Decision will be entered under
GOEKE,
*232 (1) whether Frontier, a custom homebuilder, is required to capitalize rather than deduct all direct and certain indirect costs of production. 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*263 We hold that it is;
(2) whether Frontier can change its accounting method without having previously secured respondent's consent. We hold that it cannot and therefore we must decide whether respondent's determination that petitioner must change from an improper to proper accounting method is unlawful. We hold that it is not;
(3) whether Frontier must capitalize a portion of the cost of its officer's compensation. We hold that it must;
(4) whether Frontier must capitalize a portion of the cost of its nonofficer employees' compensation. We hold that it must;
(5) whether Frontier must capitalize a portion of its other expenses incurred. We hold that it must; and
*233 (6) whether Frontier qualifies for adjustments for other tax years through the mitigation provisions. We hold that Frontier's request for relief under the mitigation provisions is premature until the decision in this case becomes final.
Some of the facts have been stipulated for trial under
At the time the petition was filed, Frontier, a Texas corporation, maintained its principal place of business in Houston, Texas. Frontier timely filed its Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, for 2005, the tax year at issue. Respondent timely issued a notice of deficiency. In the notice, respondent made adjustments to Frontier's income totaling $1,888,625 under the uniform capitalization (UNICAP) rules of
Frontier was founded in 1990 and incorporated in 1992. Since 1994 Frontier has been a builder of custom and speculative homes.
On its 2005 tax return Frontier capitalized direct material and labor costs and post-production-period carrying costs but claimed deductions for salaries, yearend bonuses, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Frontier used the same accounting method for tax that it used for financial 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*265 (book) accounting. Frontier did not submit Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method, to respondent requesting permission, nor has it received permission, to change its accounting method for 2005. Frontier maintained no contemporaneous time records showing how many hours Frontier employees spent on their various activities on the company's behalf.
At all relevant times Mr. Bopp was president and CEO of Frontier. He founded Frontier after working for many years—during high school and college—in the construction industry as a framer, roofer, and carpenter and later acquiring management experience at Kroger.
As president Mr. Bopp worked long hours and performed a variety of jobs at Frontier. He worked 55-70 hours per week, rarely took a vacation, and was *235 never away for more than three days. His duties involved managing all of the company's departments, monitoring and preparing its financial statements, writing company policy manuals, determining its hiring needs and recruitment, and overseeing its legal affairs. In 2005 Frontier paid Mr. Bopp a regular salary and a yearend bonus. Frontier did not produce contemporaneous time records showing how many hours 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*266 Mr. Bopp spent on each of his various activities.
Mr. Bopp was well connected with the operations of his company and had several reports and tools that he used to track the progress of homes. He conducted weekly meetings with the project managers as an opportunity to learn what stage of completion the homes were in and to discuss critical situations. He would occasionally stop by worksites for other meetings and to solve problems the project managers could not resolve. He received monthly reports and productivity schedules detailing when a job was going to close and whether the project managers were running 100% productivity on their homes. Mr. Bopp was the direct boss of the project managers. He had a very good understanding of the progress of each homebuilding project and participated in the preparation of the homes' progress reports.
*236 Mr. Bopp determined which developers Frontier would work with, he reviewed and approved Frontier's subcontractors, and he conducted reviews to make sure the project managers researched the suppliers and vendors.
The duties of a project manager included managing construction, being the primary contact for customers, 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*267 performing warranty work, and ensuring that the homes were built per design and in conformity with building standards.
In 2005 Frontier paid its project managers regular salaries, bonuses for warranty work, and yearend bonuses. Mr. Bopp delegated the warranty work to his project managers. Project managers worked closely with the designers and decorators throughout the homebuilding process. The project managers did not personally purchase building materials, nor did they hammer any nail or lay any wood.
Mr. Bopp hired David Connery, a supervisor, to directly oversee the work of the project managers. Despite Mr. Connery's serving as the project managers' supervisor, Mr. Bopp would still step in to address specific situations with the project managers. Mr. Connery left Frontier at the end of July 2005, and Mr. Bopp continued to oversee the duties of the project managers.
