- 48 - consideration of the entire record. Gajewski v. Commissioner, 67 T.C. 181, 199 (1976), affd. without published opinion 578 F.2d 1383 (8th Cir. 1978). Although fraudulent intent is never presumed, it may be established by circumstantial evidence. This is because direct proof of the taxpayer's intent is rarely available. Powell v. Granquist, 252 F.2d 56, 61 (9th Cir. 1958); Petzoldt v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. at 699; Rowlee v. Commissioner, 80 T.C. 1111, 1123 (1983). The taxpayer's entire course of conduct may establish the requisite fraudulent intent. Otsuki v. Commissioner, 53 T.C. at 106. The Courts have identified a number of badges of fraud from which fraudulent intent may be inferred. Those badges include: (1) Substantial and consistent understatement of income, (2) in- adequate records, (3) incomplete and erroneous information provided to tax return preparer or bookkeeper, (4) destruction of books and records, (5) implausible explanations of behavior, and (6) lack of credibility of the taxpayer's testimony. Bradford v. Commissioner, 796 F.2d 303, 307-308 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-601; Toussaint v. Commissioner, 743 F.2d 309, 312 (5th Cir. 1984), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-25; Merritt v. Commissioner, 301 F.2d 484, 487 (5th Cir. 1962), affg. T.C. Memo. 1959-172; Powell v. Granquist, supra at 59; Parks v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. at 664-665. A pattern of underreporting income over an extended period of time is indicative of fraud. Laurins v. Commissioner, supra at 913; Petzoldt v. Commissioner, supra at 700. However,Page: Previous 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 Next
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