Decision will be entered under Rule 155.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
PARR, JUDGE: Respondent determined deficiencies in, and penalties on, the Federal income tax for 1992, 1993, and 1994 of Terry F. Zdun (petitioner) and Carol J. Zdun (Mrs. Zdun) as follows:
Accuracy-Related Penalty | ||
Year | Deficiency | Sec. 6662(a) |
1992 | $ 6,668 | $ 1,334 |
1993 | 9,683 | 1,937 |
1994 | 10,019 | 2,004 |
All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, unless otherwise indicated. All dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, unless otherwise indicated.
After concessions by the parties, 1 the issues for decision are: (1) Whether petitioners' apple orchard activity and dentistry activity should be treated as one activity or two separate activities for purposes of
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulated facts and 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*300 the accompanying exhibits are incorporated into our findings by this reference. At the time the petition in this case was filed, petitioners were married and resided in Tiller, Oregon.
THE DENTISTRY ACTIVITY
Petitioner has been licenced to practice dentistry since 1967, and is licensed to practice in California, Michigan, and Oregon. In addition to a consulting office in his home, petitioner maintains dental offices in Grants Pass and Medford, Oregon. Mrs. Zdun, who is a qualified dental assistant, assists petitioner when he sees patients at their home office. Throughout the years at issue, petitioner devoted 3 days a week to his dental practice.
Petitioner practices what he calls holistic dentistry. According to petitioner, an organic apple is a special fruit rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and bioflavonoids that contribute to the health of gums and oral tissues. Thus, he counsels his patients to eat organic apples for their dental health.
THE APPLE ORCHARD ACTIVITY
In 1982, petitioners moved from California to a 151-acre homestead they purchased in Tiller. In the following year, petitioners cleared the indigenous growth from 5 acres surrounding their house and planted apple trees. The 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*301 trees began producing fruit sometime in the mid-1980's, and petitioner estimates that he had 150 to 170 mature trees during the years at issue. In 1992, however, due to a hard freeze, which is not uncommon at the elevation of petitioners' property, no apples were produced. Petitioner estimates that the trees produced approximately 40,000 pounds of fruit in 1993 and 1994.
Petitioners do not hire any labor to help with the orchard; petitioner does all the heavy work, including picking the apples. Mrs. Zdun, who has a bad back, works at least 4 hours in the orchard each day during the apple season, July through December.
Although petitioner estimates that the orchard produced 40,000 pounds of apples during 1993 and 1994, he did not pick all the apples that were produced. Instead, he picked only the best apples and threw away many of the others.
Although organic apples are available for purchase in the areas where petitioner practices, it has been his experience that his patients will eat the apples only if they are made easily available to them. To facilitate his patients' access to organic apples, petitioner grows the apples, picks and bags them, and then takes the bags to his offices for 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*302 sale to his patients. Thus, petitioner considers his apple orchard an integral part of his dental practice.
Petitioner testified that he has tried, but prefers not, to sell the apples commercially. Some of the apples have suffered injury from insects and are otherwise marked which makes much of his fruit less valuable on the commercial market; thus, in petitioner's opinion the profit margin from commercial sales is not good. Instead, he prefers to grow the best, most nutritious apples that he can and provide them to his patients. If a patient cannot afford to purchase the apples, petitioner gives them to the patient without charge. Petitioner estimates that of all his patients, only 10 or 15 percent avail themselves of the apples. There is no question that petitioners have never made a profit with respect to the apple orchard activity during their 14-year involvement with the fruit.
PETITIONERS' TAX RETURNS
Petitioners formed a partnership, Twin Creeks Organic Farm, in 1992. Petitioners are the only partners in the partnership. For reporting purposes, petitioners combined their dentistry activity gross receipts with their apple orchard activity income and expenses on one Form 1065 (U.S.1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*303 Partnership Return of Income). In each of the years at issue, petitioners reported the income and expenses from the apple orchard activity on Schedule F (Profit or Loss From Farming) and attached the schedule to Form 1065. In 1992 and 1993, petitioners reported the income from the dental practice on Schedule C (Profit or Loss From Business), which was attached to petitioners' Form 1040. 3 In 1992, petitioners transferred the dental practice income from Schedule C to the Form 1065 filed by Twin Creeks Organic Farm, reporting the dental practice income as if it were partnership gross receipts, and then netted that amount with the apple orchard losses. In 1993, petitioners transferred the dental practice income from Schedule C to Schedule F, as farm income, and attached Schedule F to Form 1065. In 1993 and 1994, petitioners netted the income from the dentistry activity with the apple orchard activity income on Schedule F and reported that net amount as partnership income on Form 1065.
