TAX COURT OPINION

Case: Otis E. & Judy Robertson
Docket Number: 1616-06
Judge: Goeke
Opinion Type: memo
Filed: 04/29/2009
Pages: 26

T .C .' Memo . 2009-9 1 UNITED STATES TAX COUR T OTIS E . AND JUDY ROBERTSON, Petitioners v . COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE,°Responden t Docket Nos . 1 616-06, 2.4391-06 . Filed April 29, 2 009 . Otis E . and Judy Robertson, pro sese . Mark H . Howard , for respondent . . MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINIO N GOEKE, Judge : Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' income taxes, section 6651(a)(1)1 additions to tax , 'Unless otherwise indicated, . all section references "are to the Internal Revenue Code, and all Rule references are to°the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure . . Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar . SERVED Apr 29 2009 and section 6662 accuracy-related penalties for 2001 and 2002 as 2 - follows- 01 Addition to Tax Penalty Year Deficiency Sec . 6651 ( a)(1) Sec . 6662(a ) 2001 $3,779 $356 $755 2002 57,753 14,438 .11,55 1 After concessions, the issues for decision are : 2 (1) Whether petitioners had unreported long-term capita l gain of $44,549 in 2001 as a result of a distribution fro m Quality Engine & Supply, L .L .C . (QES) . We hold they must recognize long-term capital gain of $44,549 ; (2) whether petitioners had unreported long-term capital gain of $328,901 for 2002 as a result of a distribution by QES . We hold they must recognize long-term capital gain of $200,000 ; In the notice of deficiency for 2001 respondent determined that petitioners failed to report $499 in interest income and $517 in royalty income . Petitioners did not assign error to these adjustments in their petition for 2001 and did not contest these adjustments on brief or at trial . See Rule 34(b)(4) . We hold that petitioners have conceded these adjustments . Respondent also determined that petitioners received $5,982 in taxablevSocial Security benefits . Petitioners note that the taxation of the Social Security benefits is a computational item and do not otherwise contest this issue . _ 3 _ (3) whether petitioners are entitled to an ordinary loss deduction of $63,512 for 2002 as petitioner husband's distributive share of loss from'QES . We hold petitioners are not entitled to an ordinary loss deduction ; (4) whether petitioners are liable for additions to tax for late filing under section 6651(a)(1) for 2001 and 2002 . We hold they are liable ; and (5) whether petitioners are liable for section 6662 accuracy-related penalties for',-2001 and-2002 . We hold they are not liable with respect to QES items and are liable with respect to conceded income amounts for 2001 . FINDINGS OF FACT - Some of the facts have been stipulated . The stipulations of facts and the accompanying exhibits are incorporated by this reference . Petitioners resided in South Carolina at the time they filed the petitions in these consolidated cases .' During 2001 and 2002 petitioners(cid:127)were the sole members o f .QES, a limited liability company treated as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes . QES was engaged it the business of car engine repair and restoration . Petitioner husband started QES with Terry Campbell (Mr . Campbell) in October 1990 with each owning 50 percent of the company . In . October 1997 petitioners purchased Mr . Campbell's interest(cid:127)for'$75,000 . Their agreement included a covenant not to compete provision, with $50,000 payable at the . time of the sale and $25,000 payable within 2 years .. Petitioners obtained a .loan of $65,000 using their residence as collateral to finance,,the purchase of Mr, Campbell's interest in QES . Petitioners used the remaining loan proceeds,to .purchase inventory for QES . . For 2001 QES reported that petitioner husband owned a 51-percent profits and loss interest and a 51-percent capital interest and petitioner wife-owned a49- percent profits and loss interest and a 49-percent,,capital interest ., For 2002 QES reported that petitioner husband and petitioner wife each owned a 50-percent profits and loss interest and a 50-percent capital interest . In February 1999 QES acquired two adjoining parcels of land at 1312 Flint Street and 1304 Flint Street ; Rock Hill, South Carolina, for $50,000 . QES also paid $10,000 to a third party who had an option to . purchase the 1312 Flint Street parcel for release and cancellation of the option- . QES obtained a $175,000 line .of credit from National,Bank of . York County .