Question & Answer

Dejan owns stock in two S corporations, Blue and Green. He actively participates in the management of Blue but maintains ownership in Green only as a passive investor.  Dejan has no other business investments.  Both Blue and Green anticipate a loss this year, and Dejan’s basis in his stock of both corporations is $0. All else equal, if Dejan plans on making a capital contribution to at least one of the corporations this year, to which firm should he contribute in order to increase his chances of deducting the loss allocated to him from the entity?  Why?

What is a variable-interest entity?

What price should be used when there is such a distortion?

Laura Li, a U.S. resident, works for three months this summer in China.  What type of tax authority may be especially useful in determining the tax consequences of her foreign income?

What is self-assembly in nanofabrication?

What determines whether someone is considered a tax return preparer?

Lexington Corporation’s weekly payroll of $24,000 included FICA taxes withheld of $1,836, federal taxes withheld of $2,990, state taxes withheld of $920, and insurance premiums withheld of $250. Prepare the journal entry to record Lexington’s payroll.

Janelle and Lori were divorced in 2016.  Pursuant to the divorce decree, Janelle receives $10,000 of alimony each month.  Use an available tax service to determine if the alimony Janelle receives is taxable. Would your answer change if Janelle and Lori still live together?

Where can authoritative IFRS related to the statement of cash flows be found?

Distinguish between the following interest rates for bonds payable: (a) Yield rate. (d) Market rate. (b) Nominal rate. (e) Effective rate. (c) Stated rate.

Sasha owes additional tax imposed in a recent audit.  In addition to the tax, will they be assessed other amounts?  If so, how will these amounts be determined?

According to rational choice theory, the money you’ve already spent – known as ‘sunk costs’ (see page 161) – should be excluded from decision making. However, there is considerable evidence that it does affect consumer behaviour. Using loss aversion, can you explain why this might be the case.

What are the three methods of performing the masking step in chemical machining?

What are some of the principal applications of cemented carbides, such as WC-Co?

Laurie is thinking about investing in one or several of the following investment options:   • Corporate bonds (ordinary interest paid annually) • Dividend-paying stock (qualified dividends) • Life insurance (tax-exempt) • Savings account • Growth stock   a) Assuming all of the options earn similar returns before taxes, rank Laurie’s investment options from highest to lowest according to their after-tax returns.   b) Which of the investments employ the deferral and/or conversion tax planning strategies?   c) How does the time period of the investment affect the returns from these alternatives?   d) How do these alternative investments differ in terms of their nontax characteristics?

What is dip brazing?

If the federal government planned to expand the space program, how might this change affect interest rates? (LO1)

Two accountants for the firm of Elwes and Wright are arguing about the merits of presenting an income statement in a multiple-step versus a single-step format. The discussion involves the following 2014 information related to P. Bride Company ($000 omitted). Administrative expense Offi cers’ salaries $ 4,900 Depreciation of offi ce furniture and equipment 3,960 Cost of goods sold 60,570 Rent revenue 17,230 Selling expense Delivery expense 2,690 Sales commissions 7,980 Depreciation of sales equipment 6,480 Sales revenue 96,500 Income tax 9,070 Interest expense 1,860 Instructions (a) Prepare an income statement for the year 2014 using the multiple-step form. Common shares outstanding for 2014 total 40,550 (000 omitted). (b) Prepare an income statement for the year 2014 using the single-step form. (c) Which one do you prefer? Discuss.

Gator Inc. reported taxable income of $1,000,000 this year and paid federal income taxes of $210,000. Included in the company’s computation of taxable income is gain from the sale of a depreciable asset of $50,000. The income tax basis of the asset was $100,000. The E&P basis of the asset using the alternative depreciation system was $175,000. Compute Gator’s current E&P.

Of what use is the statement of cash flows?

Lincoln Brown has used a piece of land in their business for the past five years. The land qualifies as §1231 property. It is unclear whether Lincoln will have to recognize a gain or loss when they eventually sell the asset. Lincoln asks their accountant how the gain or loss would be characterized if they decide to sell. The accountant says that selling §1231 assets gives sellers “the best of both worlds.” Explain what the accountant means by this statement.

Should the Fed have the power to provide assistance to firms, such as Bear Stearns, that are not commercial banks? (LO5)

Once equipment has been installed and placed in operation, subsequent expenditures relating to this equipment are frequently thought of as repairs or general maintenance and, hence, chargeable to operations in the period in which the expenditure is made. Actually, determination of whether such anexpenditure should be charged to operations or capitalized involves a much more careful analysis of the character of the expenditure. What are the factors that should be considered in making such a decision? Discuss fully.

Clyde is a cash method taxpayer who reports on a calendar-year basis.  This year Paylate Corporation has decided to pay Clyde a year-end bonus of $1,000.  Determine the amount Clyde should include in his gross income this year under the following circumstances: a.       Paylate Corporation wrote the check and put it in his office mail slot on December 30 of this year, but Clyde did not bother to stop by the office to pick it up until after year-end. b.       Paylate Corporation mistakenly wrote the check for $100.  Clyde received the remaining $900 after year-end. c.       Paylate Corporation mailed the check to Clyde before the end of the year, (and it was delivered before year-end). Although Clyde expected the bonus payment, he decided not to collect his mail until after year-end. d.       Clyde picked up the check in December, but the check could not be cashed immediately because it was postdated January 10.

How would a redistribution of income to the powerful be likely to affect GNY?