- 34 - practiced law in Florida for over 47 years. It is well settled that reasonable reliance on the advice of an attorney may constitute reasonable cause for failure to file a timely return. United States v. Boyle, supra at 250; Estate of La Meres v. Commissioner, 98 T.C. 294, 314 (1992). We find that Faye's reliance on her attorney's advice provided her with reasonable cause for her failure to file income tax returns for the years in issue. As a result, we hold that Faye is not liable for the additions to tax under section 6651(a). Respondent also determined that Faye is liable for an addition to tax for failure to pay estimated tax under section 6654(a) for each of the years in issue. Unless one of the statutory exemptions applies, imposition of this addition to tax is mandatory where prepayments of tax, either through withholding or by making estimated quarterly tax payments during the course of the year, do not equal the percentage of total liability required under the statute. Sec. 6654(a); Niedringhaus v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 202, 222 (1992). This section has no exception for reasonable cause and lack of willful neglect. Estate of Ruben v. Commissioner, 33 T.C. 1071, 1072 (1960); Kramer v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1996-513. Faye has not demonstrated that any of the statutory exemptions apply. Thus, we sustain respondent's determination.Page: Previous 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Next
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