The designers met with clients, identified what they wanted in a house, and designed the house using the company's AutoCAD software. They also designed the electrical wiring, plumbing, staircases, elevations, structural plan, doors, windows, glass blocks, floors, and driveways. Frontier paid the 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*268 designers regular salaries, profit-sharing bonuses, and warranty bonuses. The design services were provided outside of the homebuilding contracts, and a client using these services could walk away from Frontier and use that design with another builder.
The decorators worked with clients to create and sell upgraded home products such as: exteriors, roofing, appliances, wallpaper, countertops, shower doors/glass trim, wrought iron spindles, paint colors, tile, wood floors, carpets, counters, plumbing and light fixtures, moldings, hardware, stains, window treatments, shutters, backsplashes, doors, and other accessories. Frontier paid the decorators regular salaries and warranty bonuses.
Elisa Wolfe worked as an administrative assistant to Mr. Bopp. She did day-to-day entries on home and inventory schedules and assisted Mr. Bopp with talking to lenders and handling warranty issues. Frontier paid Ms. Wolfe a regular salary and a yearend bonus.
Charlotte Guarino was an accountant for Frontier who worked on accounts receivable, client billings, payroll, accounts payable invoices for payments to contractors, and some tax preparation. Frontier paid Ms. Guarino 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*269 a regular salary and a yearend bonus.
Sandra Alvarado was a tech writer on staff that took the policy manuals Mr. Bopp wrote and converted them into Web-based PDFs. These documents pertained to personnel policy, employee handbooks, and benefits packages. Frontier paid professional fees to Ms. Alvarado for her services in 2005.
Jason Belden was Frontier's information technology specialist. He modified and improved the programming for the company Web site. Frontier paid Mr. Belden a regular salary and a bonus.
In 2005 Frontier capitalized post-production-period carrying costs, which were incurred to keep homes in a marketable condition until they could be sold. Frontier did not submit Form 3115 to respondent to request permission, nor has Frontier received permission, to change its accounting method for the homeowner *239 association dues, property taxes, other taxes, utilities, and insurance capitalized in 2005.
In 2005 Frontier deducted employees' payroll tax expenses and owner's payroll tax expenses.
Frontier deducted employee benefit program costs in 2005. The employee benefit program is 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*270 representative of the health insurance provided to the employees during the 2005 year.
In 2005 Frontier deducted costs for builder's risk insurance, general liability insurance, and vehicle insurance. The builder's risk insurance cost is for a policy specifically related to each job in production or under construction. It covers each individual job for things like fire, vandalism, and theft. The general insurance cost represents an umbrella policy that covers the whole company. It covers things like slip-and-fall cases in the model homes, copyright infringement claims, and advertising infringement claims. The vehicle insurance covered the vehicle that Mr. Bopp drove to work.
Frontier deducted vehicle expenses for a company vehicle that Mr. Bopp drove in 2005. He drove his company-provided vehicle only for business purposes.
Frontier deducted office expenses relating to the sales offices, main office, and model homes in 2005.
Frontier deducted mobile telephone expenses relating to the sales offices, sales personnel, corporate office, project managers, and decorators in 2005.
Frontier 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*271 deducted office telephone expenses relating to the sales offices, main office, and model homes in 2005.
In 2005 Frontier deducted costs for small tools used for random repairs on the job.
Frontier deducted costs, including travel costs, for its annual all-employee training seminar in 2005. The all-employee training seminar was an annual, three-day retreat for employees. It was used for teambuilding; discussing what Frontier *241 could do better, future opportunities, and ways to improve processes; going over financials; and reviewing invoices in a way to ensure the entire team (i.e., accounting, project managers, and sales staff) understood the process.
Frontier deducted utility expenses relating to the sales offices, main office, and model homes in 2005.
Frontier deducted computer maintenance costs incurred to repair existing computer equipment and keep systems updated in 2005. All models had computers and all design work on the homes required computer systems.
Generally, taxpayers bear the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the determinations 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*272 of the Commissioner in a notice of deficiency are incorrect.
