1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*114
Petitioners owned farmland but did not plant crops or raise cattle thereon, and did not lease the land to others. Petitioners claimed depreciation and other deductions with respect to the farmland and improvements thereto. Respondent disallowed the deductions and determined additions to tax under
89 T.C. 277">*277 Respondent determined deficiencies in, and additions to, petitioners' Federal income tax as follows:
Additions to tax | |||||
Sec. | Sec. | Sec. | |||
Petitioner | Year | Deficiency | 6661(a) | 6653(a)(1) | 6653(a)(2) |
Dolphus E. and | |||||
Mary J. Schirmer | 1981 | $ 11,157.00 | 0 | $ 7,557.85 | (1) |
Dolphus E. Schirmer | |||||
(only) | 1982 | 19,527.17 | $ 1,952.72 | 976.35 | ( |
1983 | 16,940.29 | 1,694.03 | 847.01 | ( |
After concessions, the issues are (1) whether petitioners' activity with respect to a farm is an activity engaged in for 89 T.C. 277">*278 profit, (2) whether petitioner Dolphus E. Schirmer is liable for the addition to tax under
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts are stipulated and are found accordingly. The stipulation of facts and exhibits attached thereto are incorporated herein by reference.
Petitioners Dolphus E. Schirmer and Mary J. Schirmer resided in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when they filed their petition herein. In 1981, petitioners were husband and wife and filed a joint Federal income tax return. 1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*116 In 1982, petitioners were divorced. Petitioner Dolphus E. Schirmer (herein petitioner) filed a separate return for taxable years 1982 and 1983.
During the years in issue, petitioner owned 554 acres of land in Paraloama, Arkansas (the farm). Petitioner was employed as a mechanical engineer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the years in issue and Mary J. Schirmer was employed as a secretary in 1981. Petitioners did not reside on the farm during the years in issue and at the time of trial had not resided on the farm for many years. Petitioners did not maintain a separate set of books or a separate checking account for expenses and income with respect to the farm.
Petitioners reported no income from the farm for the 1978 to 1983 taxable years. The amounts of loss from the farm reported by petitioners for such years are as follows:
Year | Amount of loss |
1978 | ($ 10,053) |
1979 | (14,332) |
1980 | (8,552) |
1981 | (10,114) |
1982 (Petitioner Dolphus E. Schirmer only) | (13,286) |
1983 (Petitioner Dolphus E. Schirmer only) | (12,240) |
The major portion of the losses was attributed to depreciation deductions taken with respect to two houses located on the farm.
89 T.C. 277">*279 In 1984, by chance, 1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*117 petitioner sold some timber to buyers who had made arrangements to purchase timber from petitioner's sister. Petitioner received $ 8,247.75 from that sale. Petitioners also received a total of $ 2,100 in 1978 and 1979 as a result of a lawsuit brought against an individual who grazed cattle on the farm without permission. Petitioners derived no other income from their farming activity from 1978 to 1984.
Petitioners' adjusted gross income from other sources, as reflected on their Federal income tax returns for the taxable years 1977 through 1983, was as follows:
Adjusted gross | |
Year | income |
1977 | $ 235,003 |
1978 | 191,245 |
1979 | 231,027 |
1980 | 251,650 |
1981 | 308,913 |
1982 (Petitioner Dolphus E. Schirmer only) | 328,681 |
1983 (Petitioner Dolphus E. Schirmer only) | 254,174 |
On the average, petitioner spent 2 or 3 days a month tending to the affairs of the farm. The record is unclear as to whether petitioner remained in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he attended to farm affairs. Petitioners did not plant crops or lease the farm to others during the years in issue. Only one-half of the farm had timber growing on it and the timber was grown naturally. Petitioners did not have an estimate as1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*118 to how much income could be derived from the farm through tree farming. In 1980, petitioners advertised for a manager in the newspaper and interviewed 12 to 15 applicants. Petitioners failed to hire any of the applicants and have not advertised again for a manager. Throughout the years in issue, petitioner's employment as a mechanical engineer took priority over his farming activity.
Petitioner developed what expertise he has in farming from his work on his father's farm before he was 20 years old. During the years in issue, petitioner consulted with a county agent for advice as to what crops were most suitable for planting on the farm. In 1983, petitioner also commissioned the Arkansas Forestry Commission to prepare a Forest Management Plan. Petitioner did not follow the suggestions of the county agent nor did he implement any 89 T.C. 277">*280 of the suggestions contained in the Forestry Management Plan. Petitioners did not raise cattle on the farm and did not lease any part of the farm or the houses thereon to others.
Petitioner's family visited the farm 4 to 6 times a year for 2 to 4 days during each visit. Petitioner's sister also stayed on the farm 2 or 3 times a year and stayed1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*119 from 3 days to a week during each visit. Petitioner's children and grandchildren stayed on the farm for several weeks each year.
Petitioners did little with respect to the farm during the years in issue. Petitioner stated at trial that he was not "psychic" and therefore did not know when the farm would become profitable. Petitioner's sole attempt to improve the profitability of the farm, aside from consulting with the county agent and commissioning a Forest Management Plan, consisted of talking to his neighbors to "find out where they were making money."
