Allan J. and Brenda Becker - Page 41

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          returns without making any attempt to learn about the Partnership           
          transactions.  Petitioner acknowledged that he found the tax                
          benefits unbelievable.  Yet even after Becker expressly warned              
          that such tax benefits were contingent on the economics of the              
          transactions, petitioner made no effort to learn about the                  
          Partnership transactions.  He ignored Becker's urging that he               
          should read the offering memoranda.  His claim that he did not              
          know offering materials were available is not credible and casts            
          doubt on the veracity of the rest of his testimony.  We hold that           
          petitioner did not reasonably rely upon Becker, or in good faith            
          investigate the underlying viability, financial structure, and              
          economics of the Partnership transactions.  Upon consideration of           
          the entire record, we hold that petitioner Allan J. Becker is               
          liable for the negligence additions to tax under section 6653 for           
          the taxable years at issue.  Respondent is sustained on this                
          issue.                                                                      
          C.  Section 6659--Valuation Overstatement                                   
               In two notices of deficiency, respondent determined that               
          petitioner is liable for the section 6659 addition to tax on the            
          portion of his 1981 and 1982 underpayments attributable to                  
          valuation overstatement.  Petitioner has the burden of proving              
          that respondent's determinations of the section 6659 additions to           
          tax are erroneous.  Rule 142(a); Luman v. Commissioner, 79 T.C.             
          at 860-861.  In her answer, respondent asserted an increased                
          amount due under section 6659 for 1982.  Respondent has the                 




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