BUSINESS - CORPORATIONS Flashcards
Corporations Defined
A form of business enterprise that is set up as a LEGAL ENTITY.
Its existence is distinct and SEPARATE from those who own and control it.
Types of Corporations (D, F, CH, PH, P)
Domestic Corporation
Foreign Corporation
Closely-held Corporation
Publicly-held Corporation
Public Corporation (Municipal Corporation)
Corporation Tax Classifications
C Corp
S Corp
Note: A Corporation can chose to be taxed as an S Corp, if it meets the rules of an S Corp
Every Corporation is incorporated in a State.
True or False?
True.
There are no National or U.S Corporations.
Advantages of Corporate Structure rather than being a Partnership or a Sole Proprietorship.
Separate Legal Entity
Limited Liability for the Shareholders.
Free transferability of ownership interests (Stock)
On-going life
Centralized Management
Single Taxation on Undistributed Corporate Income
No Mutual Agency
Ease of Capital Assembly
Disadvantages of Incorporating
Formal incorporation process, and ongoing reporting.
Governmental regulation - this differs from state to state.
Double taxation on distributed corporate income
Double Taxation on Distributed Income from a Corporation Explained
The Corp makes profit, and pays taxes on that profit.
The after-tax profit that is then distributed to shareholders are taxed again on the dividends received, at the shareholder level.
Corporate Formation
A PROMOTER is an individual who performs the activities necessary to form a corporation.
The entity usually has no liability for pre-incorporation contracts.
During the formation process, the promoter often enters into contracts on behalf of the Corp that still doesn’t exist.
So, the Corp can’t be part of the contracts the Promoter enters into, and therefore has no liability yet.
The liability rests with the promoter. There are exceptions…
Corporate Liability for Promoter’s Contracts
Exception 1: If a PRE-INCORPORATION contract contains a clause expressly negating the promoter’s liability, then the promoter will not be held liable.
Exception 2: If a corporation adopts a PRE-INCORPORATION contract or otherwise accepts the benefits of such a contract, then both the corporation and the promoter are liable.
Exception 3: If there is a NOVATION, then the corporation will be liable for pre-incorporation contracts.
Novation takes the name of the Promoter out of contracts made on behalf of the Corporation and replaces it with the Corp’s name.
Corporate Formation Example 01
Bruno is a PROMOTER of the Polytone Corporation. Bruno signed a contract with a CPA, and the contract provided that the CPA would provide accounting services to Polytone. At the time of contract formation, Bruno did not inform the CPA that the Polytone Corporation was not yet formed. Before Polytone’s official incorporation, the CPA performed accounting services, but he received no payment from either Bruno or Polytone.
If the CPA sues for damages, what will be the result?
BRUNO will be liable in his capacity as promoter.
ALTERNATELY, if the CPA also had performed services for Polytone one month after Polytone’s incorporation?
If the CPA had performed services for Polytone both before and after incorporation, then both BRUNO and POLYTONE would be liable for the breach.
This is because, by accepting the services of the attorney after incorporation, Polytone will have RATIFIED the pre-incorporation contract by accepting the services of the CPA.
Process of Incorporating
Corporations are formed under authority of STATE STATUES.
The intended corporation usually incorporates in the state where it intends to transact business.
States have their own rules, but in general States require an ARTICLE OF INCORPORATION (a Charter) to be filed with the State.
It is generally a standardized form.
Articles of Incorporation
The NAME of the Corporation.
Its PURPOSE and NATURE of its business.
The authorized NUMBER OF SHARES of capital stock that can be issued with a description of the various classes of such stock.
The amount of INDEBTEDNESS the corporation may incur.
The STREET ADDRESS of the corporation’s principal office.
A statement of the duties of the officers of the corporation.
The names and addresses of the original directors.
The name and address of the corporation’s REGISTERED AGENT for receiving service of process and other notices.
The length of the corporation’s life, which is usually perpetual (meaning forever).
Incorporators as well as the First Steps to form a Corporation
The individuals who sign the articles of incorporation are called the INCORPORATORS.
The incorporators elect the directors if the directors are not named in the articles.
The incorporators then RESIGN.
The DIRECTORS meet to:
- Complete the ORG STRUCTURE.
- Adopt BYLAWS
- ELECT OFFICERS
- Select the CORP BANK
- Adopt, ratify or reject PRE_INCORPORATION contracts.
