2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*41 PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.
DEAN, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of
Respondent determined for 2001 a deficiency in petitioner's Federal income tax of $ 22,583 1 and additions to tax under
The issues for decision are whether: (1) Petitioner's wife 2 engaged in her horse barrel-racing2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*42 activities 3 in 2001 with the primary objective of making a profit; (2) petitioner is liable for an addition to tax under
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulated facts and the exhibits received into evidence are incorporated herein by reference. At the time the petition in this case was filed, petitioner resided in Willis, Texas.
Background
During 2001, petitioner was employed in automotive2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*43 sales and earned wages of $ 97,890.64 from Wright Motor Co., Inc. His wife, Stephanie Cooper (Mrs. Cooper), pursued dog breeding and horse barrel-racing activities resulting in losses of $ 882 and $ 15,920, respectively.
Since she was 2 years old, Mrs. Cooper has enjoyed riding horses. Mrs. Cooper, who was 38 years old at the time of trial, stopped riding after she graduated from high school and did not resume riding until 1999. Petitioner's wages financed his wife's riding activities.
During 2001, Mrs. Cooper was a district director for the National Barrel Horse Association for whom she heard grievances and complaints. She also applied to be a member of the Professional Rodeo Riders Society, an affiliation that could have helped her obtain sponsors for her riding activities. Mrs. Cooper failed to follow through with the application process.
Mrs. Cooper had competition winnings of $ 1,740.70 during 2001. She also gave free riding lessons to friends, acquaintances, and fellow competitors.
Mrs. Cooper did not keep documentation regarding her activities and time spent in those activities during 2001.
Mrs. Cooper's 2001 expenses for her horse barrel-racing activities were reported2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*44 as follows:
Car and truck expenses | $ 5,231 |
Depreciation and section 179 expense | 1,268 |
Office expense | 68 |
Repairs and maintenance | 1,529 |
Travel | 518 |
Meals and entertainment | 101 |
Entry fees | 2,261 |
Feed/hay | 913 |
Vet/meds | 2,513 |
Tack maintenance | 2,053 |
Farrier | 1,206 |
17,661 |
Petitioner failed to timely file a Federal income tax return for 2001. Respondent prepared a substitute for return (SFR) for 2001. Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's Federal income tax and that petitioner is liable for additions to tax. Petitioner had not yet filed a Federal income tax return for 2001 when the notice of deficiency was issued. Respondent had also prepared SFRs for petitioner for 1999 and 2000. Respondent, in preparing SFRs for petitioner, treated him as a single taxpayer.
On January 7, 2005, petitioner faxed to respondent an unsigned joint Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for 2001. 4 Attached to the return were various schedules including: (1) Schedule A, Itemized Deductions; (2) Schedule B, Interest and Ordinary Dividends; and (3) two Schedules C, Profit or Loss From Business. Respondent accepted all the items on the return except for the2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*45 ordinary loss of $ 15,920 claimed in connection with Mrs. Cooper's horse barrel-racing activities. Respondent contends that Mrs. Cooper's horse barrel-racing activities were not engaged in with the primary objective of earning a profit.
Discussion
The Commissioner's determinations are presumed correct, and generally, the taxpayer bears the burden of proving otherwise.
A. Mrs. Cooper's Horse Barrel-Racing Activities
The determination of whether an activity is engaged in for profit is to be made by reference to objective standards, taking into account all the facts and circumstances of each case.
The following discussion applies the nine factors to Mrs. Cooper's horse barrel-racing activities:
Factor (1): Manner in Which the Taxpayer Carried On the Activity
Mrs. Cooper did not carry on her horse barrel-racing activities in a businesslike manner. See
Factor (2): The Expertise of the Taxpayer or His Advisers
Preparation for an activity by extensive study or consultation with experts may indicate a profit motive where the taxpayer conducts the activity in accordance with such study or advice.
Mrs. Cooper's knowledge regarding barrel-horse competition is not inconsistent with the pursuit of such an activity as a hobby. She had no experience with the economics of a profitable barrel-horse operation, and she did not make an extensive study of the profit potential of training horses or of competing as a horse barrel-racer. While a formal market study is not required, her failure to make basic investigation of the factors that would affect profit is indicative of a lack of profit objective.