(National Bank) to finance the purchase,of the Flint Street properties and construction costs for buildings on the properties (construction loan) . The .construction loan was secured with mortgages on the- Flint Street properties and,petitioners' personal residence . Petitioners also . personally guaranteed,the construction loan . When the construction loan matured on July 5, 1999, the parties,, modified the terms of the loan to increase the line of credit to $250,000 and extend the maturity date to May 5, 2000 . QES used the construction loan to refurbish a building at 1312 Flint Street that was damaged by fire and to construct a building at ., 1304 Flint Street . 11 QES also moved'a metal building that it had purchased for $10,000 to the Flint Street location . On April-28, 2000, .QES obtained a loan of $301,500 from Bank of America (the Bank of America loan) that QES used to repay the construction loan of $251,934 . The Bank of America loan was secured by the 1304 and 1312 Flint Street properties, and petitioner husband provided a personal guaranty . The terms-of the loan provided an additional $301,500 line of credit for a maximum loan of $603,000 . On July 12, 2001, QES sold the 1312 Flint Street property for $200,000 . The settlement statement reported net proceeds to QES of $44,549 after payment of the Bank of America loan and other expenses . On July 23, 2001, petitioners deposited the proceeds into a newly opened interest-bearing account in their individual names with National Bank ; which later became South Carolina Bank & Trust of the Piedmont (SCBT) . 'QES filed a Form 1065, U .S . Return of Partnership Income, for 2001 that reported a net loss of $32,000 from the sale of the 1312 .'Flint Street, property, computed as follows : 6 - Sale price , Less : Plus : Cost and other basis' Depreciation previously claimed Net loss $200,,00 0 310,00 0 78,00 0 32,00 0 Petitioners did not claim the $32,000 loss on their 2001 individual return . In the .notice~of deficiency for 2001 respondent determined, .that petitioners realized long-term capita l gain of $-44,549 from the-sale of property owned by QES and that the net proceeds were distributed to petitioners during 2001 . On June 28, 2002, QES sold the 1304 FlintStreet propert y for $275,000 and its business inventory and other assets for $200,000 to Adkin Enterprises, L .L .C . The settlement statement for the 1304 Flint Street property reported net proceeds to QES, of $128,901 after payment-of the Bank of America loan and other expenses . The .settlement statement for the sale of inventory and other,business assets reported net proceeds .of $200,000 . QES received a-check for $328,901,from the transactions . On July 2, 2002, petitioners deposited $200,000 into a newly opened interest-bearing account in the name of :Quality Engine & Supply Trust~'(QES trust . account) with SCBT . The remaining $128,901 in proceeds was paid to Quality Engine,(cid:127) (cid:127)L .L .C . .., in the form of a cashier's . check issued by_SCBT on July 1,,2002 . QES reported the 2002 sales on Form 4797, Sales of Business 7 - Property , as an asset sale occurring on June 30 , 2002, for $475,000 . The return reported a loss on the sale of $5,691 computed as follows : Sale price Less : Plus : Cost and other basis Depreciation previously claimed $475,00 0 514,00 0 33,30 9 Net loss -5,69 1 QES's 2002 return reported an ordinary loss of $127,025 resulting primarily from operating expense deductions . . Petitioners claimed an ordinary loss on their 2002 individual return of $63,512, attributable to petitioner husband's distributive share of the QES loss . Petitioners did not claim a loss deduction for petitioner wife's distributive share . Petitioners did not separately report the $5,691 loss from the asset sale on their individual return . In the notice of deficiency for 2002 respondent disallowed the $63,512 ordinary loss and determined that petitioners realized long-term capital gain of $328,901 from the distribution of the 2002 proceeds or, in the alternative, from the sales of their interests in QES . Petitioners' 2001 return was due under extension on October 15, 2002, and they filed it on December 6, 2002 . Petitioners' 2002 return was due under extension on August 15, 2003,° and the y filed it on December 24, 2003 . Petitioners' 2001 and 2002 individual returns were prepared by Gregory T . Mayer, a tax return preparer doing business as Legal Tax Newsletter, L .C . Mr . - 8 - Mayer also prepared QES's 2001 