Robert T. Schirle - Page 29

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          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 to                    





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