it conducts activities to preserve and archive
Scientology scriptures for posterity. It argued that it is not involved in
commercialism.
*249 Following the meeting, the three parties proposed submitting
additional information. The Commissioner agreed. CST filed a submission
related to its separate activities and tax status on May 5, 1987. On August 3,
1987, CSI and RTC, together, filed the Commercialism Submission, documents
relating to the commercial aspects of the Scientology religion. The purpose of
the submission was to establish that CSI and RTC operate for religious rather
than commercial purposes. It consists of, among other things, Scientology
publications, license agreements, audio and video tapes, and blueprints and
charts relating to any commercial aspects of the Scientology religion. The
parties agree that the Commercialism Submission was filed by CSI and RTC as
part of their applications for recognition of their exempt status.
On July 8, 1988, all three parties received adverse exemption rulings
from the IRS. The 11-page ruling received by CST recites four reasons: 1)
CST's failure to establish that it is "operated exclusively for exempt
purposes," in part because of CST's asserted failure to participate in certain
financial reviews; 2) that CST is "operated for substantial non-exempt
commercial purpose"; 3) that CST is "operated for the benefit of private
persons"; and 4) CST had failed to establish that it is "not operated for the
benefit of private persons."
There is no question that the Commercialism Submission was not submitted by
the plaintiff. The court notes also that throughout the administrative
process, CST insisted on being considered independently from RTC and CSI. In
addition, a representative of CSI wrote the IRS on October 12, 1988 with regard
to questions of confidentiality and implied a similar concern for maintaining a
distinction between the sources of submissions. Regardless of whether
defendant honored that request, it is clear at the threshold that the
Commercialism Submission was not submitted by plaintiff, or on its behalf, and
there is no suggestion that plaintiff was under the impression the
Commercialism Submission would become or had become credited to CST as part of
its own written representations. It should also be noted that CST still
maintains that the Commercialism Submission is not relevant to a determination
of its exempt status.
CST seeks to include the Commercialism Submission in the Administrative
Record. Although it sought separate consideration from CSI and RTC at the
administrative level, it contends that the submission is now part of its
administrative record because the IRS refused to consider CST's application
independent of those submitted by RTC and CSI and because the IRS "actually
relied on [the Submission]."
II. DISCUSSION
Section 7428 of the I.R.C. permits this court, the United States Tax Court
and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to issue a
declaratory judgment on the initial qualification of an organization for tax
exempt status under I.R.C. s 501(c)(3) if the organization has exhausted its
administrative remedies and brought suit within 90 days after a final adverse
determination is issued by the IRS.
Review in these types of cases is typically limited to the administrative
record. Easter House v. United States, 12 Cl.Ct. 476, 482 (1987), aff'd
mem., 846 F.2d 78 (Fed.Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 907, 109 S.Ct. 257,
102 L.Ed.2d 246 (1988). That limitation applies because section 7428
requires a taxpayer to exhaust all administrative remedies. Church of
Visible Intelligence v. United States, 4 Cl.Ct. 55, 60 (1983). Only on rare
occasions, upon a showing of good cause, will the court allow a party to
introduce additional evidence which was not part of the administrative
record. Id. See also, Bethel Conservative Mennonite Church v. C.I.R.,
746 F.2d 388, 392 (7th Cir.1984) (additional evidence allowed upon an
allegation that the IRS has "erroneously interpreted or ... redefined" a
religion's beliefs); Easter House, 12 Cl.Ct. at 482 (showing of "good
cause" required).
Judicial review is limited to "whether or not the determination of the
Internal Revenue Service was correct on the administrative record before the
court and no additional *250 evidence is to be received." Animal
Protection Institute, Inc. v. United States, 42 AFTR 2d 78-5234, at 78-5853,
1978 WL 4201 (Ct.Cl.Tr.J.Op. Sept. 19, 1978) (P-H).
CST must carry the burden of proof as to the government's error in the
administrative record as filed, and "all insufficient or contradictory evidence
must be resolved against [CST]." St. John's Orphanage, Inc. v. United
States, 16 Cl.Ct. 299, 303 (1989). Under Rule 217 of the rules of the Tax
Court, the facts in the administrative record are deemed true and the taxpayer
bears the burden of proving the IRS ruling was wrong. Easter House v.
