It matters in determining if the accuracy penalty applies when negotiating with the IRS. Section 6662(c) and Reg. §1.6662-3(b) provide the following definitions and guidance.

Negligence includes any failure to make a reasonable attempt to comply with the rules or regulations or to exercise ordinary and reasonable care in the preparation of a tax return.

It also includes any failure by the taxpayer to keep adequate books and records or to substantiate items properly.

Negligence Is Strongly Indicated Where:

1. You fail to include income shown on an information return on his or her income tax return.
2. You fail to make a reasonable attempt to ascertain the accuracy of a deduction, credit, or exclusion on a return, which would seem to a reasonable person to be too good to be true.
3. A partner fails to treat partnership items on his or her return in a manner that is consistent with the treatment of the items by the partnership.
4. A shareholder fails to treat S corporation items on his or her return in a manner that is consistent with the treatment of the items on the S corporation’s return.

Disregard includes any careless, reckless, or intentional disregard of the rules or regulations.

A Disregard Is:

1. Careless if you do not exercise reasonable diligence in determining the accuracy of a return position that is contrary to a rule or regulation.
2. Reckless if you make little or no effort to determine whether a rule or regulation exists.
3. Intentional if you ignore a rule or regulation.

The Following Can Be Indications Of Negligence:

1. Unreported or understated income.
2. Significantly overstated deductions or credits.
3. Careless, improper, or exaggerated deductions.
4. Deductions that are misrepresented or mis-categorized to conceal the true nature of the deduction.
5. Items that are unexplainable.
6. Inadequate books and records.
7. Substantial errors on an issue that the IRS adjusted in a prior year.
8. Incorrect or incomplete information provided to tax preparer.
9. State examination reports that assess a negligence penalty.

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