Gary Fannon, Plaintiff-appellant, v. Internal Revenue Service, Defendant-appellee, 958 F.2d 376 (9th Cir. 1992)

MEMORANDUM^** 

Gary Fannon appeals pro se the district court's order dismissing his action to enjoin the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") from collecting on liens and levies served on his employer.¹  The district court found that it lacked jurisdiction to issue an injunction based upon the Anti-Injunction Act, 26 U.S.C. § 7421. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

* Injunctive Relief

We review de novo the district court's dismissal of a taxpayer's action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Church of Scientology of Cal. v. United States, 920 F.2d 1481, 1485 (9th Cir. 1990).

The Anti-Injunction Act ("Act") prohibits a taxpayer from bringing a "suit for the purpose of restraining the assessment or collection of any tax...." 26 U.S.C. § 7421(a). The Act is strictly enforced. See Maxfield v. United States Postal Serv., 752 F.2d 433, 434 (9th Cir. 1984). Aside from statutory exceptions that are inapplicable here, one judicial exception to the Act exists. See Elias v. Connett, 908 F.2d 521, 527 (9th Cir. 1990). The taxpayer must demonstrate that "(1) under no circumstances can the government ultimately prevail on the merits; and (2) the taxpayer will suffer irreparable injury without injunctive relief." Id. at 525.

Here, Fannon has made none of the requisite showings which would entitle him to relief. Instead he argues that he has "become a non-resident alien of the District of Columbia and citizen of Nevada State ... not a person within the commission jurisdiction...." In light of Fannon's clearly frivolous contentions, the district court did not err by dismissing Fannon's action for injunctive relief.

II

Appellate Sanctions

The IRS requests $1,500 damages as a sanction against Fannon for bringing this appeal. We have discretion to impose sanctions against litigants, even pro se, for bringing a frivolous appeal. Fed. R. App. P. 38; 28 U.S.C. § 1912; Wilcox v. Commissioner, 848 F.2d 1007, 1008-09 (9th Cir. 1988). An appeal is frivolous if the results are obvious or the arguments of error are wholly without merit. Wilcox, 848 F.2d at 1009. Fannon's claims are wholly without merit. Accordingly, we impose $1,500 damages as a sanction.

AFFIRMED.