Kyick Holdings, LLC v. Bessent

Circuit 1Aug 17, 2026

Split Score

SplitScore: 83/100

Case Summary

Disposition

Affirmed

The First Circuit held that although the 90-day deadline in 26 U.S.C. § 6213(a) for filing a Tax Court petition is not jurisdictional, it is a mandatory, non-tolled claims-processing rule. Because Kyick Holdings filed 143 days after the notice of transferee liability was mailed, the court affirmed dismissal of its petition, agreeing that the IRS used reasonable diligence in mailing the notice while rejecting equitable-tolling arguments.

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Circuit Split Identified

Legal Issue

Whether the 90-day filing deadline in 26 U.S.C. § 6213(a) is jurisdictional (depriving the Tax Court of power over untimely petitions) or a non-jurisdictional claim-processing rule.

Circuit Positions

Circuit 1(this circuit)Circuit 2Circuit 3Circuit 6

§ 6213(a) deadline is non-jurisdictional (claim-processing rule).

Circuit 5Circuit 7Circuit 8Circuit 9Circuit 10Circuit 11

§ 6213(a) deadline is jurisdictional and untimely petitions must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

Conflict Summary

Some circuits read § 6213(a) as a rigid jurisdictional bar that requires dismissal for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction when a taxpayer files after 90 days, while other circuits treat the deadline as a non-jurisdictional limitation period that does not affect the Tax Court’s adjudicatory authority (and, in some circuits, may be equitably tolled).

Parties & Counsel

Parties

Appellant:Kyick Holdings, LLC
Appellee:Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service

Legal Counsel

Appellant:William F. Campbell, John W. Geismar, Daniel L. Cummings, Lucy P. Weaver, Norman, Hanson & DeTroy, LLC
Appellee:Matthew Steven Johnshoy, Ellen Page DelSole, Sherra Wong, Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice