Court Opinion

ID: 4340858
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-11-14 08:46:01.896581+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:48:41.077609
License: Public Domain

CHARLES D. MARTIN AND LAURA J. MARTIN, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent Martin v. Comm'rDocket No. 15810-13 United States Tax Court2017 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 46; September 27, 2017, FiledDecision text below is the first available text from the court; it has not been editorially reviewed by LexisNexis. Publisher's editorial review, including Headnotes, Case Summary, Shepard's analysis or any amendments will be added in accordance with LexisNexis editorial guidelines.*46 Docket No. 15810-13. Filed September 27, 2017.Ps owned a farm, renting a portion of the land to wholly owned S corporation C. C contracted with unrelated entity S to raise chickens according to S' exacting specifications. Ps followed S' specific instructions to build structures designed only to raise S' chickens. C paid Ps wages for their labor and rent for the use of the farm and structures. R asserts that the rent is subject to self-employment tax pursuant to I.R.C. sec. 1402(a)(1).Held: The facts of the instant case are not materially dis-tinguishable from the facts of McNamara v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1999-333, rev'd, 236 F.3d 410">236 F.3d 410 (8th Cir. 2000). The U.S.Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in McNamara also reversed Hennen v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1999-306, and Bot v.Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1999-256. In the light of the reversals by the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Court reconsiders its holdings.- 2 -Held, further, Ps established that the rent received was at or below fair market value. R failed to show a sufficient nexus between the rental income and petitioners' obligations to participate in the production or management of the production of agricultural com-modities. Therefore, the rent Ps received pursuant to the lease is not includible in their net self-employment income. To the extent McNamara v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1999-333">T.C. Memo. 1999-333, Hennen v.Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1999-306, and Bot v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1999-256">T.C. Memo. 1999-256, are inconsistent with this*47  holding, they are not followed.Charles D. Martin and Laura J. Martin, pro se.Lewis A. Booth II, for respondent.PARIS, Judge: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS or respondent)determined deficiencies in petitioners' 2008 and 2009 Federal income tax of$13,409 and $15,408, respectively. The question presented is whether rentpayments petitioners received are subject to self-employment tax under section1402(a)(1).11Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code as in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.- 3 -FINDINGS OF FACTSome of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation offacts, the exhibits attached thereto, and the exhibit admitted at trial areincorporated by this reference. Petitioners resided in Texas when they timelypetitioned this Court. They were married during the years in issue.Charles Martin holds a degree in agricultural engineering from Texas A&MUniversity. Since July 1999 Mr. and Mrs. Martin have owned a farm consisting ofmore than 300 acres of land, various agricultural and horticultural structures, andtheir personal residence. Mrs. Martin performed*48  the farm's bookkeeping; Mr.Martin performed a portion of the physical labor and other management servicesas necessary.2In late 1999 petitioners began constructing the first of eight poultry housesin which they would raise young chickens designated as broilers.3 The poultryhouses were built in accordance with detailed specifications provided bySanderson Farms, Inc. (Sanderson Farms)--a Fortune 1000 company and the third2During 2000, 2001, and 2010 Mr. Martin spent most of the year away from the farm performing consulting services.3These houses were specifically designed and built to raise broilers. Webster's Third New International Dictionary Unabridged 281 (2002) defines "broiler" as: "a chicken or other bird fit for broiling; esp : a young chicken weighing up to 2 1/2 pounds dressed".- 4 -largest poultry producer in the United States. The poultry houses were substantialin size as each offered over 22,000 square feet of usable space. Petitioners alsoinstalled specialized equipment for the broilers, including heating and airconditioning, among numerous other improvements. The costs of theseimprovements to petitioners' farm totaled more than $1.2 million.In 2000 petitioners entered into*49  a Broiler Production Agreement (BPA) withSanderson Farms.4 This 15-year agreement contained extensive instructions andrequirements for petitioners, as the "growers" of broilers. In essence, SandersonFarms would deliver to petitioners a flock of broilers--along with the dailynecessary proprietary blend of feed for the birds--and 49 days later, it would returnto pick them up. The process would be repeated four or five more times each year.Over the course of those 49-day cycles, petitioners were responsible for thecare of each flock of broilers using good poultry husbandry practices. In carryingout Sanderson Farms' detailed instructions, petitioners were allowed to hireadditional laborers or employees. However, petitioners' discretion ended there.Not only did Sanderson Farms retain ownership of the broilers, but it also retainedownership of all feed consumed or unconsumed by the flock. Sanderson Farms4Although Mr. Martin performed consulting work away from the farm during 2000, 2001, and 2010, the BPA obligations were fulfilled without exception.- 5 -required the broilers to be cared for according to the standards of its proprietarybroiler growing program, and its employees checked on*50  the broilers dailythroughout the 49-day cycle. This program restricted the diet of the broilers to theproprietary blend of feed delivered to each poultry house and other itemsnecessary for their health and wellbeing; it also required prior notice for anydeviation from the flock's engineered diet to be specifically approved bySanderson Farms.In 2003 petitioners obtained an agricultural appraisal of their farm. Theappraisal not only detailed the value of the land and structures but also analyzedthe cost of running the broiler operation as an investment (and not as activeparticipants). On November 19, 2004, petitioners organized C L Farms, Inc. (CLFarms), as an S corporation.5 Using the appraisal as a guide for the cost of laborand management services and incorporating information gathered from otherbroiler growers, petitioners entered into oral employee agreements with CL Farmsand set their salaries at amounts consistent with those of other growers.6 Mrs.Martin would provide bookkeeping services to the corporation, and Mr. Martin,5The Court takes judicial notice of this date, which is found in the records of the Texas secretary of state. SeeFed. R. Evid. 201.6The 2003 appraisal suggests that the cost*51  of labor and management to run petitioners' farm is approximately $52,900 per year.