Maxwell v. Commissioner

1982 T.C. Memo. 405, 44 T.C.M. 504, 1982 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 348
United States Tax Court·Decided July 19, 1982·No. Docket No. 1851-80.·Unpublished

Opinion

ALAN BRUCE MAXWELL, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Maxwell v. Commissioner
Docket No. 1851-80.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1982-405; 1982 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 348; 44 T.C.M. (CCH) 504; T.C.M. (RIA) 82405;
July 19, 1982.

*348 During the years at issue, petitioner claimed deductions for expenses incurred incident to his research in shrimp and fish culture. Held, petitioner lacked an actual and honest profit objective and therefore the research expenses are not deductible under either sec. 162, sec. 212, or sec. 174, I.R.C. 1954.

Alan Bruce Maxwell, pro se.
Marion L. Westen, for the respondent.

STERRETT

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

STERRETT, Judge:*349 By statutory notice dated December 7, 1979 respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner's Federal income taxes for the taxable years 1974 through 1977 in the amounts of $2,311.99, $2,113.75, $1,904, and $2,242.40, respectively. After various concessions, the sole issue for decision is whether certain research expenses incurred by petitioner during the taxable years at issue are deductible pursuant to section 162, I.R.C. 1954, as ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in a trade or business.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and exhibits attached thereto are incorporated herein by this reference.

Petitioner Alan Bruce Maxwell resided in Tavernier, Florida at the time of filing the petition herein. He filed individual Federal income tax returns for the taxable years 1974 through 1977 with the Office of the Director, Internal Revenue Service.

Petitioner graduated from Stetson University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major study in biology. For the next few years he engaged in various activities of a non-teaching nature and then in 1960 began a teaching career. In 1962 he was awarded*350 a scholarship to the University of Virginia (the University) in order to develop a course for high school biology students known as "BSCS."

After receiving a Master's degree in science education from the University, petitioner taught at Eastern Kentucky State College for one year and then moved to south Florida. In 1965 he became an instructor in the biology department at Palm Beach Junior College. As such, his primary responsibility was the teaching of freshman courses in biology and zoology.

In 1972, petitioner received a scholarship from the National Science Foundation and the Nuclear Regulatory Agency for a year of advanced study at Cornell University. He was admitted to the department of veterinary medicine as a graduate student. His particular course of study dealt with environmental and radiation biology, and his research work was in reproductive physiology with special emphasis upon the effect of radiation exposure on reproductive processes.

As a result of his study, petitioner developed a strong interest in reproductive physiology and in environmental biology. He returned to Palm Beach Junior College to resume his position as instructor in the biology department. *351 He was appointed to an assistant professorship in the biology department in 1977.

In the fall of 1971 petitioner and several of his associates organized Technibios, Inc. (hereinafter Technibios), a Florida non-profit corporation, for the purpose of seeking funds for research in fish and shrimp culture. In 1974 petitioner acquired some wealth by inheritance and decided to pursue actively such research on his own. At that time petitioner opened a bank account in the name of Technibios.

Petitioner's research was directed toward the development of a new food source. Ocean Farming Systems, Inc. (hereinafter OFS) entered into a "courtesy agreement" with petitioner to allow him to use their fish-holding tanks and their microscope located at Plantation Key, Florida. OFS was conducting culture work with various algae, shrimp and fishes. Petitioner and OFS conferred on occasion with respect to their activities.

During this period petitioner successfully spawned three different species of marine fish. Petitioner kept no specific records with respect to these developments and no publications arose therefrom. It is impossible to patent the techniques involved in spawning larvae out*352 of fish. Thus, the development of his activities into a commercially viable business was not in petitioner's immediate foreseeable plans.

During the years 1974 through 1977, petitioner taught principles of biology, general zoology, anatomy and physiology at Palm Beach Junior College. He also taught principles of biology at Florida Atlantic University during 1974 through 1976 and a course in environmental conservation at that university during 1977.

During the years in issue, petitioner reported income in the following amounts:

1974197519761977

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Maxwell v. Commissioner, 1982 T.C. Memo. 405, 44 T.C.M. 504, 1982 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 348 (tax 1982).

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