- 63 - 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.Page: Previous 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 Next
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