*242
In respect of any new matter, the Commissioner bears the burden of proof.
However, on the record before us, we do not need to reference the burden of proof to resolve this case as the facts are adequately presented.
We begin with a brief overview of how the UNICAP rules work under
Direct costs that must be capitalized include direct material and direct labor costs.
In addition to production costs, indirect costs include service costs. Service costs must be allocated among capitalizable, deductible, and mixed service costs.
As a preliminary matter, we must decide whether Frontier, as a custom homebuilder, is subject to the UNICAP rules under
Frontier contends it is outside the scope of
Our holding in
Frontier sells custom and speculative homes. Speculative homebuilding is the classic production activity to which
We turn to the issue 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*277 of Frontier's accounting method vis-a-vis
Frontier used the same accounting method for tax that it used for financial (book) accounting. In 2005 Frontier capitalized direct material and labor costs and post-production-period carrying costs, but it claimed deductions for salaries, yearend bonuses, and other miscellaneous expenses. Frontier requests this Court to sustain its original reporting position of deducting all of the above expenses. 32013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*278
*247 The Commissioner has broad discretion to decide whether a taxpayer's accounting method clearly reflects income, and his determination is to be upheld unless it is clearly unlawful.
Upon examination, respondent placed Frontier on a method of accounting that respondent determined clearly reflected income. The chosen method was a combination of the simplified production and simplified service cost methods of accounting.
The simplified production method provides a simplified method for determining the additional
Because Frontier's previous accounting method was not in compliance with
Before trial the parties agreed to a stipulated exhibit showing respondent's calculation of the appropriate method of accounting for Frontier's indirect production costs.
Frontier fully deducted the compensation of its corporate officer, Mr. Bopp, for 2005, and respondent determined that this compensation expense is subject to
Frontier argues Mr. Bopp's compensation is a deductible service cost because he was being compensated for his responsibilities relating to overall management, overall company policy, general financial accounting, strategic *251 business planning, and "marketing, selling, or advertising".
The cost of overall management of the taxpayer may be deductible provided that no substantial part of the cost of that function benefits a particular production activity.
Respondent relies on
The facts of
Like PMT, Inc., Frontier designs homes, purchases raw materials, contracts out production operations, and sells homes to customers. Similar to Mr. Penalba, Mr. Bopp would meet with his clients to discuss house designs. Frontier's designers do the bulk of the design work, but the record also shows Mr. Bopp did some design work on clients' homes during the year at issue. These designs are done according to the specifications clients make during their initial meeting with Mr. Bopp. Mr. Bopp also managed the efficiency of the production by monitoring monthly reports and productivity schedules to determine whether the project managers were running 100% productivity on the homes. Mr. Bopp worked closely with his project manager supervisor, Mr. Connery, and with the project 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*285 managers directly. Further, he selected the developers Frontier would work with and reviewed the project managers' choices on vendors and suppliers.
*253 The
Frontier distinguishes
However, Frontier stipulated its inability to produce contemporaneous time records to show how many hours Mr. Bopp spent on his various activities on behalf of Frontier. Frontier relies on Mr. Bopp's uncorroborated testimony to show the number of hours he spent on each of his various activities. In
We find Mr. Bopp's testimony regarding the number of hours he 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*287 spent on each activity insufficient to show that no substantial portion of his time was spent on production-related activities. The record indicates Mr. Bopp engaged in production-related services; and because Mr. Bopp cannot substantiate the time he spent on each of his other activities, we find the de minimis rules to be of no use to Frontier.
Frontier makes two arguments for deducting Mr. Bopp's yearend bonus. First, according to Frontier, Mr. Bopp received no direct benefit from any of his annual bonuses 7 when they were issued; every year that a bonus was received, Mr. Bopp redeposited the entire bonus, less employment taxes, into the company for additional working capital. Frontier furthers this argument by pointing out that Mr. Bopp did not live an extravagant lifestyle as he drove a 1994 Ford truck and lived on the company's premises. Second, Frontier claims the bonus was deductible because 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*288 it is determined by profits from homes sold and thus cannot be related or capitalized to ending inventory.
