An appropriate order will be issued, and decision will be entered under
R determined deficiencies in P's 2007 and 2008 Federal income tax. P and R dispute whether P is entitled to deduct expenses in excess of the gross income from her horse activity, whether the death of P's stallion was a casualty loss, and whether P is entitled to deduct legal and professional expenses.
WHERRY,
Respondent concedes that petitioner has substantiated all of her claimed expenses for the years at issue. The issues for decision are:
1) whether petitioner is entitled to deductions arising from her horse activity 2 claimed on her Schedules C, Profit or Loss From Business, to the extent *42 they exceed her gross income from that activity for the 2007 and 2008 tax years. More specifically, whether petitioner was engaged in her horse activity for profit;
2) 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*43 whether petitioner is entitled to a Schedule C interest expense deduction for the 2008 tax year;
3) whether the death of the stallion Goldrush I was a casualty loss for the 2008 tax year; 3
4) whether petitioner is entitled to claim deductions on Schedule C for legal and professional expenses for the 2007 and 2008 tax years; and
5) whether petitioner is liable for
While the parties did not file a stipulation of facts, at trial they introduced a number of exhibits, and those exhibits are hereby incorporated by reference into *43 our findings. 42013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*44 Petitioner was single and filed Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for the taxable years at issue. Petitioner resided in California when she filed her petition.
During the years at issue petitioner worked full time for Tony Hoffman Productions, Inc., out of her home in California. During the 2007 and 2008 tax years she earned $60,630 and $60,000, respectively, 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*45 from that job.
Petitioner has an affinity for horses. She began riding ponies when she was four years old and began taking formal riding lessons when she was nine. Petitioner is an accomplished horsewoman earning, among other trophies, a number of plaques from the California Dressage Society from 1989 through 1999. *44 During the years at issue petitioner was a member of the following organizations: California Dressage Society, United States Dressage Federation, United States Equestrian Foundation, and the United States Equestrian Team.
Petitioner began a dressage horse breeding, showing, competing, and training activity in the mid-1970s. Petitioner would also take difficult horses on consignment, retrain them, and sell them at a profit. She generally had between one and six horses. However, beginning in 1998 petitioner owned only one horse.
On February 28, 1992, petitioner's business partner at that time, Tom Valter, wrote a check for $25,000. At trial petitioner explained that the check was written as partial payment of the purchase price for Goldrush I (Goldrush). Petitioner boarded Goldrush from 1992 through 2007 at Baronsgate Equestrian Center, the name of which was changed to Lion's 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*46 Heart Ranch in 2004. Between 1992 and 1998 Goldrush sired five foals and his stud fee was $1,000 to $1,500. In 1999 petitioner testified against her former business partner in an animal abuse case and after that "no one would breed to Goldrush". After 1999 Goldrush did not sire any more foals.
From 1992 through 1999 petitioner entered Goldrush in dressage competitions. Then in 1999 Goldrush suffered from a minor lameness that "was enough to get him eliminated from dressage competition immediately by any *45 judge". Petitioner then tried "everything" to heal Goldrush. She tried to train him through it, took him to trainers and veterinarians, fed him supplements and medications, and even tried custom saddles and shoes. Nothing worked.
From 1999 through 2008 petitioner did not compete in any dressage competitions. She was also not paid to train any horses for dressage competitions during that time, nor did she take any other horses on consignment.
In 2007 petitioner decided to transport Goldrush to Australia to stand at stud. She believed that because of his exceptional blood lines he would be "the proverbial big frog in a small pond in Australia". She planned on setting Goldrush's stud fee 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*47 at $1,500 per mare and explained, at trial, that Goldrush would not have to compete anymore. Petitioner spent over $16,000 to transport Goldrush to Australia. After spending time in quarantine both before leaving for Australia and after arriving in Australia, Goldrush was sent to a stud farm.
Sadly, just two months after he arrived on the stud farm, Goldrush was rushed to the veterinarian. He had two blood transfusions and then died from a total collapse of his immune system. After Goldrush died petitioner did not purchase another horse.
