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.
- The at-risk limits.
- 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:
- The money and adjusted basis of property you contribute to
the activity, and
- Amounts you borrow for use in the activity if:
- You are personally liable for repayment, or
- 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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