Frontier's first argument is wholly erroneous. Mr. Bopp's taste in living quarters and mode of transportation is in no way relevant to whether Frontier can deduct his bonus distribution.
Frontier's second argument raises a method of accounting question. Frontier attempts to allocate the bonus distribution exclusively to homes sold by yearend *256 because the payment came from the moneys obtained from those homes sold, i.e., profits. However, this argument must fail because such a method of accounting does not clearly reflect income.
Frontier makes the same argument for deducting the yearend profit-sharing bonuses paid out to its employees that it made for Mr. Bopp's bonus distribution. We deny this claim for the same reasons we denied it for Mr. Bopp's *257 bonus distribution. Therefore, these bonuses will be accorded the same treatment as the regular salary payments made to each respective employee.
Frontier claims the project managers' compensation should not be capitalized because they perform sales, marketing, and warranty services. Frontier further justifies 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*290 its position by asserting its project managers did not do any of the construction work themselves, i.e., they did not hammer any nail or lay any wood. In support of the sales and marketing claim, Frontier argues that project managers are the first point of contact for customers and often have the opportunity to sell upgrades such as better quality windows for more energy efficiency or added service on blinds or shutters and to simply remind the customers that Frontier has a furniture department where they can get accessories and furniture.
Respondent does not dispute the deductibility of the warranty bonuses. Accordingly, those expenses are deductible. Respondent does however dispute the deductibility of the salaries and yearend bonuses. We have already addressed the treatment of all employee bonuses under the previous heading, so we will focus only on the salary expense.
It is irrelevant that the project managers did not hammer any nail or otherwise engage in physical construction. Project managers were responsible for *258 overseeing the actual physical construction of homes and ensuring each home was built per design and in conformity with building standards. They also chose and approved 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*291 the replacement suppliers and vendors, subject to Mr. Bopp's review. Frontier asserts that the project managers' duties, at least in part, fall under "marketing, selling, or advertising".
Direct labor costs include the costs of labor that can be identified or associated with particular units or groups of units of specific property produced.
Frontier contends the compensation paid to Frontier's designers and decorators is deductible because their services relate to exempt or deductible activities. According to Frontier, its design and sales functions overlapped. Frontier claims the designers were incorporated into the sales process to increase sales, while the decorators worked alongside the sales team to entice customers to purchase upgrades.
*260 Respondent does not dispute the deductibility of the warranty-work bonuses paid to both the designers and 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*293 decorators. Accordingly, those expenses are deductible.
The record shows the designers designed homes using AutoCAD software, including designing electrical wiring, plumbing, staircases, elevations, structural plans, doors, windows, glass blocks, floors, and driveways. It also shows the design services were provided outside of the homebuilding contract, and a client using these services could walk away from Frontier and use that design with another builder.
The record shows the decorators met with clients to discuss what selections they wanted in their homes, i.e., creating an opportunity for upgrading tile selections, light fixtures, window treatments, etc. Both designers and decorators worked closely with the project managers throughout the homebuilding process.
Frontier did not produce contemporaneous time records to show how many hours these employees actually spent on activities related to marketing, advertising, or selling any homes, nor did it produce any records detailing what portion of design services was provided that did not end up attaching to a custom home built by Frontier. Nothing in the record supports the claim that the designers and decorators actually made any sales 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*294 in the performance of their duties. It merely *261 shows that there was an opportunity created for suggesting upgrades while talking to clients about which features the construction crew should build into the custom home. The costs incurred during the production process for the designers' work 10 —designing electrical wiring, plumbing, staircases, structural plans, etc.—and the decorators' work—upgrading tile selections, window treatments, etc.—are indirect costs that directly benefited or were incurred by reason of Frontier's production activities.
Therefore, we find these costs must be capitalized as indirect costs properly allocable to produced property as the costs directly benefited or were incurred by reason of the performance of production activities.
Ms. Wolfe, Mr. Bopp's administrative assistant, was paid both a regular salary and a yearend bonus.
