Final answer:
The penalty for civil fraud is 75% of the underpayment attributable to fraud, indicating a severe consequence for such violations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the case of civil fraud, the penalty is a significant portion of the underpayment due to the fraudulent activity. Specifically, according to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), which governs tax-related matters in the United States, the fraud penalty equals 75% of the portion of the underpayment that is attributable to fraud. This is a steep penalty, reflecting the serious nature of a fraud violation and indicating that it would be greater than 100 percent of the underpayment itself when combined with the original amount owed.