Corporate Taxation Flashcards
How is shareholder basis calculated for a new interest in a Corporation?
Adjusted basis of property transferred + Gain recognized (if less than 80% ownership) - Boot received = Shareholder basis. If shareholders have 80% control after a property transfer, no taxable event occurs. If liabilities exceed basis on contributed property to a Corporation, a gain is recognized.
How is shareholder basis calculated for a TRANSFEROR of an interest in a Corporation?
Transferor’s basis
+ Gain recognized by shareholder
= Basis
OR
FMV of Corporate Interest
- Adjusted basis of property
= Gain
What basis do shareholders and Corporations use for property?
They both use ADJUSTED BASIS, NOT FMV of property.
Describe how loss is taken on Section 1244 small business Corporation stock?
A loss on worthless stock is an ordinary loss.
What are the requirements for taking an ordinary loss on Section 1244 small business Corporation stock?
Taxpayer must be original stock owner, and either an individual or partnership
$50k (single) or $100k (MFJ) limit - remainder is a capital loss
Must have been issued in exchange for money or property (not exchanged for services)
Shareholder equity must not be in excess of $1 million
Both common and preferred stock is allowed
What are the basic rules for filing a form 1120?
Return is due regardless of income level
Return is due 3/15 if on a calendar year basis, or 2 1/2 months after end of fiscal year
An automatic six-month extension is available
When are Corporate federal tax estimated payments required, and how are they calculated?
Required if more than $500 in tax liability expected, or
100% current year liability
100% previous year liability
Note: If Corporation had more than $1 Million in revenue the previous year, the first estimated payment must be based on the previous year and the remainder based on the current year.
Describe the AMT calculation for C-Corporations
Taxable Income \+Tax Preference Items \+/- Adjustments = Pre-ACE \+/- ACE Adjustments = AMTI - 40,000 Exemption = Tax Base x 20% = Tentative Minimum Tax - Regular Tax Liability = AMT
What are the pre-ACE adjustments for C-Corporation tax AMT calculations?
Real Estate purchased between 1986 and 1999 using Straight Line Depreciation must depreciate over a useful life of 40 years
Personal Property - use 150% MACRS, not 200%
Construction must use % completion method
What are the ACE adjustments in the C-Corporation AMT tax calculation?
Municipal Bond Interest
Life Insurance Proceeds
70% Dividends Received Deduction
Organizational Expenditures must be capitalized, not amortized
Note: AMT paid gets carried forward indefinitely, but never carried back
When are C-Corporations exempt from AMT?
In year one
In year two, if year one gross receipts were less than $5 Million
In year three, if the average gross receipts for years 1 and 2 were less than $7.5 Million
In year four and beyond, if the average from the previous 3 years is less than $7.5 Million
How are gains and losses handled with respect to a Corporation’s transactions involving its own stock?
Corporations have no gain/(loss) from transactions involving their own stock, including Treasury Stock.
If Corporation gets property in exchange for stock, there is no gain/(loss) on the transaction.
How are Corporate organization costs handled?
Amortization of costs begin the month the Corporation commences business activity
If the Corporation doesn’t amortize organization costs in year one, they can never be amortized
Costs associated with offerings are neither deductible nor amortized
How are a C-Corporation’s deductible charitable contributions calculated?
Sales -COGS= Gross Profit
Gross Profit + Rent, Royalties, Gross Dividends, Capital Gains
=Total Income
Total Income - Deductions (No charitable contributions, Dividends
Received Deductions (DRD), or NOL Carrybacks allowed)
- NOL Carryforwards
=Taxable Income before charitable contributions, DRD, NOL Carrybacks
x 10%
=Deductible Charitable Contributions
How are excess charitable contributions treated in a C-Corporations?
Excess charitable contributions get carried forward 5 consecutive years (No Carryback)
When can a board of directors authorize charitable contributions for a tax year?
The Board of Directors can authorized charitable contributions up to 3/15 and have them count in the previous tax year
How is the dividends received deduction (DRD) calculated, and what are the limitations?
80% Interest = 100% DRD
20-79% = 80% DRD
less than 20% = 70% DRD
Only allowed if no consolidated return is filed. Qualified dividends from domestic Corporations only.
What is the Dividends Received Deduction (DRD) calculation when there is a loss from operations?
Only take DRD % x Taxable Income
Note: If DRD brings a loss situation, then you can take the full DRD
If Taxable Income remains after DRD, only a partial DRD (T.I.. x DRD %) is allowed
How are Corporate losses on a sale to a Corporation where a taxpayer owns a 50% or more interest handled in a C-Corporation?
A loss on a sale to a Corporation where taxpayer owns a 50% or more interest is disallowed
How are capital losses handled in a C-Corporation?
Capital Losses are deductible only to the extent of Capital Gains
How are net short term capital gains taxed in a C-Corporation?
Net Short Term Capital Gains are taxed at ordinary income rates
How are Corporate losses carried back/forward?
Corporations can carry back losses 3 years and carry forward losses 5 years as a Short Term Capital Loss
How are bad debt losses handled in a Corporation?
Bad debt losses are classified as ordinary
What is the casualty loss floor for a C-Corporation?
No floor on Corporate casualty loss like there is with an individual taxpayer
If destroyed, the loss is the property’s basis (minus proceeds)
Calculation: Adjusted basis - Proceeds from Insurance = Loss
If partially destroyed, take the lesser of FMV or adjusted basis reduction (minus proceeds)
How are net operating losses handled in a C-Corporation?
If loss includes NOL Carryforward, reduce the loss (add back the amount) to get the loss without the Carryforward
Then, carry back the NOL 2 years starting with the earliest year and reduce the taxable income there and then move to the most recent year
Any leftover NOL = This year’s NOL
How is investment interest expense handled in a C-Corporation?
Unlike individual taxation, investment interest expense is not limited to investment income.
Investment interest on tax-free investments are NOT deductible.
What is the purpose of Schedule M-1 on a Corporate tax return? Which items are included?
Schedule M-1 reconciles book to tax income before Net Operating Loss/Dividend Received Deduction
Includes permanent differences (such as tax-exempt interest and non-deductible expenses) and temporary differences (accelerated depreciated tax depreciation, straight-line, etc.)
What is the purpose of Schedule M-2 on a Corporate tax return? How is it calculated?
Reconciles beginning to ending retained earnings
Beginning Unappropriated Retained Earnings
+ Net Income
+ Other Increases
- Dividends paid
- Other decreases
= Ending Unappropriated Retained Earnings
What is the purpose of Schedule M-3 on a Corporate tax return?
Like M1, but for Corporations with $10M+ in assets
How are affiliated (80%) Corporation tax returns handled?
Consolidation election is binding going forward
Dividends between them are eliminated, Advantage- Gains are deferred, Disadvantage- losses are deferred.
One AMT exemption
One accumulated earnings tax allowed
Note: In order to consolidate, the parent must have 80% voting power and own 80% of the stock value
How are Corporate distributions to shareholders handled?
Distribution is a dividend to the extent of current accumulated earnings and profits (ordinary income)
Then, remainder (if any) is a return of basis. Then, add’l remainder (if any) is a Capital Gain
Distribution amount = FMV of Property + Cash - Liability Assumed
Shareholder basis = FMV of Property + Cash received (basis not reduced by the attached liability)
What is the order of treatment in a Corporation’s distribution to a shareholder?
- Distribution is a dividend to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits
- Shareholder basis is then exhausted
- Remainder, if any, is a Capital Gain
