Income Tax Flashcards
Income Tax Authority Types
Internal Revenue Code: primary source for all tax law
Congressional Committee Reports: indicate intent of Congress
Tax Law Doctrines: Step, Sham, Substance over form & Assignment of income
Step Transaction: Ignore individual transactions, tax ultimate transaction
Sham Transaction: Lacks business purpose, economic substance ignored
Substance: Substance of transaction governs its tax consequence not just form
Assignment: Income is taxed to “tree that grows the fruit” although income may be assigned to another prior to receipt
Hobby loss
Eliminated. Any activity generating net profit in 3 out of 5 years is a business not a hobby. (2 out of 7 for Horses)
Categories for Taxpayers who are required to file income tax return & Filing Status
Categories:
Individuals (US Citizen)
Dependents
Children Under 24 (Kiddie Tax)
Self Employed
Aliens
Status:
Single: $13,850 standard deduction
Married filing separately: $13,850 standard deduction
Married filing jointly: $27,700 standard deduction
Head of Household: $20,800 standard deduction
Qualified Widower
Filing & Payment Dates
Must file by April 15th, possible 6 month extension to October 15th
- Failure to file is 5% of tax due each month up to 25% max
Payment dates: April 15th (1), June 15th (2), September 15th (3), January 15th (4)
- Failure to pay is 0.5% per month tax unpaid up to 25% max
Penalties for Incorrect tax returns (some way shape or form)
Frivolous: Omitted information ($5k)
Negligence: accuracy related (20% of underpayment attributable to negligence)
Fraud: intent to cheat government (75% of underpayment attributable to fraud)
Taxpayer may not be represented by CFP at audit. (Attorney, CPA, enrolled agent/actuary or anyone permitted by IRS)
Estimated Tax to avoid penalty
Lesser of
90% current years tax liability
100% of prior years liability
110% of prior years if AGI >$150k
Gross Income Included Elements
Wages, Salaries, Tips
Ordinary Dividends (Schedule B) - For GI sake Qualified Dividends included (taxed at LTCG rate)
Taxable Interest (Schedule B)
Business Income/Losses (Schedule C)
Capital Gains/Losses (Schedule D)
IRA Distributions
Pension/Annuities
Alimony received (divorced before 2019*)
Unemployment Income
Real Estate (Schedule E)
Taxable SS Income
Gross Income Exclusions
Gifts
Inheritances
Child support
Municipal Bond Interest
Worker’s Comp Payments
Compensatory Damages
Taxable vs Tax Free Fringe Benefits (Only major ones)
Tax Free: Occassional sport or theater tickets, premiums the employer pays for employee/spouse/dependent, same for up to $50k in premiums for employee life insurance, company car and employee assistance programs
Taxable: Health insurance premiums paid for self employed, partners and >2% owners of S-Corp. However it’s 100% deductible as adjustment to income on 1040 (medical, dental and long term care). Does not include disability premiums
Adjustments For AGI
For = Above the line
IRA contributions
Keogh or SEP contributions
1/2 Self Employment Tax = (Net income * .1413) * .5
100% of self-employment health insurance
Alimony from divorces prior to 2019
Student loan interest
AGI is reduced by the greater of the standard or itemized deduction.
Standard deductions
Single or MFS: $13,850
MFJ: $27,700
HOH: $20,800
Elderly: Extra $1,500 per person, jumps to $1,850 if >65
Blind: Extra $1,500 per person, jumps to $1,850 if >65
Child with unearned income: $1,250
Itemized Deductions From AGI
From = Below the line (4 letters)
Home mortgage interest
Charitable gifts
Personal property tax limited to $10k total for ‘d answers
State and local sales tax
Real estate taxes
Investment interest (margin account)
Medical, dental, LTC expenses > 7.5% AGI
Casualty losses from federally declared disaster area (formula below)
***No home office deduction
Casualty Loss:
Lesser of basis or FMV
- Insurance coverage
- $100
- 10% of AGI
How many personal exemptions are you allowed?
Zero
LTCG Rates and Kiddie Tax
Tax Bracket LTCG Rate
10-12% 0%
22-35% 15%
35-37% 20%
Kiddie Tax for unearned income
First 1,250 tax free
2nd 1,250 taxed at 10%
Remainder taxed at parents ordinary income rate
Kiddie Tax for earned income
If child has earned income + $400 > $1,250 standard deduction, use earned income +$400 as new standard
Self employment tax
Self employment income: Net schedule c income, board of directors fees, K-1 GP income, part time earnings
Total self employment income * .1413 = self employment tax
Child tax credit for expenses
Multiply numbers below by 20%
$3,000 for 1
$6,000 for 2 or more
Tax deduction vs tax credit
Lower tax bracket: Credit worth more than a deduction
Higher tax bracket: Deduction worth more than credit
Account methods
Cash: Businesses with $29mil ($25mil indexed) in revenues
Accrual: Used for goods and services
Hybrid: Mix of both
Cant be changed without IRS permission
Installment sale recognized gain
Gross Profit % = Profit / Sale Price
Installment amount * Gross Profit % = recognized gain
Inventory Valuation and Flow
LIFO: Typically use during times of inflation/rising prices
FIFO: Increases earnings and raises current cost of inventory
NOL
Net operating losses for pass through business can be carried forward indefinitely
Sole Proprietorship
For risk free entities
Advantages:
100% medical premiums deductible
Keogh or SEP available
Income or loss conduit to owner (gains or losses) on schedule C
No legal formalities
Disadvantage:
Unlimited Liability
Business dies with owner
Capital structure depends on owners personal resources
Tax:
Interest paid on debt is deductible
General Partnerships
For risk free entities
Advantages:
100% medical premiums deductible
Keogh or SEP available
Income conduit to owner (gains or losses)
Partnership agreement can be oral
Disadvantage:
Unlimited personal liability
Business dissolves on death, incapacity or bankruptcy of one partner
Capital structure depends on resources of partners
LLC (Risky entities)
Is a partnership if no more than 2 of the following:
Centralization of management, limited liability, continuity of life or free transferability of interests
If LLC may operate like a GP, then members can still be involved in daily operations
Pass Thru Businesses
Sole Prop, Partnership, S corp and other pass throughs may deduct up to 20 percent of income if the taxpayer has qualified business income.
Single taxpayer AGI < $182k or Joint <$364,200 can claim full deduction
Partnerships: Losses deductible up to basis.
Basis is cash contributed by partner, direct loans made by partner and partnership debt
S Corp: Losses deductible up to basis
Basis is cash contributed by shareholder, direct loans made by shareholder (3rd party loans not allowed)
LLP
Limited partnership where general partners are not personally liable for malpractice claims of the other general partner
C Corp
For profitable businesses
Advantages:
Separate tax entity
Unlimited investors (sale of stock)
Limited Liability
Continuity of life
Dividend received exclusion (50% if 20% owner, 65% if 20-80% owner & 100% if >80% owner)
Disadvantages:
Corporate formalities
Dividends paid after tax (Double taxation)
Double taxation on accumulated earnings beyond certain limit
PSC
C Corp owned by HALE individuals. Flat tax of 21%, for profitable businesses
H - Health
A - Accounting, Architectural, Actors
L - Law
E - Engineering