and 2002 partnership returns . .Petitioners provided their personal and business tax records to Mr . Mayer with sufficient time for him to prepare the returns by their April 15 due date . Mr . Mayer informed petitioners that he would . not be able to prepare their returns on time and tha t extensions were necessary . Mr . Mayer passed away some time after preparing petitioners' 2003 return, which he dated May 13, 2005 . Many of QES's and petitioners' tax documents were in Mr . Mayer's office and were destroyed by his landlord following his death . During the time petitioners engaged Mr . Mayer to prepare their returns, he was under investigation by the U .S . :Department of Justice in connection with his tax return preparation activities .3 See United States v . Mayer , 91 AFTR 2d 2003-1730 (M .D . Fla . 2003) (granting a temporary restraining order against Mr . Mayer and requiring him to provide a customer list) . In March 2005 the U .S . District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered an order enjoining Mr . Mayer from preparing any tax forms that he knew would result in understatements of'tax, preparing false or fraudulent returns, and selling fraudulent tax schemes, specifically identifying returns that asserted a section 861 argument (which relates to U .S . source income) . United States v . Mayer , 95 AFTR 2d 2005-2033 (M .D . Fla . 2005) . 3The Court takes judicial notice of the District Court case against Mr . Mayer . Petitioners replaced him as their tax r6turn ;'preparer for the .! 9 .; ._ 2004 tax year :z 'OPINION Section 731(a) sets forth rules governing a partner ' s-- gai n recognition .-on distributions from the partnership . A partner must recognize gain upon a distribution from the partnership to the extent that the-'money ,( including marketable securities)" distributed exceeds-the adjusted basis in the partner ' s interest' in the partnership immediately before the' distribution . Sec . ., 731(a ) . Any gain recognized - under section,731(a)-is-considered gain from the sale orexchange Hof the' partnership interest of the- distributee partner . Sec . 731 ( a) . In the case : of a sale'br, exchange of a-partnership interest , gain recognized'-to the transferor partner is generally treated as gain . from-the sale o r exchange of a capital asset . Sec . 741 .,'To resolve the dispute as framed by the parties,' petitioners' tax liabilities,arisin g from their. ownership of QES requires a two-step analysis : .(1 ) Whether petitioners received distributions from QES during 200 1 and .2002 ; and (2) if they did, whether they had sufficient base s in their QES interests for the distributions to be tax free . A . 2001 Sal e Respondent argues that petitioners received a distributio n from QES of the $44,549 net proceeds from the sale of the 1312 Flint Street property during 20-01 . Respondent further argues 10 - that the distribution is taxable long-term capital gain to 'petitioners because they failed to substantiate their bases in their QES interests . Respondent contends that petitioners' adjusted bases in their QES interests immediately before the distributions were zero, citing the zero balances reported for petitioners' capital accounts on QES's 2001 return . Petitioners argue that the proceeds were not distributed to them ; rather, they were used to pay QES's liabilities . Petitioners further argue that the alleged payments of QES's liabilities created bases in their QES interests . Petitioners, contend that they had a total basis in their QES_interests as of .December 31, 2001, of $510,635 computed as. follows : Loans from officers $54,000 Partner's capital 333,663 Payment of QES liabilities 37,972 . Purchase of Campbell interest 75,000 and noncompete covenan t Purchase of option 10,00 0 Total adjusted basis 510,63 5 Petitioners deposited the proceeds in a newly established bank account opened in their individual names . Petitioners contend that $37,972 was withdrawn during 2001 to pay QES's debt . Although we generally find petitioner husband's testimony to be honest, petitioners have not produced sufficient documentation to support his testimony . Petitioners produced bank statements from August 15, 2001, to December 15, 2002, showing 14 withdrawal s totaling $49,697 . The bank statements do not contain any - 11 - information regarding the recipients of the withdrawals or the purposes of the purported expenditures . Petitioners attached a schedule to their posttrial brief listing some of the recipients and the purposes