Why is the label “nontaxable exchange” a misnomer?
> Identify the reasons why individual taxpayers benefit more from above-the-line deductions than from itemized deductions.
> Discuss possible tax policy reasons why individuals who are age 65 or older receive an additional standard deduction.
> University K is located in a small town that depends on real property taxes for revenue. Over the past decade, University K has expanded by purchasing a number of commercial buildings and personal residences and converting them to classrooms and dormitor
> Explain why AGI is considered a better measure of individual disposable income than taxable income.
> Ms. Jobe has been very ill since the beginning of the year and unable to attend to any financial matters. Her CPA advised that she request an automatic extension of time to file her prior year Form 1040. Ms. Jobe likes this idea because she believes the
> Congress enacted the earned income credit to relieve the burden of the payroll tax on low-income workers. Why didn’t Congress accomplish this goal by providing a payroll tax exemption for a base amount of annual compensation paid by an employer to an emp
> The tax law provides for both refundable and nonrefundable credits. What is the difference between the two types of credit?
> On May 12, 2018, Nelson Inc. purchased eight passenger automobiles for its business. Nelson did not make a Section 179 election to expense any portion of the cost of the automobiles, which are five year recovery property subject to the half-year conventi
> Explain why an individual’s combined standard deduction can be considered a bracket of income taxed at a zero rate.
> Discuss the extent to which adjusted gross income (AGI) is actually a net income number.
> What is the purpose of a bilateral income tax treaty between two countries?
> Distinguish between a home country and a host country in the international tax context.
> In what situation would a multistate business deliberately create nexus with a state so that the state has jurisdiction to tax a portion of the business income?
> Borden Inc. conducts a business that spans four states. Its total income for the year was $32 million. However, the total of the taxable incomes reported on Borden’s four state income tax returns was $34.8 million. Discuss the possible reasons for such a
> Many local jurisdictions apply a low property tax rate to land owned by privately operated golf courses. What is the economic justification for such a preferential rate?
> Does the federal government require states to use a three-factor formula to apportion the income of an interstate business for state income tax purposes?
> Distinguish between the concepts of physical presence nexus and economic nexus.
> In what situation is the United States a tax haven for an international business operation?
> Assuming a 21 percent tax rate, compute the after-tax cost of the following business expenditures: a. $20,000 cost of equipment subject to Section 179 election. b. $17,500 business expansion costs. c. $125,000 cost of land held for investment. d. $34,500
> Firm H operates its business in State H, which levies a 6 percent sales and use tax. This year, the firm purchased a $600,000 item of tangible property in State K and paid $18,000 sales tax to the state. It also purchased a $750,000 item of tangible prop
> Why does a corporation’s state income tax cost depend on its marginal income tax rate for federal purposes?
> BNC, a closely held corporation, was organized in 1987. To date, it has accumulated more than $10 million after-tax income. This year, BNC’s taxable income is $750,000, and its federal tax is $255,000. Describe two different ways that BNC can avoid expos
> Ms. Johnson is eager to create a family partnership to generate income and cash flow for her three college-aged children. She owns two businesses, either of which could be organized as a partnership. Ms. Johnson established the first business 15 years ag
> Mr. and Mrs. Barnes own a fast-food restaurant that generates $160,000 average annual income. The couple wants to shift some of this income to their two children, ages 19 and 22. Can Mr. and Mrs. Barnes organize their restaurant as a family partnership a
> Why are publicly held corporations such as General Motors generally immune from the accumulated earnings tax?
> Describe the FICA payroll tax implications when the IRS classifies a portion of a salary payment to a shareholder/employee as a constructive dividend.
> Mr. and Mrs. Velotta are self-employed professional musicians. Their average annual income from performance fees and music lessons is $130,000. The couple wants to shift income to their two children, ages 19 and 22. Can Mr. and Mrs. Velotta organize thei
> Why is real property a better tax base than personal property?
> In your own words, explain why a tax credit is more valuable than a tax deduction of the same dollar amount.
> Corporations are required to detail their book/tax differences on either Schedule M-1 or Schedule M-3 attached to the corporate income tax return. Why is the IRS interested in this information?
> AP constructed a new manufacturing plant for a total cost of $9,465,000 and placed it in service on March 2. To finance the construction, AP took out a $6 million, 30-year mortgage on the property. Compute AP’s MACRS depreciation for the manufacturing pl
> Libretto Corporation owns a national chain of retail music stores. The corporation wants to expand into a new, extremely competitive, and highly specialized business—the composition and production of rock music videos. Can you identify any nontax reasons
> RP Inc. owns 59 percent of QV’s voting stock. RP’s board of directors elects the majority of the members of QV’s board of directors and thereby controls QV’s management. Are RP and QV an affiliated group eligible to file a consolidated corporate tax retu
> Mr. and Mrs. Dane and their six children own 100 percent of the stock in three family corporations. Do these corporations qualify as an affiliated group eligible to file a consolidated corporate tax return?
