Morton Frank v. Commission

Brief Fact Summary. Petitioners incurred travel and legal expenses in pursuing their goal of owning and operating a newspaper. They attempted to deducted these expenses as business expenses.

Synopsis of Rule of Law. Ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with a trade or business may be deducted.

Facts. Petitioners, Morton and Agnes Frank, filed a joint income tax return as husband and wife for 1946. Morton Frank was interested in buying and operating a newspaper and Petitioners began traveling to look at newspaper and radio properties throughout the country. The travel expenses reviewing newspaper properties exceeded $5,000. They also incurred $1000 in legal fees for an unsuccessful negotiation to purchase a newspaper.

Issue. Are Petitioners entitled to deduct traveling expenses and legal fess?

Held. Judge Van Fossan issued the opinion for the Tax Court in holding that Petitioners may not deduct the expense because they were not incurred in connection with a trade or business.

Discussion. The expenses were preparatory in nature and not related to a current business. The rule contemplates an existing business, not a contemplated one.