Melissa S. Spranger - Page 10




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          vehicles, including repairs, maintenance and actual travel                  
          expenses, totaled $7,402.  The marginal costs alone exceeded the            
          income from the activity by a factor of 12.                                 
               We are particularly influenced by petitioner's failure to              
          consider the extent of stud fees and puppy sales necessary to               
          cover not only the costs of operating the motor home and truck,             
          but the other expenses related to the activity as well.  She did            
          not develop a business plan, or prepare a break-even analysis.              
          Nor did she record the particular income earning history of any             
          of her dogs, so that the profit potential of the activity could             
          be better evaluated.  The following portion of petitioner's cross           
          examination demonstrates the complete lack of the type of                   
          planning that is indicative of an activity engaged in for profit:           
               Q. Prior to the time when you began deducting losses                   
               for your dog activity, did you ever prepare a business                 
               plan?                                                                  
               A.  No, sir.                                                           
               Q.  Between 1989 and -- well, until now, have you ever                 
               prepared any profit or loss statements other than a                    
               final tallying for your tax returns?                                   
               A.  No, sir.                                                           
               Q.  Did you ever prepare a break-even analysis or any                  
               projections of what you might have to earn to make a                   
               profit?                                                                
               A.  No.                                                                
               Q.  Did you prepare any budgets for the activity?                      
               A.  No, sir.                                                           
               Q.  Okay.  Just based upon your history of losses in                   
               the activity, how much would you have to earn this year                
               to make a profit on the activity as a whole?                           

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