- 17 - $38,334.50 that resulted in the underpayment. Accordingly, pursuant to section 6653(b), respondent has proven that an underpayment of tax exists for the year in issue. We now must decide whether petitioner intended to conceal, mislead, or otherwise prevent the collection of such taxes. Rowlee v. Commissioner, supra at 1123, and cases cited therein. The existence of fraud is a question of fact to be resolved upon 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). Fraud will never be presumed. Beaver v. Commissioner, 55 T.C. 85, 92 (1970). Fraud may, however, be proved by circumstantial evidence, because direct proof of the taxpayer's intent is rarely available. Rowlee v. Commissioner, supra. The taxpayer's entire course of conduct may establish the requisite fraudulent intent. Stone v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 213, 223-224 (1971). The intent to conceal or mislead may be inferred from a pattern of conduct. See Spies v. United States, 317 U.S. 492, 499 (1943). Over the years, this Court has developed a nonexclusive list of the various kinds of circumstantial evidence that may support a finding of fraud. See Niedringhaus v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 202, 211 (1992) (citing Bradford v. Commissioner, 796 F.2d 303, 307 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-601).Page: Previous 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Next
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