Lundquist v. Commissioner
This text of 1999 T.C. Memo. 83 (Lundquist v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
*90 Decision will be entered for respondent.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
[1] COLVIN, JUDGE: Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' 1988, 1989, and 1990 Federal income tax as follows:
| Year | Deficiency |
| 1988 | $ 26,658 |
| 1989 | 23,869 |
| 1990 | 14,305 |
[2] The sole issue for decision is whether petitioner operated her horse breeding activity for profit in 1988, 1989, and 1990. We hold that she did not.
[3] References to petitioner are to Brenda Lundquist. Section*91 references are to the Internal Revenue Code.
[4] Petitioners are married and lived in Lake Worth, Florida, when they filed their petition. They have no children.
[5] Petitioner Courtney Lundquist (Mr. Lundquist) owned Winnipesocki Airlines, a commuter airline, until he sold it in 1979. He later became a pilot for Delta Airlines. He retired from Delta in 1989.
[6] Petitioner graduated from high school in 1959. She graduated from Bay State Junior College with an associate's degree in business in 1961. She worked as a flight attendant for Northeast Airlines for 2 years. She then worked for Avis Rent-a-Car, first as a rental agent and later as Avis' director of training at Logan Airport.
[7] In 1966, petitioner began working for Kelly Services, Inc. (Kelly), as a branch manager. She became an area sales manager and helped Kelly obtain contracts including Ray-Chem and a regional Nielsen television survey. In 1976, petitioner began to work for Winnipesocki Airlines. She was president when her husband sold it in 1979.
[8] Petitioner loves animals. From 1966 to 1984, petitioner bred English sheepdogs, Yorkshire terriers, and Maltese terriers. *92 She sold 10 to 15 puppies. Petitioner did not report any income from this activity on her tax returns for tax years 1978 to 1984.
[9] Petitioner is not a horse trainer and does not have any formal training in horse breeding. However, she has been interested in horses since she was 9 or 10 years old. She rode horses when she was a child.
[10] Dressage is an Olympic sport which involves training a horse to do basic movements that are executed in a small arena in front of a panel of judges. A dressage program is analogous to compulsory movements in figure skating. Three-day eventing is also an Olympic sport. It consists of a day each of dressage, cross country, and stadium jumping.
[11] A dressage horse can start training when it is 3 years old. A horse can compete in medium level competitions when it is 6 or 7 and in upper level competitions when it is 8 or 9. Dressage levels are training, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II, and Grand Prix.
[12] Dressage competitions award ribbons and prizes such as coats and coolers but do not offer monetary prizes. Traditional dressage horses are called "warmbloods",*93 which are a mixture of European horse breeds and thoroughbreds. The main warmblood breeding centers were in Europe in 1982.
[13] In 1976, petitioner began her horse activity when she bought two young Anglo-Arab horses and began to learn about horse breeds. She investigated dressage competitions, European horses, and breeding and concluded that warmblood horses from Europe are better for dressage than American thoroughbred horses. Petitioners first reported on their tax return that petitioner's activity was a business in 1979.
[14] Sometime during the early years of petitioner's horse activity (on a date not stated in the record), a horse threw her, causing her to have a concussion and temporary loss of sight. She has not ridden since then.
[15] Horst Planzor (Planzor) owned Westfalian Pride Farm in Poolesville, Maryland. In 1980 or 1981, petitioner visited Planzor three times at his farm, where she saw his horses. Planzor was a past president of the American Hanoverian Society. Planzor owned a Hanoverian breeding stallion.
D. PETITIONER'S PURCHASE OF EUROPEAN HORSES AND FIRST COMPETITION
1. PETITIONER'S FIRST TRIP TO EUROPE*94 TO BUY HORSES
[16] Petitioner went to Germany in February 1982 with Michael Poulin (Poulin) and Ruth Sarkunas (Sarkunas). Petitioner intended to buy two brood mares and a horse to perform in shows and compete. Poulin was a dressage trainer from Maine and a member of the U.S. Olympic team. Sarkunas was one of Poulin's students. Sarkunas had trained with Nuno Olivera, who was well known in the horse world. Petitioner reimbursed some of their expenses but did not otherwise pay them.
[17] In Europe, petitioner saw Temptation, a breeding stallion approved by the Swedish Government which competed at the Prix St. Georges level of dressage in Germany from 1977 to 1981.
[18] Petitioner bought Temptation and two brood mares, Abfahrt and Donka. Abfahrt was pregnant. Temptation cost about $ 30,000, and the two mares cost $ 1,500 to $ 3,500 each.