of the expenditures . However, this evidence is not properly before the Court . See Rule 143(b) . Petitioners produced bank statements for 2003, 2004, and 2005 that also lack sufficient information to determine the uses or recipients of ,the funds . We find that petitioners received a distribution from, QES of $44,549 from the 2001 proceeds . Petitioners must recognize income on the distribute d proceeds to the extent that exceeds their adjusted bases in their QES interests in 2001 . Sec .'731(a) . °Petitioners have not established that they had sufficient bases in their QES interests . for the distributions to be tax free . Petitioners presented a balance sheet for the year ending December 31, 2001, in support of their computation of their bases in QES . Petitioners did not present any evidence to document the entries on the balance sheet or any testimony concerning the balance-sheet .' The purpose for which the balance sheet was prepared is unclear, and the balance sheet conflicts with QES's 2001 return . The 2001 return reported total yearend liabilities of $416,903 ., but the balance sheet reported total liabilities of $233,938 . Also, the 2001 return reported no partner capital, but the 2001 balance sheet reported capital of $333,6 .63, with retained earnings of,$204,742 and 12 withdrawals of retained earnings of $128,921 . The 2001 return and the balance sheet also report differing amounts of total QES assets . Petitioners-did not provide any explanation for these discrepancies . In addition, the balance sheet shows ,officer loans, .but there is no documentation for these loans . 4 Apart from the balance sheet, petitioners presented some evidence of equipment contributed to QES, their capital account near the time QES was formed, and the purchase of Mr . Campbell's interest in 1997 . The determination of-a partner's adjusted basis in .a partnership interest requires more information, including annual distributive shares of partnership income and losses and distributions made by, the partnership since its inception . The record lacks information on petitioners' distributive shares of income or loss and any distributions made during the . intervening years . Without this information we cannot determine, whether petitioners' bases in QES exceeded the distribution . . The fact that petitioners did not claim their reported $32,000 . loss from the sale on their individual retur n also suggests . .that they lacked bases in their QES interests .- Partners may deduct their distributive shares of loss only to th e 4Petitioners .presented copies of five checks totaling $13,800 from 2000 to 2002 from'a personal bank account, made out to QES with notations of loan to QES . The record lacks any other documentation of the alleged loans from officers of $54,000 . We find that the net proceeds were not distributed to petitioners in repayment of any loans . - 13 - extent-of their bases in their partnership interests . Sec . 704(d)I Accordingly, the entire $44,549 distribution is taxable long-term capital gain as respondent-determined . In the notice of deficiency for 2001 respondent determined that petitioners -realized long-term capital gain from the sale of the 1312 Flint Street'property by QES .' Section 702 subjects a partner to tax on the partner's distributive share of partnership income when realized by the partnership regardless of whether that income is actually distributed to the partner . See Chama v . Commissioner , T .C . Memo . 2001-253 ; sec . 1 .702-1(a), Income Tax Regs . Gain from the sale of property should be recognized and included in gross income .' Sec . 61(a)(3) . The amount of gain is the excess'of the amount realized from the .sale"over the adjusted basis of the property . Sec . 1001(a .) . At trial respondent argued that, evidence relating to the bases of the assets sold by .QES was not relevant . In his posttrial brief. respondent generally ignored the requirement that partners recognize gain on the sale of assets by the partnership and instead sought to tax the distribution of the proceeds . Accordingly, we find that 14 - respondent has waived the argument that petitioners are subject to tax on QES'.s sale of the 1312 Flint Street property- 5 The tax consequence to petitioners would be the same had respondent sought to tax the gain QES realized on the sale, of the 1312 Flint Street property . Respondent reduced the amounts realized on the sale-by the amount of the Bank of America loan, and petitioners have not established that QES had a basis in the Flint Street properties in excess of the Bank of America loan that would reduce the amount of long-term capital gain respondent determined . . Petitioners . presented voluminous records of the construction costs of both the 1304 and the 1312 Flint Street buildings . However, the construction costs do not establish a basis in the Flint Street properties in excess of the Bank of America loan . .,B . 