That’s Judge Nega’s admonition to Anthony J. Todisco, Jr., in April J. Gonzales f.k.a. April J. Todisco, Petitioner, and Anthony Todisco, Intervenor, 2021 T. C. Sum. Op. 35, filed 10/6/21*. The fight is about the tax prep fee and the unreimbursed business expenses from Anthony’s construction employment.

It’s the usual indefinite-vs-temporary workplace, and undocumented and reimbursed expenses, but the key concept is what happened to Anthony when he intervened. There were two (count ’em, two) years at issue. Anthony and April jointly petitioned Year One, but only April petitioned Year Two, because there were five (count ’em, five) years between the two years at issue, and Anthony and April got divorced in between.

Anthony intervened for the second year (which only April petitioned). April also sought innocent spousery for both years, and had amended the earlier joint petition to seek only innocent spousery for that year, not to fight the deficiency.

IRS hadn’t ruled on April’s innocent spousery, but folded on the trial. IRS also folded the chops on the trial.

Anthony wanted to fight the deficiencies for the two years, but only got to fight one.

Judge Nega explains.

“As an intervening party, Mr. Todisco is not granted rights or immunities superior to those of the other parties, may not enlarge the issues or alter the nature of the proceeding, and must abide by the Court’s Rules. Since Ms. Gonzales did not, and does not, dispute the underlying deficiency for [Year Two], Mr. Todisco may not independently raise a dispute as to the underlying deficiency. Mr. Todisco passed on his opportunity to do so when he failed to timely file a petition of his own or join Ms. Gonzales’ petition. Therefore, as to Ms. Gonzales, we sustain respondent’s deficiency determinations for the [Year Two] taxable year as set forth in the notice of deficiency….” 2021 T. C. Sum. Op. 35, at pp. 12-13. (Citation omitted).

But since April is getting off on innocent spousery, the sustentation of the deficiency is a nonissue.

Of course, this leaves open the question whether the Year Two SNOD was served on Anthony’s last known address. Judge Nega says Anthony and April separated three years before IRS issued the second SNOD, and April was always timely with her tax filings. It seems Anthony never raised the issue,  but he was pro se and April had attorneys from the Albuquerque Legal Aid LITC. Maybe Anthony only knew about the SNOD when April petitioned it and Anthony got the invitation to intervene. As we don’t know what Anthony filed, or when he filed, or from where he filed, the question remains.

*Todisco 2021 T C Sum Op 35 10 6 21