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*90 Decision will be entered for respondent.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
[1] COLVIN, JUDGE: Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' 1988, 1989, and 1990 Federal income tax as follows:
| Year | Deficiency |
| 1988 | $ 26,658 |
| 1989 | 23,869 |
| 1990 | 14,305 |
[2] The sole issue for decision is whether petitioner operated her horse breeding activity for profit in 1988, 1989, and 1990. We hold that she did not.
[3] References to petitioner are to Brenda Lundquist. Section*91 references are to the Internal Revenue Code.
[4] Petitioners are married and lived in Lake Worth, Florida, when they filed their petition. They have no children.
[5] Petitioner Courtney Lundquist (Mr. Lundquist) owned Winnipesocki Airlines, a commuter airline, until he sold it in 1979. He later became a pilot for Delta Airlines. He retired from Delta in 1989.
[6] Petitioner graduated from high school in 1959. She graduated from Bay State Junior College with an associate's degree in business in 1961. She worked as a flight attendant for Northeast Airlines for 2 years. She then worked for Avis Rent-a-Car, first as a rental agent and later as Avis' director of training at Logan Airport.
[7] In 1966, petitioner began working for Kelly Services, Inc. (Kelly), as a branch manager. She became an area sales manager and helped Kelly obtain contracts including Ray-Chem and a regional Nielsen television survey. In 1976, petitioner began to work for Winnipesocki Airlines. She was president when her husband sold it in 1979.
[8] Petitioner loves animals. From 1966 to 1984, petitioner bred English sheepdogs, Yorkshire terriers, and Maltese terriers. *92 She sold 10 to 15 puppies. Petitioner did not report any income from this activity on her tax returns for tax years 1978 to 1984.
[9] Petitioner is not a horse trainer and does not have any formal training in horse breeding. However, she has been interested in horses since she was 9 or 10 years old. She rode horses when she was a child.
[10] Dressage is an Olympic sport which involves training a horse to do basic movements that are executed in a small arena in front of a panel of judges. A dressage program is analogous to compulsory movements in figure skating. Three-day eventing is also an Olympic sport. It consists of a day each of dressage, cross country, and stadium jumping.
[11] A dressage horse can start training when it is 3 years old. A horse can compete in medium level competitions when it is 6 or 7 and in upper level competitions when it is 8 or 9. Dressage levels are training, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II, and Grand Prix.
[12] Dressage competitions award ribbons and prizes such as coats and coolers but do not offer monetary prizes. Traditional dressage horses are called "warmbloods",*93 which are a mixture of European horse breeds and thoroughbreds. The main warmblood breeding centers were in Europe in 1982.
[13] In 1976, petitioner began her horse activity when she bought two young Anglo-Arab horses and began to learn about horse breeds. She investigated dressage competitions, European horses, and breeding and concluded that warmblood horses from Europe are better for dressage than American thoroughbred horses. Petitioners first reported on their tax return that petitioner's activity was a business in 1979.
[14] Sometime during the early years of petitioner's horse activity (on a date not stated in the record), a horse threw her, causing her to have a concussion and temporary loss of sight. She has not ridden since then.
[15] Horst Planzor (Planzor) owned Westfalian Pride Farm in Poolesville, Maryland. In 1980 or 1981, petitioner visited Planzor three times at his farm, where she saw his horses. Planzor was a past president of the American Hanoverian Society. Planzor owned a Hanoverian breeding stallion.
D. PETITIONER'S PURCHASE OF EUROPEAN HORSES AND FIRST COMPETITION
1. PETITIONER'S FIRST TRIP TO EUROPE*94 TO BUY HORSES
[16] Petitioner went to Germany in February 1982 with Michael Poulin (Poulin) and Ruth Sarkunas (Sarkunas). Petitioner intended to buy two brood mares and a horse to perform in shows and compete. Poulin was a dressage trainer from Maine and a member of the U.S. Olympic team. Sarkunas was one of Poulin's students. Sarkunas had trained with Nuno Olivera, who was well known in the horse world. Petitioner reimbursed some of their expenses but did not otherwise pay them.
[17] In Europe, petitioner saw Temptation, a breeding stallion approved by the Swedish Government which competed at the Prix St. Georges level of dressage in Germany from 1977 to 1981.
[18] Petitioner bought Temptation and two brood mares, Abfahrt and Donka. Abfahrt was pregnant. Temptation cost about $ 30,000, and the two mares cost $ 1,500 to $ 3,500 each. Petitioner mortgaged some property to pay for the three horses.
