Court Opinion

ID: 4333102
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-11-14 01:02:38.10006+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:20:01.771042
License: Public Domain

RICHARD A. STASEWICH, Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.Stasewich v. CommissionerNo. 15480-99United States Tax CourtT.C. Memo 2001-30; 2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40; 81 T.C.M. 1122; T.C.M. (RIA) 54237; February 12, 2001, Filed 2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*40  Decision will be entered for respondent.  Richard A. Stasewich, pro se.Naseem J. Khan, for respondent.  Cohen, Mary AnnCOHENMEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINIONCOHEN, JUDGE: Respondent determined deficiencies and accuracy-related penalties with respect to petitioner's Federal income tax as follows:                    Penalty, I.R.C.        Year   Deficiency    Sec. 6662(a)        ____   __________    _______________        1992    $ 3,998      $ 800.00        1993     2,860       572.00        1994     4,852       970.00        1995     3,064       612.80The issues for decision are whether petitioner's artist activity was not engaged in for profit within the meaning of section 183(c) and whether petitioner is liable for accuracy-related penalties pursuant to section 6662(a).Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue.FINDINGS OF FACTSome of the facts have been stipulated, 2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*41  and the stipulated facts are incorporated in our findings by this reference.Richard A. Stasewich (petitioner) resided in Chicago, Illinois, at the time he filed his petition. Petitioner attended Northern Illinois University between 1971 and 1977, majoring in art and minoring in accounting, but he did not graduate. In 1978, petitioner was registered as a certified public accountant by the University of Illinois, and, in 1983, he was licenced as a public accountant by the State of Illinois. Between 1978 and 1984, petitioner was employed in various positions utilizing his accounting background.During the years in issue, petitioner operated both his accounting and artist activities out of the same building, where he also resided. Beginning in 1984, petitioner treated his artist activity as a Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, sole proprietorship for Federal income tax purposes. Petitioner reported net profits and losses for his two separate Schedule C activities as follows:              Artist    Accounting         Year     Activity    Activity         ____     ________   __________2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*42           1984      ($ 544)    ($ 3,272)         1985     (1,966)     6,334         1986      (617)     7,201         1987     (1,978)     10,063         1988     (7,959)     9,518         1989     (27,638)     16,824         1990     (27,300)     19,977         1991     (26,930)     26,930         1992     (31,774)     17,385         1993     (13,419)     13,419         1994     (18,384)     20,821         1995     (10,922)     19,951         1996      (934)     26,888         1997     (1,586)     17,737         1998     (4,071)      -0-For the years in issue, the relevant figures for petitioner's artist activity were as follows:    Artist Activity    1992    1993    1994    1995    _______________    ____ 2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*43     ____    ____    ____    Gross receipts    $ 770   $ 320   $ 266   $ 357    Less deductions  (32,544) (13,739) (18,650) (11,279)    Profit (Loss)   (31,774) (13,419) (18,384) (10,922)During the years in issue, petitioner did not support himself with the income that he received from his artist activity, but instead supported himself with the income that he received from his accounting practice.Petitioner provided adequate substantiation for the expenses that he claimed on his tax returns. During the years in issue, he kept a spreadsheet of income and expenses, a cash receipts journal, and receipts for expenses. Petitioner had a Certificate of Registration in the State of Illinois that authorized him to engage in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail in Illinois. For 1992 through 1994, petitioner filed Forms ST-1, Sales and Use Tax Returns, with the Illinois Department of Revenue. In 1995, petitioner completed Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statements, for the art students that he employed. Petitioner neither kept records of a budget or financial projections for his artist activity nor kept a record of the costs2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*44  that he might incur in attempting to develop his artist activity.Prior to 1992, petitioner decided to create a commercially viable product from his nude drawings. Petitioner tried fashion illustrations and spent a lot of money on materials and props, but he never secured a large client and never earned anything from it.On or around 1992, petitioner's artist activities changed from nude drawings and fashion illustrations to portraitures and installation art displays. At a cost of about $ 1,200, he placed two advertisements in his local newspaper on December 11 and 18, 1992, to solicit work as a commissioned artist of portraits. Petitioner painted two portraitures between 1992 and 1995 that generated about $ 850 in revenue. During 1992 to 1995, petitioner created four displays of installation art (consisting of peppers, dolls, pumpkins, and cucumbers) that were displayed in front of his residence. Petitioner's installation exhibit that consisted of dolls received media attention. The exhibit was the subject of two newspaper articles in September 1994 and was mentioned in a newspaper article in September 1995. Petitioner's income from the installation displays consisted of donations2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*45  that totaled $ 88.04.OPINIONPetitioner previously litigated the issue of whether his artist activity was engaged in for profit within the meaning of section 183(c) for 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991. In Stasewich v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1996-302, the Court held that petitioner's artist activity was not engaged in for profit within the meaning of section 183(c) for 1988 through 1991. Respondent, in this case, determined that petitioner's artist activity was not entered into for profit under section 183(c) for 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995.I. ACTIVITY NOT ENGAGED IN FOR PROFIT UNDER SECTION 183(c)The threshold issue presented is whether petitioner's artist activity was not engaged in for profit within the meaning of section 183(c). Section 183, in general, limits the amount of deductions for an activity not entered into for profit to the amount of the activity's income. See sec. 183(b).