- 22 - T.C. 934, 947 (1985). The penalty, however, is not imposed with respect to any portion of an underpayment for which there was reasonable cause and a taxpayer acted in good faith. See sec. 6664(c)(1). On brief, respondent asserts that the only adjustments to which the negligence penalty applies are unreported interest and dividend income in the amounts of $1,996 and $3,488, respectively, and the amounts of $6,621 and $331,697, which are flow-through items from HGTG’s bankruptcy estate. With respect to the interest and dividend items, petitioner conceded that the amounts were unreported, and he poses no defense with respect to his failure to report the same. With respect to the flow-through items from HGTG’s bankruptcy estate, petitioner contends that he reasonably relied on his accountant, Gammon. Reasonable cause can be established if a taxpayer can show reasonable reliance on the advice of a competent and experienced accountant who prepared the return. See Weis v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 473, 487 (1990). Gammon had prepared petitioner’s and petitioner’s business entities’ Federal income tax returns for almost 10 years at the time of the preparation of petitioner’s 1994 Federal income tax return. Gammon was familiar with petitioner’s business and financial matters. Gammon had prepared HGTG’s returns and was familiar with its financial condition through the time that HGTG went into bankruptcy. After HGTG was in bankruptcy, Gammon wasPage: Previous 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Next
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