2002 Sal e Respondent determined that petitioners had unreported long- term capital gain of $328,901 for 2002 as a result of a distribution from QES of the net proceeds from the 2002 transaction . Petitioners contend that the proceeds were no t distributed because, they were used to pay .QES's outstanding 5The tax effect to petitioners would be the same unde r either argument . The $44,549 capital gain that petitioners would recognize on the sale of the 1312 Flint'Street property would increase their bases . in their QES interests . As a result petitioners would not be taxed on the $44,549 distribution . Sec . 705(a) . 15 - liabilities . . Petitioners further contend that their total basis in their QES interests at the end of 2002 was $646,551, which is based on the above computation of the 2001 basis plus the payment of QES's liabilities of°$132,916 . Petitioner husband testified that the proceeds were used to pay QES's remaining liabilities after the disposition of QES's assets . Petitioners produced bank statements from the QES trust account for 2002 that show'withdrawals .of $178,202 and copies of canceled checks that show-the recipients of-some of the withdrawals and"notations of the purpose of the payment .- I Petitioners also attached a schedule to their posttrial brie f listing the recipients and purposes of the'payments .6 Petitioners contend that $132,916'of these withdrawals was used to pay QES's liabilities, and thus concede that $45,286 .wa s ,distributed for personal or nonbusiness purposes, including a downpayment on a residence in Arizona purchased on November 1, 2002, as rental property . . Petitioners-erroneously included $10,200 they transferred to Quality Vehicle Repair & Sales L .L .C . (QVR), another of their business ventures, as withdrawals to pay QES's liabilities . It appears from the record that QV.R wa s engaged in a line of business different from QES's .and was not a 'As-noted above, information contained in schedules attached to posttrial briefs that was not presentedaat trial is not - properly before'the Court .- See Rule 143(b) . The schedule lists the purposes of expenditures paid from the QES trust account and contains evidence that was not presented at trial . 1 6 continuation of QES's business . operations .? The transfers to QVR- should be treated as distributed to petitioners . We also question whether certain other payments from the QES trust account were used to pay QES's liabilities , including : (1) Four withdrawals identified in the schedule as relating to the purchase and/or repair of trucks ,' totaling $ 53,'094 . There is no evidence that the trucks were used in QES's business ; ( 2) three payments identified as Visa travel , totaling $ 7,733 . There is no evidence concerning whether the Visa account was .business or personal ; ( 3) two withdrawals identified-as relating to concrete, totaling .$ 1,447 . The notation on one check indicates,that_ petitioners used the concrete for a motor home . There-is no evidence concerning the motor home and whether it was used for business purposes ; and (4 ) a withdrawal of $54,150 to SCBT for the payment of a loan . There is no documentation relating to an unpaid business loan from SCBT to QES during 2002 . The above- listed payments and the transfers to QVR represent $ 126,624 of the $132,916 in alleged business - related withdrawals from the QES trust ,, account during 2002 . We cannot determine from the recor d 'Petitioners reported a loss of $7,614 from QVR on Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, of their 2002 return . The return used an employer identification number (EIN) for QVR that was different from the EIN used for QES . However, subsequentyear partnership returns filed for QVR erroneously used QES's EIN . Petitioner husband stated that this mistake had been corrected . Petitioners' treatment of QVR does not affect our determination that the 2002 sale was a disposition of QES's assets . - 1 7 whether these amounts were-used to pay QES's liabilities . also note that the record contains evidence that petitioners used their business entities to