The greyhound breeding business of a retired Internal Revenue Service auditor does not qualify for business deductions, according to a US tax court.

Ralph Whitecavage, an IRS auditor in Arizona for 21 years, was told by judge Michael Thornton that he was liable for thousands in dollars of understated tax.

'Any such defense appears especially problematic in the light of petitioner's employment as an IRS auditor,' judge Thornton said, reported WebCPA.

The judge also criticised Whitecavage's treatment of the dogs, of whom he 'lost' 20 greyhounds because of bad training methods by the trainers in the racing kennels.

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