Opinion
18194-21
09-08-2021
John M. Coughlan & Mitzi Stanfield, Petitioners v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Respondent
ORDER
Maurice B. Foley, Chief Judge
The Petition filed to commence this case served on August 18, 2021, was not properly executed in that it did not bear the original signatures of petitioners or of a practitioner admitted and recognized to practice before the Tax Court, as required by the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. Rather, it appears that petitioners' non-attorney representative who is not admitted to practice before this Court signed the petition on their behalf. The United States Tax Court, which is separate and independent from the IRS, has certain requirements that must be met before an individual can be recognized as representing petitioners before the Court. The Court has prepared Q&A's on the subject "Representing a Taxpayer Before the U.S. Tax Court. A copy of these Q&A's are attached to this order. The Court also encourages practitioners and non-attorneys seeking admission to practice before the Court to consult "Guidance for Practitioners" on the Court's website at www.ustaxcourt.gov/practitioners.html. At this juncture, Steven J. Dubin will not be associated with this case and we encourage petitioners' representative to review the Court's admissions requirements.
Therefore, in order for this Court potentially to acquire jurisdiction to consider this case, it is necessary to obtain a Ratification of Petition bearing petitioners' original signatures and ratifying the petition previously filed. Upon due consideration and for cause, it is
ORDERED that, on or before October 22, 2021, petitioners shall file with the Court in paper form a Ratification of Petition ratifying and affirming the filing of the Petition on their behalf (preferably in "wet ink" signature, not a photocopied signature). Petitioners should note that the ratification of petition may not be electronically filed. It is further
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to attach to this Order a form that petitioners may use to comply with this Order. It is further
ORDERED that, in addition to regular service, the Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Order on Steven J. Dubin at the address listed for him in the petition.
RATIFICATION OF PETITION
____, have read the Petition filed with the Court on ___ and do hereby ratify and affirm the filing of said document by affixing our signatures hereto.