- 21 - resolved on the basis of the entire record. DiLeo v. Commissioner, supra at 874; Gajewski v. Commissioner, 67 T.C. 181, 191 (1976), affd. without published opinion 578 F.2d 1383 (8th Cir. 1978). Fraud is not to be imputed or presumed. It must be affirmatively established by clear and convincing evidence. Beaver v. Commissioner, 55 T.C. 85, 92 (1970). The taxpayer's entire course of conduct may establish the requisite fraudulent intent. DiLeo v. Commissioner, supra at 874; Stone v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 213, 223-224 (1971). Because direct evidence of the taxpayer's fraudulent intent is rarely available, fraud may be proven by circumstantial evidence and reasonable inferences drawn from the facts. DiLeo v. Commissioner, supra at 874; Rowlee v. Commissioner, supra at 1123. Courts have relied on a number of indicia of fraud in deciding whether to sustain the Commissioner's determinations with respect to fraud. Although no single factor is necessarily sufficient to establish fraud, the existence of several indicia is persuasive circumstantial evidence of fraud. Petzoldt v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. 661, 700 (1989). In Bradford v. Commissioner, 796 F.2d 303, 307 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-601, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit gave a nonexclusive list of circumstantial evidence that may give rise to a finding of fraudulent intent. Badges of fraud include (1) understatement of income, (2) inadequate records, and (3) dealing in cash. Id. A failure to be forthright with one's returnPage: Previous 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Next
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