Information About Filing a Case in the United States Tax Court
Attached are the forms to use in filing your case in the United States Tax Court. It is very important that
you take time to carefully read the information on this page and that you properly complete and submit these
forms to the United States Tax Court, 400 Second Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20217, or file the forms
electronically pursuant to the Court’s eFiling provisions.
Small Tax Case or Regular Tax Case
If you seek review of an action (other than a whistleblower or a certification action) listed in paragraph 1
of the petition form (Form 2), you may file your petition as a “small tax case” if your dispute meets certain
dollar limits (described below). “Small tax cases” are handled under simpler, less formal procedures than
regular cases. However, the Tax Court’s decision in a small tax case cannot be appealed to a Court of Appeals
by the IRS or by the taxpayer(s). You can choose to have your case conducted as either a small tax case or a
regular case by checking the appropriate box in paragraph 4 of the petition form (Form 2). If you check neither
box, the Court will file your case as a regular case.
Dollar Limits: Dollar limits for a small tax case vary slightly depending on the type of IRS action you
seek to have the Tax Court review:
(1) If you seek review of a Notice of Deficiency, the amount of the deficiency (including any additions to
tax or penalties) that you dispute cannot exceed $50,000 for any year.
(2) If you seek review of a Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action, the total amount of
unpaid tax cannot exceed $50,000 for all years combined.
(3) If you seek review of a Notice of Determination Concerning Relief From Joint and Several Liability
Under Section 6015 (or if the IRS failed to send you any Notice of Determination with respect to a request for
spousal relief that you submitted to the IRS at least 6 months ago), the amount of spousal relief sought cannot
exceed $50,000 for all years combined.
(4) If you seek review of a Notice of Determination of Worker Classification, the amount in dispute
cannot exceed $50,000 for any calendar quarter.
(5) If you seek review of a Notice of Final Determination for [Full/Partial] Disallowance of Interest
Abatement Claim (or if the IRS failed to send you a Notice of Final Determination with respect to a claim for
interest abatement that you filed with the IRS at least 180 days before), the amount of the abatement cannot
exceed $50,000.
Enclosures
To help ensure that your case is properly processed, please enclose the following items when you mail
your petition to the Tax Court:
1. A copy of any Notice of Deficiency, Notice of Determination, or Final Determination the IRS sent you;
2. Your Statement of Taxpayer Identification Number (Form 4);
3. The Request for Place of Trial (Form 5); and
4. The $60 filing fee, payable by check, money order, or other draft, to the "Clerk, United States Tax
Court"; or, if applicable, the fee waiver form.
For further important information, see the Court’s Web site at www.ustaxcourt.gov or the “Information
for Persons Representing Themselves Before the U.S. Tax Court” booklet available from the Tax Court.