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." Deductions are allowed under section 162 for the ordinary2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*46  and necessary expenses of carrying on an activity that constitutes the taxpayer's trade or business. Deductions are allowed under section 212 for expenses paid or incurred in connection with an activity engaged in for the production or collection of income or for the management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for the production of income. With respect to either section, however, the taxpayer must demonstrate the requisite profit objective for the activities in order to deduct associated expenses. See Jasionowski v. Commissioner, 66 T.C. 312">66 T.C. 312, 66 T.C. 312">320-322 (1976); sec. 1.183-2(a), Income Tax Regs.Whether the required profit objective exists is a question of fact that must be determined on the basis of all of the facts and circumstances of each case. See Golanty v. Commissioner, 72 T.C. 411">72 T.C. 411, 72 T.C. 411">426 (1979), affd. without published opinion 647 F.2d 170">647 F.2d 170 (9th Cir. 1981); sec. 1.183-2(a), Income Tax Regs. While the focus of the test is on the subjective intention of the taxpayer, greater weight is given to the objective facts than to the taxpayer's mere statement of his or her intent. See Independent Elec. Supply, Inc. v. Commissioner, 781 F.2d 724">781 F.2d 724, 781 F.2d 724">726 (9th Cir. 1986),2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*47  affg. T.C. Memo 1984-472; Dreicer v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 642">78 T.C. 642, 78 T.C. 642">645 (1982), affd. without opinion 702 F.2d 1205">702 F.2d 1205 (D.C. Cir. 1983); Churchman v. Commissioner, 68 T.C. 696">68 T.C. 696, 68 T.C. 696">701 (1977); sec. 1.183-2(a), Income Tax Regs.Section 1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs., sets forth some relevant factors for determining whether an activity is engaged in for profit. No one factor is controlling. See Brannen v. Commissioner, 722 F.2d 695">722 F.2d 695, 722 F.2d 695">704 (11th Cir. 1984), affg.  78 T.C. 471">78 T.C. 471 (1982); 72 T.C. 411">Golanty v. Commissioner, supra at 426. The relevant factors include: (1) The manner in which the taxpayer carries on the activity; (2) the expertise of the taxpayer or his or her advisers; (3) the time and effort expended by the taxpayer in carrying on the activity; (4) the expectation that assets used in the activity may appreciate in value; (5) the success of the taxpayer in carrying on other similar or dissimilar activities; (6) the taxpayer's history of income and loss with respect to the activity; (7) the amount of occasional profits, if any, which are earned; (8) the financial2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*48  status of the taxpayer; and (9) the elements of personal pleasure or recreation. See sec. 1.183-2(b), Income Tax Regs.Objective facts showing that a taxpayer carried on his activity in a businesslike manner and maintained complete and accurate books and records may indicate that the activity is engaged in for profit. See sec. 1.183-2(b)(1), Income Tax Regs. Generally speaking, a taxpayer who maintains good records may be genuinely interested in using the records to develop a profitable business. See Stasewich v. Commissioner, supra.Petitioner contends that he maintained business records that substantiated his income and expenses for his artist activity and hired art students as his employees. Petitioner kept a spreadsheet of income and expenses; a cash receipts journal; receipts for expenses; Forms ST-1, Sales and Use Tax Returns; Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statements; and a Certificate of Registration to sell tangible property in Illinois. Although petitioner's artist activity had some of "the trappings of a business", such "trappings" are insufficient to demonstrate that the activity was a business carried on for profit. 2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*49 72 T.C. 411">Golanty v. Commissioner, supra at 430. Petitioner's maintenance of such books and records may represent nothing more than a conscious attention to detail. See id. Petitioner failed to show that the books and records were kept for the purpose of cutting expenses, increasing profits, and evaluating the overall performance of the operation. He did not maintain a budget for the activity or make any sort of financial projections. Petitioner has not persuaded us that he conducted his artist activity in a businesslike manner.Where losses continue to be sustained beyond the period that customarily is necessary to bring the operation to profitable status, such continued losses, if not explainable, as due to customary business risks or reverses, may be indicative that the activity is not being engaged in for profit. See sec. 1.183-2(b)(6), Income Tax Regs. A taxpayer's failure to implement any operating changes after continued losses may indicate the lack of intent to make a profit. See Brodrick v. Derby, 236 F.2d 35">236 F.2d 35, 236 F.2d 35">38 (10th Cir. 1956); Lewis v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1992-420; Stubblefield v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1988-480.2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*50 There is no evidence in the record that petitioner has ever earned