- Adopt the FORM OF CERTIFICATE representing shares of the company’s stock
- COMPLY with requirements for doing business in other states.
- Adopt a CORPORATE SEAL
- Consider all other transactions necessary or appropriate for carrying on the business purpose
Defects in Corporation
Under common law, any entity that did not follow all the incorporation procedures would not become a corporation. However, since that is not the intention of anyone, there are 3 modes of a Corporation that avoids technicalities.
De Jure Corporation
Corporation by Estoppel
De Facto Corporation
Financing the Corporation - Debt
Bonds are DEBT SECURITIES issued by a corporation.
Debt investors have a right to repayment of the bond’s principal (corpus) and interest.
Financing the Corporation – EQUITY
Capital is the consideration a company receives in exchange for shares of its corporate stock.
Subscription Agreements are contracts for future purchases of shares of corporate stock at specified prices. The purchaser is known as a subscriber.
Pre-incorporation subscribers
Post-incorporation subscribers
Conditional subscription
Authorized Stock( Shares)
Stock that is authorized to be issued in the articles of incorporation.
This is the total number of shares that exist, the total number of shares that can be sold.
Issued Stock (Shares)
ISSUED STOCK is the portion of authorized stock that has actually been issued to shareholders.
Outstanding Stock(Shares)
Outstanding Stock is the portion of authorized stock that has actually been issued to and is still owned by outside shareholders.
The difference between Outstanding Stock and Issued Stock are Treasury Shares. Shares that were issued and outstanding, were bought back by the Company. Not currently held by outside shareholders.
Corporate Liabilities
A corporation is liable for the CONTRACTS of its employees and, in particular situations, for TORTS committed BY employees.
Piercing The Corp Veil
If a corporation is used as a vehicle to perpetrate fraud or commit some other act of malfeasance, then the courts can disregard (ignore) the corporation as a separate entity and instead hold individual shareholders or corporate officers liable for wrongdoing perpetrated by the corporation.
Common Situations where Piercing the Corp Veil is used.
FRAUDulently inducing someone into dealing with the corporation rather than the individual.
UNDERCAPITALIZATION - when the court determines that the amount of capital at the formation was not adequate.
COMMINGLING Personal and Corporate assets - contribute funds to better position oneself. For instance giving a loan rather than buy shares (a capital contribution).
FAILURE TO ACT as a corporation - example: if a subsidiary isn’t properly capitalized and it exists solely for the benefit of the parent company, the courts will treat the two entities as one and the parent company will be held liable for the debts of the subsidiary, even though only a shareholder of the subsidiary.
Transfers of Property for Stock
In a transfer of property in exchange for stock, no gain or loss recognized by either party if both:
The property is transferred SOLEY in exchange for stock (no boot), and
The new owner(s) are in CONTROL of the corporation (80% or more ownership).
Recognition of Gain with Boot
If the transferors receive something other than stock (called boot), a gain needs to be recognized by the transferor.
The amount of the gain is the difference between the FMV of what was received and the ADJUSTED BASIS of the property that was given up.
ASSUMPTION OF A LIABILITY by the Corp for Property (BOOT) being Contributed.
The ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES by a Corp results in a gain for the transferor only if the amount of the liabilities assumed by the Corp is greater than the transferors BASIS in the property that was contributed.
Shareholder’s Basis in Stock
Add the Adjusted Basis of the property transferred
+ Any gain recognized (only if boot was received)
- Any boot received
= Shareholder Basis in Shares Acquired
Corporation’s Basis in Property
Transferor’s adjusted basis
+ Any gain recognized by the transferor
= Corp’s Basis in Property
Earnings and Profit
The process of determining if a dividend is taxable or not taxable.
There are two types of E&P
- Current E and P and (CEP)
- Accumulated E and P. (AEP)
The dividends that are distributed from CEP or AEP are taxable.
Dividends that are not from E & P are considered a Return Of Capital, and is therefore not taxable and REDUCES THE BASIS of the shareholder.
Non E&P Dividends
If the dividend does not come from E&P, the dividend is considered a RETURN OF CAPITAL (non taxable) and reduces the basis of the stock of the shareholder.
You must know how to treat a dividend when there are different situations regarding the balances in current and accumulated E&P. Essentially, to the extent that there is E&P, the dividend is taxable.