Respondent argues Ms. Wolfe's compensation should be characterized the same as Mr. Bopp's compensation because she assisted Mr. Bopp in his daily *262 duties, 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*295 which we found to be partially production related and partially nonproduction related. Frontier argues her compensation is deductible in full.
Because Frontier maintained no contemporaneous time records detailing the hours Ms. Wolfe spent on her designated duties, we agree her compensation should be treated very similarly to that of Mr. Bopp, whom she assisted day after day. Therefore, we agree that Ms. Wolfe's duties were partially production related and partially nonproduction related. Accordingly, her compensation is a mixed-service cost, the same as Mr. Bopp's compensation.
Ms. Guarino was in charge of accounts receivable, client billings, payroll, and some tax preparation. Frontier argues that her salary and bonus are deductible under
Respondent does not dispute that managing accounts receivable, client billings, and tax preparation are all deductible service costs.
However, per
Ms. Alvarado was paid to convert the construction, general administration, and decorating manuals into online PDFs. Frontier claims the manuals pertain to design, construction, decorating, sales, and general administration making Ms. Alvarado's compensation deductible under
Respondent contends that Ms. Alvarado's compensation expense should be treated as a mixed-service cost to the extent the costs directly benefit production (e.g., construction, design, and decoration).
The manuals Mr. Bopp created were not created for employee training programs. They were created as a general personnel policy guide and as a reference for maintaining good-quality homes. Therefore, we find the policymaking Mr. Bopp 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*298 engaged in fits within
Frontier paid Mr. Belden a salary and a profit-sharing bonus as Frontier's information technology specialist. Mr. Belden modified and improved the programming for the company's Web site. The Web site was designed to inform clients about amenities Frontier offered. And according to Mr. Bopp's own testimony, it also helped him keep track of change orders and follow leads.
Respondent argues that Mr. Belden's compensation is a mixed-service cost as his work benefited both sales and production. 12
Frontier capitalized 2005 carrying costs consisting of HOA fees, property taxes, interest, utilities, and insurance. Frontier now wishes to change its accounting so these costs will be treated as having been deducted for 2005, not capitalized. 13 Frontier argues these costs were paid to maintain homes after the completion of the homebuilding project and therefore cannot be deemed production related.
When a taxpayer in a court proceeding retroactively attempts to alter the manner in which he accounted for an item on his tax return, the taxpayer cannot prevail if consent for the change 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*300 in accounting method has not been secured.
Frontier deducted its employees' payroll tax expenses and owner's payroll tax expenses for 2005. Respondent argues the employees' payroll tax expenses should be allocated among capitalizable, deductible, and mixed-service costs in accordance with the treatment afforded to each respective group of employees. Respondent also argues the owner's payroll tax expenses should be treated the same as Mr. Bopp's compensation—partially allocable to production activities and partially allocable to nonproduction activities.
Taxes otherwise allowable as deductions shall be capitalized as an indirect cost to the extent they are attributable to labor used in production.
Frontier deducted employee benefit program costs in full for 2005. These costs related to health insurance for Frontier's employees. Premiums on health insurance and miscellaneous benefits provided for employees such as safety and medical treatment are indirect costs that must be capitalized to the extent they are properly allocable to property produced.
Frontier 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*302 deducted costs for builder's risk insurance, general liability insurance, and vehicle insurance on the car Mr. Bopp drove in furtherance of Frontier's activities. In response to respondent's request for admissions, Frontier admitted that the vehicle insurance was an indirect cost. Insurance costs are an indirect cost that must be capitalized to the extent they are properly allocable to property produced.
Mr. Bopp testified that the builder's risk insurance covered the building of homes. This is clearly production related. Therefore, the builder's risk insurance cost must be capitalized.
Frontier claims that the general liability insurance was an umbrella policy for the whole corporation and used for issues 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*303 like copyright infringement, advertising claims, tort liability, etc. Frontier asserts that it benefited all of Frontier's departments and benefited production activities (which used builder's insurance) only at a de minimis level.
