INDIVIDUAL - GAINS & LOSES Flashcards
What are the 3 ways to acquire an asset?
- Acquired by purchase
- Acquired by gift
- Acquired by inheritance
How do you calculate the original basis of an asset acquired by purchase?
The Basis is the Taxpayer’s investment in a property for tax purposes.
It includes all the amounts paid (not just cash) for a property and all the costs necessary to prepare the property to be placed into service.
In other words, everything the purchaser gave up to acquire a property.
Basis can be increased or decreased by certain events.
Granting an easement is an example of an event that would decrease one’s basis in their property.
When does a holding period begin for an asset acquired by purchase?
The holding begins at the time of purchase.
Seppo bought a house. Seppo paid $450,000 cash and as part of the transaction, provided services for the benefit of the seller of the house worth $30,000. Seppo also had to pay recording fees of $3,500 connected to the purchase of the home. What is Seppo’s basis in the house?
Seppo’s basis in the house was $483,500.
What property character (one of two) must you first determine to calculate the basis of an asset acquired by gift?
The basis will depend on the character of the property received as the gift. It is either:
Appreciated Property
Depreciated Property
This is determined by knowing:
- the giver’s adjusted basis
- the fair market value of the gifted property.
A gift is considered Appreciated Property if the is giver’s adjusted basis is greater than the fair market value of the gifted property. True or False.
False.
A gift is considered Appreciated Property if the fair market value is greater than the giver’s adjusted basis for the gifted property.
When is an acquired gift considered a Depreciated Property?
An acquired gift is considered Depreciated Property when the fair market value is less than the giver’s adjusted basis.
What 2 values are considered when calculating the gift’s basis for the recipient.
- The Donor’s adjusted basis
- Some of the gift taxes paid by the donor.
The Recipient’s Basis will be used to determine taxes when the recipient sells the property.
What is the gift exclusion amount?
$15,000
What is the equation to determine Gift Tax portion that needs to be added to your adjusted basis for a received gift?
Fair Market Value (FMV) at the time of the gift (Donor’s basis) divided by the Amount of the gift AFTER the Gift Exclusion (which is $15,000), will give you the percentage of the gift taxes paid by the donor, which is added to the recipient’s basis.
How do you calculate the basis of an asset acquired by inheritance?
Inherited property will have as its basis the FMV on either:
- The date of death, or
- At an alternative valuation date, which is generally 6 months after the date of death.
What 2 factors must be in play to allow one to choose the “alternate valuation date” of an inherited property, rather than the Date of Death?
The Alternate Valuation Date can be chosen if it:
- Decreases the value of the gross estate AND it
- Decreases the estate tax liability.
Who makes the decision on whether the “Date Of Death” or the “Alternative Valuation Date” is used to determine the FMV basis of an estate?
The executor of the estate.
If the “Alternate Valuation Date” is chosen by the executor to determine the FMV of an estate, and the distribution of the estate happens before the “Alternate Valuation Date” is reached, then the basis reverts back to the FMV at the Date of Death. True or False?
False.
If the “Alternate Valuation Date” is chosen by the executor to determine the FMV of an estate, and the distribution of the estate happens prior to the “Alternate Valuation Date” is reached, then the basis is determined by the FMV at the date of the distribution of the property.
The holding period for Inherited Property is always long-term, no matter when it is received and disposed of by the new owner. True or False?
True.
Inherited Property’s holding period is ALWAYS long-term.
An Adjusted basis is used to calculate the gain or loss on the disposal of the property. True or False?
True.
The adjusted basis is the original basis
INCREASED for any
1. Capital Expenditures and
DECREASED for any
- Depreciation,
- Amortization or
- Depletion Charges.
If the property appreciates in value over time, the basis is adjusted upwards for this appreciation. True or False?
False.
Appreciation of property is not added to the property’s basis, even over multiple generations.
Short-term capital loss reduces the basis of an investment. True or False?
False.
The basis of an investment is not affected by a capital gain loss.
Depreciation on a Residential Rental Property begins on the date of purchase. True or False?
False.
A rental property owner can begin to depreciate it only once the house is PLACED IN SERVICE for the production of income. Even if unused, it is in service when it is ready and available for its specific use.