> In your own words, explain the conclusion that corporations do not pay tax—people do.
> To what extent does the corporate characteristic of limited liability protect shareholders employees who perform professional services for corporate clients?
> Why is only half of a sole proprietor’s self-employment tax deductible in the computation of taxable income?
> Define the tax base for the self-employment tax. When do sole proprietors pay the self-employment tax to the federal government?
> This year, Firm Q, a cash basis taxpayer, remitted $26,800 FICA payroll tax to the federal government. However, the firm deducted only $13,400 FICA tax on its income tax return. Can you explain this apparent inconsistency?
> A local government imposed a new 2 percent tax on the gross receipts of businesses operating within its jurisdiction. XYZ Company, which manufactures soap and other toiletries, responded to the tax by reducing the size of its bars of soap and purchasing
> This year, Mr. Pitt’s sole proprietorship generated a $17,000 net loss. Can Mr. Pitt use this loss as a net operating loss carry forward deduction?
> Ryland Company, a calendar year taxpayer, purchased commercial realty for $2 million and allocated $200,000 cost to the land and $1.8 million cost to the building. Ryland placed the real estate in service on May 21. a. Compute Ryland’s MACRS depreciation
> Mrs. Liu owns a business as a sole proprietor. Near the end of her taxable year, she is evaluating a new opportunity that would generate $25,000 additional income for her business. What marginal tax rate should Mrs. Liu use to compute the tax cost of thi
> Under what conditions can the destruction of property by casualty or theft result in an economic loss but a realized gain?
> Company W exchanged the following assets for Blackacre, investment land worth $2 million. Does Company W recognize any gain on this exchange? Company W's Basis EMV Real property used in Company W's business $800,000 $1,750,000 Marketable securities
> Firm Q, a real estate broker, exchanged 16 acres of land for a commercial warehouse owned by Company M. Company M, a light industrial business, plans to hold the land as a long-term investment. Is this exchange nontaxable to Firm Q and Company M?
> Is the substituted basis of the qualifying property received in a nontaxable exchange more or less than the cost of that property?
> In a nontaxable exchange, do the tax consequences to one party in any way depend on the tax consequences to the other party?
> In a nontaxable exchange between unrelated parties, are the amounts realized by the parties always equal?
> This year, Firm B recognized a $100,000 capital gain on the sale of investment land. Toward the end of the year, the firm plans to sell stock from its investment portfolio to generate a $100,000 capital loss. It has two blocks of stock that are candidate
> In what circumstance is the before-tax cost of an expenditure equal to its after-tax cost?
> Suber Inc., a calendar year taxpayer, purchased equipment for $800,000 and placed it in service on March 1. Suber’s chief engineer determined that the equipment had an estimated useful life of 120 months and a $50,000 residual value. For financial statem
> Why doesn’t Congress extend the wash sale rule to apply to realized gains?
> Does the characterization of gain or loss as either ordinary or capital have any effect on the computation of net income per books?
> For tax purposes, what is the difference between a sale of property and an exchange of property?
> Firm F’s adjusted basis in operating asset A is $75,000. If the firm carries $75,000 of property insurance on this asset, is it adequately protected against risk of loss?
> Does a taxpayer always realize a loss on the involuntary disposition of property because of a casualty or a theft?
> Mr. K realized a loss on the sale of an asset to Mr. P, his best friend for 20 years. Does this sale represent an arm’s-length transaction? Are Mr. K and Mr. P related parties for tax purposes?
> BBB Company, which manufactures industrial plastics, owns the following assets. Characterize each asset as either a capital, ordinary, or Section 1231 asset. a. A computer system used in BBB’s main office. b. A 50 percent interest in a business partnersh
> If the tax law did not allow farming businesses to deduct soil and water conservation expenditures but required capitalization of these costs, in what year or years would farmers recover these costs?
> Can a firm have a negative tax basis in an asset?
> To what extent do cost recovery deductions based on the capitalized cost of a tangible asset reflect a decline in the economic value of that asset?
> Erwin Company, a calendar year taxpayer, made only two purchases of depreciable personality this year. The first purchase was five-year recovery property costing $312,800, and the second purchase was seven-year recovery property costing $574,000. Compute
> National governments have the authority to print their own currency. Why might governments be reluctant to finance an operating deficit (excess of spending over revenues) simply by printing more money?
> Discuss the relationship between cost recovery deductions and cash flows.
> Assume that Congress enacted legislation requiring firms to capitalize advertising costs and amortize them over 20 years. Discuss the potential effects of such legislation on the amount of advertising that firms purchase and the price that advertising co
> Under what circumstances is percentage depletion not a true cost recovery deduction?
> Firm W and Firm X both have goodwill and going-concern value worth approximately $1 million. However, only Firm X reports an amortization deduction with respect to its goodwill and going-concern value on its tax return. Can you explain this difference in
> Describe the difference in tax treatment between start-up costs of a new business and expansion costs of an existing business.