pay personal expenses at .various times ., Under these circumstances ; we find that the $200,000 deposited into the QES trust account was not used to pay QES' s liabilities and was distributed to petitioners-during 2002 fo r their personal benefit . As stated above, petitioners attempted to present evidence of their bases in QES .' Petitioners failed to .establish that they had adjusted bases(cid:127)in their QES interests in 2002 so that the distribution is not subject to tax under section 731(a) : Accordingly, we hold that petitioners realized long-ter m capital gain of $200,000 for 2002 .. Petitioners contend that QES used the $128,901 cashier's check to pay QES's liabilities . on its 2002 return QES reported, inventory and purchases of $425,000 and beginning-of-the-year liabilities in excess of $600,000 .- We recognize that the record lacks specific information about the use of the cashier's check . However, we find petitioner husband's testimony honest . There is no evidence to contradict his testimony . Although we find the amount deposited,into theQES trust account was . not used fo r QES's business purposes, it is unrealistic to assume that QES did not have any outstanding liabilities after'the 2002 transaction 18 - and payment of the Bank of America loan . Accordingly, we find- that the cashier's check was not distributed to petitioners .' Petitioners characterize the 2002 transaction as a complet e disposition or sale of QES . Respondent asserts that petitioners would be. taxable on the $328,901 proceeds .for 2002 under this alternative characterization of the . transaction as a sale of petitioners' QES interests . Petitioners structured th e transaction as an asset sale and reported the 2002,sale on QES's 2002 return as a sale-of business assets rather than reporting the transactions on their .2002,individual return as a sale of their QES interests . Petitioners have not provided .any reason to disregard the form they chose . Accordingly, we hold that the 2002 transaction was not a disposition of their interests in QES . C . 2002 Ordinary Loss Deductio n For 2002 QES reported an ordinary loss of $127,025 . On their 2002 individual return petitioners claimed a loss deduction of $63,512, attributable to petitioner husband's distributiv e 'The 2002 sale included the sale of inventory, which might properly result in ordinary income . See sec . 751(a) . The notice of deficiency determined petitioners realized long-term capital gain for 2002 on the basis of the distribution from QES . Respondent has not argued that any portion of the gain is taxabl e .as ordinary income . We determine that respondent has conceded this characterization issue . Likewise, we treat respondent as conceding any argument concerning petitioners' gain recognition from'the sale of QES's assets during 2002 for the reasons we stated for the 2001 sale . Nor have petitioners proved that QES had a total basis in the assets sold in excess of the Bank of America loan . - 19 - share of QES's ordinary loss . A partner must take into accoun t his distributive share of each item of partnership income, gain, loss, . deduction, or credit . Sec . 702(a) ;. Vecchio v . Commissioner , 103 T .C . 170, 185 (1994) . A partner may deduct his or her distributive share of'partnership loss only to the extent of the partner's adjusted basis in his or her partnership interest at the end of the partnership taxable year in which the loss occurred . Sec . 704(d) ; Sennett v . Commissioner , 80 T .C . 825 (1983), affd .752 F .2d 428 (9th Cir . 1985) . Respondent disallowed the $63,512 loss deduction because petitioner husband lacked sufficient basis in his QES interest to . deduct his distributive share of QES's loss . However, petitioners failed to provide sufficient evidence for the Court to determine petitioner husband's adjusted basis in his . interest in QES for 2002 because there is no evidence in the record of partnership income, loss, or distributions during the intervening years . We find that petitioners are not entitled to the $63,512 loss deduction for 2002 . D . Section 6651 Additions To Ta x Section 6651(a)(1) imposes an addition to tax for failure to timely file a Federal income tax return by its due date with extensions . The addition is 5 percent of the tax required to be shown on the return for each month, or fraction thereof, that the return is late, not to-exceed 25 percent . Id . The addition to- 20 - tax does not apply if the failure is due to reasonable cause, and not to willful neglect . Id . Reasonable cause exists for a lat e filing if the taxpayer exercised ordinary business care an d prudence but was nevertheless unable-to file on time . Sec . 