Losses From Operating a Farm

If your deductible farm expenses are more than your farm income, you have a loss from the operation of your farm. The amount of the loss you can deduct when figuring your taxable income may be limited. To figure your deductible loss, you must apply the following limits.

1. The at-risk limits.
2. The passive activity limits.

The following discussions explain these limits.

If your deductible loss after applying these limits is more than your other income for the year, you may have a net operating loss. See Net Operating Losses, later.

If you do not carry on your farming activity to make a profit, your loss deduction may be limited by the not-for-profit rules. See Not-for-Profit Farming, later.

At-Risk Limits

The at-risk rules limit your deduction for losses from most business or income-producing activities, including farming. The at-risk rules limit the losses you can deduct when figuring your taxable income. The deductible loss from an activity is limited to the amount you have at risk in the activity.

You are at risk in any activity for:

1. The money and adjusted basis of property you contribute to the activity, and
2. Amounts you borrow for use in the activity if:
1. You are personally liable for repayment, or
2. You pledge property (other than property used in the activity) as security for the loan.

You are not at risk, however, for amounts you borrow for use in a farming activity from a person who has an interest in the activity (other than as a creditor) or a person related to someone (other than you) having such an interest.

For more information, see Publication 925.

Passive Activity Limits

A passive activity is generally any activity involving the conduct of any trade or business in which you do not materially participate. Generally, a rental activity is a passive activity.

If you have a passive activity, special rules limit the loss you can deduct in the tax year. You generally can deduct losses from passive activities only up to income from passive activities. Credits are similarly limited.

For more information, see Publication 925.

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