T.C. Memo. 1996-272
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
TOMMY L. AND PATRICIA A. HOBSON, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF
INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 3640-94 Filed June 12, 1996.
Tommy L. and Patricia A. Hobson, pro se.
George W. Bezold, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
WRIGHT, Judge: Respondent determined a deficiency in
petitioners’ Federal income tax for taxable year 1990 in the
amount of $10,229, an addition to tax under section 6651(a) in
the amount of $2,087, and an accuracy-related penalty under
section 6662(a) in the amount of $2,045.03.1
1
Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to
the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the year at issue, and
all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and
(continued...)
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After concessions by the parties, the issues for our
decision for the taxable year 1990 are:
(1) Whether petitioners received a taxable distribution
from Mrs. Hobson’s retirement plan, and if so, whether
petitioners are liable for the additional tax under section 72(t)
for an early distribution from such plan. We hold that the 1990
distribution was taxable, and petitioners are subject to the
additional tax under section 72(t).
(2) Whether petitioners are liable for an addition to tax
under section 6651(a) for failure to timely file their 1990
income tax return. We hold that they are not.
(3) Whether petitioners are liable for an accuracy-related
penalty under section 6662(a) due to a substantial understatement
of income tax. We hold that they are.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are found
accordingly. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are
incorporated herein. Petitioners resided in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, at the time the petition was filed. Petitioners filed
a joint Federal income tax return for taxable year 1990 on
October 28, 1991. All references to petitioner in the singular
refer to Patricia A. Hobson.
1
(...continued)
Procedure.
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Petitioner was employed by the Oster Division of Sunbeam
Corporation (Oster) until it went out of business in 1990. It is
unclear from the record the exact dates of petitioner’s
employment. At some time during 1990, petitioner received a
lump-sum distribution in the amount of $26,513 from the Oster
Division Sunbeam Employees Profit Sharing Plan (Plan). In 1990,
the Plan was “qualified” within the meaning of section 401(a).
Petitioner had not attained the age of 55 in 1990. The
distribution was not rolled over into an individual retirement
account or other qualified retirement plan and was not reported
on petitioners' income tax return for the taxable year 1990.
Petitioners have four children; one child has multiple
sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair. Petitioners care for
Mrs. Hobson's father who suffered a stroke and has had both legs
amputated. Petitioner's father lives with petitioners. Mr.
Hobson is employed in a minimum security prison for women. Due
to the location of Mr. Hobson's job, petitioners lived separately
for sometime during 1990.
OPINION
Issue 1. Plan Distribution
The first issue for our decision is whether a distribution
from petitioner's profit sharing plan in 1990 is includable in
income, and, if so, whether petitioners are liable for the 10-
percent tax on an early distribution from petitioner's plan under
section 72(t). Section 402(a)(1) provides the general rule that
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unless otherwise provided, any amount paid or distributed from an
employee's trust described in section 401(a) is includable in the
recipient's gross income for the year of receipt in the manner
provided under section 72. These statutes apply to petitioner's
distribution.
Section 72(t) provides:
(1) Imposition of additional tax.--If any taxpayer
receives any amount from a qualified retirement plan
* * *, the taxpayer's tax * * * for the taxable year in
which such amount is received shall be increased by an
amount equal to 10 percent of the portion of such
amount which is includible in gross income.
Section 72(t)(2) provides for certain exceptions to the
general rule contained in paragraph (1). Petitioner, however,
provided no evidence to suggest that she fit within any of these
enumerated exceptions. The legislative history suggests that one
of the reasons for enacting section 72(t) was to deter the use of
retirement savings for nonretirement use. H. Rept. 99-426
(1985), 1986-3 C.B. (Vol. 2) 1, 728-729; S. Rept. 99-313 (1986),
1986-3 C.B. (Vol. 3) 1, 612-613. Petitioner received an early
distribution from her profit sharing plan in taxable year 1990,
and petitioners' having failed to show that any of the exceptions
found in section 72(t)(2) apply, we find that petitioners are
liable for the 10-percent additional tax pursuant to section
72(t) as determined by respondent. See Aronson v. Commissioner,
98 T.C. 283 (1992).
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Issue 2. Section 6651(a) Addition to Tax for Delinquency
The next issue for our decision is whether petitioners are
liable for the addition to tax under section 6651 for failure to
timely file their 1990 joint Federal income tax return. Section
6651(a)(1) imposes an addition to tax in an amount equal to 5
percent of the amount required to be shown as tax on a return for
each month or fraction thereof for which a return is delinquent,
not to exceed 25 percent in the aggregate. The addition to tax
under this section does not apply if the taxpayer establishes
that the failure to timely file was due to reasonable cause and
not due to willful neglect. The burden of proof is on
petitioners to show the failure is due to reasonable cause and
not willful neglect. Rule 142(a).
Based upon review of the record in the instant case, we find
that petitioners have met their burden of showing that their
failure to timely file their return for 1990 was due to
reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Petitioners
testified that, in addition to caring for a sick child and
invalid parent, they lived apart during 1990 due to Mr. Hobson's
job, which separation caused a great deal of marital problems.
Petitioners argue that, as a result of their difficulties during
the taxable year at issue, their failure to timely file their
return was due to reasonable cause. We agree. Accordingly,
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petitioners are not liable for the addition to tax under section
6651 for taxable year 1990 as determined by respondent.
Issue 3. Section 6662 Substantial Understatement
Respondent determined that petitioners are liable for the
section 6662(a) penalty for 1990. Section 6662(a) imposes an
accuracy-related penalty in an amount equal to 20 percent of the
underpayment of tax attributable to one or more of the items set
forth in section 6662(b). In the notice of deficiency,
respondent based the determination of the section 6662(a) penalty
on petitioners' underpayment being due to a substantial
understatement. See sec. 6662(b)(2). A "substantial
understatement" occurs when an understatement exceeds the greater
of $5,000 or 10 percent of the amount of tax required to be shown
on a return. Sec. 6662(d)(1)(A). An "understatement" means the
excess of the amount of the tax required to be shown on a return
over the amount of tax imposed which is shown on the return,
reduced by any rebate (within the meaning of section 6211(b)(2)).
Sec. 6662(d)(2)(A).
The accuracy-related penalty under section 6662(b)(2) does
not apply with respect to any portion of an underpayment if it is
shown that there was reasonable cause for such portion and that
petitioners acted in good faith with respect to such portion.
Sec. 6664(c)(1). The determination of whether petitioners acted
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with reasonable cause and in good faith depends upon the
pertinent facts and circumstances. Sec. 1.6664-4(b)(1), Income
Tax Regs. The most important factor is the extent of the
taxpayers' effort to assess their proper tax liability for the
taxable year. Id. Although we found that petitioners' failure
to timely file their 1990 return was due to reasonable cause, we
find that the record fails to establish that petitioners acted
with reasonable cause and in good faith in assessing whether
petitioner's distribution from her profit sharing plan was
taxable. Petitioners offered no evidence that they made a good
faith effort to assess their proper tax liability. Based on this
record, we conclude that petitioners are liable for the section
6662 accuracy-related penalty as determined by respondent.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered
under Rule 155.