MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
LARO, JUDGE: On July 6, 1998, respondent issued a notice of deficiency to petitioner determining deficiencies in and additions to his Federal income taxes for the years and in the amounts as follows:
Additions to Tax
________________
Year Deficiency Sec. 6651(a)(1) Sec. 6654
____ __________ _______________ _________
1986 $ 12,067 $ 1,284 $ 165
1987 6,675 1,172 225
1988 28,231 7,058 1,816
1989 25,087 6,272 1,697
1990 32,125 8,031 2,103
1991 33,841 8,460 1,934
1992 32,282 8,071 1,408
1993 31,642 7,587 1,265
1994 23,751 4,617 928
1995 23,426 4,503 944
The issues for decision are:
(1) Whether petitioner is entitled to a filing status other than "single" in recognition of his claim that he has an "economic partnership" with a same-sex individual with whom he resided from 1989 to 1996; (2) whether petitioner is liable for the additions to tax determined by respondent under section 6651(a)(1); and (3) whether petitioner is liable for the additions to tax determined by respondent under section 6654. We hold for respondent on all issues.
Unless otherwise stated, section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, and Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Petitioner resided in Chicago, Illinois, when he petitioned the Court. Petitioner did not file Federal income tax returns for any of the taxable years 1986 through 1995. During these years petitioner earned the bulk of his income by working as a computer programmer/consultant for various companies and hospitals. Petitioner also had small amounts of interest and capital gain income in 1987.
Petitioner made no estimated tax payments to the Internal Revenue Service with respect to any of the years in issue. However, petitioner had the following amounts withheld from his wages:
Year Withholding
1987 $ 1,986
1993 1,295
1994 5,283
1995 5,413
Petitioner is homosexual. In 1989, petitioner began a relationship with another man whom petitioner describes as his roommate and partner. From 1989 through 1995 petitioner and his partner resided together and shared assets and income. Petitioner was not married (to his partner or anyone else) as of December 31 for any of the taxable years 1986 through 1995. In the notice of deficiency mailed to petitioner, respondent determined that petitioner's proper filing status for income tax purposes for each year before the Court was single. Accordingly, respondent calculated the deficiencies and additions to tax using the tax rates applicable to unmarried individuals pursuant to section 1(c).
OPINION
Petitioner does not challenge the facts on which respondent's determinations are based. 1 Petitioner's sole claim in this case is that he should be accorded married, rather than single, filing status on his tax returns for the years 1989 to 1995. Petitioner does not claim to have ever been married. Rather, petitioner argues that he had an "economic partnership" with his roommate and that he was unconstitutionally denied the opportunity to file a joint tax return with him in recognition of such partnership. Petitioner references a number of constitutional provisions, but we understand the crux of petitioner's constitutional claim to be that the tax code's unequal or differential treatment between married taxpayers and unmarried persons in an economic partnership constitutes a violation of the due process notions implicit in the Fifth Amendment and of the equal protection standards incorporated thereunder. 2
We have consistently denied constitutional challenges to marital classifications in the tax code. These have included challenges brought by disadvantaged married taxpayers, 3 see DeMars v. Commissioner, 79 T.C. 247 (1982); Druker v. Commissioner, 77 T.C. 867 (1981), affd. on this issue and revd. in part 697 F.2d 46 (2d Cir. 1982); Brady v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1983-163, affd. without published opinion 729 F.2d 1445 (3d Cir. 1984), as well as by disadvantaged singles, see Kellems v. Commissioner, 58 T.C. 556 (1972), affd. per curiam 474 F.2d 1399 (2d Cir. 1973). Other Federal courts have similarly upheld marital classifications in the tax code. See, e.g., Mapes v. United States, 217 Ct. Cl. 115, 576 F.2d 896 (1978); Jansen v. United States, 441 F. Supp. 20 (D. Minn. 1977), affd. per curiam 567 F.2d 828 (8th Cir. 1977); Johnson v. United States, 422 F. Supp. 958 (N.D. Ind. 1976), affd. per curiam sub nom. Barter v. United States, 550 F.2d 1239 (7th Cir. 1977).
Petitioner seeks to add a new gloss to these old challenges by identifying singles who share assets and income (whom he labels "economic partners") as a distinct class of taxpayers disadvantaged by marital classifications. For the reasons set forth below, we hold the tax code's distinctions between married taxpayers and unmarried economic partners to be constitutionally valid.
In evaluating whether a statutory classification violates equal protection, we generally apply a rational basis standard. See Regan v. Taxation With Representation, 461 U.S. 540, 547, 76 L. Ed. 2d 129, 103 S. Ct. 1997 (1983). We apply a higher standard of review only if it is found that the statute (1) impermissibly interferes with the exercise of a fundamental right or (2) employs a suspect classification, such as race. See, e.g., id.; Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297, 322, 65 L. Ed. 2d 784, 100 S. Ct. 2671 (1980). Neither of these exceptions applies.
Petitioner does not directly identify any fundamental right impeded by the use of marital classifications in the tax code. Petitioner cites commentary addressing the right to marry. However, a law is considered to burden the right to marry only where the obstacle to marriage imposed by the law operates to preclude marriage entirely for a certain class of persons. See DeMars v. Commissioner, supra at 250. The classifications at issue in this case are a consequence, not a cause, of petitioner's nonmarried status, and thus do not burden the right to marry. See Druker v. Commissioner, 697 F.2d 46 at 50.
