- 11 - own use", id., so that a personal representative can be charged with grand theft for converting estate assets without the consent or approval of the estate's beneficiaries, id. at 1101-1103. Although Mr. Howard had legal title to the estate assets in his capacity as personal representative, he had no right to dispose of the estate assets for his personal use. Mr. Howard has stipulated and the record clearly shows that he spent the money he withdrew from the estate for his personal use. Under State v. Lahurd, supra, when a personal representative converts estate proceeds for personal use, such proceeds are the “property of another”. Consequently, Mr. Howard was not merely borrowing money from himself, and he did need consents from the beneficiaries to create legitimate loans between the estate and himself. We also hold that petitioner is liable for the additions to tax under sections 6651(a)(1) and 6654. If a taxpayer fails to file a return by the due date and cannot show that the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, then section 6651(a)(1) imposes an addition equal to 5 percent of the underpayment of tax for each month such failure continues, not to exceed 25 percent in the aggregate. Petitioner bears the burden of proving that his failure to file a timely return was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. Rule 142(a); United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 245 (1985). Petitioner did not file income tax returns for 1987 and 1988. He has offered noPage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011