Friday, July 6, 2007

Tax Help: IRS determined that a horse-breeding activity is a business not a hobby in Michael J. Rozzano, Jr. and Rose Marie Rozzano v. Commissioner.Dkt. No. 12344-03 , TC Memo. 2007-177, July 3, 2007. Taxpayers conducted their horse-boarding activity as a bona fide business activity within the meaning of Code Sec. 183. Although the couple never reached a financial break-even point with respect to the activity, the manner in which the taxpayers conducted the activity indicated that it was engaged in for profit. The couple maintained accurate records, followed and modified business plans and, upon realizing that they could not earn a profit under the circumstances, minimized expenses until they were able to sell the business. The taxpayers had the expertise to run the business and expended effort to do so, and any pleasure the taxpayers may have experienced through their ownership and running of the business did not trump the finding the activity was operated for profit. Horse breeding cases are normally examined and the IRS is normally adverse on any business activity that does not make a profit.


Section 183(a) disallows deductions attributable to an activity not engaged in for profit. Section 183(b) provides two exceptions to this general rule. The first, provided by section 183(b)(1), permits deductions that otherwise would be allowable without regard to whether the activity is engaged in for profit; the second, provided by section 183(b)(2), permits deductions that would be allowable only if the activity were engaged in for profit to the extent that the gross income from the activity exceeds the deductions allowable pursuant to section 183(b)(1). Section 183(c) defines an "activity not engaged in for profit" as "any activity other than one with respect to which deductions are allowable for the taxable year under section 162 or under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 212." In general, the Commissioner's determination set forth in the notice of deficiency is presumed correct. Rule 142(a)(1); Welch v. Helvering , 290 U.S. 111, 115 (1933). In certain circumstances the burden of proof shifts to respondent. Sec. 7491(a)(1); Rule 142(a). Because the issue in this case is a legal one, we reach our decision without regard to the burden of proof. However, petitioners contend that section 7491(a) and Rule 142(a) are applicable with respect to the increases in the deficiencies pleaded in respondent's answer. They are correct on this point.

In deciding whether petitioners' horse-boarding activity was engaged in for profit during the taxable years at issue, we must inquire whether petitioners had an actual and honest objective of making a profit from the activity. Dreicer v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 642, 645 (1982), affd. without opinion 702 F.2d 1205 (D.C. Cir. 1983). The taxpayers' expectation need not be a reasonable one. Id. at 644-645; Golanty v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 411, 425 (1979), affd. without published opinion 647 F.2d 170 (9th Cir. 1981);
sec. 1.183-2(a), Income Tax Regs. Whether there is present an actual and honest objective of making a profit is a question of fact that is to be resolved upon a consideration of all relevant circumstances, with the greatest weight being given to the objective factors rather than the taxpayers' expression of their intent. Dreicer v. Commissioner, supra at 645; Golanty v. Commissioner, supra at 426; sec. 1.183-2(a) and (b), Income Tax Regs.

Section 1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs., lists these relevant factors that we now consider: (1) The manner in which the taxpayers carry on the activity; (2) the expertise of the taxpayers or their advisers; (3) the time and effort expended by the taxpayers in carrying on the activity; (4) the expectation that the assets used in the activity may appreciate in value; (5) the success of the taxpayers in carrying on similar or dissimilar activities; (6) the taxpayers' history of income or loss with respect to the activity; (7) the amount of occasional profits; (8) the financial status of the taxpayers; and (9) whether elements of pleasure or recreation are involved. Golanty v. Commissioner, supra at 426; sec. 1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs.

Based on our consideration of these factors and in the light of the detailed record in this case, we conclude that petitioners' horse-boarding activity was carried on as a business within the meaning of
sections 162 and 183 during the taxable years at issue. In reaching this conclusion, we view the following facts and circumstances as most persuasive:
Manner in Which Taxpayers Carried On the Activity


Respondent contends that the manner in which petitioners conducted their horse-boarding activity does not indicate that the activity was engaged in for profit during the years in issue. The relevant inquiries before us include whether petitioners conducted their business in a manner similar to other comparable businesses, whether petitioners maintained complete and accurate books and records, and whether changes were attempted to improve profitability. See Engdahl v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 659, 667-668 (1979); sec. 1.183-2(b)(1), Income Tax Regs.

As to their manner of conduct, during the taxable years in issue, petitioners, for the most part, rented more than one-half of the available stalls in their barn. Petitioners provided detailed monthly boarding records for 1999 and 2000, which list each horse and the expenses incurred. From the inception of their activities in 1992, through the years in issue, petitioners also maintained extensive and separate accountings for all of their horse-boarding income and expenses using a software program tailored to small farm operators. Based on these facts, we are satisfied that petitioners' maintenance of complete and accurate records in this case supports a profit objective. See Elliott v. Commissioner, 90 T.C. 960, 971-972 (1988), affd. without published opinion 899 F.2d 18 (9th Cir. 1990);
sec. 1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs.

