James W. Harris and Dorthy R. Harris - Page 13

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          neglect.  Sec. 6651(a)(1); Rule 142(a); United States v. Boyle,             
          469 U.S. 241, 245 (1985).  A failure to file timely a Federal               
          income tax return is due to reasonable cause if the taxpayer                
          exercised ordinary business care and prudence, and, nevertheless,           
          was unable to file the return within the prescribed time.  Sec.             
          301.6651-1(c)(1), Proced. & Admin. Regs.  Willful neglect means a           
          conscious, intentional failure or reckless indifference.  United            
          States v. Boyle, supra at 245.                                              
               As to the accuracy-related penalty, section 6662(a) imposes            
          such a penalty equal to 20 percent of the portion of an                     
          underpayment that is attributable to, among other things,                   
          negligence.  In order to avoid this penalty, petitioners must               
          prove that they were not negligent, i.e., that they made a                  
          reasonable attempt to comply with the provisions of the Code, and           
          that they were not careless, reckless, or in intentional                    
          disregard of rules or regulations.  Sec. 6662(c); see also Bixby            
          v. Commissioner, 58 T.C. 757, 791-792 (1972).  Petitioners were             
          negligent if they displayed a lack of due care or failed to do              
          what a reasonable and prudent person would do under similar                 
          circumstances.  Allen v. Commissioner, 925 F.2d 348, 353 (9th               
          Cir. 1991), affg. 92 T.C. 1 (1989).                                         
               On the basis of our careful review of the record, we hold              
          that petitioners are liable for both the addition to tax and the            
          accuracy-related penalty determined by respondent.  Petitioners             
          filed their 1992 tax return on April 19, 1995, and they have not            
          provided a satisfactory explanation for their failure to file               


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