2007 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 1">*1 P began operating a horse boarding and training facility for
profit in 1998. P has continued carrying on these activities
through the date of trial. P claims the expenses paid for these
activities are deductible pursuant to
and 2001, the years at issue.
R denied the deductions, claiming that the expenses were
nondeductible startup expenditures under
which must be capitalized because they were incurred in
anticipation of the
trade or business.
Held:
of P's
expenditures. The expenses paid or incurred in the
I.R.C., activity are deductible.
128 T.C. 1">*1 HAINES, Judge: Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income taxes for 1998 and 20012007 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 1">*2 (years at issue) of $ 112,461 and $ 84,388, as well as additions to tax under
The issue for decision as framed by the parties is: whether petitioner may deduct expenses in connection with her horse boarding and training activities for the years at issue pursuant 128 T.C. 1">*2 to
FINDINGS OF FACT
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. Petitioner lived in Oregon when she filed her petition.
Petitioner was employed by the pharmaceutical2007 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 1">*3 firm Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer), from 1988 to May 9, 2000. In March 1997, petitioner fell from her horse during a stadium jumping clinic and suffered a head injury which caused continuing episodes of severe fatigue, mental apathy, dizziness, and nausea. 2 Her illness resulted in permanent disability and caused her to lose her job with Pfizer on May 9, 2000.
Petitioner is one of six individuals in the Pacific Northwest qualified to teach Eventing 32007 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 1">*4 at the beginning novice, novice, training, and preliminary levels. 4 In 1998 petitioner purchased 17 acres of land in Newberg, Oregon (Newberg property), between Portland and Salem, Oregon, in an area well known within the equestrian community for horse boarding, training, and lessons.
In 1998, petitioner began operating a horse boarding and training facility upon the Newberg property for profit. Although income from the activities in 1998 was modest, it gradually increased as improvements were made to the Newberg property and petitioner was able to hire additional staff. By early 2004, petitioner had established a limited liability company called Ghost Oak Farm, L.L.C., to operate the Newberg property. She currently earns approximately $ 3,000 per month from Ghost Oak Farm, L.L.C.
Petitioner filed her Federal income tax returns for the years at issue on April 5, 2004. Respondent sent petitioner notices of deficiency for the years at issue on April 19 and 128 T.C. 1">*3 26, 2004, respectively. The notices of deficiency for the years at issue were based upon third party payor information and not upon information reported on petitioner's filed returns.
The parties have stipulated that the income reported on petitioner's Federal income tax2007 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 1">*5 returns for 1998 and 2001 is correct. Petitioner's claimed itemized deductions are not in dispute. Petitioner reported the income and expenses from her horse boarding and training activities on Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, but concedes that the expenses attributable to the activities are not deductible pursuant to
Petitioner2007 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 1">*6 filed her petitions for 1998 and 2001 on July 21 and 15, 2004, respectively. The Court consolidated the cases for trial, briefing, and decision on December 5, 2005.
OPINION
The relevant portion of
(a) Capitalization of Expenditures. Except as otherwise
provided in this section, no deduction shall be allowed for
start-up expenditures.
* * * * * * *
(c) Definitions. For purposes of this section --
(1) Start-up expenditures. The term "start-up
expenditure" means any amount --
(A) paid or incurred in connection with --
* * * * * * *
(iii) any activity engaged in for profit
and for the production of income before the
day on which the active trade or business
begins, in anticipation of such2007 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 1">*7 activity
becoming an active trade or business,
and
(B) which, if paid or incurred in connection with
the operation of an existing active trade or
business (in the same field as the trade or
128 T.C. 1">*4 business referred to in subparagraph (A)), would
be allowable as a deduction for the taxable year
in which paid or incurred.
[Emphasis added.]
Respondent, citing the underlined portion of
Ordinary and necessary expenses for all income-producing activities, whether they are for business under
In the 1980s several Federal Courts of Appeals were asked to decide whether expenses paid or incurred during the preoperating phase of a profit-seeking activity were deductible or had to be capitalized. Each of the cases involved tax 128 T.C. 1">*5 years arising before the effective date of
2007 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 1">*11 Observing that
2007 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 1">*12 We have found that petitioner operated her horse boarding and training activities for profit in 1998 and has continued to engage in these same activities through the date of trial. Respondent concedes petitioner engaged in these activities for profit during the years at issue. Additionally, respondent does not argue the application of
Decisions will be entered under
1. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code, as amended. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure, unless otherwise indicated. Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar. ↩
2. Petitioner was initially diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, in June 2001, a cardiologist diagnosed her as suffering from neurocardiogenic syncope, an incurable disease caused by the nerve damage she suffered from her head injury. ↩
3. Eventing is an Olympic sport made up of three disciplines in which a horse and rider compete in dressage, stadium jumping, and cross-country jumping. ↩
4. Eventing has six levels of difficulty which are in order of difficulty: Beginning novice; novice; training; preliminary; intermediate; and advanced. ↩
5. Respondent does not argue the application of
6. The parties have also stipulated that petitioner is entitled to personal exemptions for the years at issue. If additional income tax is owing from petitioner, she concedes the additions to tax under
7. Before the enactment of
8. In
9. As originally enacted
(1) paid or incurred in connection with --
(A) investigating the creation or acquisition of an active
trade or business, or
(B) creating an active trade or business, and
(2) which, if paid or incurred in connection with the expansion
of an existing trade or business * * * would be allowable as a
deduction for the taxable year in which paid or incurred. ↩