Depreciation ends when either the taxpayer fully recovers the cost, or the property is retired from service, whichever happens first.
Basis of an inherited capital asset is always the FMV of the property on the date of death. True or False?
False.
Basis of an inherited capital asset is generally the FMV of the property on the date of death or an alternate valuation date, if elected by the executor.
What are the 2 initial things we need to know about an asset
- What the BASIS of the asset is, and
2. What the HOLDING PERIOD of the asset is.
What is the Holding Period for Inherited property?
It is always Long-Term for Inherited Property.
What is Adjusted Basis of Property used for?
And what affects its Increase and Decrease?
Adjusted basis is used to calculate the gain or loss on the disposal of a property.
It is increased for any capital expenditures and decreased for any depreciation, amortization or depletion charges.
When is Stepped-Up Basis in play.
Stepped-Up Basis is applied to inherited property at the time of the giver’s death.
In this instance, the original Cost basis of the decedent is replaced by the current FMV, reducing the tax liability for the recipient.
How to determine the Disposition of a Normal Sale
Gain or loss is the difference between selling price and adjusted basis.
Stephen wants to sell his land he is holding for investment. Ann wants to buy it, but can only give him her car as payment. Stephen paid $10,000 for his land and Ann’s car is worth $12,000.
What is Stephen’s Gain or Loss?
If they exchange properties, Stephen will have a $2,000 gain on the sale of his land to Ann.
Vladimir has a machine with a $20,000 adjusted basis and the machine also secures a $10,000 debt. Marina wants to buy the machine and offers Vladimir $15,000 cash and she will completely assume his debt.
What is Vladimir’s Gain or Loss?
Vladimir has a $5,000 gain on the sale of his machine because Vladimir received a total of $25,000 of consideration for the machine - $15,000 in cash and $10,000 in the form of the liability that has been assumed by Marina.
Installment Sales
When some of the payment for the item is received in the tax year after the sale is made, the installment sale method may be used to calculate the amount of the gain recognized.
How to calculate Gross Profit?
Installment Sales
Gross Profit = Sales Price minus Adjusted Basis
How to calculate the Gross Profit Percentage?
Installment Sales
Gross Profit Percentage = Gross profit divided by Sales Price.
How to calculate Gain Recognized This Year? (Installment Sales)
Gain Recognized This Year = Gross Profit percentage multiplied by Payments Received during the year.
Is the Installment Sales method available to Dealers in property?
No. It can not be used for sale of property in the ordinary course of business.
This is for a one-off sale, a side sale.
Installment Sales Example
Boris sold some undeveloped land to Alex for $1,000,000 (payable $200,000 per year for 5 years). Boris had an adjusted basis in the land of $400,000.
Normally, Boris would have a $600,000 gain in the year of sale if he had received the $1,000,000 immediately. What would be his annual gain using the Installment Sales method?
Under the installment method, not all of that gain will be recognized in the year of the sale. The gross profit percentage is 60% ($600,000 / $1,000,000) and the gain recognized in the year of sale will be 60% of the cash received. $200,000 was received during the year, so $120,000 will be recognized as taxable income this year.
Name the 4 categories of Non-Recognition Transactions.
- Gifts and inheritances
- Sale of a residence
- Exchange of like-kind business or investment properties
- Involuntary conversions
Non-Recognition Transactions - Defined
A nonrecognition transaction is a non-claimable gain or loss, according to the IRS.
It applies as long as a reorganization occurs and property is exchanged solely for stock or securities. When assets are distributed in these scenarios, the gain or loss is a nonrecognition transaction and is not taxed.
Non-Recognition Transactions - Gifts and Inheritances
Generally, neither the donor (giver of the gift) nor the testator (the deceased) will recognize gain/loss in this transaction.
Non-Recognition Transactions - Sale of Residence
If a single taxpayer sells a home they have occupied as their principal residence for at least 2 of the 5 years preceding the sale, they may exclude $250,000 of the gain on the sale of the residence from their income.
Married taxpayers may exclude $500,000 in this situation.
Non-Recognition Transactions - Exchange of Like-Kind Property
If the properties in an exchange are like-kind real property and held either for
- productive use in a trade or business, or
- for investment,
no gain or loss will be recognized on the transaction by either party.