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26 CFR § 1.182-2 - Definition of “the business of farming.”

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t26/s1.182-2"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "26 CFR § 1.182-2 - Definition of “the business of farming.”"
title_number: 26
title_name: "Internal Revenue"
section_number: "1.182-2"
section_name: "Definition of “the business of farming.”"
chapter_name: "INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "INCOME TAX"
part_number: "1"
part_name: "INCOME TAXES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "26 U.S.C. 7805, unless otherwise noted."
regulatory_source: "T.D. 6500, 25 FR 11402, Nov. 26, 1960; 25 FR 14021, Dec. 21, 1960; T.D. 9989, 89 FR 17606, Mar. 11, 2024, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1"
---

# 1.182-2 Definition of “the business of farming.”

Under section 182, the election to deduct expenditures incurred in the clearing of land is applicable only to a taxpayer who is engaged in “the business of farming” during the taxable year. A taxpayer is engaged in the business of farming if he cultivates, operates, or manages a farm for gain or profit, either as owner or tenant. For purposes of section 182, a taxpayer who receives a rental (either in cash or in kind) which is based upon farm production is engaged in the business of farming. However, a taxpayer who receives a fixed rental (without reference to production) is engaged in the business of farming only if he participates to a material extent in the operation or management of the farm. A taxpayer engaged in forestry or the growing of timber is not thereby engaged in the business of farming. A person cultivating or operating a farm for recreation or pleasure rather than for profit is not engaged in the business of farming. For purposes of section 182 and this section, the term *farm* is used in its ordinary, accepted sense and includes stock, dairy, poultry, fish, fruit, and truck farms, and also plantations, ranches, ranges, and orchards. A fish farm is an area where fish are grown or raised, as opposed to merely caught or harvested; that is, an area where they are artificially fed, protected, cared for, etc. A taxpayer is engaged in “the business of farming” if he is a member of a partnership engaged in the business of farming. See § 1.702-1.

[T.D. 6794, 30 FR 790, Jan. 26, 1965]