Sherry P. Aude - Page 21

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          1982.  If petitioner had made a examination of the returns, she             
          would have noticed the deductions, but we need to determine                 
          whether a reasonably prudent taxpayer in petitioner's position              
          would have inquired further.                                                
               In the instant case, besides writing checks for the                    
          household expense, she was uninvolved in the family's finances.             
          She was unaware of Mr. Aude's salary during the years at issue.             
          When petitioner signed the returns, she was aware of the                    
          existence of the Magnum transaction, but she never saw the                  
          investment papers or knew the amount of Mr. Aude's capital                  
          contributions in Magnum.  Further, she was unaware of its tax               
          shelter nature.  There were also no unexplained lavish or unusual           
          expenditures around this time which should have aroused                     
          petitioner's curiosity.  In sum, there were no facts present                
          which would have caused petitioner to harbor doubts about the               
          accuracy of the returns.                                                    
               In signing the returns, petitioner neither reviewed the                
          returns nor questioned Mr. Gruys or Mr. Aude regarding the                  
          returns.  While petitioner's duty cannot be relieved based solely           
          on petitioner's reliance on her preparer, it is a factor to be              
          considered in light of the other circumstances.  See Hayman v.              
          Commissioner, supra at 1262.  In the preparation of the tax                 
          returns, petitioner would submit her information regarding the              
          household expenses to Mr. Gruys, but she was not present when Mr.           
          Aude furnished his information to Mr. Gruys.  Further, Mr. Gruys            




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