- 8 - (1970). Since direct evidence of fraud rarely is available, respondent may prove petitioner’s fraud by circumstantial evidence. Scallen v. Commissioner, 877 F.2d 1364, 1370 (8th Cir. 1989), affg. T.C. Memo. 1987-412; Klassie v. United States, 289 F.2d 96, 101 (8th Cir. 1961). Conduct that may indicate fraudulent intent, commonly referred to as “badges of fraud”, includes, but is not limited to: (1) Understating income; (2) maintaining inadequate records; (3) giving implausible or inconsistent explanations of behavior, (4) concealing income or assets, (5) failing to cooperate with tax authorities, (6) engaging in illegal activities, (7) providing incomplete or misleading information to one’s tax preparer, (8) lack of credibility of the taxpayer’s testimony, (9) filing false documents, including filing false income tax returns, (10) failing to file tax returns, and (11) dealing in cash. Spies v. United States, 317 U.S. 492, 499 (1943); Conti v. Commissioner, 39 F.3d 658, 662 (6th Cir. 1994), affg. and remanding on other grounds T.C. Memo. 1992-616; Douge v. Commissioner, 899 F.2d 164, 168 (2d Cir. 1990); Scallen v. Commissioner, supra; Bradford v. Commissioner, 796 F.2d 303, 307-308 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C. Memo. 1984-601; Recklitis v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 874, 910 (1988). Although no single factor is necessarily sufficient to establish fraud, a combination of several factors is persuasive circumstantial evidence of fraud.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011