Terence M. Bennett - Page 26

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            determination is presumed correct, and petitioner bears the                                 
            burden of proving otherwise.  Rule 142(a); Luman v. Commissioner,                           
            79 T.C. 846, 860-861 (1982).                                                                
                  In the instant case, petitioner argues that he informed his                           
            return preparer, Mr. Tilton, of the sale of the automobiles on                              
            behalf of the Ben-Jabr family and the loans he received in 1988.                            
            Petitioner contends that Mr. Tilton advised him that the receipt                            
            of the loan proceeds was not taxable.  Petitioner claims that his                           
            alleged reliance on Mr. Tilton's advice was reasonable, and he                              
            acted in good faith in not including the proceeds from the sale                             
            of the automobiles in his gross income for 1988.                                            
                  However, we have already found that the five automobiles in                           
            issue belonged to petitioner.  The information that petitioner                              
            allegedly gave to Mr. Tilton was not accurate, and, therefore,                              
            any advice based on this inaccurate information cannot be relied                            
            upon by petitioner to shield him from the addition to tax for                               
            negligence.  We also note that petitioner failed to report gain                             
            on his 1988 return from the sale of two additional automobiles                              
            which he admittedly owned.  Petitioner has failed to present any                            
            credible evidence demonstrating that he was not negligent, and,                             
            therefore, we sustain the addition to tax.                                                  
                  Finally, respondent determined that petitioner is liable for                          
            an addition to tax for substantial understatement of income tax.                            
            Section 6661(a) provides for an addition to tax equal to 25                                 
            percent of the amount of any underpayment attributable to such                              




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