Respondent agrees that the general liability insurance was an umbrella policy, but he asserts that it covered incidents arising from the production of homes and thereby capitalizes the full expense. Respondent relies on
Frontier deducted vehicle expenses related to the vehicle Mr. Bopp drove for the company in 2005. He drove his company-provided vehicle only for business. For the same reasons we find the vehicle insurance expense partially allocable to production activities and partially allocable to nonproduction activities, we find the *271 same treatment proper for the vehicle expenses. Therefore, because Mr. Bopp used his company vehicle in the performance of his duties, the vehicle expenses are a mixed-service cost the same as Mr. Bopp's compensation.
Frontier deducted office expenses incurred 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*305 for models, sales offices, and the main office. Mr. Bopp testified that this expense covered things like telephone and Internet charges for models, sales offices, and the main office. Because we address the office telephones separately below, these office expenses will refer to all office expenses excluding the office telephones. Frontier states that these offices were rarely if ever used by project management staff. Consequently, it is argued that only a de minimis portion of the expenses could be said to be allocable to production.
Because Frontier acknowledges some portion of these expenses is allocable to production and did not provide any substantiation for its claim that that portion is de minimis, we find these expenses partially allocable to production-related activities and partially allocable to non-production-related activities. Respondent argues these expenses should be allocated among capitalizable, deductible, and mixed-service costs using the ratio of each category of employee compensation to total compensation. We agree this is a good way of allocating the expense to *272 identify which services (production related 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*306 versus nonproduction related) the expenses attached to. Accordingly, the office expenses shall be allocated among deductible, capitalizable, and mixed-service costs in accordance with the treatment afforded to each respective group of employees.
Frontier deducted mobile telephone expenses relating to sales offices, sales personnel, the corporate office, and project managers. Frontier argues only 10% of this expense is allocable to production-related operations and it is therefore fully deductible under the de minimis rule.
The record indicates mobile telephones were used partially in production activities and partially in nonproduction activities. Respondent allocates 79% of the mobile telephone expense to production activities by dividing the total compensation expense of $536,875 for project managers and decorators by the total compensation expense of $679,131 for project managers, decorators, and salespeople. We stated above that the project managers' and decorators' compensation is a capitalizable expense; therefore, we find this 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*307 formula acceptable.
*273 Accordingly, 79% ($536,875/$679,131 = 79%) of the mobile telephone expense shall be capitalizable.
Frontier deducted office telephone expenses relating to the models and main offices. Frontier claims the project managers seldom used the office telephones, if ever. Respondent disagrees with Frontier's claim and maintains the telephone expense should be allocated among capitalizable, deductible, and mixed-service costs per
Frontier deducted tool expenses for 2005 for miscellaneous tools used on the job. Frontier justifies this deduction by saying they were used in the company's sales function since they were used to repair the model homes, which were used as a selling tool. Tools and equipment, as well as the costs for repairs and maintenance, are capitalizable indirect costs to the extent they are properly allocable to property produced.
Frontier incurred a cost, including travel costs, for its annual all-employee training seminar in 2005. The all-employee training seminar was an annual three-day retreat for its employees. It was used for teambuilding; discussing what the company could do better, future opportunities, and ways to improve processes throughout the company; going over financials; and reviewing invoices in a way that allowed the entire team (accounting, project managers, and sales 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*309 staff) to understand the process.
*275 Costs associated with personnel policy (such as developing employee training programs unrelated to particular production activities) are a deductible expense.
With 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*310 regard to the travel expense, respondent's allocation characterizes it as a partially capitalizable, partially deductible, and mixed-service cost. Frontier argues this expense should be deductible in the same manner as the rest of the expenses related to the annual retreat. Because we find the annual retreat unrelated *276 to a particular production activity and therefore nonproduction related, we see no reason why the travel expense should not enjoy the same treatment. Therefore, the travel expense is a deductible expense.
Frontier deducted expenses for utilities. These expenses pertained only to model homes and the main office. Similar to its brief justification with the tools expense, Frontier merely states that this cost related to model homes and therefore should be fully deductible.
Under
Frontier deducted computer maintenance expenses. These expenses related to repairing existing computer equipment and keeping systems updated.
