Edward C. Tietig - Page 47




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          the taxpayer gave to the adviser the necessary and accurate                 
          information; and the taxpayer actually relied in good faith on              
          the adviser’s judgment.  Neonatology Associates, P.A. v.                    
          Commissioner, 115 T.C. 43, 99 (2000).                                       
               We are not convinced that petitioner reasonably relied on              
          his outside accountant in reporting the items in issue.  The                
          record does not contain evidence of what specific information               
          petitioner provided the outside accountant.  Indeed, it was Ms.             
          Fox who provided the information to the outside accountant.                 
          Petitioner has not established that the incorrect returns were              
          the result of advice provided by the outside accountant.                    
          Accordingly, we find that petitioner has failed to prove that any           
          portion of his underpayments was due to reasonable cause or that            
          substantial authority existed for his various tax positions.                
               Petitioner also argues that he is protected by the automatic           
          stay provision of 11 U.S.C. sec. 362 (1994) from the accuracy-              
          related penalty for negligence.  As a general rule, the filing of           
          a petition in bankruptcy operates to stay the commencement or               
          continuation of any action or proceeding against the debtor.  11            
          U.S.C. sec. 362(a) (1994).  However, 11 U.S.C. sec. 362(b)(9)               
          (1994) provides an exception to the automatic stay for audits               
          conducted by the Government to determine tax liability.   We find           
          that petitioner’s involvement in a bankruptcy proceeding did not            
          prevent respondent from determining that petitioner was liable              






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