[19] Petitioner believed that if she bought a stallion she could use him to impregnate her own mares and mares owned by others.
[20] Temptation and the two mares were required to be quarantined because they were more than 2 years old. Any horse more than 2 years old that can*95 reproduce must be tested for equine ritritis. This test requires that a stallion be bred to two mares in Germany and wait 30 days to determine if he is infected with equine ritritis. After being quarantined in Europe, the horse must be quarantined in the United States. Abfahrt was unable to travel because she was pregnant and close to delivery, so petitioner placed her at a breeding facility in Europe where she delivered a foal. Abfahrt and her foal were then flown to the United States and quarantined. Petitioner did not know she would be required to quarantine the horses for more than 3 days.
[21] Petitioner boarded Abfahrt, Donka, and the foal at Planzor's farm. Abfahrt's foal was bred to Planzor's stallion. The resulting foal was named Markant. Markant subsequently became seriously ill and had colic surgery.
2. TEMPTATION'S COMPETITION AND INJURY
[22] Temptation came to the United States in June 1982 and was released from quarantine in July or August 1982. Petitioner thought Temptation was from Switzerland when she bought him, but later learned that he was from Sweden.
[23] Petitioner intended to campaign (i.e., show on the circuit) Temptation with Sarkunas as his rider.*96 Mary Phelps (Phelps), a prominent horse photographer, photographed Temptation with Sarkunas in the saddle shortly after Temptation was released from quarantine. Poulin then began Temptation's dressage training at Poulin's farm in Maine.
[24] Petitioner advertised that Temptation was available for stud in Dressage & Eventing magazine in September and October 1982 and in EquiSport magazine in January/February 1983.
[25] Petitioner showed Temptation in the United States at Groton House Spring Show at Groton Farms in Hamilton, Massachusetts, in 1983. When petitioner saw Temptation being unloaded from the van at that competition, she realized that he was lame. Petitioner believed that Temptation was lame due to lack of care of his hooves.
[26] Poulin entered Temptation at the third level of dressage. Two or three other horses were entered. Temptation finished second and third in the tests.
[27] Petitioner did not enter Temptation in any dressage competitions after the 1983 Groton House Spring Show because he was lame. Petitioner removed Temptation from Poulin's farm and boarded him at the Groton House Farm in Hamilton, Massachusetts, about 10 miles from her home. Petitioner*97 agreed to give the owner of the farm breedings to Temptation in exchange for boarding.
3. PETITIONER'S SECOND TRIP TO EUROPE TO BUY HORSES
[28] In 1983, petitioner returned to Sweden to buy mares to breed to Temptation. Petitioner bought Labrette, a 1-1/2-year-old filly. Petitioner was not required to quarantine Labrette because she was less than 2 years old, thereby avoiding the need to pay quarantine fees.
[29] Petitioner also bought a 6-month old colt, Zenit, that she boarded for 4 years at the Swedish national stud facility. Zenit stayed at the Swedish national stud facility for 4 years so he could be raised like Temptation. After Zenit trained for 4 years, petitioner was asked if he could be trained to compete for the Swedish Olympic team. Petitioner declined and instead sold Zenit to Gunnar Ostergard, a Danish trainer and his wife, a Danish Olympic rider team member. Petitioner kept all breeding rights to Zenit.
1. THE LAKE WORTH RESIDENCE
[30] In January 1984, petitioners moved from New Hampshire to Florida. In 1984, petitioner owned Temptation, Labrette, and Abfahrt, two colts, a Morgan horse, and a thoroughbred horse used by visitors*98 to ride for pleasure.
[31] Petitioner advertised that Temptation was available for stud in the Gold Coast Dressage Association program for May 5 and 6, 1984, and the programs for the 1984 and 1986 Palm Beach Dressage Derby. She joined the Miami Dade CountyDressage Association and Gold Coast Dressage Association.
[32] In April 1985, petitioners bought a facility for $ 240,000 for petitioner's horses in Lake Worth, Florida, next to the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club. This property had a four-bedroom house with 3,062 square feet, 5 acres of land with improved pastures with water, a five-stall barn with a tack room, three outdoor stalls with a roof, a lighted arena with a judging stand, a covered paddock and a run in a shed, and indoor and outdoor dog kennels.
[33] Petitioner's parents moved with her to Florida in 1984. She used her money from the sale of a house that she owned in Massachusetts to buy them a two-bedroom home about 6 miles from petitioners' home.