Factor (3): The Time and Effort Expended by the Taxpayer in Carrying On the Activity
The fact that2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*50 the taxpayer devotes much of his or her personal time and effort to carrying on an activity may indicate a profit motive.
Mrs. Cooper testified that she participated in horse shows on holidays and every weekend, sometimes twice in one weekend. Keeping and showing horses has strong recreational aspects, especially given her long-term interest in horses. Although the Court believes that Mrs. Cooper spent considerable time with her horses, the Court finds that this factor is not dispositive.
Factor (4): The Expectation That Assets Used in the Activity May Appreciate in Value
An expectation that assets used in the activity will appreciate in value may indicate a profit objective.
Factor (5): The Success of the Taxpayer in Carrying On Similar or Dissimilar Activities
A taxpayer's past successes in similar or dissimilar activities is relevant in determining a profit objective.
No evidence was provided to demonstrate that petitioner participated in Mrs. Cooper's horse barrel-racing activities in any manner other than providing financing. Thus, any success he may have had as an automotive salesperson has no bearing on the assessment of the horse barrel-racing activities.
Factors (6) and (7): Taxpayer's History of Income2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*52 or Losses With Respect to the Activity and The Amount of Occasional Profits, If Any, Which Were Earned
An activity's history of income or loss may reflect whether the taxpayer has a profit motive.
Respondent prepared SFRs for petitioner's accounts for 1999, 2000, and 2001. No allowances were made for any expenses regarding Mrs. Cooper's horse barrel-racing activities. Respondent disallowed the loss claimed by petitioner on his subsequently filed 2001 Form 1040. Petitioner has not yet filed returns for 2002 and 2003. Therefore, the Court has no information in the record regarding the history of income or loss from those activities.
Factor (8): The Financial Status of the Taxpayer
Petitioner had substantial income from his automotive sales employment during the year in issue. Based on the record, it appears he was financially capable of supporting2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*53 the losses generated by Mrs. Cooper's horse barrel-racing activities.
Factor (9): Elements of Personal Pleasure or Recreation
The presence of personal motives in carrying on an activity may indicate that the activity is not engaged in for profit, especially where there are recreational or personal elements involved.
Mrs. Cooper has been an avid rider of horses since early childhood. Additionally, in conducting her horse-related activities, she gave riding lessons without charge and failed to pursue memberships that would have enabled her to obtain independent financing of her activities. Based upon the facts presented, the Court concludes that Mrs. Cooper engaged in her horse barrel-racing activities primarily for recreation and personal pleasure.
The Court finds that Mrs. Cooper did not engage in her horse-barrel racing activities in 2001 with the primary objective of making a profit and therefore sustains respondent's determination2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*54 that petitioner is not entitled to deduct any amount in excess of the income derived from Mrs. Cooper's horse-related activities.
B. Additions to Tax
1.
Under
Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for additions to tax for: (1) Failure to timely file a return for taxable year 2001 pursuant to
The additions to tax under
Petitioner's 2001 return was due on April 15, 2002. He stipulated that the 2001 return was faxed to respondent January 7, 2005, after the notice of deficiency was issued. At trial, Mrs. Cooper blamed their accountant for not preparing their return timely. However, it appears from the record that petitioner did not timely provide the accountant with the relevant information with which he could prepare the return.
Under
Respondent has satisfied his burden of producing evidence to show the additions to tax are appropriate. Petitioner has failed to show that he had reasonable2005 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 41">*57 cause for failing to timely file the 2001 return or for failing to pay the tax. Respondent's determination as to the
2.
Respondent also determined that petitioner is liable for an addition to tax for failure to pay estimated tax pursuant to
The amount of the addition to tax under
Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small Tax Case Division.
Decision will be entered under
1. These figures are rounded to the next dollar.↩
2. Petitioner's wife, Stephanie Cooper, was not listed on the notice of deficiency, and therefore is not a party to this case.↩
3. Horse barrel-racing is a timed rodeo event in which a participant must ride a complete circle around each of 3 barrels and return to the starting point with the fastest time to win.↩
4. The parties agree that petitioner should be treated as filing a joint return with his wife for 2001.↩