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Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 2] 04, Hobby vs Business — Activity for Profit Test
Published 4 weeks, 1 day ago
Description
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
- The IRS uses a nine-factor test under §183 to determine if an activity is a business or a hobby.
- An activity is presumed to be for-profit if it shows a profit in at least 3 of the last 5 consecutive years.
- The profit motive presumption for horse-related activities is 2 profitable years out of the last 7 years.
- Hobby income is reported on Schedule 1, but related expenses are non-deductible for individuals through 2025 due to TCJA.
- Meeting the profit presumption shifts the burden of proof to the IRS but does not guarantee business classification.
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