- 7 - The third issue for decision is whether petitioner is liable for the section 6651(a)(1) addition to tax. Section 6651(a)(1) imposes an addition to tax for failure to timely file a return, unless the taxpayer establishes that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. "Reasonable cause" requires the taxpayer to demonstrate that it exercised ordinary business care and prudence and was nonetheless unable to file a return within the prescribed time. United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 245-246 (1985). "Willful neglect" means a conscious, intentional failure or reckless indifference. Id. The addition to tax equals 5 percent of the tax required to be shown on the return if the failure to file is for not more than 1 month, with an additional 5 percent for each additional month or fraction of a month during which the failure to file continues, not to exceed a maximum of 25 percent. Sec. 6651(a)(1). Petitioner testified that he thought that he was not required to file a return for 1992 because he believed that his gross income for 1992 was less than $5,900. Section 6012 provides that an individual with a filing status of single must file an income tax return for any taxable year in which his "gross income" exceeds the sum of the section 151(d)(1) exemption amount and the section 63(c)(2) basic standard deduction for such individual. Sec. 6012(a)(1)(A)(i). The sum of these amounts for petitioner's 1992 taxable year was $5,900. However, petitioner's reported gross income for 1992 was $31,452, consisting ofPage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
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