2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 7">*7 PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 7463(b), THIS OPINION MAY NOT BE TREATED AS PRECEDENT FOR ANY OTHER CASE.
PAJAK, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of
Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' Federal income taxes and accuracy-related penalties in the following amounts:
Year Deficiency
1996 $ 39,965 $ 7,993.00
1997 36,817 7,363.40
[3] After concessions by respondent of the medical expense issues, this Court must decide: (1) Whether petitioners were not engaged in an activity for profit under
Some of the facts in this case have been stipulated and are so found. Petitioners' residence was in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, at the time they filed their petition.
Petitioners timely filed Forms 1040, U. S. Individual Income Tax Return, for 1996 and 1997. On the Forms 1040 for both years, petitioner John R. Garbini (petitioner) listed his occupation as rancher. Petitioner Edith M. Garbini's occupation was listed as housewife. Both petitioners were senior citizens during the taxable years in issue. For each taxable year in issue, petitioners attached to their Form 1040, Schedule F, Profit or Loss From Farming. On Schedule F for 1996, petitioners reported no gross income and deducted expenses in the amount of $ 127,341, for a net loss of $ 127,341. On Schedule F for 1997, petitioners reported no gross income and deducted expenses in the amount of $ 124,584, for a net loss of $ 124,584. Respondent disallowed petitioners' 1996 and 1997 Schedule F loss deductions2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 7">*9 in full because petitioners did not substantiate their deductions and because petitioners were not engaged in an activity for profit. Due to the fact that petitioners did not substantiate their deductions, section 7491(a) is not applicable. Therefore, petitioners have the burden of proof with respect to these determinations. Rule 142(a).
We first address whether petitioners were not engaged in an activity for profit.
The standard2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 7">*10 for determining whether an expense is deductible under
The regulations under
In determining whether petitioners were engaged in an activity with the requisite profit objective, all the facts and circumstances of their situation must be taken into account.
In 1984, petitioners purchased 666 acres of land (the ranch) in Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Except for two log cabins, the ranch was unimproved, and contained trees, pasture land, and three ponds. Since about 1986, petitioners have cleared areas and planted more trees, had cattle graze the pasture land, and built roads, ponds, and barns. Petitioners' residence was built in about 1985. Petitioners moved into the house in approximately 1987, and have resided there through the time of trial. In 1986, petitioners sold a mobile home park for $ 7 million.
In applying the factors to determine profit objective, we first consider the manner in which the taxpayer carries on the activity. "The fact that the taxpayer carries on the activity in a businesslike manner and maintains complete and accurate books and records may indicate that the activity is engaged in for profit."
"A change of operating methods, adoption of new techniques or abandonment of unprofitable methods in a manner consistent with an intent to improve profitability may also indicate a profit motive."
We next consider the expertise of the taxpayer. Since purchasing the ranch, petitioner has learned about the types of trees that should be planted in specific areas on the ranch. Petitioner also claimed that in 1986 he began studying, researching, and compiling data on the marketing and sale of verified emission reduction offsets (carbon credits) to polluting entities, and that he has consulted about that subject with the Oregon Department of Forestry and a chemistry/ biology professor who holds a Ph. D. Yet, during the years in issue petitioner did not put any acquired knowledge to use in an endeavor to make a profit.
We next consider the time2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 7">*15 and effort expended by the taxpayer in carrying on the activity. Petitioner worked on the ranch almost everyday and employed one full-time ranch hand during the taxable years in issue. The ranch hand performed general maintenance of the property and barns. Petitioner occasionally hired outside temporary labor.
We next consider the taxpayer's expectation that the assets used in the activity may appreciate in value. Petitioner contends that he has enhanced and created value in the trees and the carbon credits related to the trees. Petitioner paid $ 566,000 for the ranch in its undeveloped condition. With the improvements made by petitioner and the value of the timber and carbon credits, petitioner estimates that the value of the trees alone is $ 2.5 million and that the ranch is worth $ 15 million. Petitioner did not provide any basis for such estimates. Petitioner stated that since 1984, with the exception of 1994 and 1995, he has planted 3,000 to 5,000 trees per year. Petitioner further stated that these trees are not considered suitable for harvesting until 7 years after planting. We note that no trees were harvested during the taxable years in issue. Petitioner contends that the2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 7">*16 growing trees have value and profit potential in the form of cut timber and carbon credits. Again, petitioner never sold any carbon credits during these 2 taxable years.
We next consider the success of the taxpayer in carrying on other similar or dissimilar activities. Prior to purchasing the ranch, petitioner said he purchased undeveloped land in San Jose, California, and developed "the first luxury mobile home park for senior citizens in the state". Petitioners owned and operated the mobile home park for approximately 20 years. Petitioner stated that petitioners worked 7 days per week and employed one groundsman. Petitioner further stated that the mobile home park operated profitably after the first 10 years and that 10 years thereafter, petitioners sold the mobile home park for $ 7 million.
The taxpayer's history of income or losses with respect to the activity is another factor. At trial, petitioner did not provide a history of income or losses for his ranch. During the taxable years in issue, losses exceeded $ 250,000, an average of $ 125,000 for each year. Although petitioner claimed that the losses since 1997 have lessened, petitioner admitted that the losses for the years2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 7">*17 before those in issue would have been roughly the same as the taxable years in issue. Over this approximate time frame of 12 years, petitioner incurred losses of $ 1,500,000.
The amount of occasional profits, if any, which are earned is another factor. No profits were earned with respect to the ranch during the years in issue.
We next consider the financial status of the taxpayer. During the taxable years in issue, neither petitioner nor his wife earned income from wages. For taxable year 1996, petitioners reported taxable interest in the amount of $ 139,778, dividend income in the amount of $ 1,832, capital gains in the amount of $ 55,488, and taxable Social Security benefits in the amount of $ 10,076. For taxable year 1997, petitioners reported taxable interest in the amount of $ 93,360, dividend income in the amount of $ 865, taxable refunds, credits, or offsets in the amount of $ 645, capital gains in the amount of $ 88,813, rental real estate income in the amount of $ 6,251, and taxable Social Security benefits in the amount of $ 10,365. For both taxable years, almost all the taxable interest income and capital gains income were derived from interest and installment payments2004 Tax Ct. Summary LEXIS 7">*18 of principal made by the buyers of petitioners' mobile home park. As a result of their other income, petitioners realized substantial tax benefits from the approximate $ 125,000 loss deduction for each taxable year in issue.
Finally, in determining profit objective, we consider whether there are elements of personal pleasure or recreation. Petitioners owned horses during the taxable years in issue, but petitioner stated that neither of them rode the horses for pleasure. Petitioners probably had personal pleasure from residing on a large ranch.
Although petitioners had the money to purchase the ranch and operate it, they never had a business plan or took steps to operate the ranch to make a profit. Taking the record as a whole, we find that the facts and circumstances indicate that petitioners did not possess the actual and honest objective of making a profit from their ranch. Therefore, we find that petitioners were not engaged in an activity for profit.
Pursuant to
As to the accuracy-related penalties imposed for the taxable years in issue, respondent has satisfied his burden of production under section 7491(c).
Under the facts of this case,
Reviewed and adopted as the report of the Small Tax Case Division.
Decision will be entered under Rule 155.