[34] Petitioner promoted Temptation in 1984 and 1985 by arranging for him to participate in parades and demonstrations. Serenity Reins and Temptation participated in the 1984 Palm Beach Dressage Derby and Stallion*99 Parade. Petitioner arranged for Temptation to participate in demonstrations at the Gold Coast Dressage Association show at Trafalgar Park Equestrian Center, Miami, Florida, on May 5 and 6, 1984.
[35] In 1985, petitioner investigated the use of artificial insemination to breed horses and had Temptation evaluated as a breeding stallion. Temptation's earning potential as a stud diminished considerably after he was injured. Temptation's stud fee was generally $ 500 if the owner did not want registration papers and $ 1,000 if the owner wanted registration papers. Petitioner bred Temptation two or three times for cash and once in exchange for boarding at the Groton House. On March 1, 1985, petitioner agreed to breed Temptation to a mare for $ 500.
[36] In April 1985, petitioner wrote a letter to Ellen Dixon (Dixon), the daughter of F. Eugene Dixon, who was prominent in the horse world, in which she sought to lease her mares to Dixon. Petitioner believed that it would be prestigious to do so because petitioner's name and Serenity Farms would be listed above the stall of her mare. She believed this would be like having $ 1 million in publicity. In the letter she said:
*100 I am just looking to lease these mares out for one year so
I can take a break. These last four years have been murder and
my husband's patience is almost worn out with my not ever going
away with him, not to mention spending all his money and never
cooking, etc. I could never get back what I have into them
monitarily [sic] and I really do love them two. I know your
mare care would be super and I would not have to worry about
them. I had originally hoped to lease them to someone to have
Temptation babies but I know they would do Fruhwind proud.
Fruhwind died before petitioner and Dixon reached an agreement.
[37] At a time not specified in the record, petitioner wrote notes to herself on the back of the letter to Ellen Dixon, including:
Open line of communication
(1) 5/10 breedings yearly -- my own or outside mares ok
(Good judgement re: when & where) not during training/s
(2) Referrals to breed Temptation
(3) Referrals to sell Mandarin & present & future babies
(4) Help Marija to properly show & sell filly & baby
(5) Promise of plenty*101 of PR that Zenit was a product of Serenity
Reins Farm type quality of purchase & breeding: Bought from us
because we wished the best aux for the horse: Dual PR for
future. * * * (illegible). Future working relationship
2. LABRETTE
[38] Around 1985, petitioner bred Labrette, then 3, to Temptation. Labrette had a filly when she was 4. The filly was put down after she broke her neck in an accident when she was 6 months old.
3. THE WHITE FENCES RESIDENCE
[39] In 1986 and 1987, petitioners rented a residence at the White Fences Golf and Equestrian Club of the Palm Beaches (White Fences), Laxahatchee, Florida. White Fences is a planned community with a golf course and riding trails. The White Fences Dressage Derby was held at White Fences, and a dressage facility was being built there. The literature distributed by the owners of the White Fences development describes Serenity Reins as a top breeder of superb Swedish warmbloods. While petitioners lived at White Fences, they rented to others their residence in Lake Worth, Florida.
[40] Jessica Raneshausen (Raneshausen) and her groom, Julia Hackensen (Hackensen), stayed for free at petitioners' house at White*102 Fences while Hackensen was riding for another horse owner at a dressage derby. Raneshausen had been in the 1964 Olympics and is a member of the executive committee of the United States Dressage Federation. Hackensen is a Swedish Olympic rider.
4. PETITIONERS' RETURN TO LAKE WORTH
[41] In October 1987, petitioners moved back to Lake Worth. At that time, petitioner's herd consisted of Temptation, mares Labrette, Abfahrt, and Donka, four young horses, and one foal by Temptation. The quality of the two foals by Temptation was far below petitioner's expectations. She donated three of her horses (not specified in the record) to a Gainesville, Florida, breeding program and claimed a charitable contribution deduction of $ 1,050 for a mare.
F. PETITIONER'S HORSE ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEARS IN ISSUE (1988 TO 1990)
[42] Petitioners lived in Lake Worth in 1988 and 1989. Petitioner did not breed Labrette after 1987 because Labrette was very athletic, and petitioner thought Labrette would perform well on the show circuit. Petitioner entered Labrette in shows in the 1989-90 season.
