- 11 - Respondent also has the burden of proof with respect to any increases in amount over those shown in the notice of deficiency. Rule 142(a). Section 6651(a) provides that there will be a 5-percent addition to tax for each month the return is late, not to exceed 25 percent in the aggregate, imposed upon a taxpayer for failure to file a tax return or pay tax, unless such failure to file is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Although not defined in the Code, “reasonable cause” is viewed in the applicable regulations as the “exercise of ordinary business care and prudence”. Sec. 301.6651-1(c)(1), Proced. & Admin. Regs; see also United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 246 (1985). “Willful neglect” can be interpreted as a “conscious, intentional failure or reckless indifference.” United States v. Boyle, supra at 245. Based on the record in this case, we conclude that respondent’s relevant burdens of production and proof have been met, and petitioner has not provided any evidence that his failure to file was due to reasonable cause. Therefore, the Court sustains the imposition of an addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1). Section 6654(a) provides for an addition to tax for failure to pay estimated income tax where there has been an underpayment of estimated taxes by a taxpayer. Since the Court finds that petitioner’s situation does not fall within any of the specifiedPage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011