Eddie Stricklin - Page 8

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          is presumed correct, and petitioner bears the burden of proving             
          that it is erroneous.  Rule 142(a); Siebert v. Commissioner, T.C.           
          Memo. 1997-6.  Petitioner has failed to produce any evidence on             
          the issue of his liability for self-employment taxes.  Therefore,           
          we sustain respondent's determination that petitioner is liable             
          for self-employment taxes for 1989 and 1990.                                
               The last issues to be addressed concern whether petitioner             
          is liable for the additions to tax under sections 6651(a)(1) and            
          6654(a) proposed by respondent.  Section 6651(a)(1) provides an             
          addition to tax for failure to file a Federal income tax return             
          by its due date (determined with regard to extensions), unless              
          the taxpayer shows that such failure was due to reasonable cause            
          and not willful neglect.  The taxpayer bears the burden of                  
          proving both.  United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 245 (1985).            
          A showing of reasonable cause requires that the taxpayer                    
          demonstrate that he exercised ordinary business care and prudence           
          but nevertheless was unable to file the return within the                   
          prescribed time.  Sec. 301.6651-1(c)(1), Proced. & Admin. Regs.;            
          see also United States v. Boyle, supra at 246.                              
               Petitioner stipulated that he did not file individual income           
          tax returns for the years 1989 and 1990 but claims to have                  
          reasonable cause because of the destruction of his records in the           
          truck accident previously discussed.  However, the destruction of           
          his records in February 1992 does not constitute reasonable cause           
          for failing to file returns for 1989 and 1990, which were due on            




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