Question & Answer

Once they’ve computed their taxable income, how do taxpayers determine their regular tax liability?  What additional steps must taxpayers take to compute their tax liability when they have preferentially taxed income?

Assume the same facts as in the previous problem but that Betty and Barney are not getting along and have separated due to marital discord (although they are not legally separated). In fact, they cannot even stand to talk to each other anymore and communicate only through their accountant. Betty wants to argue that she should not be treated as owning any of Barney’s stock in Bedrock because of their hostility towards each other. Can family hostility be used as an argument to void the family attribution rules?  Consult Rev. Rul. 80-26; Robin Haft Trust v. Comm’r, 510 F.2d 43 (1st Cir. 1975);

Fatima pays $120,000 cash for Brittany’s one-third interest in the Westlake Partnership. Just prior to the sale, Brittany’s basis in Westlake is $96,000. Westlake reports the following balance sheet: Assets: Tax Basis FMV Cash $ 96,000 $ 96,000 Land 192,000 264,000    Totals $ 288,000 $ 360,000 Liabilities and capital: Capital- Amy 96,000 - Brittany 96,000 - Ben 96,000   Totals $ 288,000 a. What are the amount and character of Brittany’s recognized gain or loss on the sale? b. What is Fatima’s basis in her partnership interest? What is Fatima’s inside basis? c. If Westlake were to sell the land for $264,000 shortly after the sale of Brittany’s partnership interest, how much gain or loss would the partnership recognize? d. How much gain or loss would Fatima recognize if the land were sold for 264,000? e. Suppose Westlake has a §754 election in place. What is Fatima’s special basis adjustment? How much gain or loss would Fatima recognize on a subsequent sale of the land in this situation?

Explain how the probability distribution of a financial institution’s returns is affected when it uses interest rate futures to hedge. What does this imply about its risk? (LO2)

The Bank of Japan desires to decrease the value of the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar. How could it use direct intervention to achieve this goal? (LO2)

Conlin Corporation had the following tax information. Year Taxable Income Tax Rate Taxes Paid 2012 $300,000 35% $105,000 2013 $325,000 30% $ 97,500 2014 $400,000 30% $120,000 In 2015, Conlin suffered a net operating loss of $480,000, which it elected to carry back. The 2015 enacted tax rate is 29%. Prepare Conlin’s entry to record the effect of the loss carryback.

} Dennis is currently considering investing in municipal bonds that earn 6 percent interest, or in taxable bonds issued by the Coca-Cola Company that pay 8 percent.  If Dennis’ tax rate is 20 percent, which bond should he choose?  Which bond should he choose if his tax rate is 30 percent?  At what tax rate would he be indifferent between the bonds?  What strategy is this decision based upon?

1.       : Why is self-awareness important for being a good manager? Can you think of some specific negative consequences that might result from a manager with low self-awareness?

Compute SWK Inc.’s tax liability for each of the following scenarios:

] Lionel is an unmarried law student at State University Law School, a qualified educational institution. This year Lionel borrowed $24,000 from County Bank and paid interest of $1,440. Lionel used the loan proceeds to pay his law school tuition. Calculate the amounts Lionel can deduct for interest on higher education loans under the following circumstances: a. Lionel’s AGI before deducting interest on higher education loans is $50,000. b. Lionel’s AGI before deducting interest on higher education loans is $89,000. c. Lionel’s AGI before deducting interest on higher education loans is $100,000.

Pam has a $27,000 basis (including her share of debt) in her 50 percent partnership interest in the Meddoc Partnership before receiving any distributions. This year Meddoc makes a current distribution to Pam of a parcel of land with a $40,000 fair market value and a $32,000 basis to the partnership. The land is encumbered with a $15,000 mortgage (the partnership’s only liability). a. What are the amount and character of Pam’s recognized gain or loss? b. What is Pam’s basis in the land? c. What is Pam’s remaining basis in her partnership interest?