a profit from his artist activity. In addition to the losses reported during 1992 through 1995, the years in issue, petitioner also reported losses for every year from 1984 through 1991. Petitioner's two advertisements to solicit work as a commissioned artist of portraits in 1992 cost him about $ 1,200 and resulted in only two commissioned portraits that generated about $ 850 in revenue. Petitioner has demonstrated a change in the type of artwork he creates, but he has not presented evidence of a change in his operating methods that would allow him to generate a profit from his artist activities. Petitioner has not reversed his uninterrupted history of losses, and such losses tend to indicate that he was content to sustain those losses for purely personal reasons. See Breckenridge v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1983-66.The amount of profits in relation to the amount of losses incurred may provide useful criteria in determining the taxpayer's intent. See sec. 1.183-2(b)(7), Income Tax Regs. Petitioner's income from his artist activities consisted of donations and commissions, and2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*51  such income was insufficient to offset any significant portion of the expenses resulting from petitioner's artist activity. See 72 T.C. 411">Golanty v. Commissioner, supra at 431. The gross receipts from petitioner's artist activity ranged from $ 266 to $ 770 annually, during the years in issue, while expenses ranged from $ 11,279 to $ 32,544 annually. Based on the evidence, it appears that petitioner never expected to recoup the large losses that he generated from his artist activity.Substantial income from sources other than the activity may indicate that the activity is not engaged in for profit. See sec. 1.183-2(b)(8), Income Tax Regs. In general, a taxpayer with substantial income unrelated to the activity can more readily afford a hobby. See Stasewich v. Commissioner, supra.Petitioner had an independent source of income, from his accounting business, and did not rely on his artist activity to support himself. Additionally, for 1991 and 1993 (although 1991 is not in issue) petitioner reported a loss from his artist activity exactly equal to the income from his accounting activity. Such an unlikely coincidence indicates that petitioner2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*52  may be using his artist activity as a device to eliminate Federal income tax on the income from his accounting business. This pattern weighs against finding a profit objective.That a taxpayer derives personal pleasure from a particular activity does not necessarily mean that he or she lacks a profit objective with respect to the activity. See Glenn v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1995-399, affd. without published opinion 103 F.3d 129">103 F.3d 129 (6th Cir. 1996); sec. 1.183-2(b)(9), Income Tax Regs. Where, however, there are recreational or other personal elements involved, the personal motives may negate the profit objective. See sec. 1.183-2(b)(9), Income Tax Regs. We previously stated, with respect to this factor:   Unquestionably, an enterprise is no less a "business" because   the entrepreneur gets satisfaction from his work; * * * however,   where the possibility for profit is small (given all the other   factors) and the possibility for gratification is substantial,   it is clear that the latter possibility constitutes the primary   motivation for the activity. * * * [Burger2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*53  v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1985-523, affd.  809 F.2d 355">809 F.2d 355 (7th Cir. 1987); fn. ref.   omitted.]Based on the evidence, we conclude that petitioner did not have a profit objective when he created his installation art exhibits in the front of his residence. Petitioner received only nominal donations that totaled $ 88.04 from his installation art exhibits, and such donations could not have compensated him for the time or expense involved in creating his artwork. Petitioner did not seek to make a profit from his installation art exhibits, but rather engaged in the artist activity because of the satisfaction, pride, and prestige that it afforded him.In the previous case of Stasewich v. Commissioner, supra, we held that petitioner's artist activity was not entered into for profit for 1988 through 1991. Petitioner has not made any significant changes in the operation of his artist activity, during the years in issue here, that would create a market or allow him to benefit from a market for his artwork or allow him to make up for his substantial losses. In Stasewich v. Commissioner, supra, we explained our holding in language equally2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*54  applicable here:     The large unabated expenditures, the absence even at this   late date of any concrete business plans to reverse the losses,   and the manner in which petitioner conducted his artist activity   lead to the conclusion that this was not an activity engaged in   for profit. Eppler v. Commissioner, 58 T.C. 691">58 T.C. 691, 58 T.C. 691">697 (1972),   affd. without published opinion 486 F.2d 1406">486 F.2d 1406(7th Cir 1973).We sustain respondent's determination that petitioner's artist activity was an activity not engaged in for profit within the meaning of section 183(a). Accordingly, the losses incurred by petitioner during the years in issue are not deductible.II. PENALTIES UNDER SECTION 6662(a)Respondent determined that petitioner is liable for accuracy-related penalties under section 6662(a) for 1992 through 1995. Section 6662(a) imposes an accuracy-related penalty equal to 20 percent of the portion of the underpayment attributable to, among other things, negligence.Petitioner presented neither evidence nor argument on this subject at trial. In view of petitioner's training and experience, imposition of the accuracy-related2001 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 40">*55  penalty is justified for all years in issue.To reflect the foregoing,Decision will be entered for respondent.