On her Schedules C attached to her 2007 and 2008 Forms 1040 petitioner listed HORSE BREEDING/SHOWING as her principal business or profession. *46 She reported no income for the two years but claimed losses of $51,697 and $4,203, respectively.
From 2004 through 2008 petitioner reported on her Federal income tax returns the following amounts of salary income, gross income from her horse activity, expenses from her horse activity, net profit or (loss) from her horse activity, and taxable income.
2004 | $60,254 | $588 | $36,453 | ($35,865) |
2005 | 59,336 | -0- | 22,277 | (22,277) |
2006 | 60,676 | -0- | 33,128 | (33,128) |
2007 | 60,630 | -0- | 51,697 | (51,697) |
2008 | 60,000 | -0- | 4,203 | (4,203) |
Total | 300,896 | 588 | 147,758 | (147,170) |
The 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*48 Court notes that respondent conceded that petitioner substantiated all of her expenses related to the horse activity but did not concede that she substantiated her expenses related to the casualty loss. Many of petitioner's past returns have been audited, and she has, for prior years, been able to substantiate her expenses and convince respondent that her horse activity was engaged in for profit. The main question before us is not whether petitioner was able to *47 substantiate the expenses of the horse activity, but whether the horse activity was engaged in for profit in the years at issue.
In 2003 petitioner began to incur legal expenses related to a lawsuit she filed against her homeowners association. According to her complaint, petitioner filed this lawsuit because the homeowners association failed to respond to three of her complaints: 1) "complaints of dogs running wild, dogs barking, and dogs defecating throughout the Association's common areas"; 2) construction defects related to the "presence of mold in her bathroom, growing between the tiles themselves and between the tile wall and the tub rim"; and 3) construction defects leading to excessive "noise intrusion".
The Commissioner's determination of a taxpayer's liability for an income tax deficiency is generally presumed correct, and the taxpayer bears the burden of proving that the determination is improper.
On brief petitioner raises the issue of whether the burden of proof should be shifted to respondent pursuant to
Respondent argued that the expenses related to petitioner's horse activity were not deductible in excess of the gross income because the horse activity was not engaged in for profit within the meaning of
*49
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, to which this case is appealable absent stipulation to the contrary, has held that 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*51 an activity is engaged in for profit if the taxpayer's "predominant, primary or principal objective" in engaging in the activity was to realize an economic profit independent of tax savings.
The fact that the taxpayer carries on the activity in a business like manner may indicate that the activity is engaged in for profit.
*51 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*53 The first inquiry considers whether petitioner maintained complete and accurate books and records of the activity. At trial petitioner stated that she followed recordkeeping procedures that her lawyers and accountants outlined. She also states that she maintained a separate checking account for her horse activity and kept a file for each horse. However, because of petitioner's mistaken belief that she need not present any evidence that respondent did not ask for, she failed to provide documentation to substantiate those statements. Even if petitioner did maintain those records, there is little evidence for the specific taxable years at issue that the books and records were kept for the purpose of "cutting expenses, increasing profits, and evaluating the overall performance of the operation."
Petitioner claims to have written a business plan. But again petitioner did not present it at trial and did not attempt to orally explain her business plan during the trial. A written business plan is not required if the "business plan was evidenced by * * * actions".
As to the second inquiry, with respect to her horse activity petitioner stated that she had "at all time operated that business in accordance with standard industry practices." But her testimony was not corroborated; documentation 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*55 of practices in similar activities was not provided, and she did not introduce any other witnesses in the field to discuss or substantiate "standard industry practice".
The third inquiry asks whether petitioner changed operating procedures, adopted new techniques, or abandoned unprofitable methods in a manner consistent with an intent to improve profitability. After years of losses, petitioner did eventually decide to transport Goldrush to Australia. This was certainly a change in operating procedures and after her alleged blackballing by the American*53 dressage community, may have been her best hope for garnering interest in Goldrush as a stud. This does seem to indicate that petitioner at least updated her operating procedure to increase income. However, petitioner did not elaborate on how this route was expected to improve profitability or, given the cost of moving the activity to Australia, how she projected the profitability of this change.
