Newton, a business owner, signed a ten-year lease beginning in July of 2017 and immediately paid rent for the remainder of 2017, all of 2018, and all of 2019. How much of the rent paid at the lease signing can be declared as a business expense on Schedule C of Newton’s 2017 tax return?

a. All of it

b. The July 2017–June 2018 portion only

c. None of it

d. The 2017 portion only