Petitioners reported dentistry activity gross 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*304 receipts and apple orchard activity income and expenses as follows:
Item | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
Gross receipts: | |||
Dentistry | $ 57,920 | $ 68,400 | $ 67,600 |
Apple orchard | 1 -0- | 2 1,700 | |
Expenses incurred: | |||
Farm expenses 3 | ($ 23,008) | 4 ($ 56,052) | |
Other expenses | 51998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*305 (19,462) |
OPINION
ISSUE 1. THE APPLE ORCHARD ACTIVITY
The first issue for decision is twofold: (1) Whether petitioners' apple orchard activity and dentistry activity should be treated as one activity or two separate activities for purposes of
SEPARATE OR SINGLE ACTIVITY
Respondent determined that petitioners' apple orchard activity is separate and distinct from the dentistry activity. Petitioner asserts that the two undertakings are related in that he cannot practice holistic dentistry without his apple orchard. Respondent's determinations are presumed correct, and petitioners bear the burden of proving otherwise.
An 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*307 examination of the entire record fails to reveal any evidence linking the two undertakings. Petitioners' trees produce apples from August through December, and petitioners testified that they have no facility for cold storage of the fruit, yet petitioner is able to practice dentistry all year round. Furthermore, petitioner testified that only 10 or 15 percent of his patients actually take his apples, even when he provides the apples to them for no cost. The evidence does not support a conclusion that the apple orchard is necessary to either his dental practice or his patients. Thus, we find no degree of organizational or economic relationship between the two undertakings. Moreover, we do not accept petitioner's testimony that a business purpose is served by carrying on the apple orchard activity and dentistry activity together as a single activity, nor do we find any similarity between the two.
In light of the criteria stated in
APPLE ORCHARD NOT ENGAGED IN FOR PROFIT
As we have decided that petitioners' undertakings are two separate activities, we now consider the income and expenses of the apple orchard activity separately in deciding whether the apple orchard activity was conducted with a profit objective.
In determining whether an activity is engaged 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*309 in for profit, the taxpayer must show that he or she engaged in the activity with an "actual and honest objective of making a profit."
The regulations promulgated under
A review of the entire record in this case persuades us that petitioners have failed to carry their burden of proving that their apple orchard activity was engaged in for profit. We find that all of the above enumerated factors weigh against petitioners.
First, the manner in which the taxpayer carries on the activity is one indication of whether a profit objective exists.
Petitioners assert that they have maintained records for their activities. However, their books of account for the apple orchard consist of their bank deposit slips, check stubs, and tax forms. Petitioners have two bank accounts, one in the name of petitioner 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*312 and the other in the name of Twin Creeks Farm. Petitioner testified that when he received money, from whatever source, he deposited it in whichever account needed the money. He further testified that he used both accounts as family accounts.
Petitioners did not present any production records for the apple orchard. In fact, at trial petitioner was not even certain of the exact number of trees in the orchard. Thus, we find that petitioners kept no separate complete and accurate books or production records for the orchard activity.
Although petitioners' tax preparer, Susan Bladorn-Dukes, testified that petitioners' canceled-checks method of recording income and expenses was much like that of other farmers for whom she prepares tax returns, she also testified that most of those farms were "absolutely not" self-supporting. Thus, we do not find that petitioners' apple orchard activity is an activity carried on in a manner substantially similar to other activities of the same nature which are profitable.
Petitioner testified that he made several changes in the manner of operating the orchard. For example, he discontinued spraying ground-up insects on the trees as a method of pest control because 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*313 it was too labor intensive. He also changed his ground cover from a fescue type to a clover type because the clover returns more nitrogen to the ground, allowing him to forgo chemical fertilization. Finally, he replaced the overhead-irrigation system he had installed previously with a ground-level system.
Although these changes may have reduced petitioners' labor burden, there is no evidence that the changes were made so that the activity would become more profitable, or that the changes were the abandonment of unprofitable methods. For instance, petitioner testified that the ground-up insect method is an effective method of pest control, but he abandoned it because it was too much work. Petitioner did not provide any evidence of the cost effectiveness of his present method of pest control compared to the abandoned method. Nor did petitioner proffer any evidence that he was actually using chemical fertilizers before he changed the type of ground cover; therefore, there is no evidence that the change was an abandonment of an unprofitable method in an attempt to improve profitability. Thus, we do not conclude that these changes indicate a profit motive.
