- 29 - Delinquency--Section 6651(a) Section 6651(a)(1) provides for an addition to tax of 5 percent per month for each month or part of a month for which a return is late, the aggregate not to exceed 25 percent. A taxpayer has a nondelegable duty to file a timely return but can avoid the addition to tax for failing to do so by affirmatively showing that the delinquency was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Sec. 6651(a). The taxpayer bears the burden of proving both (1) that the failure did not result from willful neglect, and (2) that the failure was due to reasonable cause. United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 245 (1985). If the taxpayer does not meet this twin burden, the imposition of the addition to tax is mandatory. Heman v. Commissioner, 32 T.C. 479 (1959), affd. 283 F.2d 227 (8th Cir. 1960). Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for a 25- percent addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1) for the 1989 and 1991 tax years. As we have already found, the 1989 tax year is closed pursuant to the statute of limitations; therefore, we confine our discussion of the addition to tax for failure to timely file to the 1991 tax year. Petitioner's 1991 Federal income tax return was filed on October 15, 1992. There is no evidence of a request for an extension for the filing of the 1991 return. Petitioner argues that respondent has failed toPage: Previous 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011