Wade H. Griffin, III - Page 22




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          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 was             






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