As to petitioners' other business practices, although petitioners made no great effort to advertise their boarding service to the general public, we do not find their lack of advertising indicative of an absence of profit motive, as their word-of-mouth approach in attracting clientele was clearly successful, as they had, at one point during the years in issue, 80 percent of their stalls rented.

Notably, however, despite the significant stall rental statistics and petitioners' thorough accounting methods, we cannot overlook Mr. Rozzano's refreshingly candid testimony at trial that he came to realize sometime in 1999 that petitioners would neither earn a profit nor reach a break-even point if they held to their existing boarding fees, nor could they raise boarding fees or hire additional help in order to become profitable. Mr. Rozzano reached this conclusion after he analyzed all factors necessary to attempt to make the business more profitable.

In fact, after his analysis, he calculated that these measures (i.e., raising boarding fees and hiring additional help) would likely increase his operating costs taking into account the scope of the services provided to the boarders. Moreover, it was likely that the terms of the contracts then existing with the boarders meant that any modification to the monthly rental agreements would have placed petitioners in breach of contract. Mr. Rozzzano then did what any prudent business person would do, attempt to lessen expenses until the business including the property could be sold.

Petitioners' rental fees remained unchanged after Mr. Rozzano decided to sell Sugar Tree (a decision made sometime in 2000). Notably, petitioners still kept meticulous business records and used word-of-mouth to advertise their boarding services during the years in which they were continuing the boarding activities while, at the same time, preparing the property for sale.

Mr. Rozzano also testified that it was primarily the cost associated with hay feed that caused their business to experience ongoing losses. We note that for 1999 and 2000, hay and feed expenses accounted for 34 percent and 32 percent, respectively, of all cash expenses before depreciation. To this end, petitioners devised a strategy to ensure that their hay supply costs could be mitigated so as to reduce losses and accord with their budget projections. Petitioners took steps to ensure that the hay would remain dry and free from infestation and that their helper would not waste it unnecessarily. Petitioners also took steps in 1999 and 2000 to reduce other operating expenses, such as travel, meals, and utilities. These costs did, in fact, decrease from 1999 to 2000. Although petitioners did make efforts to reduce their hay expenses by protecting their supply, an increase in the number of boarders in 2000, coupled with an increase in the wholesale price of the feed, resulted in an increase in hay costs. While we recognize that efforts to improve profitability can be indicative of whether petitioners intended to realize a profit, we do not find their refusal to raise stall rental prices or hire additional help, especially in the light of their existing contracts, of their decision to sell Sugar Tree, and of their efforts to reduce hay and other costs, dispositive on the issue of their profit motive. It is beyond this Court's purview to second-guess petitioners' business judgment or the manner of operations of their business. We decline to do so.

In this case, we are presented with taxpayers who admit that during 1999, they became aware that they could not make a profit but yet still continued business operations while taking steps to mitigate their expenses until the business and property could be sold. Accordingly, we now address whether petitioners' admission at trial should trump the other facts and circumstances of this case.

While we cannot disregard Mr. Rozzano's admission that at some point in 1999 he realized that his hopes of turning the boarding activities into a profitable business were unattainable we do not find that as of that moment, petitioners' activities ceased to be a bona fide business within the meaning of
section 183. Moreover, our decision comports with this Court's holding in Dreicer , where greater weight must be afforded to the consideration of all of the facts and circumstances. In this case, the facts and circumstances surrounding petitioners' actions between the time of their realization with respect to profitability in 1999 and the ultimate disposal of the property in 2003 show that they continued to conduct their horse-boarding activities in a businesslike manner.

Even after petitioners' realization with respect to the profitability of their horse-boarding activities, their actions illustrate steps taken to mitigate costs and to try to achieve at least a break-even point until the business could be sold. First, petitioners held contracts for stall rentals which they did not change, nor could they change, for fear of being in breach. Second, petitioners made active attempts to reduce hay and feed costs. Third, petitioners continued to rent stalls, maintain their ongoing operations, and even moved back to the property on a full-time basis in 2000. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, the amount of operating costs borne by petitioners comprised a large share of their wage income in the years at issue. Petitioners had wages of $221,968 in 1999, and $159,018 in 2000, and reported net out-of-pocket expenses in those years from Sugar Tree of $76,687 and $73,722,
4 respectfully. These net out-of-pocket expenditures were 34 percent and 46 percent of petitioners' wages in 1999 and 2000, respectfully. We cannot conclude, based on the entirety of the foregoing, that their activities turned from business into hobby overnight in 1999 based upon Mr. Rozzano's admission at trial.


Expertise of and Effort Expended by the Taxpayers


Respondent does not challenge either petitioners' expertise or the time and effort expended on the activity at issue. We believe that petitioners have established, through credible testimony, that they not only were well possessed of the knowledge necessary to operate a horse-boarding business, but that Mr. Rozzano contributed vast amounts of time to the operations at Sugar Tree. First, petitioners were well aware from their experience as horse owners of the requirements for boarding horses before they commenced activity at Sugar Tree. Second, horse-boarding, unlike other horse-related endeavors, such as breeding and training, while it entails risk, to be sure, is rather simple in its day-to-day execution; horses are taken out to pasture ("turned out"), fed, returned to stables to rest, taken out again, fed again, and retired to their stables. There is nothing in the record that suggests that petitioners were not well versed and extremely competent in these practices.

