Gennaro and Patricia Labato - Page 4




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          late, not to exceed 25 percent.  Sec. 6651(a)(1).  Petitioners              
          provided no evidence that they filed for an extension, while                
          respondent provided documentation establishing that an extension            
          request was not received.  Accordingly, we find that petitioners            
          never requested an extension.  Even if petitioners had requested            
          the extension of time to file, they would have received an                  
          automatic 4-month extension which would have expired prior to the           
          time the return was actually filed in this case.  Sec. 1.6081-              
          4(a)(1), Income Tax Regs.  To extend the time to file further,              
          petitioners would have had to request another extension.                    
          Petitioners did not claim they filed such an additional                     
          extension.                                                                  
               Additions to tax under section 6651(a)(1) are imposed unless           
          the taxpayer establishes that the failure to file timely was due            
          to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.  Sec. 6651(a)(1) and           
          (2).  "Reasonable cause" requires the taxpayer to demonstrate               
          that he exercised ordinary business care and prudence.  United              
          States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 246 (1985); sec. 301.6651-1(c)(1),           
          Proced. & Admin. Regs.  Willful neglect is defined as a                     
          "conscious, intentional failure or reckless indifference."                  
          United States v. Boyle, supra at 245.                                       
               The mere fact that petitioner was incarcerated at the time             
          his return was due is not reasonable cause, within the meaning of           
          section 6651(a)(1), for his failure to timely file.  Llorente v.            





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