- 6 -along with any hired laborers or employees, would provide the requisite labor andmanagement services.In January 2005 Sanderson Farms approved petitioners' assignment of theremainder of their BPA to CL Farms. Like petitioners' BPA, CL Farms' BPAanticipated relying on employees to meet the requirements of good poultryhusbandry and the Sanderson Farms broiler growing program. CL Farms, ratherthan petitioners, would be responsible as the grower; nothing in the BPA requiredpetitioners to personally perform the duties of grower.7 Sanderson Farms retainedtitle to the broilers and proprietary feed and--in addition to daily check-ins--waswilling and able to take over utility payments or the day-to-day care of a flock ifCL Farms failed to perform its duties.On January 20, 2005, petitioners entered into a five-year lease agreementwith CL Farms by which CL Farms would rent from petitioners their farm(excluding their residence, access to the residence, and 10 acres), structures,176,000 square feet of poultry houses, and equipment.8 Over the course of the7Mr. Martin signed the corporate signature page, personally*52  guaranteeing the growing obligations of CL Farms. Mrs. Martin did not.8CL Farms used approximately 10 acres of land surrounding the broiler houses in conjunction with its BPA. The rest of the farm was actively used for grazing and other cattle-related activity. The amount of revenue generated by this(continued...)- 7 -five-year lease, CL Farms agreed to pay rent of $1.3 million to petitioners.9 Theagreement required CL Farms to remit each rent payment irrespective of whether ithad fulfilled its requirements as grower to Sanderson Farms or received sufficientincome. This amount represented fair market rent and was consistent withamounts paid by other Sanderson Farm growers for the use of similar premises.For 2008 and 2009 CL Farms fulfilled its duties under the lease, making allof the necessary rent payments to petitioners, which petitioners reported as rentalincome, excludable from self-employment income. At no point during the years inissue did petitioners believe that they were--nor were they actually--obligated orcompelled to perform farm-related activities as a condition to CL Farms'obligation pursuant to the lease to pay rent to petitioners. For 2008 and 2009 CLFarms also fulfilled*53  its duties as grower to Sanderson Farms; petitioners weresimilarly not obligated to perform farm-related activities in CL Farms' productionof agricultural commodities. Although petitioners materially participated in thebroiler production activity, CL Farms consistently hired numerous laborers to8(...continued)other activity during the years in issue was not insignificant, representing 11.5% of CL Farms' income for each of the years in issue.9This amount was paid in installments following Sanderson Farms' payment for each grown flock of broilers; it was structured in that way to accommodate CL Farms' operational cashflow requirements.- 8 -clean and reset the houses between flocks. CL Farms also hired professional andlegal counsel in conjunction with the farm's management. For 2008 and 2009 CLFarms paid for labor, employee benefits, and professional services $77,796 and$86,389, respectively.Petitioners jointly filed Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for2008 and 2009, reporting rental income from CL Farms of $259,000 and$271,000, respectively. The IRS determined that these amounts were subject toself-employment tax because they constituted net earnings from self-employment*54 under section 1402(a)(1). Petitioners timely sought redetermination of theresulting deficiencies in this Court.OPINIONThe sole issue in this case is whether the rent payments petitioners receivedare subject to self-employment tax under sections 1401 and 1402(a)(1) for theyears in issue. Section 1401 imposes a tax upon self-employment income; section1402 provides instructions for calculating the amount. As relevant to this case,section 1402(a) provides:SEC. 1402(a). Net Earnings From Self-Employment.--The term "net earnings from self-employment" means the gross income derived by an individual from any trade or business carried on by such individual, less the deductions allowed by this subtitle * * *except that in computing such gross income and deductions * * *- 9 -(1) there shall be excluded rentals from real estate and from personal property leased with the real estate * * * except that the preceding provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any income derived by the owner or tenant of land if(A) such income is derived under an arrangement, between the owner or tenant and another individual, which provides that such other individual shall produce agricultural or horticultural commodities (including * * *poultry * * *) on such land and that there shall be*55  material participation by the owner or tenant (as determined without regard to any activities of an agent of such owner or tenant) in the production or management of the production of such agricultural or horticultural commodities, and(B) there is material participation by the owner or tenant (as determined without regard to any activities of an agent of such owner or tenant) with respect to any such agricultural or horticultural commodity * * *Respondent contends that the rent payments petitioners received are subjectto self-employment tax because, taking into account all the facts andcircumstances, there existed an arrangement between petitioners and both CLFarms and Sanderson Farms that required petitioners to materially participate inthe production of agricultural commodities on their farm. Conversely, petitionerscontend that the rent payments are not subject to self-employment tax for tworeasons. First, the rent payments were consistent with market rates, and there wasno nexus between the lease and either the BPA or the employment agreements.- 10 -Second, their material participation was not required by either CL Farms' BPA ortheir oral employment agreements with CL Farms.I. *56 McNamara v. CommissionerThe parties base their arguments primarily on McNamara v. Commissioner(McNamara I), T.C. Memo. 1999-333, rev'd, 236 F.3d 410">236 F.3d 410 (8th Cir. 2000), wherethis Court held--in virtually identical circumstances--that rental income from awholly owned corporation was received pursuant to an arrangement between theparties to produce agricultural commodities on the farm within the meaning ofsection 1402(a)(1)(A), and on McNamara v. Commissioner (McNamara II), 236F.3d 410 (8th Cir. 2000), rev'gT.C. Memo. 1999-333, and rev'g Hennen v.Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1999-306, and rev'g Bot v. Commissioner, T.C.Memo. 1999-256, where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversedthis Court on the grounds that there was no nexus between the rental agreementand any arrangement requiring the taxpayers' material participation.10The McNamaras owned and operated their farm as a joint venture for a timeuntil they incorporated the farm under the name McNamara Farms. McNamara I,10The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit consolidated with McNamara I two other cases: Hennen v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1999-306">T.C. Memo. 1999-306, and Bot v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1999-256. Although this Court's discussion is generally directed towards the McNamara cases, the analysis and conclusions also apply to both Bot and Hennen.- 11 -slip op. at 2. Pursuant to a written lease, McNamara Farms paid the McNamaras*57  avarying amount of rent each year; the land was used to produce agriculturalcommodities. Id., slip op. at 2-3. The McNamaras entered into employmentagreements with McNamara Farms. Id. at 3. Mr. McNamara would serve asgeneral manager, responsible for field work, marketing, security, employeemanagement, and other usual and customary duties required by the agriculturalproduction operation of McNamara Farms. Id. Mrs. McNamara would providebookkeeping services, as well as prepare meals for the farm's employees, do fieldwork, and perform such other usual and customary duties as might be delegated bythe employer from time to time. Id. at 4. In essence, these agreements providedthat the McNamaras would continue to perform their then-current duties. Id.at 3-4.The McNamaras reported their rental income, but they did not report it assubject to self-employment tax. Id. at 5. The Commissioner determined that thepayments were properly includible in their net earnings from self-employmentunder section 1402(a)(1). Id. The McNamaras contested this determination, andin McNamara I this Court held in the Commissioner's favor, looking beyond theterms of the lease to the McNamaras' obligations within the overall scheme oftheir farming operation. Id. at 8-9. In arriving at this*58  conclusion, the Court took- 12 -into account all the facts and circumstances and applied a broad interpretation of"arrangement", noting thatwhere used in the Internal Revenue Code, the word "arrangement" refers to some general relationship or overall understanding between or among parties in connection with a specific activity or situation. Generally, it is not limited only to contractual relationships, or used in a way that suggests that its terms and conditions must be included in a single agreement, contractual or otherwise. Congress obviously recognized a distinction between a contract and the broader concept of an "arrangement", as is evident from those sections of the Internal Revenue Code that make reference to both. [Id. at 8 (quoting Mizellv. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1995-571).]The Court found that "the arrangement between * * * [the McNamaras] andMcNamara Farms provided, or contemplated, that * * * [the McNamaras]materially participate in the production of agricultural commodities on thefarmland." Id. at 9. The Court further ruled that both the McNamaras had,pursuant to that arrangement, materially participated in agricultural production andconcluded that the rental income was therefore farm rental income subject totaxation as self-employment*59  earnings. See id. at 10.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed, holding thatdespite the existence of a separate employment agreement requiring the taxpayers'material participation--and despite their actual material participation--a rentalagreement may stand on its own in certain circumstances. McNamara II, 236 F.3d- 13 -at 412-413. In arriving at this conclusion, the Court of Appeals noted theMcNamaras' uncontradicted testimony that the rents in question were consistentwith market rates for agricultural land and held that "[r]ents that are consistentwith market rates very strongly suggest that the rental arrangement stands on itsown as an independent transaction and cannot be said to be part of an'arrangement' for participation in agricultural production." Id. at 413. The casewas remanded to provide the Commissioner an opportunity to prove that thereexisted "a nexus between the rents received by * * * [the McNamaras] and the'arrangement' that requires the landlords' material participation." Id.On remand, the McNamaras and the Commissioner submitted supplementalbriefing. After careful consideration, an order and decision was entered, findingthat the rents in question were*60  at or below fair market value and, accordingly,there were no deficiencies in the McNamaras' Federal income tax for the years inissue. McNamara v. Commissioner, T.C. Dkt. No. 7537-98 (July 10, 2002).11Respondent has not argued that the instant case is distinguishable fromMcNamara I. Instead, his argument is based solely upon this Court's following its11Substantially similar orders were entered in Bot v. Commissioner, T.C. Dkt. No. 7970-98 (July 10, 2002), and Hennen v. Commissioner, T.C. Dkt. No. 7535-98 (July 10, 2002).- 14 -earlier analysis and holdings in McNamara I, Bot, and Hennen.12 Petitioners,however, argue that McNamara II was correctly decided and urge this Court toadopt the approach used by the Court of Appeals in analyzing their situation.Upon reconsideration of this Court's opinion in McNamara I, and itsreversal by the Court of Appeals, this Court concludes that it did not givesufficient consideration to the requirement of section 1402(a)(1) that the rent inquestion be "derived under" an arrangement requiring the landlord's materialparticipation. In other words, there was insufficient consideration given to the"nexus between the rents received by [the] taxpayers and the 'arrangement' that*61 requires the landlords' material participation." McNamara II, 236 F.3d at 413.This issue will be reviewed accordingly in the context of the instant case. And theparties' contentions will be examined, taking into account the burden of proof,12This Court has twice followed the Court of Appeals' decision in McNamara II. See Johnson v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2004-56 (applying the nexus test and finding that the rent in question was not subject to self-employment tax); Solvie v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2004-55 (applying the nexus test and finding that the rent in question was subject to self-employment tax). Each of these cases, however, was properly appealable in the Eighth Circuit; thus, in following McNamara II, the Court cited Golsen v. Commissioner, 54 T.C. 742">54 T.C. 742, 757 (1970) (holding that this Court would follow a Court of Appeals opinion which is squarely on point where appeal from the decision would lie to that Court of Appeals and that court alone), aff'd, 445 F.2d 985">445 F.2d 985 (10th Cir. 1971). The instant case, however, is properly appealable to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; this Court is therefore not bound by McNamara II and may decide whether to follow the analysis of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.