United States, 12 Cl.Ct. at 482. Only with a full and complete record can CST
meet that burden. Animal Protection Institute, Inc. v. United States, 42
AFTR 2d 78-5234, at 78-5852. It is consequently important to identify the
administrative record in a way that fully permits CST to argue its case.
There are no special rules in the Claims Court governing this type of case.
Nevertheless, the legislative history of section 7428 suggests that Congress
expected the district court and this court to follow the practices of the Tax
Court. Church of Visible Intelligence, 4 Cl.Ct. at 60. Rule 210(b)(11)
of the Rules of the Tax Court defines the administrative record as follows:
"Administrative record" includes the request for determination, all documents
submitted to the Internal Revenue Service by the applicant in respect of the
request for determination, all protests and related papers submitted to the
Internal Revenue Service and the applicant in respect of the request for
determination or such protests, all pertinent returns filed with the Internal
Revenue Service and the notice of determination by the Commissioner.
One of CST's primary arguments is that the Commercialism Submission is a
"related paper" within the meaning of Rule 210. There is no question that
the submission is related. What is assumed without support, however, is that
the rule extends to materials submitted to IRS by third parties. In the
court's view, the least strained reading of the rule is that it contemplates
that all the materials will be submitted by either the applicant or the IRS.
Defendant cites as analogous support for that construction the decision of the
Tax Court in First Libertarian Church v. Commissioner, 74 T.C. 396 (1980).
In that decision, the court permitted the introduction into the record of
materials from a third party. Defendant is correct that the unmistakable
import of the case is that the materials became part of the record solely
because it was impossible to tell them from materials submitted by the parties
and because there had been no objection to their inclusion. It is clear that
otherwise they would have been excluded.
Such a construction of the rule makes sense from a practical standpoint. If
materials can be submitted by third parties, and since facts in the record are
deemed "true," the potential prejudice to an applicant is apparent. The court
therefore concludes that the rule presumptively excludes third party materials.
Plaintiff's second argument is that the IRS in fact treated the
submission as a part of the CST record. It points first to the fact that in
its final adverse ruling as to CST, the IRS made indirect reference to the
submission. In that ruling, the Service states that CST's "protest and
subsequent admissions" contend that "the provision of goods and services for a
fee" was for religious not commercial purposes. CST alleges that the
Commercialism Submission is the only "subsequent submission" made to the IRS
that addresses commercialism, thus establishing that the IRS was referring to
that set of documents in the final adverse ruling, and thus treated it as part
of the record.
Defendant accurately responds that CST's initial protest mentioned goods and
services for a fee, and that CST filed its own supplemental submission on May
5, 1987 along with a transmittal letter, both of which made reference to goods
and services for a fee. [FN1]
FN1. For example, the May 5, 1987 transmittal letter refers to the receipt
of "secular assets--which include valuable income-producing properties."
The protest refers to "contributions for auditing and training services,"
as well as references to providing auditing services "in exchange for a
fixed donation." The protest also discusses at length caselaw dealing with
income-producing activities.
*251 While defendant denies that its ruling was based even in part on the
Commercialism Submission, it is willing to concede, solely for purposes of this
motion, that the submission influenced the Commissioner's decision in the
adverse ruling. It concedes that the same IRS personnel considered the
applications of all three organizations. Nevertheless, it asserts that the
IRS's awareness of the CSI and RTC Submission does not make it part of the
record. In the Government's view, it can even be assumed that the IRS
reviewers had the Commercialism Submission before them and considered it in
rejecting CST's application. In its response to the Walsh affidavit, defendant
concedes that "since CST claims it collects Scientology 'scriptures' and makes
them available to RTC and CSI, and since those organizations use Scientology
'scriptures' in commercial endeavors, the consideration of CST's tax-exempt
status must include an inquiry into the activities of RTC and CSI."
Defendant's concession, in any event, is clearly grounded in fact. There
should be no question that defendant's decision assumes a close relationship
between all three entities. In fact, the initial and final rulings are largely
based on an asserted connection between plaintiff and numerous individuals or
other Scientology organizations.
Defendant's response to plaintiff's motion is that, regardless of what
influenced the Commissioner, the administrative record is limited to those
written materials submitted by and relied on by a particular taxpayer. It
points out that if, in conversations during the conference of right, facts are
discussed which go beyond the then-existing representations, those facts must
be put in writing. [FN2]
FN2. "Any oral representation of additional facts or modification of facts
originally represented or alleged must be reduced to writing." Rev.Proc.
