- 14 - withholding or by making estimated quarterly tax payments during the course of the year do not equal the percentage of total liability required under the statute, imposition of the addition to tax under section 6654 is automatic, unless the taxpayer shows that one of the statutory exceptions applies. Sec. 6654(a); Niedringhaus v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 202, 222 (1992); Grosshandler v. Commissioner, 75 T.C. 1, 20-21 (1980). Petitioner bears the burden of showing qualification for such an exception. Habersham-Bey v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 304, 319-320 (1982). Petitioner offered no testimony or other evidence that an exception applies, and petitioner did not make any estimated tax payments for 1988. Accordingly, we hold that petitioner is liable for the addition to tax under section 6654(a) for 1988. As to respondent's motion for imposition of a penalty under section 6673, section 6673(a)(1) allows this Court to award a penalty not in excess of $25,000 when proceedings have been instituted or maintained primarily for delay, or where the taxpayer's position is frivolous or groundless if it is contrary to established law and unsupported by a reasoned, colorable argument for a change in the law. Coleman v. Commissioner, 791 F.2d 68, 71 (7th Cir. 1986); Kish v. Commissioner, supra; Talmage v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1996-114, affd. without published opinion 101 F.3d 695 (4th Cir. 1996). In our opinion, such is the case here, and we believe that a penalty is appropriate. WePage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
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