- 15 -which rests upon petitioners. SeeRule 142(a). Petitioners do not contend--nordoes the Court find--that the burden of proof shifts to respondent*62  under section7491 as to any issue of fact. Respondent's determinations are presumed to becorrect; petitioners must prove them erroneous in order to rebut the presumptionand satisfy their burden of proof. See id.; Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111">290 U.S. 111, 115(1933).II. Social Security and Self-EmploymentIn reexamining this Court's earlier analysis, it is best to understand theintent behind section 1402(a)(1). To do so, it is helpful to examine the history ofthe Social Security provisions in title 42 of the United States Code, which haveidentical counterparts in title 26. These sets of statutes are often viewed in parimateria, see, e.g., Ramsay v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1983-590, and should beconstrued to promote "a symmetrical parallel between the social security eligibilityprovisions for self-employed persons and the corresponding income tax provisionsfor taxing self-employed persons for social security purposes". Johnson v.Commissioner, 60 T.C. 829">60 T.C. 829, 833 (1973).Self-employed individuals were first brought under the Old Age andSurvivors Insurance Program (Program) in 1950. Social Security ActAmendments of 1950 (SSA 1950), ch. 809, sec. 104(a), 64 Stat. at 502 (adding- 16 -what is presently 42 U.S.C. sec. 411(a)); id.sec. 208(a), 64 Stat. at 541 (addingwhat is presently section 1402(a)). In doing so, Congress deemed theseindividuals entitled to benefits and the incidence of the self-employment tax"based upon the receipt of income from labor, which old*63  age, death, or disabilitywould interrupt; and not upon the receipt of income from the investment of capital,which these events would presumably not affect." Delno v. Celebrezze, 347 F.2d159, 161 (9th Cir. 1965). Self-employed farmers, however, were excluded fromcoverage (and self-employment taxation). This exclusion was accomplished byexcepting from "net earnings from self-employment" income derived by a self-employed individual from a business which if carried on by employees wouldconstitute agricultural labor. SSA 1950, secs. 104(a), 208(a).In 1954 the exception was removed from each provision, bringing self-employed farmers under the protection of the Program. Congress was careful,however, to continue to exclude from net self-employment income any amountsreceived as "rentals from real estate and from personal property leased with thereal estate" regardless of the method of payment. Social Security ActAmendments of 1954, ch. 1206, secs. 101(g), 201(a), 68 Stat. at 1055, 1087.These provisions were amended again in 1956 to broaden coverage to includefarm owners or farm tenants if there was a "material participation by the owner or- 17 -tenant in the production or the management of the production of * * * agricultural* * * commodities." Social Security Act Amendments of 1956,*64  ch. 836, secs.104(a), 201(e), 70 Stat. at 824, 840.In 1960 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Henderson v.Flemming, 283 F.2d 882">283 F.2d 882, 885 (5th Cir. 1960), commented on this revision, notingthat[i]t was, to be sure, stated somewhat awkwardly by an exception to an exclusion. But we regard this as of no moment and treat it as another instance of Congressional English as Congress weaves and rips the Penelopean tax garment to meet the undulating underlying changes in legislative policy. [Citations omitted.]In any event, the 1956 amendment was intended to bring a new and major group ofindividuals under the Program. Id. at 887."Coverage of the program should be as nearly universal as is practicable. * * * Modifications would be made in the coverage requirements for farmers and farm workers to take into account the practical problems that have arisen since they were brought into the program by the 1954 amendments. Changes would be made in the provisions on insured status and benefit computations to give the newly covered groups equitable treatment as compared with those brought in earlier." Senate Calendar No. 2156, 84th Cong., 2d Sess., Rpt. 2133, p. 1. [Id. n.7.]This amendment "show[ed] a benevolent intent to protect citizens whose incomediminishes or*65  is wiped away because of old age or disability, and on the otherhand to exclude income which continues in spite of old age or disability such as- 18 -the fruits of someone else's labor." Celebrezze v. Miller, 333 F.2d 29">333 F.2d 29, 30 (5th Cir.1964).Courts have accordingly interpreted this intent to be that these provisions"should be applied to exclude only payments for use of space, and, by implication,such services as are required to maintain the space in condition for occupancy."Delno, 347 F.2d at 163. However, when the tenant's payment includescompensation for substantial additional services--and when the compensation forthose services constitutes a material part of the payment--the "rent" consistspartially of income attributable to the performance of labor not incidental to therealization of return from passive investment. Id. In these circumstances, theentire payment is included in "net earnings from self-employment." Id.The issue of separating return of investment from compensation for servicesperformed has long been identified. In fact, most self-employed individualsreceive income that is a combination of income from labor and invested capital.Congress chose not to attempt the task of separating one from the other. Instead,42 U.S.C. sec. 411(b)(1) imposed a ceiling*66  on the total annual net earnings fromself-employment that may be included in determining eligibility for benefits. Seealsosec. 