We conclude that there is simply not enough information in the record to find that petitioner carried on the horse activity in the years at issue in a businesslike manner. Therefore, this factor favors respondent.
Preparation for the activity by extensive study of its accepted business, economic, and scientific practices, or consultation with those who are expert therein, may indicate that the taxpayer has a profit motive where the taxpayer carries on the activity in accordance with such practices. * * *
We have no doubt that petitioner is an accomplished horsewoman with an extensive background in riding and showing horses. She has certainly engaged in an extensive study of training, dressage, and horsemanship as evidenced by her dressage clinics and tests. However, none of the educational materials in the record relate to the economics or business aspects of profitably running a horse activity, and petitioner's background as a lifelong horsewoman is insufficient to indicate expertise in the economics of this business and a profit objective.
The main inquiry is whether petitioner 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*57 received and acted on advice from the experts as to the accepted principles and economics of profitably running a business and not merely the general advice that a horse enthusiast would seek in training and showing horses as a hobby.
*55 We conclude that petitioner has not established that she sought expert advice regarding the business and economic aspects of carrying on her activity for profit; therefore, this factor weighs in favor of respondent.
The fact 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*58 that the taxpayer devotes much of * * * [her] personal time and effort to carrying on an activity, particularly if the activity does not have substantial personal or recreational aspects, may indicate an intention to derive a profit. A taxpayer's withdrawal from another occupation to devote much of * * * [her] energies to the activity may also be evidence that the activity is engaged in for profit. * * *
Petitioner did not discuss how much time per week she spent working on her horse activity. We assume that she did spend a significant amount of time taking care of Goldrush, including grooming and exercising him. However, we also assume that the activity had considerable personal and recreational aspects, even if some of the activities were mundane, arduous, or repugnant. That a business person derives pleasure from his or her work does not necessarily show a lack of a profit objective.
"A taxpayer's expectation that assets such as land and other tangible property used in an activity may appreciate in value to create an overall profit may indicate that the taxpayer has a profit objective as to that activity."
Petitioner argues that she believed that Goldrush would appreciate in value. However, by the first of the two years at issue, it had been more than eight years since Goldrush had competed or sired any foals. Goldrush was too lame for successful competition in any dressage competitions, which might have increased his value. Petitioner also explained that she believed she was blackballed by the dressage society and that no one would breed to Goldrush, further diminishing his value. Petitioner did not present any evidence that Goldrush had or would 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*60 appreciate in value; and because he was the only significant asset of petitioner's horse activity, we find this factor weighs in favor of respondent.
"The fact that the taxpayer has engaged in similar activities in the past and converted them from unprofitable to profitable enterprises may indicate that [she] is engaged in the present activity for profit, even though the activity is presently unprofitable."
Although petitioner has a long history of working with and showing horses, there is no indication in the record that petitioner's horse activity has ever been profitable. Petitioner's previous lack of success in carrying on a similar profitable activity favors respondent.
A series of losses during the initial or start-up stage of an activity may not necessarily be an indication that the activity is not engaged in for profit. However, where losses continue to be sustained beyond the period which customarily is necessary to bring the operation to profitable status such continued losses, if not 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*61 explainable, as due to customary business risks or reverses, may be indicative that the activity is not being engaged in for profit. If losses are sustained because of unforeseen or fortuitous circumstances which are beyond the control of the taxpayer * * * such losses would not be an indication that the activity is not engaged in for profit. * * *
Petitioner testified against Tom Valter in 1999, and Goldrush's lameness began in 1999. By the years at issue, 2007 and 2008, neither her testimony nor Goldrush's 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*62 lameness was a new or unforseen circumstance. However, in 2008 Goldrush's death was an unforeseen circumstance. Accordingly, this factor is neutral.
"The amount of profits in relation to the amount of losses incurred, and in relation to the amount of the taxpayer's investment and the value of the assets used in the activity, may provide useful criteria in determining the taxpayer's intent."