Rolando purchases a golf cart from his employer, E-Z-Go Golf Carts, for a sizable discount. Explain the rules for determining if Rolando’s purchase results in taxable income for him.

Describe a defined-benefit pension plan. Describe a defined-contribution plan and explain how it differs from a defined-benefit plan. (LO1)

Presented below are four independent situations. (a) On December 31, 2014, Zarle Inc. sold computer equipment to Daniell Co. and immediately leased it back for 10 years. The sales price of the equipment was $520,000, its carrying amount is $400,000, and its estimated remaining economic life is 12 years. Determine the amount of deferred revenue to be reported from the sale of the computer equipment on December 31, 2014. (b) On December 31, 2014, Wasicsko Co. sold a machine to Cross Co. and simultaneously leased it back for one year. The sale price of the machine was $480,000, the carrying amount is $420,000, and it had an estimated remaining useful life of 14 years. The present value of the rental payments for the one  year is $35,000. At December 31, 2014, how much should Wasicsko report as deferred revenue from the sale of the machine? (c) On January 1, 2014, McKane Corp. sold an airplane with an estimated useful life of 10 years. At the same time, McKane leased back the plane for 10 years. The sales price of the airplane was $500,000, the carrying amount $379,000, and the annual rental $73,975.22. McKane Corp. intends to depreciate the leased asset using the sum-of-the-years’-digits depreciation method. Discuss how the gain on the sale should be reported at the end of 2014 in the financial statements. (d) On January 1, 2014, Sondgeroth Co. sold equipment with an estimated useful life of 5 years. At the same time, Sondgeroth leased back the equipment for 2 years under a lease classified as an operating lease. The sales price (fair value) of the equipment was $212,700, the carrying amount is $300,000, the monthly rental under the lease is $6,000, and the present value of the rental payments is $115,753. For the year ended December 31, 2014, determine which items would be reported on its income statement for the sale-leaseback transaction.

In what ways are the inventory accounts of a retailing company different from those of a manufacturing company?

Under what circumstances would a taxpayer who generates a loss from renting a home that is not a residence be able to fully deduct the loss? What potential limitations apply?

The strength coefficient and strain-hardening exponent of a certain test metal are 40,000 lb/in2 and 0.19, respectively. A cylindrical specimen of the metal with starting diameter = 2.5 in and length = 3.0 in is compressed to a length of 1.5 in. Determine the flow stress at this compressed length and the average flow stress that the metal has experienced during deformation

1.       : Imagine yourself as a potential member of a team responsible for designing a new package for a breakfast cereal. Do you think interpersonal skills would be equally important if the team is organized to interact on a face-to-face basis versus as a virtual team? Why or why not? Might different types of interpersonal skills be required for the two types of teams? Be specific.

1.      Broken Rock LLC was recently formed with the following members: Name Tax Year-End Capital/Profits % George Allen December 31 33.33% Elanax Corp. June 30 33.33% Elizabeth Cheam December 31 33.34% What is the required taxable year-end for Broken Rock LLC?

Wood Corporation was a C corporation in 2023 but elected to be taxed as an S corporation in 2024.  At the end of 2023, its earnings and profits were $15,500.  The following table reports Wood Corp.’s (taxable) income for 2024 (its first year as an S corporation).   Wood Corporation Income Statement December 31, 2024 Sales revenue $150,000 Cost of goods sold (35,000) Salary to owners (60,000) Employee wages (50,000) Depreciation expense (4,000) Miscellaneous expenses (4,000) Interest income 8,000 Qualified dividend income 2,000 Overall net income $7,000   What is Wood Corporation’s excess net passive income tax for 2024?

Compare and contrast §1245 recapture and §1250 recapture.

In what ways might the views of different politicians on what constitutes a ‘good’ tax system conflict?

How is compensation expense computed using the fair value approach?

What is a variable-interest entity?

What is the definition of fair value?