301 .6651-1(c)(1), Proced . & Admin . Regs . Factors that constitute "reasonable cause" include unavoidable postal delays, death or serious illness of the taxpayer or an immediate family member, or reliance on a competent tax professional in a question of law of whether it is necessary to file a return . McMahan v . Commissioner , 114 F .3d 366, 369 (2d Cir . 1997), affg . T .C . Memo . 1995-547 . Reliance on a tax professional .to file a return is ordinarily not reasonable cause for late filing . United States v . Boyle , 469 U .S . 241, 25 .2 (1985) ; Wyatt v . Commissioner , T .C . Memo . 2008-253 . Respondent bears the initial burden of production to introduce evidence that the . return was filed late . Sec .-7491(c) .. Petitioners bear the burden of proving that the late filing was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect . Sec . 7491(a) ; Higbee v . Commissioner , 116 T .C . 438, 447 (2001) . The parties stipulated that the 2001 and 2002 returns were filed after their extended due dates . Respondent has met his burden of production . . Petitioners contend that they had reasonable cause for their late filings because the late filings were caused by hurricanes in Florida, where their return preparer was during 2002 and 2003 ; 21 - a tornado that .-hit the return preparer '-s office ; : and ' the . extraordinary 'circumstances .faced 'y'the return preparer from th e Federal investigation of his business activities .' Petitioners' suggestion . that . hurricanes" caused .the, late filing 'is :no t supported by . the record 'or other -fact, . 'Petitioners cite disaster declarations issued' by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) ...relating to'-Tropical Storms Allison and Gabriel-during 2001 'for certain, areas of . -Florida .9 Mrs. Mayer' . The disaste r s office was in Pinellas County, Florida declarations didriotcover Pinellas County . Likewise, FEMA'- issued a disaster declaration for Hurricane'Isabelle,'the alleged cause for the late filing for 2002, covering the State of North . Carolina . It did not'cover, :any :' .portion of'South_Carolina where petitioners resided at the time of filing .. their 2002 return . Moreover, . petiitioners' ..2002 return°was due under extension on August 15, 2003, more-than'(cid:127)a month before the FEMA declaration on September 28,'2003 .' Finally, petitioners did not provide, any evidence, except for petitioner' husband's,=statements- ;that a tornado struck Mr . Mayer's :office during the years at issue . Petitioners . provided their tax records to Mr .MMayer-before the"April 15'due(cid:127)date forboth'years'at .issue, but .Mr . Mayer informed petitioners that.he would need additional,--time-to .", 9The Court takes judicial notice of disaster-: declarations made by FEMA .. . - 22 - prepare the returns and that extensions were necessary . Unfortunately, at the time petitioners were . not aware of the legal troubles that Mr . Mayer faced relating to his tax return preparation activities . There is no evidence or allegation that petitioners were connected in any way with Mr . Mayer's-alleged illegal activities . Petitioners relied on Mr . .Mayer in good faith to,timely file their returns . However, such reliance cannot constitute reasonable cause for the late filings under the bright line rule set,forth by the Supreme Court in United States v . Boyle , supra at 252 . Accordingly, we hold .that-petitioners are liable for the section 6651(a) addition to tax for 2001 and 2002 . E . Section 6662 Accuracy-Related Penaltie s Section 6662(a) and (b)(1) and (2) imposes a 20-percent penalty on the portion of an underpayment of tax attributable . to (1) negligence or disregard of rules and regulations, or (2) a substantial understatement of income tax . -Negligence is defined as any failure to make a reasonable attempt to comply-with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code . Sec . 6662(c) ; see Neely v . Commissioner , 85 T .C . 9.34, 94.7 (1985) . Negligence includes any failure by the taxpayer to keep adequate books,and .records or to substantiate items properly . -Sec . 1 .6662-3(b)(1), Income Tax Regs . A substantial understatement of income tax is defined as an understatement that exceeds the greater of 10 percent of the - 23; - tax required to be shown on the return or $5,000 . Sec . 