Michael A. Ogden - Page 11




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          weeks before trial.  If petitioners had accurate books and                  
          records and reviewed the returns before signing them under                  
          penalties of perjury, he, and then he and his wife, would have              
          had to discover such gross omissions.                                       
               The parties stipulated that petitioners realized gross sales           
          income of $43,575 in 1993, $66,276 in 1994, and $76,526 in 1995.            
          Although Mr. Ogden and then petitioners did not report these                
          gross sales on their  returns, they did report them to Amway for            
          bonus purposes.  After reducing the gross sales income by the               
          cost of the goods sold, the gross income of Mr. Ogden and then              
          petitioners was $1,082 in 1993, $2,041 in 1994, and $5,290 in               
          1995.  The net losses of Mr. Ogden and then petitioners were                
          $20,250 in 1993, $19,652 in 1994, and $19,692 in 1995.                      
               A series of losses during the initial stage of an activity             
          is not necessarily an indication that petitioners are not engaged           
          in the activity for profit.  Sec. 1.183-2(b)(6), Income Tax Regs.           
          However, if such losses continue beyond the period in which it is           
          customary for an activity to become profitable, then the losses,            
          if they are unexplainable, may be indicative of a lack of intent            
          to profit.  Id.  A series of years in which net income was                  
          realized would be strong evidence that the activity is for                  
          profit.  Id.  Petitioners had no such years in which net income             
          was realized.                                                               
               When we consider the financial status of the taxpayer,                 
          section 1.183-2(b)(8), Income Tax Regs, we find that petitioners'           




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