1. PETITIONER'S INCOME FROM SERENITY REINS
[43] On April 10, 1989, petitioner agreed to breed Temptation*103 to a mare for $ 750. In 1989, petitioner sold Donka for $ 1,500, Treasure for $ 7,900, and Pataplan for $ 4,300. She also received $ 200 for boarding a horse.
[44] Petitioner sold Temptress for $ 4,000 on November 14, 1990, Mandarin for $ 6,500 on December 1, 1990, and another horse for $ 4,000 in 1990.
2. RANESHAUSEN
[45] Raneshausen used petitioner's facility and stayed for free at petitioners' home at Lake Worth during the 1989-90 show season. Petitioner did not have enough room to board Raneshausen's horses and found a rental stable for them. Raneshausen trained Labrette at no cost. Petitioner believed that it was very prestigious to have Raneshausen at petitioners' residence and that petitioner would be more likely to succeed in competitions and breeding of dressage horses if she associated with people who are prominent in the dressage horse field.
3. DARREN CHIACCHIA
[46] Darren Chiacchia (Chiacchia), a 3-day event rider, also stayed at petitioners' home at Lake Worth during the 1989-90 show season. In 1989, Chiacchia was 26 years old and had won many competitions. Chiacchia came to petitioners' home a month before the 1989-90 competitions began and discussed riding*104 and competitions with petitioner. Chiacchia asked petitioner if he could ride Labrette.
[47] Chiacchia and petitioner visited two Olympic trainers who had won gold medals, Joe Farges (Farges) and Conrad Holmfeld (Holmfeld). Farges and Holmfeld evaluated Labrette. Based on that evaluation, petitioner decided that Chiacchia would campaign Labrette with Raneshausen. They did so the entire season.
4. 1990
[48] Petitioner did not keep any horses at her residence at Lake Worth in 1990 and 1991 so she could care for her parents and take Labrette on the show circuit. In 1990, petitioner allowed a couple to live at her residence in exchange for their maintaining it.
a. TEMPTATION
[49] Petitioner boarded Temptation in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1990. Temptation unexpectedly died while there.
b. LABRETTE
[50] During the 1990-91 season, Chiacchia successfully rode Labrette in combined training events (dressage, endurance, and jumping) in an effort to qualify Labrette for 3-day eventing in the Olympics to be held in Barcelona in 1992. Petitioner traveled on the competition with Chiacchia. Labrette began horse trials as a novice and rose to the level of preliminary in 1990. In 1990, *105 Labrette finished second in the training level at the Mid-Florida competition. Labrette won the training level with a very high score at the Groton House in Massachusetts. Labrette also excelled in competitions at the Third Open Preliminary, the Open Preliminary at Ledyard Farm, the First Open Preliminary, and the Genessee Valley Hunt Horse Trial.
5. TYPICAL DAILY ROUTINE
[51] Petitioner usually worked 14 to 18 hours a day on her horse activity in 1988 and 1989. She fed and showered the horses, checked them for injuries, checked their shoes, drove the tractor to drag manure, checked the fences, checked horse manure for sand, and cleaned the stalls.
[52] Petitioner used a Corvette as the vehicle for her horse activity to haul hay, halters, and feed ropes. She drove it to all the competitions.
[53] Petitioner never competed in any equestrian events. However, she attended those in which her horses competed.
6. FINANCES AND RECORDS
[54] Petitioner did not have a separate checking account for her horse breeding activity in 1988, 1989, or 1990. Petitioner segregated from her personal records those which related to the horse activity and rent receipts and checks. She also had*106 a credit card which she used only for her horse activity.
[55] Petitioner summarized the checks for her horse activity in spreadsheets listing the check number, amount, date, payee, and general category of expense such as feed and hay, veterinarian, tack and supplies, dues and fees, labor, horse transportation, horse board, and office supplies. Petitioner gave her spreadsheets, check stubs, and credit card and cash receipts to her accountant during the years in issue.
7. PETITIONER'S LACK OF SALES
[56] Petitioner was surprised that buyers were not interested in the warmblood horses that she had for sale in the years in issue. She concluded that her potential customers were interested in color and marking but not pedigree.
