- 38 - distribution by a trust to a beneficiary is generally taxable only to the extent of distributable net income. See secs. 652, 662. Under the circumstances presented here, we do not think that it was unreasonable that petitioner did not ask Mr. Morris about the tax consequences of the distributions by and/or the operations of Accu-Data, Trust 768, Meadows, and MCIC, but instead relied on him to prepare correctly the joint returns in question and the returns that he prepared for the entities that he controlled. Additional circumstances that we believe justify peti- tioner's not inquiring about the possibility of substantial understatements in the joint returns in question are that, in addition to her responsibilities for handling the family finances during the years at issue, petitioner also was preoccupied during those years as a homemaker, mother, and part-time student. She was taking classes at either Parkland College or the University of Illinois until the spring of 1989. At that time, she withdrew from college because it was consuming too much of her time during a period when she wanted and believed that she had to, and did in fact, devote more time to her children who were experiencing serious problems. It is also significant to us that there is no suggestion in the record in this case that petitioner was living lavishly during the years at issue or that her living conditions signifi-Page: Previous 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 Next
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