Raymond Strong - Page 30

                                       - 30 -                                         
          1994), affg. T.C. Memo. 1993-480; Bixby v. Commissioner, 58 T.C.            
          757, 791-792 (1972).                                                        
               Broadly speaking, for purposes of this provision, negligence           
          is lack of due care or failure to do what a reasonable and                  
          ordinarily prudent person would do under the circumstances.                 
          Neely v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 934, 947-948 (1985).  Petitioner             
          contends that he relied on his tax return preparer, Levine, to              
          prepare the 1987 tax return, and, thus, he neither was negligent,           
          nor acted in intentional disregard of the rules or regulations.             
          Respondent contends that petitioner was negligent as to the                 
          entire underpayment and thus, the additions to tax under section            
          6653(a)(1) should be imposed.                                               
               We agree with respondent.                                              
               Petitioner was obligated to keep and present adequate and              
          accurate records of his trade or business expenses.  Sec. 6001;             
          Stovall v. Commissioner, 762 F.2d 891, 895 (11th Cir. 1985),                
          affg. T.C. Memo. 1983-450; Crocker v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. 899,            
          917 (1989).  An ordinarily prudent taxpayer who contends that he            
          spent more than $60,000, supra table 2, on employee trade or                
          business expenses (about 40 percent of his $163,289 gross                   
          receipts from that trade or business) would keep such records and           
          present them to his or her tax return preparer.  Petitioner’s               
          diary and stubs are inadequate, and they conflict with the facts            
          in material respects.  In addition, petitioner testified that he            
          did not give his diary to Levine, his tax return preparer.                  




Page:  Previous  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011