Finally, although we suspect that Mr. Rozzano's testimony that he spent every weekend and holiday for 10 years performing upkeep at Sugar Tree may be an overstatement, we find him a credible and forthright witness overall and moreover, we believe that he performed most, if not all, of the major upkeep projects on Sugar Tree himself. Therefore, we believe that the expertise of and time and effort expended by petitioners support a finding that the activity was engaged in for profit.


Expectation That Assets Would Appreciate


Petitioners argue that the increase in the value of Sugar Tree and the efforts they expended and expenses they incurred in upkeep of the property support a conclusion that the horse-boarding activity was engaged in for profit. We disagree. On the issue of whether appreciation of land supports petitioners' profit intent, the relevant inquiry is whether the holding of the land for appreciation and the conducting of the horse-boarding constitute a single activity or separate activities.
Sec. 1.183-1(d)(1), Income Tax Regs. Determining whether the two undertakings are a single activity requires the examination of all of the facts of the case; the most significant facts being those that show the degree of organizational and economic interrelationship of the undertakings. Id.

In this case, petitioners primarily purchased the land for personal enjoyment and not to engage in a business. Therefore, they had no bona fide intention, at the time of purchase, to realize a profit that could offset later operating losses as they had not yet contemplated any business using the property. Only subsequent to the purchase did petitioners use the property in their horse-boarding activities.

Moreover, we note that the variable costs of petitioners' horse-boarding activities, including fees, veterinarian care, etc., exceeded the gross income produced by the activities, with the result that the horse-boarding activities do not meet the test imposed under the regulation pertaining whether such activities will be integrated. See sec. 1.183-1(d)(1), Income Tax Regs. Accordingly, we believe, in this case, that their holding the property for appreciation and horse-boarding are separate activities. See
sec. 1.183-2(b)(4), Income Tax Regs.; Engdahl v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 659 (1979); Allen v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 28 (1979). Irrespective of this conclusion, however, we do not believe that petitioners' inability to argue the appreciation of their land is ultimately determinate on the issue of whether the horse-boarding activity was engaged in for profit.


Financial Status of the Taxpayers


The fact that petitioners have substantial income from sources other than the activity at issue may indicate that the activity was not engaged in for profit. Cf. Engdahl v. Commissioner, 659, 670. Respondent argues that Mr. Rozzano's income from his job in executive management was sufficient to absorb the expenses in operating Sugar Tree, indicating that it was not operated for profit. We disagree. As previously stated, these out-of-pocket expenditures were 34 percent and 46 percent of petitioners' wages in 1999 and 2000, respectively. We are not persuaded that petitioners were able to absorb easily the losses attributable to the activity at Sugar Tree during these years. As previously stated, the income reported by petitioners on their tax returns for the years in controversy does not, in our opinion, demonstrate that the losses incurred by petitioners were offset either by petitioners' income in those years or excessive depreciation deductions claimed by them.

Moreover, whatever income petitioners may have had during the years in issue is secondary to the primary inquiry as to whether or not petitioners engaged in the activity with a genuine intent to profit from it. We note that petitioners had no other income in the years at issue apart from Mr. Rozzano's work and a 3-week, holiday job taken by Mrs. Rozzano at The Gap, Inc. By 1999, both of petitioners' adult children had left the familial home, and so, the physical work and personal efforts expended by petitioners were not being done for the immediate benefit of their children. We believe it unlikely, given the distance petitioners regularly traveled to and from Sugar Tree, the liability risk inherent to their activity, and the nature and extent of the physical labor which they performed while at Sugar Tree, that petitioners would maintain a hobby costing thousands of dollars and entailing much physical labor.


Elements of Pleasure/Recreation


Respondent argues that not only are Mr. Rozzano's claims regarding his involvement with the work done at Sugar Tree improbable, but that regardless of the amount of effort petitioners put into the activity, elements of pleasure should trump any consideration that the activity was a business. We disagree. Until sometime in 2000, petitioners resided at least 5 hours away from Sugar Tree. This distance required petitioners to travel between their home and Sugar Tree on weekends and holidays. We believe, based on their credible testimony at trial, that once at Sugar Tree, petitioners did perform a significant amount, if not all, of the major upkeep on the property. Furthermore, petitioners did not ride either of their horses for pleasure after 1990. We do not find that the pleasure that petitioners may have experienced through their ownership of Sugar Tree should trump a finding that the horse-boarding activity was operated for profit. See Jackson v. Commissioner, 59 T.C. 312, 317 (1972).

Possibly the only elements of pleasure taken by petitioners were either when watching their own horses frolic in the pasture or in the mere fact that they could attest to "owning a horse farm near Lexington, Kentucky."

Therefore, on the basis of all of the evidence in the record of this case, the circumstances of which are unique, we conclude and hold that petitioners conducted their horse-boarding activity in the years in issue as a bona fide business within the meaning of
section 183.

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