- 33 - established by clear and convincing evidence. See Beaver v. Commissioner, 55 T.C. 85, 92 (1970). Because direct proof of a taxpayer’s fraudulent intent is rarely available, fraud may be shown by circumstantial evidence. See Stephenson v. Commissioner, 79 T.C. 995, 1005-1006 (1982), affd. per curiam 748 F.2d 331 (6th Cir. 1984). A taxpayer’s entire course of conduct may establish the requisite fraudulent intent. See Stone v. Commis- sioner, 56 T.C. 213, 224 (1971); Otsuki v. Commissioner, supra at 105-106. Over the years, courts have developed a nonexclusive list of factors that demonstrate fraudulent intent. These badges of fraud include: (1) Understating income, see Holland v. United States, 348 U.S. at 137; Parks v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. at 664; (2) inadequate books and records, see Merritt v. Commissioner, 301 F.2d 484, 487 (5th Cir. 1962), affg. T.C. Memo. 1959-172; (3) false entries on or alterations of documents, see Spies v. Commissioner, 317 U.S. 492, 499 (1943); (4) failure to file tax returns, see id.; (5) implausible or inconsistent explanations of behavior, see Grosshandler v. Commissioner, 75 T.C. 1, 20 (1980); (6) concealment of income or assets, see Bradford v. Commissioner, 796 F.2d 303, 307 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-601; (7) dealing in cash; andPage: Previous 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 Next
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