*59 Petitioner presented no evidence that her horse activity was ever profitable. From 2004 through 2008 the activity had a net loss of $147,170. Petitioner had not bred or shown Goldrush from at least 1999 until his death in 2008, and except for her expensive Australian venture she did not discuss any other sources of income for her horse activity. We find this factor favors respondent.
"Substantial income from sources other than the activity (particularly if the losses from the activity generate substantial tax benefits) may indicate that the activity is not engaged in for profit especially if there are personal or recreational elements involved." 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*63
We agree that petitioner expended more money on her horse activity than she could prudently afford. Further, by funding the activity in part with loans, the hoped-for tax savings at issue in this case, and withdrawals from her retirement accounts, she has put herself in substantial financial jeopardy.
"The presence of personal motives in carrying on of an activity 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*64 may indicate that the activity is not engaged in for profit, especially where there are recreational or personal elements involved."
Petitioner was an avid horsewoman and has ridden since she was 4 years old. "'[A]n enterprise is no less a "business" because the entrepreneur gets satisfaction from his work; however, where the possibility for profit is small (given all the other factors) and the possibility for gratification is substantial, it is clear that the latter possibility constitutes the primary motivation for the activity.'"
After considering all of the above factors, as applied to the unique facts and circumstances of this case, we conclude that for the 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*65 specific tax years at issue petitioner's horse activity was not engaged in for profit within the meaning of
Petitioner deducted $6,296 of interest expense on her 2008 Schedule C for her IT and Database Management Business. At trial she explained that it should have been deducted on the Schedule C for her horse activity. Because we found
The amount of the casualty loss allowed under
Petitioner 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*67 deducted a casualty loss on her 2007 Federal income tax return for the death of Goldrush. 6 Respondent argues that the death of Goldrush does not qualify as a casualty. We have previously explained that "the term 'other casualty' must be restricted to mean events of the same kind or the same characteristics as those specifically enumerated in the statute. The casualties enumerated are unusual, and unexpected events which are caused by a sudden or destructive force."
Petitioner incurred legal and professional fees in connection with a lawsuit against her homeowners association for failing to respond to the three complaints discussed in the facts. During the years at issue petitioner worked full time for Tony Hoffman Productions, Inc., out of her home. However, she never explained how the lawsuit 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*69 was related to that work. Therefore, petitioner is not entitled to an expense deduction for the Schedule C legal and professional fees.
Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for the
There is a
For the purposes of the penalty, "'negligence' includes any failure to make a reasonable attempt to comply with the provisions of this title".
*66 There is an exception to the
Many of petitioner's past returns have been audited, and each time she was able to both substantiate her expenses and show that her horse activity was for profit. Therefore we find that she acted in good fath and it was reasonable for her to continue to report her activity in that manner (including her misplaced interest expense deduction). Petitioner also acted reasonably and in good faith even if naively in attempting to ascertain the fair market value of Goldrush for her casualty loss. Petitioner has previously been able to 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 41">*71 settle the issue of her legal fees; and because she believed that result carried over, it was reasonable and she acted in good faith with respect to those fees. Therefore, we find that petitioner is not liable for either of the
*67 The Court has considered all of petitioner's contentions, arguments, requests, and statements. To the extent not discussed herein, we conclude that they are meritless, moot, or irrelevant.
To reflect the foregoing,
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code), as amended and in effect for the taxable years at issue. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. On brief petitioner criticizes respondent's use of "activity" or "horse activity". In cases with
3. The parties agree that if the Court determines that petitioner is entitled to this expense deduction, it should be claimed for the 2008 tax year, because Goldrush died in 2008.↩
4. Respondent, inter alia, objects to Exhibits 22-P through 30-P, 32-P through 35-P, 37-P through 48P, and 51-P through 62-P on the grounds of relevance.
Petitioner filed a motion on August 30, 2012, to reopen the record to introduce additional evidence. Because introduction of new evidence after the case was submitted would prejudice respondent and the additional evidence would not have had a substantial effect on petitioner's case, we will deny the motion.
5. We found
6. As noted above, Goldrush died in 2008; therefore, this expense deduction should have been claimed on petitioner's 2008 Federal income tax return.↩