G. PETITIONERS' INCOME TAX RETURNS AND RESPONDENT'S DETERMINATION
[57] Petitioners reported the following on their joint tax returns for tax years 1979 to 1990:
| Net | |||||||
| loss | |||||||
| Interest, | from | ||||||
| dividend, | horse | ||||||
| IRA, | Horse | Depre- | Total | acti- | |||
| Year | Wages | pension | income | Expenses | ciation | expense | vity |
| 1979 | $ 78,260 | $ 658 | 0 | $ 1,952 | $ 284 | $ 2,236 | $ 2,236 |
| 1980 | 87,642 | 845 | 2,620 | 13,133 | 1,290 | 14,423 | 11,803 |
| 1981 | 95,049 | 7,553 | 4,871 | 24,878 | 3,468 | 28,346 | 23,475 |
| 1982 | 111,513 | 4,855 | 4,000 | 78,522 | 5,300 | 83,822 | 79,822 |
| 1983 | 136,807 | 2,275 | 7,107 | 61,660 | 6,628 | 68,288 | 61,181 |
| 1984 | 144,881 | 1,269 | 1,450 | 76,647 | 9,110 | 85,757 | 84,307 |
| 1985 | 162,519 | 1,072 | 7,133 | 64,589 | 18,883 | 83,472 | 76,339 |
| 1986 | 159,971 | 1,300 | 4,320 | 76,131 | 15,357 | 91,488 | 87,168 |
| 1987 | 178,850 | 1,802 | 1,937 | 46,432 | 11,419 | 57,851 | 55,914 |
| 1988 | 179,162 | 1,960 | 500 | 63,255 | 9,426 | 72,681 | 72,181 |
| 1989 | 74,775 | 150,002 | 12,400 | 75,458 | 7,161 | 82,619 | 70,219 |
| 1990 | 937 | 133,838 | 14,500 | 74,410 | 3,945 | 78,355 | 63,855 |
| 1,410,366 | 307,429 | 60,838 | 657,067 | 92,271 | 749,338 | 688,500 |
*107 [58] In the notice of deficiency, respondent disallowed losses for 1988, 1989, and 1990 for petitioner's horse activity on the grounds that petitioner did not conduct the activity for profit. 1
[59] The issue for decision is whether petitioner operated her horse breeding activity for profit in 1988, 1989, and 1990.
*108 [60] An activity is conducted for profit if it is conducted with an actual and honest profit objective.
1. MANNER IN WHICH THE TAXPAYER CONDUCTED THE ACTIVITY
[61] Conducting an activity in a manner substantially like comparable businesses which are profitable may indicate that a taxpayer conducted the activity for profit.
a. BASIC INVESTIGATION
[62] Careful investigation of a potential business to ensure the best chance for profitability strongly indicates an objective to engage in the activity for profit.
b. *110 BUSINESS PLAN
[63] Petitioners contend that petitioner's notes on the back of her letter to Dixon show that petitioner had a business plan and showed her projected income and expenses. We disagree. The notes do not show petitioner's projected income and expenses or even that she was contemplating making a profit. Those notes show primarily that she had an interest in horses, not necessarily an interest in business.
[64] Petitioners' expert, Edward E. Emerson, Jr. (Emerson), had been in the horse training and breeding business for more than 25 years at the time of trial. In 1997, he bred about 75 to 80 mares. He had three stallions. About 25 percent of his business was breeding, including about 10 percent of which was selling foals. His gross receipts in 1997 were about $ 200,000, of which about 25 percent was from breeding. The 5 to 10 breedings per year which petitioner wrote on the back of her letter to Dixon are considerably fewer than Emerson's 75 to 80.
[65] Petitioner's letter to Dixon does not show that petitioner in 1985 had a bona fide objective that her horse activity would become profitable.
[66] Petitioners contend that petitioner's business plan was to import*111 dressage horses from Europe and breed and sell them in the United States. Petitioner thought Temptation, Labrette, and the stallion Zenit could earn a profit because Planzor had told her that she could earn $ 15,000 per foal. This was a dubious assumption for her to make because she bought brood mares in Europe for $ 1,500 to $ 3,500.
c. FINANCIAL RECORDS
[67] Petitioner kept invoices, receipts, canceled checks (and a spreadsheet summarizing them), and bank statements, which she gave to the accountant to prepare petitioners' annual returns. However, petitioner did not have budgets, balance sheets, income projections, or other financial statements for her horse activity. There is no evidence that she used her records to help her evaluate or improve the financial performance of her horse activity.
[68] Petitioners contend that petitioner's books were like those kept by the taxpayer in
d. COMMINGLING OF FUNDS
[69] Commingling of funds suggests that the activity is a hobby rather than a business for profit. See
[70] Petitioners used a credit card for her horse activity. However, she did not say that she paid all of the horse activity expenses with the credit card, and she paid the credit card bills from petitioners' personal checking account. She did not segregate income from her horse activity.
e. CHANGE OF OPERATING METHODS
[71] A willingness to adopt new techniques or abandon unprofitable methods may indicate that a taxpayer has a*113 profit motive.