It is clear from the record that 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*314 petitioners failed to maintain complete and accurate books and records for the apple orchard activity, did not conduct the activity in a manner substantially similar to other comparable, profitable businesses, and did not make changes in order to improve profitability. Accordingly, we find this factor weighs against petitioners.
Second, preparation for the start of an activity through extensive study of its accepted business, economic, and scientific practices, or consultation with those who are experts therein indicates that the taxpayer has entered into the activity for profit.
Petitioner's testimony indicates that his preparation for the apple orchard activity was casual, intermittent, and short-term, rather than extensive. Petitioner did not mention how attending the shows, exhibits, course on pruning trees, or conversations with his neighbor in any way aided petitioners in making the apple orchard activity profitable. Furthermore, there is no evidence in the record that petitioners conducted a thorough investigation into the profitability of their apple orchard activity. They did not present evidence that they had a business plan, or that they had made projections of revenue, expenses, or profits that they expected would be generated by the apple orchard activity. It is unlikely that one would incur such substantial expenses with respect to an activity, which he or she intends to be profitable, without first making a complete investigation of how to do so.
Third, the time and effort expended by the taxpayer in carrying on the activity is an indication of whether a profit motive existed.
Fourth, an expectation that the assets used in the activity may appreciate in value is an indication of a profit motive. The term "profit" encompasses an appreciation in the value of assets, such as land, used in an activity. Thus, the taxpayer may intend to derive a profit from the operation of the activity, and may also intend that, even if no profit from current operations 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*317 is derived, an overall profit will result when appreciation in the value of land used in the activity is realized since income from the activity together with the appreciation of land will exceed expenses of operation.
Other than petitioner's self-serving testimony, there is no evidence on record to support his assertion of the value of the trees. Although as coowner of the apple trees, petitioner is qualified to testify as to their value, we are not required to, and we do not, accept his self-serving testimony on this point.
Even if we accepted, arguendo, petitioner's valuation of the apple trees, and that petitioners have held the Tiller property with the expectation of making an overall profit from the operation due to the appreciation of the value 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*318 of the land, this factor would still not favor petitioners. The last sentence of
Where land is purchased or held or held primarily with the intent to profit from increase in its value, and the taxpayer also engages in farming on such land, the farming and the holding of the land will ordinarily be considered a single activity only if the farming activity reduces the net cost of carrying the land for its appreciation in value. Thus, the farming and holding of the land will be considered a single activity only if the income derived from farming exceeds the deductions attributable to the farming activity which are not directly attributable to the holding of the land (that is, deductions other than those directly attributable to the holding of the land such as interest on a mortgage secured by the land, annual property taxes attributable to the land and improvements, and depreciation of improvements to the land).
It is clear from petitioners' Schedules F that the costs attributed to the orchard 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*319 activity (apart from those directly attributable to the holding of the land) substantially exceed the income from the apple sales. Thus, petitioners do not satisfy the test set forth in
Fifth, the fact that the taxpayer has engaged in similar activities in the past and converted them from unprofitable to profitable enterprises may indicate that he is engaged in an activity for profit even though the activity is presently unprofitable.
The taxpayer's history of income, losses, and occasional profits with respect to an activity can be indicative of a profit objective.
Substantial income from sources other than the activity in question may also be an indication of the lack of a profit objective especially where losses from the questioned activity produce substantial tax benefits.
Finally, the presence of personal motives in carrying on of an activity may indicate that the activity is not engaged in for profit, especially where there are recreational or personal elements involved.
An activity will not be treated as not engaged in for profit merely because the taxpayer derives personal pleasure from engaging in the activity if the activity is in fact engaged in for profit as evidenced by other factors. Id. The record in this case, however, is entirely bereft of any evidence that petitioners engaged in the activity with an honest and actual objective of making a profit. Thus, we find that this factor 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*322 weighs against petitioners as personal pleasure is the dominant factor in their undertaking the activity.
Accordingly, on the basis of all the facts and circumstances of the instant case, and the factors considered in
ISSUE 2. ACCURACY-RELATED PENALTY UNDER
Respondent determined that petitioners are liable for accuracy-related penalties pursuant to
After adjustments, 5 respondent determined that the amounts of tax required to be shown on the returns are $ 7,701, $ 9,994, and $ 9,473, and that the amounts of the understatements of tax are $ 6,668, $ 9,683, and $ 10,019, for 1992, 1993, and 1994, respectively. As each of these amounts exceeds the greater of 10 percent of the tax required to be shown on the return or $ 5,000 for the year at issue, respondent applied the penalty at issue. Petitioners assert that there was no understatement, and that if the Court finds there was substantial understatement, the penalty should not apply because reporting all of their income and deductions on their 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*324 tax returns is adequate disclosure.
