Michael Ferguson - Page 8

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          the activity is not the most significant aspect of the trade or             
          business analysis.  More important is the taxpayer’s actual or              
          honest objective of making a profit.  Keanini v. Commissioner, 94           
          T.C. 41, 46 (1990); Hulter v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 371, 392                
          (1988); Dreicer v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 642, 644-645 (1982),               
          affd. without published opinion 702 F.2d 1205 (D.C. Cir. 1983);             
          sec. 1.183-2(a), Income Tax Regs.                                           
               Although a reasonable expectation of a profit is not                   
          required, the taxpayer’s profit objective must be actual and                
          honest.  Dreicer v. Commissioner, supra at 645; sec. 1.183-2(a),            
          Income Tax Regs.  Whether a taxpayer has an actual and honest               
          profit objective is a question of fact to be answered from all              
          the relevant facts and circumstances.  Hulter v. Commissioner,              
          supra at 393; Hastings v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2002-310; sec.           
          1.183-2(a), Income Tax Regs.  Greater weight is given to                    
          objective facts than to a taxpayer’s mere statement of intent.              
          Dreicer v. Commissioner, supra at 645; sec. 1.183-2(a), Income              
          Tax Regs.  The taxpayer bears the burden of establishing he or              
















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