Cordes Finance Corporation - Page 22

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                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 of                                 




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Last modified: May 25, 2011