1402(b)(1). This ceiling served to circumvent the income distortion that- 19 -might otherwise result. Social Security: Hearings on H.R. 2893 Before the H.R.Comm. on Ways and Means, 81st Cong. 1362-1365 (1949).In the early 1960s several Courts of Appeals found that materialparticipation could be attributed to an individual through the efforts of anemployee or agent. See, e.g., Harper v. Flemming, 288 F.2d 61">288 F.2d 61 (4th Cir. 1961)(holding that the activities of a bank, as agent for the owner, in management of theowner's farm, constituted "material participation" by the owner in the productionand management of the farm within the Social Security Act provisions);Henderson, 283 F.2d 882">283 F.2d 882 (holding that where the landowner, through her son asher agent, made a "material participation" in the production or management ofproduction of cotton and corn, her income was self-employment income subject totax and that she was eligible for benefits);.These provisions were intended to afford coverage to the broadest class ofindividuals. And in 1974 Congress narrowed the exclusion by broadening theexception for farm-related rental income. See Act of Aug. 7, 1974, Pub. L. No.93-368, sec. 10(a) and (b), 88 Stat. at 422 (adding*67  "(as determined without regardto any activities of an agent of such owner or tenant)" after "material participationby the owner or tenant" each place it appeared in 42 U.S.C. sec. 411 and section- 20 -1402(a)(1), respectively). It is this version of section 1402 that applies topetitioners in this case.III. Self-Employment IncomeA taxpayer's self-employment income is subject to self-employment tax.Sec. 1401(a) and (b). Self-employment tax is assessed and collected as part of theincome tax, must be included in computing any income tax deficiency oroverpayment for the applicable tax period, and must be taken into account forestimated tax purposes. Sec. 1401; see alsosec. 1.1401-1(a), Income Tax Regs.Self-employment income generally is defined as "the net earnings from self-employment derived by an individual". Sec. 1402(b). Section 1402(a) defines"net earnings from self-employment" as "the gross income derived by anindividual from any trade or business carried on by such individual, less thedeductions allowed by this subtitle which are attributable to such trade orbusiness". See alsosec. 1.1402(a)-1, Income Tax Regs. The term "derived""necessitates a nexus between the income and the trade or business actuallycarried on by the taxpayer." Bot v. Commissioner, 353 F.3d 595">353 F.3d 595, 599 (8th Cir.2003) (involving individuals with the surname Bot distinct from those in Bot v.Commissioner*68 , T.C. Memo 1999-256">T.C. Memo. 1999-256), aff'g118 T.C. 138">118 T.C. 138 (2002); Newberry v.Commissioner, 76 T.C. 441">76 T.C. 441, 444 (1981). Under this Court's interpretation of the- 21 -"nexus" standard, income must arise from some income-producing activity of thetaxpayer before that income is subject to self-employment tax. Jackson v.Commissioner, 108 T.C. 130">108 T.C. 130, 134 (1997).Section 1402(a)(1) generally excludes rental real estate income from thecomputation of a taxpayer's net earnings from self-employment. This exclusion,however, also provides that rent derived by the owner of land is not excluded fromthe computation of net earnings from self-employment if the income is derivedunder an arrangement pursuant to which the owner is required to materiallyparticipate in the agricultural production and the owner actually materiallyparticipates. Id.These self-employment tax provisions are construed broadly in favor oftreating income as earnings from self-employment. Braddock v. Commissioner,95 T.C. 639">95 T.C. 639, 644 (1990); Hornaday v. Commissioner, 81 T.C. 830">81 T.C. 830, 834 (1983);S. Rept. No. 81-1669 (1950), 2 C.B. 302">1950-2 C.B. 302, 354. Similarly, the rental incomeexclusion in section 1402(a)(1) is to be strictly construed to prevent this exclusionfrom interfering with the congressional purpose of effecting maximum coverageunder the Social Security umbrella. Johnson v. Commissioner, 60 T.C. at 832.- 22 -A. Agriculturally Related Rental IncomeAs discussed, a taxpayer's net earnings from self-employment*69  generallyexclude rental income. Sec. 1402(a)(1). However, certain agriculturally relatedrental income is properly included in a taxpayer's net earnings from self-employment if two requirements are met. Id. First, the rental income must be"derived under an arrangement, between the owner or tenant and anotherindividual". Id. Such an arrangement must specify that: (1) the other individual"shall produce agricultural * * * commodities" on the rented land and (2) theowner or tenant shall materially participate in the production or management ofthe production of those commodities. Id. The second requirement is that theowner materially participate in that production or management of production. Id.This Court, in McNamara I, slip op. at 8-9, interpreted "arrangement"broadly, finding that although the rental and employment agreements wereseparate, the Court would view the taxpayers' existing obligations within theoverall scheme of their farming operations. It was this view that allowed theCourt to conclude that "the arrangement between * * * [the McNamaras] andMcNamara Farms provided, or contemplated, that * * * [the McNamaras]materially participate in the production of agricultural commodities on thefarmland." Id., slip op. at 9. This result was not*70  a novel approach; in fact, courts- 23 -have long acknowledged that the income derived by individuals who own andoperate their own farms is often partially attributable to income of a rentalcharacter. See, e.g., Delno, 347 F.2d at 163; Henderson, 283 F.2d at 887-888.The potential for unfairness of section 1402(a)(1) in such situations is apparent.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, however, took a differentapproach. In McNamara II, 236 F.3d at 413, the court focused on the "derivedunder" requirement, finding that "the practical effect of the 'derived under'language" was to require a nexus between the rents received by a taxpayer and the"arrangement" requiring the landlord's material participation. The court noted:[T]he mere existence of an arrangement requiring and resulting in material participation in agricultural production does not automatically transform rents received by the landowner into self-employment income. It is only where the payment of those rents comprise part of such arrangement that such rents can be said to derive from the arrangement.Rents that are consistent with market rates very strongly suggest that the rental arrangement stands on its own as an independent transaction and cannot be said to be part of an "arrangement" for participation*71  in agricultural production. * * *[Id.]Regardless of a taxpayer's material participation, if the rental income is shown tobe less than or equal to market value for rent, the income is presumed to beunrelated to any employment agreement. Id. At that point, the burden of- 24 -production shifts to the Commissioner to show a nexus between the rent and thetaxpayer's obligation to materially participate. Such a showing would render thelease and employment agreements part and parcel of a larger "arrangement". Id.The analysis of McNamara II tracks and resolves the issues arising inseparating true rental income from wage income in circumstances where farmersreceive separate payments.13 The test proffered by the U.S. Court of Appeals forthe Eighth Circuit does not contradict congressional intent. Rather, it supplementsexisting factors for consideration and serves to implement congressional intent,placing farmers in the same position as their urban contemporaries.If the rent is at or below market value and the Commissioner can show thatthe rental agreement has a sufficient nexus with an agreement requiring thetaxpayer's material participation, the first prong of the section 1402(a)(1) test ismet and congressional*72  intent is protected.14 If the Commissioner cannot show asufficient nexus, however, congressional intent is not frustrated. BecauseCongress provided an avenue by which the Court might determine the correct13This Opinion does not endeavor to resolve the more difficult issue of separating rent and wage income in situations involving a single payment.14Compare Celebrezze v. Miller, 333 F.2d 29">333 F.2d 29 (5th Cir. 1964), andHenderson v. Flemming, 283 F.2d 882">283 F.2d 882 (5th Cir. 1960), with Celebrezze v.Maxwell, 315 F.2d 727 (5th Cir. 1963).