Opinion
No. TC 4796.
Decision for Defendant rendered February 21, 2008.
Plaintiff (taxpayer) filed a motion for reconsideration of the court's decision that his appeal was not timely filed because he had not paid the filing fee before the appeal deadline expired. The court held that the filing fee was required to be paid before a complaint can be filed in the Tax Court.
Tax Court — Procedure
A filing fee is required to be paid before a complaint can be filed in the Tax Court.
Submitted on Plaintiff's Motion to Vacate and Motion for Reconsideration.
Michael J. Garrison, Plaintiff (taxpayer), filed the motion pro se.
Melisse S. Cunningham, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Salem, filed the response for Defendant (the department).
On January 24, 2008, the court issued an order that granted summary judgment in favor of Defendant Department of Revenue (the department) on the basis that Plaintiff Michael J. Garrison (taxpayer) had not timely filed his complaint in this court. On February 5, 2008, taxpayer filed a Motion to Vacate and Motion for Reconsideration. Defendant filed a response on February 8, 2008.
Tax Court Rule (TCR) 1 E provides:
" Filing Fee. Unless exempt by law, the plaintiff shall pay a $50 filing fee as provided by ORS 305.490. That fee must be tendered at the time of the filing of the complaint.
If the plaintiff wishes the court to consider a motion for deferral or waiver of the filing fee, as provided under ORS 21.605, the plaintiff shall make such motion to the court at the time of filing the complaint and serve the motion on all parties to the appeal."
The court is authorized to adopt rules under ORS 305.425(3) that conform "to the rules of equity practice and procedure in this state." Requiring the filing fee to be paid at the time of filing conforms to the rules of equity practice and procedure in this state. See ORS 21.111 (governing domestic relations); ORS 21.310 (governing probate). It is also consistent with the practice of circuit courts in this state. See ORS 21.110 (requiring fee to be collected at time of filing); ORS 305.405 (granting the Tax Court all the powers of a circuit court). See also U. S. National Bank v. Lloyd's, 239 Or 298, 305, 382 P2d 851 (1964) ([T]he * * * clerk should refuse to file any document unaccompanied by the fee."). Now, therefore,
All references to the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) are to the 2005 edition.
IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiffs Motion to Vacate and Motion for Reconsideration is denied.