[72] Petitioner changed her plans for Temptation and Labrette. She stopped entering Temptation in competitions because he was lame. However, she did not adopt a new technique for becoming profitable because she was already breeding Temptation. In fact, petitioner continued to breed Temptation even though the two foals produced by Temptation before the years in issue were far below her expectations.
[73] Petitioner changed her plan from breeding Labrette to competing her. Petitioner contends that Labrette's success could help her horse breeding activity become profitable, but we are not convinced that she compared the expenses with the profit potential. This suggests she cared about sports success, not business success.
[74] Petitioner testified that petitioners moved to Florida, and then relocated in Florida, to be near dressage activities. Petitioners also point out that petitioner culled her herd in 1987 when she donated three thoroughbred mares to a Gainesville breeding program. However, petitioner did not show how these changes would make her horse breeding activity profitable.
f. ADVERTISING
[75] The record includes*114 copies of six advertisements for Serenity Farms and Temptation that petitioner placed before the years in issue. 2 Petitioner's limited advertisements do little to show that she conducted her activity in a businesslike manner.
g. EMERSON
[76] Emerson testified that petitioner operated her activity in a businesslike manner. We disagree. Emerson first met petitioner in 1993 or 1994. He did not know how much she earned from stud and boarding fees or the sale of foals. He never saw business records or a business plan for petitioner.
[77] Emerson was a member of the U.S. Equestrian Team that competed in the 1974 world championships and the 1976 Olympics. He was national 3-day champion in 1976 and 1979. Emerson attributes his financial success to his personal fame. Petitioner lacked this advantage.
[78] Emerson received gross receipts of about $ 50,000 from breeding 3 stallions and 75 to 80 mares. The rest of his income was from clinics and training. Petitioner*115 had one lame stallion and a few mares. She had no income from training or clinics.
[79] Emerson's conclusion that breeding Temptation could have been profitable is not enough to show that petitioner had an actual and honest profit objective.
[80] This factor favors respondent.
2. THE EXPERTISE OF THE TAXPAYERS OR THEIR ADVISERS
[81] Efforts to gain experience and a willingness to follow expert advice are considered in deciding if a taxpayer has a profit objective.
[82] Petitioner studied breeding and competition and learned much about horses and breeding techniques. She learned to deliver foals on her own and learned about artificial breeding techniques. However, she erroneously thought Temptation was from Switzerland when she bought him, and her costs to quarantine her horses for more than 3 days would not have been unexpected if she had known the quarantine rules.
[83] Petitioner did not seriously study the business of breeding and selling horses or show how her skills would lead to the financial success of her horse activity. Petitioner's horse trainers and riders apparently advised her on horse buying, training, and showing, *116 not on how to make a profit. These facts suggest that petitioner lacked a profit motive. See
[84] This factor favors respondent.
3. TAXPAYER'S TIME AND EFFORT
[85] The fact that a taxpayer devotes much time and effort to conducting an activity may indicate that he or she has a profit objective.
[86] Petitioner usually spent long hours working with her horses. On balance, this factor favors petitioners.
4. EXPECTATION THAT PROPERTY USED IN THE ACTIVITY WOULD APPRECIATE IN VALUE
[87] A taxpayer may expect, despite the lack of profit from current operations, that an overall profit will result when appreciation in the value of assets used in the activity is realized.
[88] Petitioners contend that this factor favors them because petitioner expected that their horses would appreciate in value. We disagree. Petitioners offered no evidence showing which of their horses would appreciate or the amount of appreciation they expected. Temptation's potential value decreased substantially after he was injured in 1983, which was at least 5 years before the years in issue. The two foals by Temptation were of far less quality than petitioner expected. By the years in issue, petitioner did not reasonably expect Temptation's value to increase. Petitioner sold Donka for $ 1,500 in 1989.
[89] Until 1988, Labrette had not produced any valuable offspring. It is true that Labrette could appreciate in value, but there is no evidence showing how much that appreciation could be. We are not convinced that petitioner expected the appreciation of her horses to exceed her total losses.
[90] On balance, this factor favors respondent.
5. TAXPAYER'S SUCCESS IN OTHER ACTIVITIES
[91] The fact that a taxpayer has previously engaged in similar activities and made them profitable may show that the taxpayer has a profit objective, *118 even though the activity is presently unprofitable.