The marital classifications at issue also do not affect petitioner as a member of a suspect class. Petitioner claims discrimination not as a homosexual but as a person who shares assets and income with someone who is not his legal spouse. Petitioner therefore places himself in a class that includes nonmarried couples of the opposite sex, family members, and friends. We are aware of no authority that would render such group a suspect class. 4
Under the rational basis standard, a challenged classification is valid if rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest. See City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., Inc., 473 U.S. 432, 440, 87 L. Ed. 2d 313, 105 S. Ct. 3249 (1985); City of New Orleans v. Dukes, 427 U.S. 297, 303, 49 L. Ed. 2d 511, 96 S. Ct. 2513 (1976). In Kellems v. Commissioner, 58 T.C. 556 (1972), affd. 474 F.2d 1399 (2d Cir. 1973), we addressed the constitutionality of the application of single return rates without the income-splitting benefit available to married taxpayers. We held therein that the classification between married and single taxpayers is founded upon a rational basis and was a permissible attempt to account for the greater financial burdens of married taxpayers and to equalize geographically their tax treatment. 5 See id. at 558-559.
Our holding in Kellems is of no less application here. Congress had a rational basis for adopting marital classifications in the tax code. That conclusion is not altered by petitioner's claim that there are additional classifications that could have been made. Undoubtedly, certain inequalities persisted between married taxpayers and unmarried economic partners following the enactment of the joint filing provisions. However, legislatures have especially broad latitude in creating classification and distinctions in tax statutes. See Regan v. Taxation With Representation, supra at 547. Moreover, "reform may take one step at a time, addressing itself to the phase of the problem which seems most acute to the legislative mind." Williamson v. Lee Optical Co., 348 U.S. 483, 489, 99 L. Ed. 563, 75 S. Ct. 461 (1955).
While petitioner makes several arguments on policy and sociological grounds, in the face of the cases cited above to the contrary, they have no legal bearing on the issues in this case. Whether policy considerations warrant narrowing of the gap between the tax treatment of married taxpayers and homosexual and other nonmarried economic partners is for Congress to determine in light of all the relevant legislative considerations. See Druker v. Commissioner, 697 F.2d at 51.
Accordingly, we sustain the deficiencies determined by respondent. 6
2. ADDITION TO TAX UNDER SECTION 6651(a)(1)
Respondent determined additions to tax under section 6651(a) for petitioner's failure to file his 1986 through 1995 Federal income tax returns. In order to avoid this addition to tax, petitioner must prove that his failure to file was: (1) Due to reasonable cause and (2) not due to willful neglect. See sec. 6651(a); Rule 142(a); United States v. Boyle, 469 U.S. 241, 245, 83 L. Ed. 2d 622, 105 S. Ct. 687 (1985); United States v. Nordbrock, 38 F.3d 440 (9th Cir. 1994). A failure to file a timely Federal income tax return is due to reasonable cause if the taxpayer exercised ordinary business care and prudence and, nevertheless, was unable to file the return within the prescribed time. See sec. 301.6651-1(c)(1), Proced. & Admin. Regs. Willful neglect means a conscious, intentional failure to file or reckless indifference. See United States v. Boyle, supra at 245.
Petitioner has offered no evidence to show that his failure to file was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. The evidence is clear that petitioner's actions were deliberate, intentional, and in complete disregard of the statutes and respondent's regulations. Petitioner made no attempt to file an authentic tax return for any of the years at issue.
Petitioner offers the "excuse" that his nonfiling was as an act of "non-violent civil disobedience" on a "human rights issue". As we stated in Klunder v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1991-489: "Petitioner wants the best of both worlds, to civilly disobey and also to be absolved of the additions to tax." Whether or not petitioner considers his nonfiling an act of civil disobedience, he must accept the consequences of actions knowingly taken. See Kahn v. United States, 753 F.2d 1208, 1215-1216 (3d Cir. 1985); United States v. Malinowski, 472 F.2d 850, 857 (3d Cir. 1973); Reiff v. Commissioner, 77 T.C. 1169, 1177, 1180 (1981).
Accordingly, we sustain respondent's determination under section 6651(a)(1) for the taxable years in issue.
3. ADDITION TO TAX UNDER SECTION 6654(a)
Respondent further determined an addition to tax under section 6654(a) for each of the years in issue, asserting that petitioner failed to pay estimated tax. Section 6654(a) provides for an addition to tax "in the case of any underpayment of estimated tax by an individual". Estimated income tax payments are used to provide for current payment of income taxes not collected through withholding. Generally, this addition to tax is mandatory, and there is no exception for reasonable cause. See Recklitis v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 874, 913 (1988); Grosshandler v. Commissioner, 75 T.C. 1, 20- 21 (1980). However, no addition to tax is imposed if one of the exceptions contained in section 6654 is met. See Recklitis v. Commissioner, supra at 913.
Petitioner has offered no evidence to show that any of the statutory exceptions apply. Accordingly, we sustain respondent's determination under section 6654(a) for the taxable years in issue.
We have reviewed petitioner's other arguments and find them to be irrelevant or without merit.
Decision will be entered for respondent.