- 16 - or limb". In Helvering v. Mitchell, 303 U.S. 391, 399-404 (1938), the United States Supreme Court stated: Congress may impose both a criminal and a civil sanction in respect to the same act or omission; for the double jeopardy clause prohibits merely punishing twice, or attempting a second time to punish criminally, for the same offense. The question for decision is thus whether section 293(b) [the predecessor of section 6653(b)] imposes a criminal sanction. That question is one of statutory construction. * * * * * * * * * * The remedial character of sanctions imposing additions to tax has been made clear by this Court in passing upon similar legislation. They are provided primarily as a safeguard for the protection of the revenue and to reimburse the Government for the heavy expense of investigation and the loss resulting from the taxpayer's fraud. * * * [Citations and fn. ref. omitted.] See Ianniello v. Commissioner, 98 T.C. 165, 176-185 (1992). The imposition of the addition to tax for fraud is not barred by double jeopardy. Respondent also determined that petitioners are liable for the section 6661 addition to tax for 1986. Petitioners bear the burden of proving that respondent’s determination is not correct. Rule 142(a); Cluck v. Commissioner, 105 T.C. 324, 339 (1995). Section 6661(a) provides for an addition to tax on underpayments attributable to a substantial understatement of income tax. Section 6661(b)(2)(A) defines the term “understatement” as being the excess of the amount of tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year over the amount shown on the return. An understatement is substantial if it exceeds the greater ofPage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Next
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