Main v. Comm'r

2016 T.C. Memo. 127, 112 T.C.M. 1, 2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 126
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJuly 5, 2016
DocketDocket No. 20609-14
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2016 T.C. Memo. 127 (Main v. Comm'r) 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.

Bluebook
Main v. Comm'r, 2016 T.C. Memo. 127, 112 T.C.M. 1, 2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 126 (tax 2016).

Opinion

RICHARD BREWSTER MAIN, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Main v. Comm'r
Docket No. 20609-14
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 2016-127; 2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 126; 112 T.C.M. (CCH) 1;
July 5, 2016, Filed

Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

*126 Richard Brewster Main, Pro se.
Nicholas R. Rosado, for respondent.
FOLEY, Judge.

FOLEY
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

FOLEY, Judge: After concessions, the issues for decision are whether petitioner is entitled to various deductions relating to his patent business and automobile activity, liable for a section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty, and liable for a section 6651(a)(1) failure to timely file addition to tax.1

*128 FINDINGS OF FACT

During 2009 (year in issue) petitioner, an attorney, engaged in a patent business and an automobile activity. Petitioner's patent business, which experienced a downturn during the year in issue, involved creating prototypes, inventing electronics, and filing patent applications. His automobile activity related to 1955 and 1956 Plymouth cars (Plymouths).

Prior to 2003 petitioner determined that he could successfully buy, restore, and sell Plymouths. He advertised online, in print publications, and at live events and traveled throughout the western United States to acquire bargain-priced Plymouths.*127 His inventory, at its peak, reached 40 cars, which he stored in a large two-story barn on his ranch in Livermore, California.

Plymouths were less popular than other 1950s vintage cars, and replacement parts were difficult to find. As a result, petitioner sold some of the unrestorable automobiles and their related parts. He also contracted with a retired jewelry maker and a rubber manufacturer to produce and supply unavailable parts. These parts were used to renovate the cars in his inventory or sold to other Plymouth restorers. Petitioner discovered, however, that the cost of producing these parts *129 exceeded the related sales revenue and ceased contracting for their production.

In 2003 petitioner's ranch was sold in a foreclosure proceeding, and petitioner leased the barn from the ranch's buyer until 2008, when he realized that he had underestimated the time required to fully restore the cars in his Plymouth inventory. He then sold off some of the Plymouths and transferred the remaining inventory to a storage facility, for which he paid $900 during the year in issue. During that year petitioner resided at a house in Elk Grove, California, which had an attached three-car garage; paid Tuff*128 Shed, Inc., $27,900 to build a separate garage; and paid $739, $229, $216, and $865 relating to a gantry crane, welding equipment, a wireless router, and a camcorder, respectively. After the construction of the separate garage (i.e., during April of the year in issue), petitioner moved the Plymouths from storage to the separate garage and conducted his automobile activity from that location.

On January 26, 2012, petitioner filed his 2009 Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, on which he reported zero taxable income, a zero income tax liability, a $3,049 self-employment tax liability, and an $899 amount owed. After an examination of the return, respondent, in a notice of deficiency issued on August 21, 2014, disallowed deductions relating to petitioner's automobile *130 activity on the grounds that petitioner lacked the requisite profit objective and had failed to substantiate the expenses underlying his deductions; disallowed various deductions relating to petitioner's patent business on the grounds that petitioner had failed to substantiate the expenses underlying his deductions; and determined a $27,208 deficiency, a $6,802 section 6651(a)(1) addition to tax, and a $5,442 section 6662(a) accuracy-related penalty.*129 On September 2, 2014, petitioner, while residing in California, timely filed a petition with the Court.

OPINION

Section 183(b) limits the deductions relating to an activity not engaged in for profit. Petitioner bears the burden of proving that his primary objective, relating to his automobile activity, was to make a profit. See Wolf v. Commissioner, 4 F.3d 709, 713 (9th Cir. 1993) (holding that profit must be the predominant, primary, or principal objective), aff'g

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Boyle
469 U.S. 241 (Supreme Court, 1985)
Cluck v. Commissioner
105 T.C. No. 21 (U.S. Tax Court, 1995)
Martin Ice Cream Co. v. Comm'r
110 T.C. No. 18 (U.S. Tax Court, 1998)
Shea v. Commissioner
112 T.C. No. 14 (U.S. Tax Court, 1999)
HIGBEE v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE
116 T.C. No. 28 (U.S. Tax Court, 2001)
Boyd v. Comm'r
122 T.C. No. 18 (U.S. Tax Court, 2004)
Hradesky v. Commissioner
65 T.C. 87 (U.S. Tax Court, 1975)
Patin v. Commissioner
88 T.C. No. 62 (U.S. Tax Court, 1987)
Elliott v. Commissioner
90 T.C. No. 63 (U.S. Tax Court, 1988)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2016 T.C. Memo. 127, 112 T.C.M. 1, 2016 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 126, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/main-v-commr-tax-2016.