84-86 s 11.02, 1841-1 C.B. 544. 26 C.F.R. s
601.201(n)(9)(v)(d) (1988) also provides:
(d) It is the responsibility of the ... organization to furnish to the
National Office, within 21 calendar days after the conference, a written
record of any additional data, line of reasoning, precedents, etc., that
were proposed by the ... organization and discussed at the conference but
were not previously or adequately presented in writing.
Once again, the court agrees with defendant's position. The court must begin
with the principle that CST bears the burden of proof in this action. CST must
put into the record sufficient materials to warrant the grant of tax exempt
status. If the record compiled lacks sufficient support to reach that
conclusion, CST is responsible for the deficiency. It is up to defendant to
argue that its ruling denying exemption finds adequate support in the record.
CST contends on the one hand that the Commercialism Submission is irrelevant to
its position. From that, the court can only conclude that CST believes it can
carry its burden without those materials. Defendant, on the other hand, is
willing to deny itself access to the submission in responding to plaintiff on
the merits. Since there is no question that the document was not submitted by
CST, since CST counts the materials to be irrelevant, and since excluding the
submission precludes defendant from subsequently relying on it, the court has
no alternative but to leave it out of the record.
Accordingly, plaintiff's motion is granted in part and denied in part as
follows:
1. The Commercialism Submission (described in defendant's index as Part IV)
will not become part of the Administrative Record. The Clerk is directed to
return it to plaintiff.
2. The index entry describing Exhibit VI-19 is revised to read as follows:
Letter to IRS dated June 24, 1988 from Church of Spiritual Technology's
representative.
3. The motion is denied as to record exhibits I-27, I-31, I-32, I-33, I-34, I-
35, I-59 through I-66, I-81, I-83, and I-87 through I-93. Those materials are
part of the Administrative Record.
*252 4. The motion is granted with respect to documents defendant was
unable to locate, with respect to on-site review materials, and to permit
plaintiff to substitute legible copies. Accordingly, the following will become
part of the Administrative Record: Plaintiff's Items 548, 549, 550 (as
Exhibits VI-25, VI-26, and VI-27), 568, 571, 572, and 946 (as Exhibits VI-28,
VI-29, VI-30, and VI-31) including materials submitted by plaintiff and
identified by the parties as Exhibit III-351; and Plaintiff's Items 586, 650,
658, 760, 780 through 783, 785, 790, 795, 845 through 851, 856, 857, 858, 865,
866, 903 through 906, 911, 916, 924, and 943 (designated as exhibits with the
prefix Exhibit VII along with their item number). The parties are still unable
to locate Exhibits III-165 and III-168. Plaintiff may move to insert those
Exhibits if they are later located. Plaintiff may substitute legible copies of
Exhibits III-353 through III-364.
5. The balance of the record previously certified by defendant is accepted as
part of the Administrative Record.
6. The parties are directed promptly to arrange with the Clerk to jointly
insert the materials listed in P 4, in order, into the record previously
submitted by defendant. [FN3] With the insertions and substitutions as
directed, the materials designated by the court constitute the official
Administrative Record.
FN3. By Order of May 10, 1989, the court allowed defendant to file
Exhibits II-155, VII-562, VII-578, VII-579, VII-580, VII-581, VII-600, VII-
662, VII-672, VII-680, VII-702, VII-809, VII-886, and VII-925. They may be
inserted at the same time and will become part of the Administrative
Record. By that same order, defendant was permitted to file an "addendum
to Part VII of the Administrative Record." That addendum will
presumptively be part of the Administrative Record; however, plaintiff's
right to challenge the inclusion of that addendum is reserved.
7. Defendant has indicated it plans to file either a motion to dismiss on
jurisdictional grounds or a motion for summary judgment. It is directed to
observe the following deadlines. A motion to dismiss on jurisdictional
grounds, if any, will be filed on or before November 15, 1989. If defendant
elects to file a motion for summary judgment instead, it will be due on or
before December 1, 1989. Both parties are directed to use appendices excerpted
from the Administrative Record in arguing dispositive motions, with the
exception of materials that cannot be conveniently photocopied.
Defendant's response to Plaintiff's Motion To Strike Affirmative
Allegations From Defendant's Answer will be due on or before October 30, 1989.