> Firm O purchased two items of business personality this year. The first item cost $35,000 and has a five-year recovery period, and the second item cost $61,500 and has a seven-year recovery period. Firm O wants to make the Section 179 election for one of
> Why do the MACRS tables published by the IRS incorporate a depreciation convention for the first year during an asset’s recovery period but not for the year of disposition?
> What is the purpose of the MACRS half-year, mid quarter, and midmonth conventions?
> How is the principle of conservatism reflected in the tax law’s premise concerning the deductibility of business expenditures?
> Knute Company purchased only one asset during its calendar taxable year. The asset cost $650,000 and has a three-year recovery period. Compute MACRS depreciation with respect to this asset over the recovery period assuming that: a. The asset was placed i
> Firm NB, which uses the cash method of accounting, recently received two cases of French wine from a client in settlement of a $1,300 bill. Does Firm NB avoid income recognition because it received a noncash item as payment?
> Identify three ways that governments can alter their tax system to increase revenues.
> Describe the book/tax difference resulting from each of the following transactions: a. Firm A spent $430 on a business dinner attended by the firm’s vice president and a potential client. b. Firm B borrowed $50,000 and invested the loan proceeds in tax e
> Corporation DB operates three different lines of business. Can the corporation elect a different overall method of accounting for each line, or must the corporation adopt one overall method?
> Net operating losses can be carried forward indefinitely. Why would a taxpayer prefer to use such losses sooner rather than later?
> Discuss the various circumstances in which a firm is required to prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
> Firm LK bought a warehouse of used furniture to equip several of its clerical offices. An employee discovered a cache of gold coins in a desk drawer. A local court declared Firm LK the rightful owner of the coins, which have a $72,000 fair market value (
> Tax planners often tell their clients that “a tax delayed is a tax not paid.” Can you provide a more formal explanation of this bit of wisdom?
> Corporation P owns a controlling stock interest in Subsidiary S and Subsidiary T. Corporation P’s marginal tax rate is 21 percent. It engages in one transaction that shifts $10,000 income to Subsidiary S and a second transaction that shifts a $15,000 ded
> On the basis of the discussion in this chapter and the rates schedules in Appendix C, determine the marginal tax rate for: a. A corporation with $23,000 taxable income. b. A corporation with $250,000 taxable income. c. A single (unmarried) individual wit
> Herelt Inc., a calendar year taxpayer, purchased equipment for $383,600 and placed it in service on April 1, 2018. The equipment was seven-year recovery property, and Herelt used the half-year convention to compute MACRS depreciation. a. Compute Herelt’s
> Is every business organization a taxable entity for federal income tax purposes? Explain briefly.
> Assume that Congress amends the tax law to provide for a maximum 18 percent rate on rental income generated by single-family residences. What effect might this preferential rate have on the market value of this category of real estate?
> Mrs. K is about to begin a new business activity and asks you if she can reduce taxable income by operating the activity as a corporation rather than as a sole proprietorship. How do you answer Mrs. K?
> Which assumption about the tax consequences of a future transaction is more uncertain: an assumption based on a provision that has been in the Internal Revenue Code for 25 years or an assumption based on a provision that Congress added to the Code 2 year
> Corporation N must decide between two opportunities that will generate different cash flows over a five-year period. Describe the circumstances in which the tax cost of the opportunities is a neutral factor in the corporation’s decision-making process.
> Ms. P is considering investing $20,000 in a new business. She projects that this investment should generate $3,000 income each year. In estimating her tax on this future income stream, should Ms. P use her marginal or her average tax rate?
> Firm A and Firm Z are in the same business. Both firms considered spending $10,000 for the same reason. The expenditure would be deductible for both firms. Firm A decided that the expenditure was worthwhile and spent the money, but Firm Z rejected the ex
> Does the after-tax cost of a deductible expense increase or decrease as the taxpayer’s marginal income tax rate increases?
> Firm F is negotiating to purchase a multimillion-dollar computer system from the manufacturer. Under applicable state law, Firm F is exempt from sales tax on the purchase. Because the manufacturer discovered this fact, it increased its selling price for
> Identify two reasons why a firm’s actual marginal tax rate for a year could differ from the projected marginal tax rate for that year.
> Firm J purchased a depreciable business asset for $62,500. Assuming the firm uses the half-year convention, compute its first-year MACRS depreciation if the asset is: a. A land irrigation system. b. Duplicating equipment. c. An oceangoing barge. d. Small
> The U.S. Congress has occasionally considered enacting a federal tax on the sale of consumer goods and services. This national sales tax would be in addition to any state and local sales tax. Would this new source of federal revenue affect the revenues o
> A city government increased its local sales tax from 1 percent to 2 percent of the dollar value of consumer goods purchased in the city. However, the city’s sales tax revenues increased by only 30 percent after the doubling of the tax rate. What factors
> Mrs. King is a shareholder in TK, an S corporation. What fact would be the strongest indicator that she materially participates in TK’s business?
> What is the logic for the presumption that a limited interest in a business partnership is a passive activity?
