Ronald I. and Lois B. Koenig - Page 14

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               In addition, despite the fact that selecting a name for his            
          business was "very important", petitioner did not file his                  
          fictitious business name statement with the State of California,            
          indicating the name under which he planned to conduct his ancient           
          artifacts business, until May 7, 1991.  Petitioner testified that           
          it was not until that time that he satisfied the criteria for his           
          business plan, which included accumulating a certain amount of              
          inventory.                                                                  
               Petitioner was not actively involved in an ancient artifacts           
          trade or business during 1990.  Instead, he was accumulating the            
          necessary inventory and developing the reputation he would need             
          to conduct the business.  At trial, petitioner stressed the                 
          amount of preparation required to conduct this type of business,            
          yet he acquired his first piece of inventory only in the fall of            
          1989.  Although lack of sales is not dispositive, petitioner made           
          no sales of ancient artifacts in 1990.  The rational explanation            
          for his failure to make any sales is that he was not conducting             
          an active trade or business during 1990, as he did not yet have             
          sufficient inventory or a commercial gallery.  Furthermore,                 
          according to petitioner's testimony, he was not conducting any              
          type of sales activity.                                                     
               Accordingly, respondent is sustained on this issue.                    
          Petitioner's 1990 expenses related to ancient artifacts are                 
          startup expenses pursuant to section 195.                                   





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