- 22 - there is no underpayment of tax as defined by section 6664(a). Section 6663(a) provides that if any part of an underpayment is due to fraud, there shall be added to the tax an amount equal to 75 percent of the portion of the underpayment which is attributable to fraud. The Commissioner bears the burden of proving fraud by clear and convincing evidence. Sec. 7454(a); Rule 142(b). If the Commissioner establishes that any portion of an underpayment is attributable to fraud, then the entire underpayment shall be treated as attributable to fraud, except as to any portion of the underpayment which the taxpayer establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence, is not attributable to fraud. Sec. 6663(b). In this case, we construe respondent's statements at trial and in her post-trial briefs to concede that the only portion of the underpayment attributable to fraud is the portion attributable to the omission of $127,889, as determined in the notice of deficiency. Accordingly, we limit our discussion of the fraud penalty to the omission of income in the amount of $127,889. To prove fraud, the Commissioner must show that an underpayment exists, and that the taxpayer intended to evade taxes known to be owing by conduct intended to conceal, mislead, or otherwise prevent the collection ofPage: Previous 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011