CEP = $100
AEP = $100
Cash Dividend = $250
With these numbers, how much of the Dividend is Taxable and how much is a Tax Free Return Of Capital?
Total E & P is $200
Taxable Dividend = $200
Tax-free Dividend = $50
CEP = $100
AEP = ($200)
Cash Dividend = $150
With these numbers, how much of the Dividend is Taxable and how much is a Tax Free Return Of Capital?
Total E & P is $100
Taxable Dividend = $100 from CEP
Tax-free Dividend = $50
The taxable Dividend is $100 because CEP is ALWAYS FIRST, even though the AEP is negative.
CEP = ($100)
AEP = $200
Cash Dividend = $150
With these numbers, how much of the Dividend is Taxable and how much is a Tax Free Return Of Capital?
Total E & P is $100
Taxable Dividend = $100
Tax-free Dividend = $50
The taxable Dividend is $100 because the total E & P is $100, when the AEP and CEP are netted together.
CEP = ($100)
AEP = $200
Cash Dividend = $75
With these numbers, how much of the Dividend is Taxable and how much is a Tax Free Return Of Capital?
Total E & P is $100
Taxable Dividend = $75
Tax-free Dividend = $0
The taxable Dividend is $75 because the total E & P is $100, when the AEP and CEP are netted together, but the Dividend is only $75.
CEP = ($100)
AEP = $50
Cash Dividend = $75
With these numbers, how much of the Dividend is Taxable and how much is a Tax Free Return Of Capital?
Total E & P is ($50)
Taxable Dividend = $0
Tax-free Dividend = $75
The taxable Dividend is $0 because the total E & P is ($50 loss), when the AEP and CEP are netted together. This means there is 0 earnings to distribute.
The $75, then, is a Return of Capital.
Calculating CEP
CEP is calculated by making some adjustments to taxable income.
This is not a detailed calculation that you will need to make on the exam, but it is presented here to outline the differences between E&P and retained earnings.
Added to Taxable Income to get to CEP
Tax-exempt income
Capital losses not deducted
Keyman life insurance proceeds
Charitable contributions deduction carried forward
Percentage depletion
Accelerated depreciation greater than the straight-line amount
Deferred gain on installment sale
Intangible drilling costs deducted currently
Mine exploration and development costs
Subtracted from Taxable Income to get to CEP
Federal income taxes,
Loss on sale between related parties,
Keyman life insurance premiums, and
Charitable contributions from this period in excess of 10% limitation.
Non Cash Distribution to Shareholder
Generally, stock dividends are tax-free to the shareholder.
The corporation treats the distribution of property as if it were a sale. The Corp recognizes a gain in the year of distribution that is equal to the difference of the Basis and the FMV. This gain/loss goes into the CEP to determine if a distribution is taxable or not.
Property Dividends
When property dividends are distributed, the value used in the distribution for the shareholder is the fair market value of the property distributed, reduced by any liabilities assumed by the shareholder.
To the extent of E&P, the distribution is a dividend and is taxed (not a cash dividend). The amount of the distribution ABOVE the the value of the E&P is a tax free ROC to the investment account of the shareholder. If the distribution is more than the remaining investment account of the shareholder, the amount above is a CAPITAL GAIN.
When you get more back than what you’ve invested, it is a Capital Gain.
Shareholder Basis in Property
The shareholder’s tax basis for distributed property is the property’s FMV at date of distribution.
It’s NOT reduced by liabilities!
Redemptions and Liquidations
If a corporation buys back its own shares from the shareholders, the transaction is treated like a sale of the shares by the shareholder for tax purposes.
What are the 5 tests to determine if there is a Capital Gain or Loss on a (Sale) Redemption of Stock back to the Corp.
Only 1 of the 5 needs to be met.
The redemption is not essentially a dividend. A.K.A, if, as a result, you are less of a shareholder than you were before because one’s voting power, share in earnings, or the right to share in the distribution of assets has been reduced.
The redemption is disproportionate between shareholders.
All of the shareholder’s stock is redeemed.
The redemption is from a noncorporate shareholder in a partial liquidation.
The redemption is done to pay death taxes.
Partial or Complete Liquidation
In a partial liquidation, the entire gain of the shareholder is recognized as capital gain.
In a complete liquidation of a corporation, all of the corporation’s stock is redeemed.