Mahendra K. Tandon - Page 26

                                       - 26 -                                         

          reasonable inferences may be drawn from the relevant facts.                 
          Spies v. United States, 317 U.S. 492, 499 (1943); Stephenson v.             
          Commissioner, 79 T.C. 995, 1006 (1982), affd. 748 F.2d 331 (6th             
          Cir. 1984).  A taxpayer's entire course of conduct can be                   
          indicative of fraud.  Stone v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 213, 223-224           
          (1971); Otsuki v. Commissioner, 53 T.C. 96, 105-106 (1969).  The            
          sophistication, education, and intelligence of the taxpayer are             
          relevant to determining fraudulent intent.  See Niedringhaus v.             
          Commissioner, 99 T.C. 202, 211 (1992); Stephenson v.                        
          Commissioner, supra at 1006; Iley v. Commissioner, 19 T.C. 631,             
          635 (1952).                                                                 
               Over the years, courts have developed a nonexclusive list of           
          factors that demonstrate fraudulent intent.  These badges of                
          fraud include:  (1) Understating income, (2) maintaining                    
          inadequate records, (3) implausible or inconsistent explanations            
          of behavior, (4) concealment of income or assets, (5) failing to            
          cooperate with tax authorities, (6) engaging in illegal                     
          activities, (7) an intent to mislead which may be inferred from a           
          pattern of conduct, (8) lack of credibility of the taxpayer's               
          testimony, (9) filing false documents, (10) failing to file tax             
          returns, and (11) dealing in cash.  See Spies v. United States,             
          supra at 499; Douge v. Commissioner, 899 F.2d 164, 168 (2d Cir.             
          1990); Bradford v. Commissioner, 796 F.2d 303, 307-308 (9th Cir.            
          1986), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-601; Recklitis v. Commissioner, 91             
          T.C. 874, 910 (1988).  Although no single factor is necessarily             



Page:  Previous  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011