[92] Petitioner testified that she profitably bred dogs from 1966 to 1984. However, her testimony on this point was at best vague. She said she sold a total of about 10 to 15 puppies. Petitioners did not report any income from this activity on their tax returns that are in the record (1978 to 1984), and petitioners provided no information about any income from dog breeding before 1978. Petitioners did not show that petitioner's work at Kelly or Winnipesocki Airlines had any bearing on her ability to conduct a profitable horse activity.
[93] This factor favors respondent.
6. TAXPAYER'S HISTORY OF INCOME OR LOSSES
[94] A history of substantial losses may indicate that an activity was not conducted for profit.
[95] Petitioner had losses from the horse activity each of the 12 years from 1979 to 1990. She had losses in those years totaling $ 749,338 and income of $ 60,838. Losses during the initial stage of an activity do not necessarily indicate that the activity was not conducted for profit. *119
[96] Petitioner contends that this case is similar to
[97] The other cases cited by petitioner are also distinguishable. In *120
[98] The taxpayer in
*121 [99] In
[100] This factor favors respondent.
7. AMOUNT OF OCCASIONAL PROFITS, IF ANY
[101] Small occasional profits with large continuous losses do not indicate that the taxpayer had a profit objective. Sec. 1.183- 2(b)(7), Income Tax Regs. Petitioner's losses were large and continuous from 1979 when she started to 1990, the last year in issue.
[102] Losses caused by unforeseen circumstances do not necessarily indicate that a taxpayer lacked a profit objective. See
[103] Temptation never performed at better than the intermediate dressage level. We do not know if Temptation would have reached the highest levels of dressage, or if petitioner's activity would have been profitable if Temptation had not been injured. It is also unknown if petitioner's activity would have been profitable if Labrette's foal by Temptation had not been injured in 1983. See
[104] Petitioner did not campaign Labrette until 1990, *123 the last year in issue. Labrette bowed a tendon after the years in issue. Thus, that injury did not affect the years in issue.
[105] A small chance to make a large profit may indicate that a taxpayer has a profit objective even if he or she has large continuous losses.
[106] Petitioners contend that this factor favors them because they were like the taxpayer in
[107] This factor favors respondent.
8. FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE TAXPAYER
[108] Substantial income from sources other than the activity, especially if the losses generate substantial tax benefits, may indicate that the taxpayer is not conducting the activity for profit.
[109] Petitioners contend that they did not have a large amount of income. we disagree. Mr. Lundquist received total wage income of $ 254,874 from Delta Airlines during the years in issue. Petitioners' income from interest and IRA and pension distributions totaled*124 $ 285,800 for the years in issue. See
[110] Petitioners contend that they had limited financial means and point out that petitioner bought the three horses with money petitioners raised by mortgaging property. Petitioners had ample income, and they did not show that they had to mortgage property to finance the horse activity.
[111] This factor favors respondent.
9. ELEMENTS OF PERSONAL PLEASURE
[112] The presence of recreational or personal motives in conducting an activity may indicate that the taxpayer is not conducting the activity for profit.
[113] Petitioners point out that petitioner did not ride horses in the years in issue and that she worked hard. Despite this, petitioner loves animals and has enjoyed being around horses since childhood. Considering petitioner's unlikelihood of profit, we conclude that this factor favors respondent.
[114] We conclude that petitioner did not operate her horse breeding activity for profit in 1988, 1989, and 1990 for purposes of
[115] To reflect the foregoing,
[116] Decision will be entered for respondent.
Footnotes
1. Each party offered evidence of events involving petitioner which occurred after the years in issue. Each party objected to the other's evidence from years after 1990, the last year in issue. We did not consider evidence of events which occurred after 1990 because it did not show whether petitioner had a profit objective during the years in issue. See
Estate of Brockenbrough v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1998-454 ;Gustafson's Dairy, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1997-519 ;Choate Constr. Co. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1997-495 ; cf.Estate of Hutchinson v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1984-55 (events after the date in issue are relevant only if they shed light on the taxpayer's state of mind on the date in issue), affd.765 F.2d 665↩ (7th Cir. 1985) .2. Petitioners deducted advertising expenses of $ 878 for 1988, $ 628 for 1989, and $ 632 for 1990. The record includes no information about these expenses. In 1991, petitioner advertised that Labrette was for sale.↩
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
1999 T.C. Memo. 83, 77 T.C.M. 1556, 1999 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 90, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lundquist-v-commissioner-tax-1999.