Respondent's regulations provide two types of disclosure under
The Commissioner may by annual revenue procedure (or otherwise) prescribe the circumstances under which disclosure of information on a return in accordance with applicable forms and instructions is adequate.
On their returns, petitioner reported his occupation as "Farmer/Dental Nutrition", and Mrs. Zdun reported her occupation as "Farmer/Nutrition Expert". Petitioners transferred the income from the dentistry activity from Schedule 1998 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 298">*327 C (Profit or Loss From Business) to Schedule F (Profit or Loss From Farming), which was attached to Form 1065 (U.S. Partnership Return of Income), and then back to Form 1040. We note that petitioners' method of reporting dental practice income grossed up the farm income, providing the apple orchard activity with the appearance of a profit-making activity. 7 Reporting income actually earned as a dentist as income earned from an apple orchard is misrepresentation, not disclosure.
We conclude that petitioners have failed to provide adequate disclosure for purposes of
Decision will be entered under Rule 155.
1. Respondent determined that petitioner was an employee of a denturist from whom he rented an equipped office, rather than a self- employed dentist. In the notice of deficiency, respondent disallowed petitioners' self-employment tax deductions of $ 1,027, $ 993, and $ 747 for 1992, 1993, and 1994, respectively. After trial, respondent conceded that petitioner was self-employed during the years at issue.↩
2. At the end of trial, respondent moved orally to increase the amount of the deficiency for each year if the Court found that petitioner was self-employed. The Court denied this motion. We hold, however, that to the extent the amount of each deficiency is not increased, petitioners are liable for self-employment tax on petitioner's self-employment income. See secs. 1401 and 1402.↩
3. The record does not show whether petitioners filed a Schedule C (Profit or Loss From Business) with their Form 1040 (U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) for 1994.↩
1. In 1992, petitioners improperly reported $ 500 of gross income from the farm on Schedule F; this amount represents the unrealized increase in value of their horse. The amount of revenue from the sale of apples, or any other farm related activity, was $ 0.↩
2. Although petitioners reported sales of farm products of $ 1,700 and $ 850 on Schedule F in 1993 and 1994, respectively, an unknown portion of the amount reported in 1993 and $ 700 of the amount reported in 1994 was for the estimated value of apples they ↩
3. These amounts are taken from part 11 of petitioners' Schedule F.↩
4. These amounts are the totals of the farm expenses reported on line 35 of petitioners' Schedules F. The reported expenses include a deduction for "Other expenses", which was reported separately on line 34a of the schedules filed for 1993 and 1994. The amount of the Other expenses was $ 18,590 in 1993 and $ 22,455 in 1994.↩
5. This "Other expense" was reported on line 20 of petitioners' Form 1065. The expenses were itemized on a self-made schedule titled "Twin Creeks Organic Farm", which was attached to the partnership return.
4. On an annual basis, petitioner spent between 9 and 12 hours per week in the orchard.↩
5. In addition to disallowing certain deductions, respondent determined that computational adjustments should be made which would preclude petitioners from claiming the earned income credit during the years at issue.↩
6. This subsection was amended by Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Pub. L. 103-66, sec. 13251(a), 107 Stat. 531, effective with respect to returns the due dates for which (determined without regard to extensions) are after Dec. 31, 1993. The amended subsection provides, in part, that the understatement shall be reduced by that portion of the understatement which is attributable to
(ii) any item if --
(I) the relevant facts affecting the item's tax treatment are adequately disclosed in the return or in a statement attached to the return, and
(II) there is a reasonable basis for the tax treatment of such item by the taxpayer.
Thus, for 1993 and 1994, petitioners must not only adequately disclose the relevant facts affecting the item's tax treatment, but must also have a reasonable basis for such tax treatment. Due to our finding that petitioners did not disclose the relevant facts affecting the item's tax treatment, we do not address whether petitioners had a reasonable basis for the tax treatment of the item.↩
7. For example, in 1993 the apple orchard activity generated actual sales of less than $ 1,700, yet petitioners reported net farm profit of $ 14,048 by including petitioner's $ 68,400 of dentistry income on Schedule F as farm income.↩