Income Tax Flashcards
What is a Capital Asset?
Most personal use and investment assets
What is Specifically Not Capital Assets?
ACID Accounts/Notes receivable Copyrights & creative works Inventory Depreciable property used in business
What are 1231 Assets?
Assets being used in trade or business.
What are the specific 1231 Assets?
Depreciable and real property Timber Coal Iron Ore Certain Livestock Unharvested Crops
The Initial Cost Basis is the Amount You Pay Plus What?
Sales/excise/real estate tax Freight Installation and testing Legal and accounting fees Revenue stamps Recording fees
What Will Increase Adjusted Basis to Property?
Capital improvements Assesments for local improvements like water connections, sidewalks, and roads Cost of restoring damaged property Legal fees Zoning costs
What Will Decrease Adjusted Basis?
Exclusions from income of subsidies for energy conservation measures
Casualty or theft loss deductions and insurance reimbursements
Depreciation
How is Inherited Property Taxed When Sold?
Long term capital gains
What is the General Basis Rule for Gifting Property?
The basis for the donee is the same as the donor
What is the Basis on Gifted Property that has FMV Less than the Donor’s Basis?
Double Basis Rule:
If donee sells for > FMV (as of date of gift), then the the donor’s basis is carried over
If donee sells for < FMV (as of date of gift), then the basis is the FMV when gifted
What is the Basis on Gifted Property that the Donor Paid a Gift Tax?
The donor’s basis is increased by the appreciated portion of the gift tax.
Basis + (appreciation / FMV x Gift Tax)
What is the Holding Period General Rule for Gifting?
The donor’s holding period carries over;
Unless the property is double basis and sold for a loss, then the holding period starts when the gift is made
What is the Related Party Transactions Rule?
When there is a loss, the transferor’s loss is forever lost and the holding period starts at the date of sale
What is the Basis Rule for Selling to a Charity for Less than FMV?
The basis must be allocated between the portion sold and given:
Amount Realized / FMV x Basis = Basis for sale purposes
How is the Holding Period Determined from The Purchase Date to Sell Date?
The day of disposition is included in the holding period, the day of acquisition is not.
What is the Difference Between Realized and Recognized Gains?
Realized gains occur at disposition of property, Recognition occurs when the gains are taxed
Is an Index Fund for Index Fund Considered a Wash Sale?
Yes, but a Large Cap Managed Fund for an Index Fund is not.
When a Wash Sale Occurs, How is the New Tax Basis Determined?
The disallowed loss must be added to the cost basis of the new purchase
What are the Requirements for the 121 Exclusion?
Must live in the home as principle residence for 2 out of the last 5 years, Can only be used every 2 years, and any appreciation during non-qualified use periods aren’t excludable
When can the 121 Requirements be excepted for Pro Rata Treatment?
A change in employment
A change in health
Other unforeseen circumstances
Can Losses from Personal Property Be Deducted?
No
What are the Steps to Determining Net Capital Gains or Losses?
- Net LTCG against LTCL
- Net STCG against STCL
- If both LT & ST gains, then you’re done
- If either LT or ST has gains and the other has losses, then net them together
What is the Annual Limit to Net Capital Losses Reducing AGI?
$3,000
The remainder is carried forward indefinitely to reduce future gains, or to deduct from other income until used up
When Can Capital Loss Be Recategorized as Ordinary Loss Up to $50k?
Loss on small business stock if the business is:
domestic
< $1 million in capital at time stock issued
Incorporated before 11/6/1978
Loss is sustained by original owner
Issued for money or exchange
For the previous 5 years to loss, >50% of income had to have been from active sources
What is Section 267?
Section 267 disallows any losses when selling or transferring between related parties. The receiving party has double basis.
What is a 1231 Asset?
Depreciable or real property used in trade or business with a LT holding period.
What is the Benefit to Gains or Losses with 1231 Assets?
Gains are treated as LTCG and Losses are treated as ordinary losses
What is 1245 Property?
Personal property used in trade or business including depreciable equipment, patents, copyrights, and other intangibles.
What are the Tax Consequences if 1245 Property is Sold for Less than the Depreciated Amount?
Ordinary Loss of the amount less than the depreciated value
What are the Tax Consequences if 1245 Property is Sold for More than the Depreciated Amount?