In the late 1970's, the farm had a value of $ 500 per acre and had since fallen in value. Comparable property was sold for $ 200 per acre several months before trial.
In the notice of deficiency, respondent disallowed petitioners' claimed losses from the farm for the taxable years in issue on the basis that petitioners' farming activity was not engaged in for profit. Respondent also determined additions to tax pursuant to
OPINION
We will first determine whether petitioners' activity with respect to the farm is an activity engaged in for profit. Whether an activity is engaged in for profit1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*120 turns on whether the taxpayer has a bona fide objective of making a profit.
Both parties cite the nine factors in
Petitioners have failed to prove that the farming activity was an activity engaged in for profit. The record contains no objective facts that prove a bona fide objective of making a profit.
The manner in which petitioners carried on the farming activity does not support their claim of profit objective. Petitioners1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*122 maintained no separate books or checking accounts for the income and expenses related to the farm. Petitioner stated that he worked on a farm until he was nearly 20 years of age, but failed to specify the extent of his farming knowledge. Petitioners did not live on the farm and petitioner only spent an average of 2 or 3 days each month tending to the affairs of the farm. Petitioners failed to hire a manager or any workers for the farm. Furthermore, petitioner took no positive action to follow the advice of the county agent whom he consulted nor did he follow the recommendations contained in the Arkansas Forestry Commission's Forest Management Plan.
Petitioners failed to show that they had any reasonable expectation that the assets used in the farming activity might appreciate in value. The farm had substantially 89 T.C. 277">*282 depreciated in value since petitioner acquired it. Furthermore, at trial, petitioner stated that he had no idea when the farm would become profitable.
Petitioner was successful as a mechanical engineer and placed more importance on that activity than his farming activity. Petitioners experienced a long history of losses with respect to the farm prior to, during, 1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*123 and subsequent to the years in issue. The farm never operated at a profit. 2 Furthermore, during the years in issue, the farm losses were used to offset petitioners' substantial income from other sources, such income ranging from $ 254,174 to $ 328,681.
Finally, the elements of personal pleasure and recreation involved in the activity also tend to refute petitioners' position. The record shows that petitioners' family, including petitioner's sister and grandchildren, each spent several weeks each year on the farm. Since there was no evidence that petitioners' family worked on the farm when they were there, we can conclude that they retreated to the farm for pleasure.
In sum, when the facts of this case are examined in light of the factors provided in
We now turn to the addition to tax determined by respondent under
1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*126 Petitioner argues that his treatment of the losses relating to his farming activity was based on substantial authority pursuant to
Petitioner argues that his position is supported by substantial authority. The standard of "substantial authority" requires that, when the facts and authorities are analyzed with respect to the taxpayer's case, the weight of the authorities that support the taxpayer's position should be substantial when compared with those supporting the contrary position. H. Rept. 97-760 (Conf.) at 575 (1982), 89 T.C. 277">*284
Petitioner also argues that he adequately disclosed the relevant facts affecting the treatment of the deductions relating to his farming1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*129 activity. Petitioner argues that by completing Schedule F for farm income and expenses and 89 T.C. 277">*285 Form 4562 for depreciation and amortization, he had made adequate disclosure under
The statute does not set forth what constitutes "adequate disclosure" of "relevant facts." Under generally applicable regulatory authority, respondent may prescribe the form of such disclosure. H. Rept. 97-760 (Conf.) at 575-576 (1982),
Respondent's regulations provide two types of disclosure under
Our inquiry does not end here, however. Where a taxpayer fails to comply with the Revenue Procedures issued in accordance1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*131 with
1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*132 For the foregoing reasons, we hold that petitioner may not claim the benefits of
1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 114">*133 We now turn to whether petitioners are liable for the additions to tax imposed under
To reflect the foregoing and concessions,
1. 50 percent of the interest due on the underpayment caused by negligence.↩
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended and in effect during the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. The only two incidents of income relating to the farm in the record arose from a fortuitous event and a law suit.↩
3. See
4.
(b) Definition and Special Rule. -- (1) Substantial understatement. -- (A) In general. -- For purposes of this section, there is a substantial understatement of income tax for any taxable year if the amount of the understatement for the taxable year exceeds the greater of -- (i) 10 percent of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year, or (ii) $ 5,000. * * * * (2) Understatement. -- (A) In general. -- For purposes of paragraph (1), the term "Understatement" means the excess of -- (i) the amount of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year, over (ii) the amount of the tax imposed which is shown on the return, reduced by any rebate (within the meaning of section 6211(b)(2)). (B) Reduction for understatement due to position of taxpayer or disclosed item. -- The amount of the understatement under subparagraph (A) shall be reduced by that portion of the understatement which is attributable to -- (i) the tax treatment of any item by the taxpayer if there is or was substantial authority for such treatment, or (ii) any item with respect to which the relevant facts affecting the item's tax treatment are adequately disclosed in the return or in a statement attached to the return.
5. The two returns at issue with respect to the
6. The Revenue Procedures do not list Form 4562, and list Schedule F, Form 1120, or Form 1120S, as adequate disclosure only for a reserve for bad debts.↩
7.
8. The notice of deficiency in which respondent determined the