- 44 - owing. See Petzoldt v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. 661, 698 (1989). A finding of fraud requires a showing that the taxpayer intended to evade tax known or believed to be owing by conduct intended to conceal, mislead, or otherwise prevent the collection of taxes. See Korecky v. Commissioner, 781 F.2d 1566, 1568 (11th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C. Memo. 1985-63. Fraud is never presumed but must be proved by clear and convincing evidence. See Petzoldt v. Commissioner, supra at 699. Because direct proof of a taxpayer’s intent is rarely available, however, fraudulent intent may be established by circumstantial evidence. See Spies v. United States, 317 U.S. 492, 499 (1943); Bradford v. Commissioner, 796 F.2d 303, 307 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-601; Korecky v. Commissioner, supra at 1568; Stephenson v. Commissioner, 79 T.C. 995, 1005-1006 (1982), affd. 748 F.2d 331 (6th Cir. 1984). The taxpayer’s entire course of conduct may be examined to establish the requisite intent. See Stone v. Commissioner, 56 T.C. 213, 224 (1971); Otsuki v. Commissioner, 53 T.C. 96, 105-106 (1969). For the reasons described below, we conclude that respondent has established that petitioner had underpayments for each of the years in issue and that he had fraudulent intent with respect thereto. Based on the stipulations regarding both petitioner’s unreported income and the deductions allowed by respondent, and based on our holdings herein regarding petitioner’s allegedPage: Previous 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 Next
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