Ordinary Gain on the amount depreciated
What are the Tax Consequences if 1245 Property is Sold for More than the Original Amount?
The 1245 depreciation amount is ordinary gains, and the remainder is 1231 LTCG.
What Property Qualifies for 1031 Like Kind Exchanges?
Property held for productive use in trade or business or as an investment
If in a Like Kind Exchange the Replacement Property Hasn’t Been Chosen Yet, What are the Requirements to Avoid Recognizing Gains?
An escrow agent must hold the proceeds from the original property and the replacement property must be identified within 45 days, must close within 180 days or by the tax due date
In a 1031 Like Kind Exchange, which Party Must Recognize a Gain?
The party trading down will receive boot and will have to recognize a gain of that amount. The party trading up has no gains.
How Does Basis Change In a 1031 Like Kind Exchange for the Party Trading Up?
The amount paid in boot is added to their existing basis.
How Does Basis Change In a 1031 Like Kind Exchange for the Party Trading Down?
If the boot received is beyond their deferred gains, then the excess boot will reduce their basis by that much, if not then the basis stays the same.
How do 1031 Like Kind Exchanges Differ Between Related Parties?
If either party disposes of the property within 2 years, both parties are required to recognize an gain/loss that wasn’t in the year of the exchange.
How is Money or Property Received By A Corporation for it’s Stock Treated Tax wise?
It is considered an infusion of capital and not subject to income tax
What is 1033 Involuntary Conversion?
The destruction, theft, seizure, condemnation, or sale/exchange under threat of condemnation of property. Typically Eminent Domain.
How are 1033 Involuntary Conversions Taxed?
Nontaxable treatment of gains if used to reinvest
What is the Time Period to Replace Property Under a 1033 Involuntary Conversion?
2 years or 3 years for condemnation of realty from the year end of when the gain is realized
How are Transfers Between Spouses Incident to Divorce Taxed?
Tax free and the basis stays the same
How is Straight Line and Accelerated Depreciation Recapture Taxed?
Straight Line = 25%
Accelerated = Ordinary Income
What are the Requirements for Filing as Head of Household?
Paid more than half the cost of keeping his home
The spouse did not live in the home during the last 6 months of the year
The taxpayer’s home was the main home for the child for more than half the year
The taxpayer can claim the child as a dependent
What are the Requirements for Filing as a Qualifying Widower with a Dependent Child?
If the taxpayer was eligible to file jointly with the spouse when they died
The taxpayer isn’t remarried
The taxpayer has a child for whom he can claim an exemption
The child lived with the taxpayer all year and paid more than half the cost of keeping the home
Can file for 2 years
What is the 2012 Standard Deduction?
$5,950 for single and separate
double that for filing jointly and widower
around 1.75 x for head of house
Who Qualifies for the additional Standard Deduction?
If >= 65 or blind
Eg: If > 65 and blind, you get two additional standard deductions
What is a Dependent’s Standard Deduction?
The greater of $950 or $300 + earned income (not to exceed the normal standard deduction)
Which Tests Must a Qualifying Child Meet?
The relationship test
The abode test
The age test
The support test
What is the Qualified Child Relationship Test?
The qualifying child must be:
A descendant of the taxpayer, the taxpayer’s sibling, or a descendant of the taxpayer’s sibling
What is the Qualified Child Abode Test?
Must live with the taxpayer for more than half the year. Absences for illness, education, business, vacation, or military service count as living with the taxpayer.
What is the Qualified Child Age Test?
Under age 19, or under 24 if a full-time student for at least 5 months of the year.
What is the Qualified Child Support Test?
The taxpayer must provide >= half of the child’s support for the year
What are the 4 Requirements for the Non-Custodial Parent to Claim the Child as a Dependent?
- Must be legally divorced, separated, or not lived together for the last 6 months
- The child receives > half support from parents
- The child is in custody of the parents for > half the year
- The custodial parent signs form 8332, stating they will not claim the dependent
What are the Qualified Relative Tests?
Relationship test
Gross income test
Support test
Not a qualifying child test
What is the Qualified Relative Relationship Test?
Must be taxpayer's: Descendant Sibling Ancestor (Parent, Grandparent, etc) Step parent Niece or Nephew Uncle or Aunt An immediate In law NO COUSINS
What is the Qualified Relative Gross Income Test?
The dependent’s gross income must be < the exemption amount for the year