*277 Computers were maintained for designers and salespeople in model homes. All models had computers and all design work required computer systems.
Frontier claims the full expense amounts are deductible because they primarily related to model homes and design work at its main office. Respondent argues the expenses are 65% capitalizable. He arrives at this percentage by dividing the designers' production-related compensation of $231,567 by the total compensation for designers and salespeople, including the noncapitalizable bonus for designers, of $354,048.
These computer maintenance expenses are partially allocable to production-related activities as the designers used these computers and systems to design homes in the production phase. But these expenses are also partially allocable to non-production-related activities as they were used in model homes by salespeople. Therefore, 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*312 we agree with respondent's calculation and find the computer maintenance expense to be 65% capitalizable.
Frontier makes a claim for relief under the mitigation provisions because once it makes the necessary corrections to its capital account, it will have an increase in basis for 2005 which will result in the corporation's also capitalizing a larger amount in the following years. Consequently, Frontier hopes to use the mitigation provisions to make an adjustment for one or more of those later years.
While it is true that "it is important that the mitigation provisions be given a liberal 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*313 and remedial interpretation",
Frontier asks this Court to grant equitable relief under the mitigation provisions with an eye toward the date when the decision in this case 2013 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 262">*314 becomes final. That, however, is not consistent with the clear provisions of
*280 In reaching our holdings herein, we have considered all arguments made, and, to the extent not mentioned above, we conclude they are moot, irrelevant, or without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
1. The parties stipulated and agreed that of the total $362,240 rent expense Frontier deducted on its 2005 tax return, Frontier may neither deduct nor capitalize $73,601 but may deduct $288,639. The parties also agreed the following expenses are fully deductible: salaries and bonuses for sales and marketing employees; State franchise tax; corporate income tax; employment tax; depreciation; legal fees for warranty claims; office telephone for the Fairfield and Oakhurst offices; warranty; Web page maintenance; decorating models; bank charges; dues and subscriptions; meals; charitable contributions; and advertising.↩
2. Unless otherwise indicated, all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, and all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the year at issue.
3. Frontier asserted an accounting method in its pretrial memorandum different from the one asserted at trial or in its posttrial briefs. In its pretrial memorandum, Frontier argued that additional
4. "A new theory that is presented to sustain a deficiency is treated as a new matter when it either alters the original deficiency or requires the presentation of different evidence. * * *A new theory which merely clarifies or develops the original determination is not a new matter in respect of which * * * [the Internal Revenue Service] bears the burden of proof."
5. Frontier listed various duties Mr. Bopp performed on behalf of Frontier that were most in line with the deductible service activities listed under
(ii) De minimis rule. —For purposes of administrative convenience, if 90 percent or more of a mixed service department's costs are deductible service costs, a taxpayer may elect not to allocate any portion of the service department's costs to property produced or property acquired for resale. * * * Under this election, however, if 90 percent or more of a mixed service department's costs are capitalizable service costs, a taxpayer must allocate 100 percent of the department's costs to the production or resale activity benefitted.↩
7. This refers to bonuses he received in 2005 as well as years not at issue.↩
8. Direct examination of Mr. Bopp: Q: Who has primary responsibility for building homes? A: The project managers.↩
9. Direct examination of Mr. Bopp: Q: How many homes is a project manager responsible for at a time? A: You know, a typical project manager should be able to run between eight to ten homes annually—I mean at a time. Q: How long does it take to manage the building of a home? A: To complete a home, the typical build time is approximately six months.↩
10.
(E) Personnel policy (such as establishing and managing personnel policy in general; developing wage, salary, and benefit policies; developing employee training programs unrelated to particular production or resale activities; negotiating with labor unions; and maintaining relations with retired workers).↩
12. Respondent agrees the Web page maintenance cost of $2,653 was a deductible expense.↩
13. These costs were properly capitalized for 2005 as the regulations specifically require carrying costs to be capitalized as an indirect cost.
14. Utilities, including the cost of electricity, are an indirect expense required to be capitalized to the extent they are properly allocable to property produced.
15.