- 25 -amount of net self-employment income, taxpayers are afforded an opportunity topay the correct amount of tax. This serves to place farmers in the same position astheir urban contemporaries with respect to rental income that is insufficientlyrelated to their trade or business.Congress' intent was to afford income protection to taxpayers who mightnot otherwise be able to provide for themselves in old age. The provisions weredesigned to address wage income lost in old age--not to augment a continuingrental income stream. In those circumstances where the two agreements are trulyseparate and distinct, the taxpayer is not in jeopardy of losing his rental income ifhe is unable to materially participate. Rather, he must only hire someone else toperform those tasks that he was otherwise performing.Because this Court finds*73  the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit'sanalysis and reasoning sound, the next step is to evaluate the facts of this case inthe light of McNamara II.B. Application of McNamara IIEach of the requirements in section 1402(a)(1) operates independently.Because the parties stipulated that petitioners materially participated in theproduction of agricultural commodities on their farm during the years in issue, the- 26 -Court will limit its analysis to whether there existed an arrangement sufficient tosubject petitioner's rental income to self-employment tax.With respect to the statute's first requirement--that income be derived underan arrangement--section 1.1402(a)-4(b)(2), Income Tax Regs., explains:In order for rental income received by an owner or tenant of land to be treated as includible farm rental income, such income must be derived pursuant to a share-farming or other rental arrangement which contemplates material participation by the owner or tenant in the production or management of production of agricultural or horticultural commodities.Such an arrangement may be oral or written, but it "must impose upon such otherperson the obligation to produce one or more agricultural or horticulturalcommodities (including * * * poultry * **74  *) on the land of the owner or tenant".Id. subpara. (3). The arrangement must also require material participation by theowner; in its contemplation of the owner's material participation, the arrangementmay consider the sum of the participation in connection with the production or themanagement of the production of agricultural or horticultural commodities. Id.subparas. (1), (3). Under such circumstances, rental income is characterized asincludible farm rental income and accordingly considered earnings fromself-employment. Id. subpara. (1).- 27 -Irrespective of a taxpayer's material participation--actual, required, orotherwise15--the taxpayer may establish that the rental agreement stands on itsown, unrelated to the taxpayer's farming activity. McNamara II, 236 F.3d at 413.If the rental income received was at or below market value, the burden ofproduction then shifts to the Commissioner to show a nexus between the rent andthe agricultural arrangement requiring the taxpayer to materially participate. Id.Such a showing would render the lease and employment agreements part andparcel of a larger "arrangement". Id.; see also Johnson v. Commissioner, T.C.Memo. 2004-56 (following McNamara II and finding an insufficient*75  nexus);Solvie v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2004-55 (same but finding a sufficientnexus).As shown by the evidence, the rent payments petitioners receivedrepresented fair market rent and were consistent with amounts paid by otherSanderson Farms growers for the use of similar premises. This is sufficient under15Because the Court finds that the rental income is not includible in petitioners' net self-employment income because it was consistent with fair market rent and because respondent did not show a nexus between the rent and the arrangement requiring petitioners' material participation, there is no need to address petitioners' alternative contention that none of the agreements or contracts actually required their material participation.- 28 -McNamara IIto establish that the agreement stands on its own, but the Court findsthat additional facts further support the Court's conclusion.Petitioners invested a significant amount of money--over $1.2 million--inthe eight 22,000-square-foot broiler houses and other improvements, which wereall built according to the exacting specifications of Sanderson Farms. Andalthough the rental agreement covered petitioners' farm (excluding their residence,access to the residence, and 10 acres), structures,*76  176,000 square feet of poultryhouses, and equipment, CL Farms used approximately 10 acres and these single-use structures for purposes of the BPA. Practically speaking, this agreementfunctions as a return on investment rather than a method of incomerecharacterization.As part of their agricultural appraisal, petitioners obtained a detailedanalysis of the costs of operating their farm purely as an investment. Petitioners,in turn, priced CL Farms' activities, including labor and management costs, toexceed the appraisal's projected costs. These amounts were not merely remainderpayments to petitioners after the rent checks were cashed. They were appropriateamounts for CL Farms to spend for the services required to operate its broiler- 29 -houses as well as its grazing and other agricultural activities.16 The structuring ofthese expenses further illustrates the lengths to which petitioners went to operateCL Farms as a legitimate business and not as a method to avoid self-employmenttax.These facts--supported by petitioners' testimony, documentation, andbriefing--provide strong evidence that the rental agreement should stand on itsown. Thus, the burden of production shifts to respondent to*77  show a nexusbetween the rents and the agricultural arrangement requiring petitioners' materialparticipation.This Court has previously evaluated the nexus between the rental incomeand the taxpayer's production arrangement. See, e.g., Bot v. Commissioner, 118T.C. 138 (finding value-added payments reported as rental income includible innet self-employment income where the payments were directly related to thevolume of corn acquired and delivered by taxpayers); Solvie v. Commissioner,T.C. Memo. 2004-55 (same when rent payments were tied directly to the numberof pigs raised). But see Johnson v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2004-56 (findingan insufficient nexus). But despite petitioners' presentation and the Court's16Although the lease payments were structured to follow each flock, CL Farms earned only 88.5% of its annual income through the BPA. Neither party addressed CL Farms' other agricultural activity, so it will not be discussed further.