-28- unprofitable. Sec. 1.183-2(b)(5), Income Tax Regs. A taxpayer’s success in other, unrelated activities also may indicate a profit objective. See Daugherty v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1983-188 (taxpayer’s diligence, initiative, foresight, and other qualities that generally lead to success in other business activities indicate taxpayer had a profit motive for activity at issue). Petitioners are both extremely successful individuals. Petitioners grew CFI, the company they founded, into an organization with over $300 million in sales at its peak. As majority owners of CFI, petitioners were responsible for overseeing every aspect of the business, including marketing, design, coordinating production, employee relations, and numerous other activities. Petitioners also have been engaged in several other businesses. For example, Mr. Rabinowitz was involved in a movie business with Ms. Harrah. At the time of trial, petitioners co-owned a women’s apparel design and import firm called Studio CL. The fact that petitioners grew CFI into such a large organization and have considerable experience in various business endeavors is evidence of petitioners’ ample business experience and skills they brought to their jet charter activity. See id. This factor favors finding petitioners operated the jet charter activity for profit. 6. The Taxpayer’s History of Income or Loss With Respect to the Activity We next examine petitioners’ history of income or loss with respect to the jet charter activity. A history of substantial losses may indicate that the taxpayer did not conduct thePage: Previous 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011