- 33 - of 50 percent of interest due on the underpayment under section 6653(a)(2), based on her determination of petitioner's negligence. Section 6653(c)(1) defines an underpayment as, among other things, a deficiency as defined in section 6211(a). As discussed supra in Issue 1, we find that there will be a reduced deficiency against petitioner for 1985. Section 6653(a), as applicable to the 1985 tax year, does not define negligence. It makes no real distinction between negligence and "disregard of rules and regulations". For purposes of this section, courts have generally followed Marcello v. Commissioner, 380 F.2d 494, 506 (5th Cir. 1967), affg. in part and revg. and remanding in part 43 T.C. 168 (1964), in holding that "Negligence is lack of due care or failure to do what a reasonable and ordinarily prudent person would do under the circumstances". See also Neely v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 934, 947 (1985). Respondent determined the negligence additions in light of petitioner's admitted failure to maintain adequate records during 1985; such failure supports and sustains a finding of negligence. Harris v. Commissioner, 745 F.2d 378 (6th Cir. 1984), affg. T.C. Memo. 1982-410; Mack v. Commissioner, 429 F.2d 182, 184 (6th Cir. 1970) (citing Marcello v. Commissioner, 380 F.2d at 506-507, 509, 511), affg. T.C. Memo. 1969-26; Cox v. Commissioner, 54 T.C. 1735, 1745 (1970) (Court found negligence based upon the failure to keep adequate records in light of the total record). The record herein strongly supports thePage: Previous 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Next
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