- 30 -previous application of the well-reasoned nexus requirement in Solvie andJohnson, respondent did not brief this issue.Instead, respondent puts all of his proverbial eggs in the McNamara Ibasket, noting in his brief the Commissioner's nonacquiescence in the Court ofAppeals' decision, citing AOD 2003-03, 2003-2 C.B. xxiii,*78  and arguing for theCourt to interpret "arrangement" broadly to include any and all contracts related toCL Farms.Without alternative, this Court must conclude that the rental agreement isseparate and distinct from petitioners' employment obligations and, therefore, therental income is not includible in their net self-employment income.IV. ConclusionUsing the McNamara II analysis, the Court finds that petitioners'agriculture-related rental income is not included in their net self-employmentincome under section 1402(a)(1). Petitioners have shown that the rent paymentswere at or below market value, and respondent failed to show--and the record doesnot contain sufficient evidence showing--a nexus between the rents and theagricultural arrangement requiring petitioners' material participation.- 31 -To reflect the foregoing and the concessions of the parties,Decision will be enteredunder Rule 155.Reviewed by the Court.MARVEL, FOLEY, VASQUEZ, GALE, THORNTON, GOEKE, HOLMES, MORRISON, KERRIGAN, BUCH, and PUGH, JJ., agree with this opinion of the Court.- 32 -GUSTAFSON, J., dissenting: The outcome determined in the opinion ofthe Court is attractive, but its reasoning is based on a fair-market safe harbor thatis not warranted*79  by the actual text of section 1402(a)(1) as enacted by Congress;and for that reason I join Judge Nega's dissent. I write separately to criticize theresulting evidentiary regime that the majority creates ex nihilo.The majority adopts the holding of McNamara v. Commissioner, 236 F.3d410 (8th Cir. 2000), see op. Ct. pp. 27-28, which it interprets as follows, see op.Ct. pp. 23-24:Regardless of a taxpayer's material participation, if the rental income is shown to be less than or equal to market value for rent, the income is presumed to be unrelated to any employment agreement. * * * At that point, the burden of production shifts to the Commissioner to show a nexus between the rent and the taxpayer's obligation to materially participate. * * * [Emphasis added.]In fact, the McNamara opinion says nothing about any "presum[ption]" nor aboutthe "burden of production" or any shift therein. Rather, this regime is newlyannounced today by the Tax Court, and it is not warranted.Where an agreement calls for rent payments that exceed what the marketwould actually bear, that excess is evidence that things may not be what theyseem, and may be evidence that there is an arrangement in which compensation forlabor is being*80  disguised as rent, so that self-employment tax may be improperly- 33 -avoided. On the other hand, where an agreement calls for rent payments at fairmarket value (so that, as an economic matter, the rental agreement might plausiblystand on its own),1 I assume, along with the majority, that the fair-market rent isevidence that the arrangement may not involve disguised compensation for labor.That is, the fact of fair-market rent may be relevant to the question of whether, forpurposes of section 1402(a)(1), there is no arrangement linking rent and labor.But relevancy should not be equated with sufficiency. It is entirely possible(as the opinion of the Court effectively admits, by inviting the IRS to offercounter-evidence) that, notwithstanding the ostensibly reasonable rent, a fair-market rental agreement could be part of an "arrangement" under which the rentalagreement is contingent on (and is therefore linked to) an agreement providingcompensation for labor. Given that possibility, there is nothing in the statute, inlogic, in custom, or in common experience that makes the absence of an1The opinion of the Court indiscriminately refers to rent "at or below market value" (emphasis added); but rent below*81  market value implicates other questions. If rent is being underpaid, is the recipient seeking to maximize his Social Security benefits by inflating his compensation for labor? Or is the bargain rent an inducement to the payor to hire the recipient to perform labor for which he might otherwise not be hired (clearly an "arrangement" under section 1402(a)(1))? I believe the majority is plainly wrong if, as it appears, it holds, see op. Ct. pp. 27-28 that where "the rental income received was at or below market value," it should be presumed that the taxpayer has "establish[ed] that the rental agreement stands on its own". (Emphasis added.) On the contrary, proof that rent is set at a rate below market value indicates that the rental agreement does not stand on its own.- 34 -arrangement so probable that, on the taxpayer's mere showing of a fair-marketrent, we necessarily relieve him of the burden of producing additional evidence ofsuch absence unless the Commissioner can come forward with some evidence thatthere is an arrangement--but that is the nature of an evidentiary presumption, andthe opinion of the Court gives no reason for it.To show the absence of an "arrangement", the reasonableness of the rent isonly one of the pieces of evidence that a taxpayer might present, along with, forinstance, his own or the tenant's testimony that there is no arrangement. There isno reason to select the reasonableness of the rent as a special fact that somehowgives rise to a presumption and shifts the burden of production.ASHFORD, J., agrees with this dissent.