- 12 - holding that the writing and supposedly related activities in such case were not conducted for profit. Petitioner did not carry on her activity in a businesslike manner. Refunding and rebating, and entering sweepstakes, have long been hobbies that petitioner enjoys. She recorded her methodologies in 1982 at the suggestion of a friend and with the intention of helping her friends save money on groceries. Neither manual was published for 10 years until petitioner "self-published" them at an area copy shop. It was not until then, after the taxable years in issue, that petitioner pursued financial assistance, wrote a few published authors, and sought publicity for herself. The record does not disclose how much time, if any, petitioner spent on her writing activity during the taxable years at issue, 1989, 1990, and 1991. On their 1989 and 1991 Schedules C petitioners reported gross receipts of zero; for 1990 they reported $134 in gross receipts, all of which was from prizes and awards. Moreover, there was no showing that petitioners ever made a net profit from petitioner's writing activity. Respondent is sustained on this issue. 2. Casualty Losses Petitioners claimed casualty losses on their 1989 and 1990 returns in the respective amounts of $13,233 and $13,835. They attributed these losses to damages sustained from Tropical Storm Allison and termite infestation. Petitioners were unable to apportion the total damages between Tropical Storm Allison andPage: Previous 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Next
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