- 17 - is no evidence that petitioner used the designated areas exclusively for his business. Petitioner also failed to offer any evidence regarding the amount of time and the nature of the work conducted at his home to establish regular use. Therefore, petitioner’s apartment does not qualify as a home office. Respondent’s determination disallowing deductions for home office expenses is sustained. C. Late Filing Addition to Tax Respondent determined an addition to tax under section 6651(a)(1) for 2002, asserting that petitioner failed to timely file a return for that year. Section 7491(c) imposes the burden of production in any court proceeding on the Commissioner with respect to the liability of any individual for penalties and additions to tax. Higbee v. Commissioner, 116 T.C. at 446; Trowbridge v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2003-164, affd. 378 F.3d 432 (5th Cir. 2004). In order to meet the burden of production under section 7941(c), the Commissioner need only make a prima facie case that imposition of the penalty or addition to tax is appropriate. Higbee v. Commissioner, supra. The burden of proof remains on the taxpayer, who must prove that his failure to file timely was: (1) Due to reasonable cause, and (2) not due to willful neglect. Sec. 6651(a); United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 245 (1985); Higbee v. Commissioner, supra at 446-447. A failure to file timely aPage: Previous 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011