- 7 - not mean that petitioner underpaid his taxes for purposes of the additions to tax for fraud. See Parks v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 654, 660-661 (1990); Fields v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1996-425. Following our careful review of the record, we conclude that respondent has clearly and convincingly proven that petitioner underpaid his taxes for each year in issue. See sec. 6653(c)(1) (an “underpayment” generally is the same as a “deficiency” under sec. 6211). The record clearly convinces us that petitioner had gross income in 1986 and 1987, and that he should have filed returns and reported that income. The first prong is satisfied. As to the second prong, fraud is defined as an intentional wrongdoing designed to evade tax believed to be owing. See Miller v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 316, 332 (1990). The existence of fraud is a question of fact. See Gajewski v. Commissioner, 67 T.C. 181, 199 (1976), affd. without published opinion 578 F.2d 1383 (8th Cir. 1978). Fraud is never presumed or imputed; it must be established by independent evidence that establishes a fraudulent intent on the taxpayer’s part. See Otsuki v. Commissioner, 53 T.C. 96, 106 (1969). For respondent to prevail, he must show that petitioner intended to conceal, mislead, or otherwise prevent the collection of taxes. See Korecky v. Commissioner, 781 F.2d 1566, 1568 (11th Cir. 1986), affg. per curiam T.C. Memo. 1985-63; Stoltzfus v. United States, supra at 1004; Webb v. Commissioner, 394 F.2d 366, 377 (5th Cir. 1968),Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011