6662 (d) (1) (A) . The section 6662(a) penalty is not imposed with respect to any portion of an underpayment'as to which the taxpayer acted with reasonable cause and in good faith .- Sec . 6664(c)(1) ; sec . . 1 .6662-3(b)(3), Income Tax Regs . The determination of whether the, taxpayer acted with reasonable . cause and in good faith is made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all pertinen t facts and circumstances, including the extent of the taxpayer's efforts to assess his or her proper tax liability, the taxpayer's education, knowledge, and experience,- and the taxpayer's reasonable reliance on a tax professional . Sec . 1 .6664-4(b)(1),, Income Tax Regs . Reasonable cause exists where a taxpayer relies in good faith on the advice of a qualified tax adviser and the taxpayer provided the adviser with all necessary and accurate information . See Neonatology Associates, P :A . v . Commissioner , 115 T .C .43, 99 (2000), affd . 299 F .3d 221 (3d Cir . 2002) . Petitioners substantially underreported their income for . 2001 and 2002 as a result of income and loss items from QES . Petitioners argue that they are not liable for the section 6662 penalties because they reasonably relied on their return preparer, Mr . Mayer . Petitioners are unsophisticated taxpayers and have limited experience with the complicated partnership tax concepts . arising from their ownership of QES .. At the time 24 - petitioners filed their 2001 and 2002 returns, they reasonably believed that Mr . Mayer was a qualified tax professional with sufficient . education and experience to prepare QES''s and their individual returns . . .,They were not aware of the Federa l investigation into Mr . Mayer's activities or-the temporary . restraining order against ; him . They first learned of .the extent' of Mr . Mayer's legal troubles around the time of trial . There is no evidence that petitioners were in any way connected to Mr . Mayer's illegal activities . The-deficiencies result from petitioners' failure to prove QES used the sale proceeds to pay liabilities and their failure to' substantiate their bases in their QES interests . Petitioner . husband credibly testified that he provided,Mr . Mayer with all necessary and relevant information . However,,many of thei r business records that were at Mr . Mayer .'s office were destroyed after his death . . This death significantly hindered petitioners' ability to produce requested documentation during the audit o f their returns and . to prepare for trial . Nevertheless, petitioners made their best efforts to provide whatever records they had or could obtain from their banks . Petitioners presented voluminous records to document construction costs of . the Flint Street buildings and QES's other liabilities in their attempt to substantiate-their bases in their QES interests . Under these circumstances , we-do not find that petitioners' failure to 25 - provide additional' records is'negligent, as respondent argues . See Pratt v . Commissioner , T .C : Memo . 2002-279 . 'Petitioners reasonably and in good faith relied on-Mr . Mayer°to accurately prepare their 2001 and 2002 returns .. We find that petitioners are not liable for a section 6662 penalty for 2001 or 2002 arising from their ownership . of QES .io Petitioners conceded that they failed to report $499 in interest income and $517 in royalty income for 2001 . Petitioners contend that these amounts were not reported on their 2001 return because the forms reporting receipt of these amounts were lost . Petitioners were aware of the accounts and their right to that income . Petitioners had a duty to review their return for accuracy and could have easily discovered that this income was not reported . Their failure to report that income is due to negligence . Petitioners' reliance on their return preparer does not excuse their failure to report income that they should have been aware of . Petitioners also suggest that these amounts may have been reported on QES's 2001 return by mistake . However, we cannot determine from the record that these amounts were reported on QES's 2001 return . We find that petitioners are liable fo r 10Respondent contends, without proof, that petitioners may have been involved in an abusive trust scheme . The evidence does not support this allegation . - 26 - the section 6662(a) penalty for negligence with respect to the underpayments resulting from the failure to report the interest and. royalty income for 2001 . To reflect the foregoing, . Decisions will be entere d under Rule 155 .