- 19 - Instead, Dunkin, under Atkinson’s authority, established an accounts receivable due from Atkinson for the $69,000 payment. The evidence in the record shows that petitioner did not intend for the construction expenses to be compensation for services rendered; thus, we find that the construction expenses constitute nondeductible constructive dividends and that petitioner underpaid its taxes. 2. Fraudulent Intent Along with proving an underpayment, the Commissioner must show that the taxpayer intended to evade taxes known to be owing by conduct intended to conceal, mislead, or otherwise prevent the collection of taxes. See Powell v. Granquist, 252 F.2d 56, 60-61 (9th Cir. 1958); Rowlee v. Commissioner, 80 T.C. 1111, 1123 (1983). A corporation has no intent separate from those who control it. See King’s Ct. Mobile Home Park v. Commissioner, supra at 516. The existence of fraudulent intent by a corporation, therefore, is determined by the acts of its officers. See id. Fraud is not to be presumed. See Toussaint v. Commissioner, 743 F.2d 309, 312 (5th Cir. 1984), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-25; Rowlee v. Commissioner, supra at 1123. The existence of fraud is a factual question to be determined from all the facts and circumstances contained in the record. See id. Since direct proof of intent is rarely available, fraud may be proved byPage: Previous 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Next
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