- 8 - deficiency notice, respondent determined that the section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty would apply in the event it was decided that the underpayment was not due to fraud. A prerequisite to the applicability of sections 6662 and 6663 is that a return of tax, other than one prepared by respondent pursuant to section 6020(b), is filed. Sec. 6664(b); Clayton v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 632, 652-653 (1994). Section 6663(b) provides that if respondent establishes that any part of any underpayment of tax required to be shown on a return is due to fraud, the entire underpayment is treated as attributable to fraud and subjected to a 75-percent penalty unless the taxpayer establishes that some part of the underpayment is not attributable to fraud. Respondent bears the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence an underpayment for each year and that some part of the underpayment for each year was due to fraud. Section 7454(a); Rule 142(b); Clayton v. Commissioner, supra at 646. Fraud is established by proving that a taxpayer intended to evade tax believed to be owing by conduct intended to conceal, mislead, or otherwise prevent the collection of such tax. Clayton v. Commissioner, supra at 647. Direct evidence of the requisite fraudulent intent is seldom available, but fraud may be proved by examining circumstantial evidence indicative of the taxpayer's motives. Recklitis v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 874, 910 (1988). Over the years, courts have developed various factors,Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011