Summary
A 28-year-old manufacturing technician was denied a security clearance under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) due to a history of financial irresponsibility. The Statement of Reasons cited the applicant's failure to timely file federal income tax returns for tax years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016. Additionally, the applicant owed $668 in back taxes to the IRS for tax year 2015 and had a delinquent student loan account, charged-off at $8,426.
Disqualifying conditions included a pattern of financial irresponsibility, a history of not meeting financial obligations, and a failure to file tax returns. While the applicant demonstrated some recent efforts to address these issues, such as beginning repayment on the student loan and achieving some compliance with tax authorities, these actions were not deemed sufficient to mitigate the long-standing pattern of financial issues.
The judge ultimately found that the applicant's extensive history of financial irresponsibility, including multiple failures to file tax returns and the prolonged delinquency of the student loan, raised doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness. Consequently, the applicant was denied eligibility for access to classified information.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant had a long-standing history of financial irresponsibility, including multiple failures to file tax returns.
- The applicant only recently began repaying a charged-off student loan that had been delinquent for many years.
- The judge expressed doubts about the applicant's reliability and trustworthiness based on his financial history.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 19(f)raisedFailure to File or Fraudulently Filing Annual Federal, State, or Local Income Tax Returns or Failure to Pay Annual Federal, State, or Local Income Tax as Required
- AG ¶ 20(c)appliedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person’s ControlThe applicant's underemployment after completing education contributed to his financial issues.
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedGood-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors or Resolve DebtsThe applicant had only recently begun repayment of the charged-off student loan and had not demonstrated a consistent effort.
- AG ¶ 20(g)appliedArrangements with Tax Authority to File or Pay Amounts OwedThe applicant is now in compliance with tax authorities, having filed all required returns and paid owed taxes.
Key Rule Quoted
“No one has a right to a security clearance.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedDec 19, 2017
- Answer filedFeb 7, 2018
- Hearing heldSep 18, 2018Applicant appeared pro se.
- Decision dateJul 31, 2019
Cite For
- Financial Irresponsibility Under Guideline F
- Insufficient Mitigation of Long-standing Financial Issues
- Recent Compliance with Tax Obligations Not Sufficient for Clearance Approval