Estate of Frank Johnson - Page 135




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          respondent has fulfilled the second element of fraud which is               
          intent to evade taxes.                                                      
                    (b)  Intent to Evade Taxes                                        
               Intent to conceal or mislead may be inferred from a course             
          or pattern of conduct.  See Spies v. United States, 317 U.S. 492,           
          499 (1943); Petzoldt v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. at 699 (1989);                
          Stone v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 213, 223-224 (1971); Otsuki v.               
          Commissioner, 53 T.C. 96, 105-106 (1969).  The courts have relied           
          upon a number of indicia, or badges, of fraud in deciding whether           
          an underpayment of tax is due to fraud.  See, e.g., Bradford v.             
          Commissioner, 796 F.2d 303, 307-308 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C.             
          Memo. 1984-601; Clayton v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 632, 647                  
          (1994); Petzoldt v. Commissioner, supra at 700.  Although no                
          single factor is necessarily sufficient to establish fraud, the             
          existence of several factors constitutes persuasive                         
          circumstantial evidence of fraud.  See, e.g., Petzoldt v.                   
          Commissioner, supra.                                                        
               Consistent failure to report substantial amounts of income             
          over a number of years is, standing alone, highly persuasive                
          evidence of fraudulent intent.  See, e.g., Kurnick v.                       
          Commissioner, 232 F.2d 678, 681 (6th Cir. 1956), affg. per curiam           
          T.C. Memo. 1955-31.  Consistent use of cash, and failure to                 
          maintain adequate books and records also constitute badges of               
          fraud.  See, e.g., Bradford v. Commissioner, supra at 307-308.              






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