- 35 -NEGA, J., dissenting: The opinion of the Court chooses to apply the Courtof Appeals for the Eighth Circuit's reasoning in McNamara II outside the EighthCircuit. I believe that the plain reading of the statute is inconsistent with the Courtof Appeals' reading. Consequently, I would*82  not extend its reading to the instantcase.The relevant Internal Revenue Code provision is section 1402(a)(1). Forthe determination of net earnings from self-employment (which are generallysubject to self-employment tax), this section provides an exclusion for "rentalsfrom real estate and from personal property leased with the real estate * * *together with the deductions attributable thereto, unless such rentals are receivedin the course of a trade or business as a real estate dealer". However, thisexclusion, by its terms,shall not apply to any income derived by the owner or tenant of land if (A) such income is derived under an arrangement, between the owner or tenant and another individual, which provides that such other individual shall produce agricultural or horticultural com-modities (including livestock, bees, poultry, and fur-bearing animals and wildlife) on such land, and that there shall be material participa-tion by the owner or tenant (as determined without regard to any activities of an agent of such owner or tenant) in the production or the management of the production of such agricultural or horticultural commodities, and (B) there is material participation by the owner or tenant (as determined*83  without regard to any activities of an agent of such owner or tenant) with respect to any such agricultural or horticultural commodity * * * [Id.]- 36 -On its face the statute does not provide a special rule for "at or below fairmarket rents". Had Congress wanted to provide such a special rule, I see noreason for its absence from the current statute.Focusing only on the plain wording of the Code, I do not believe that theCourt of Appeals' interpretation is the best reading. Under our caselaw, I wouldstill treat McNamara II as binding in the circuit in which it was decided. SeeGolsen v. Commissioner, 54 T.C. 742">54 T.C. 742, 757 (1970), aff'd, 445 F.2d 985">445 F.2d 985 (10th Cir.1971). I would not, however, expand its application beyond the Eighth Circuit.In McNamara II, 236 F.3d at 413, the Court of Appeals faulted the TaxCourt's opinion for failing to take into account the "nexus between the rentsreceived by Taxpayers and the 'arrangement' that requires the landlords' materialparticipation." The Court of Appeals focused on the two words "derived under" inthe statute to enunciate a new standard, stating thatthe mere existence of an arrangement requiring and resulting in material participation in agricultural production does not automatically transform rents received by the landowner into self-employment*84  income. It is only where the payment of those rents comprise part of such an arrangement that such rents can be said to derive from the arrangement.Rents that are consistent with market rates very strongly sug-gest that the rental arrangement stands on its own as an independent transaction and cannot be said to be part of an "arrangement" for participation in agricultural production. Although the Commissioner- 37 -is correct that, unlike other provisions in the Code, § 1402(a)(1) contains no explicit safe-harbor provision for fair market value transactions, we conclude that this is the practical effect of the "derived under" language.[Id.]I think that the words "derived under" are too slender a reed to support sucha construction of the tax law. I believe the better reading of the statute is that theentire arrangement is what determines the tax consequences for self-employmentpurposes. In that regard I would endorse the jurisprudence in Mizell v.Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1995-571. Section 1402(a) provides a comprehensivestructure for defining "net earnings from self-employment." We must not forgetthat there can be other streams of income besides "rents" in many singletransactions to which the other paragraphs of section 1402(a) must be applied toreach*85  an accurate determination of an individual's "net earnings from self-employment." A better reading of section 1402(a)(1), including the words"derived under", is that the arrangement as a whole must be the focus instead ofwhat the parties define as falling within two or more income streams (in this casepayments for personal services and for the use of real estate and personalproperty). I will have more to say below about the hazards of relying on theparties to a contract for purposes of characterizing amounts eligible for an- 38 -exception from self-employment tax, when only one of those parties will haveself-employment tax liability.While we will never know exactly what Congress intended in regard to thisprovision, it is entirely plausible that Congress declined to include such a safeharbor because it had concerns about the practical limitations of a "market raterental" exception from self-employment tax. All taxpayers have an interest inlegally seeking to maximize their after-tax profits. Surely that would include self-employment tax costs once enough such tax had been paid to ensure coverage forthe taxable year under Social Security. The facts of this case clearly illustrate thata single transaction*86  between a taxpayer and another individual may result inmultiple types of income. In this case the contract anticipates at least personalservice income and income paid for the use of real estate and personal property.Not readily apparent in the facts of the instant case, but often involved in othertransactions involving the determination of net earnings from self-employment,are other types of income such as dividends, interest, and capital gains.There are examples too numerous to count where the existence of a tax-indifferent party leads to an agreement between two parties to mischaracterize atransaction to provide an unjustified tax result for the non-tax-indifferent party.For example, if Sanderson Farms gets the same tax outcome for its payments- 39 -under a contract with a producer (e.g., petitioners) regardless of the proportion ofcontract payments subject to self-employment tax to the producer, then SandersonFarms may not have any reason to dispute the producer's characterization of theamount of the contract payments for which the producer is subject to self-employment tax. Further, if Sanderson Farms' competitors were also taxindifferent and agreed to such a favorable characterization,*87  then Sanderson Farmsmight be competitively disadvantaged if it did not follow suit. Indeed, both partiesto such an arrangement could share in any tax reduction resulting from themischaracterization of an amount by slightly reducing the overall contract priceunder the arrangement.While the record in the instant case does not readily provide an answer tothe question whether this transaction had a tax-indifferent party as to petitioner'sself-employment tax liability, that is unimportant. What is important is whetherone believes that concerns such as this could have led Congress to decline toprovide a safe harbor for "at or below market rents" under section 1402(a)(1).Again, I am not aware of legislative history either for or against such a notion. Iwould only say that such a concern is compelling justification for the absence ofsuch a statutory safe harbor and is a compelling argument against the judiciallyimposed safe harbor under McNamara II.- 40 -GUSTAFSON, LAUBER, and ASHFORD, JJ., agree with this dissent.