Richard and Brenda Nelon - Page 12

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          belief that he was not obligated to pay tax.  Petitioner, based             
          on his belief, failed to file his 1986 and later years' returns.            
          It was only after his bank account was seized in 1989 in                    
          connection with the audit of his 1985 tax return that petitioner            
          closed his bank account.  By 1989, petitioner had failed to file            
          several Federal income tax returns.  Petitioner believed that he            
          had correctly reported his income and deductions for 1985 by                
          using a professional return preparer (accountant).  Petitioner,             
          who is not well educated or versed in business and tax matters,             
          represented himself in the 1985 audit.  From his perspective he             
          had properly filed his 1985 return, and the resulting seizure of            
          his bank account caused him to react by closing the bank account.           
          There is no indication that the 1989 audit of petitioner's 1985             
          return involved the so-called protester arguments or that he                
          failed to cooperate with respondent's agent.                                
               Petitioner did not cooperate with the revenue agent in the             
          determination of his tax liability for 1986 through 1991.  On               
          occasion, this has been found to be an indicium of fraud.  See              
          Rowlee v. Commissioner, 80 T.C. at 1125; Grosshandler v.                    
          Commissioner, 75 T.C. 1, 20 (1980); Gajewski v. Commissioner, 67            
          T.C. 181, 200 (1976), affd. without published opinion 578 F.2d              
          1383 (8th Cir. 1978).  Here, however, petitioner did not attempt            
          to deceive or mislead the revenue agent.  Instead, he                       







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