Private Equity Flashcards
What is the foreign tax credit formula?
The foreign tax credit is the lower of:
- Foreign tax paid, or
- (U.S. tax x foreign taxable income) / worldwide taxable income
What assets are included in a decedent’s gross estate?
All assets owned by the decedent as of the date of death are included in the gross estate
What does the acronym FCPA stand for?
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977
What are the two main provisions of the FCPA?
- Accounting transparency requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
- Bribery of foreign officials
What entities are subject to the FCPA?
Includes any U.S. or foreign corporation that has a class of securities registered, or that is required to file reports under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
When does risk of loss pass from a sale from a nonmerchant?
Risk of loss passes to buyer upon seller’s tender of delivery
What is a condition precedent?
An event which must occur, unless its non-occurrence is excused, before any contractual duty arises.
Describe the restatement view
- Majority view
2. Limits an accountant’s liability to a limited class of actually foreseen users.
Is an orally formed express contract binding to a guarantor?
- No, protected by the statute of frauds.
- If a guaranty is made by an express contract with the creditor, to be enforceable against the guarantor the guaranty contract must be in writing and signed by the guarantor
What are the carryback/carryfoward provisions for a corporation’s net operation losses?
The NOL first must be carried back for two years, then carried forward for 20 years. Taxpayers may elect not to use the carryback period.
Does a taxpayer have to be insolvent to file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
NO! Almost anyone can file a voluntary petition for Chapter 7 relief at any time regardless of the number of creditors or insolvency. The only restriction is that the filing is not a “substantial abuse,”.
What income is subject to SECA?
- Net self employment business profits
2. Director’s Fees
What are the features of SECA?
- Base rate = FICA for Employer & employee combined
- Base rate reduces “wages”
- Taxpayer can deduct 50% of FICA from taxes
What are the age requirements for the kiddie tax to be applicable?
- Child has not reached age 18 by the end of the taxable year;
- Child has not reached age 24 AND their earned income is not more than one-half of their support;
What three requirements are required for the kiddie tax to apply?
- Child is required to file a return for the year;
- Child has at least one parent alive at the close of the taxable year; and
- Child will not file a joint return for the taxable year.
What type of income is subject to the kiddie tax?
The kiddie tax provision only applies to unearned income. Earned income is exempt from the kiddie tax provision.
For a personal casualty loss: What is the disallowance per casualty? What is the AGI disallowance?
- $100 disallowance per casualty
- AGI disallowance: 10% of AGI
- Both disallowances must be subtracted from the net casualty loss, to reach the deduction amount.
What is the AMT formula?
Regular taxable income \+/- Adjustments \+ Preferences = AMT Income - Exemption = AMT Base x Rate = Tentative Minimum Tax before Foreign Tax Credit - Certain credits = Tentative Minimum Tax - Regular Tax Liability = AMT (if positive)
What are AMT adjustments?
- Specific adjustments that can either increase or decrease taxable income when AMTI is computed.
- Often represent income/deductions used to defer the taxation of economic income.
- Hence, many (but not all) of these adjustments are merely timing differences that will reverse in future periods.
Explain AMT adjustments for depreciation:
- Applies to MACRS property that is depreciated using the 200% declining balance method. For AMT, the 150% declining-balance method is used over the MACRS life.
* NO AMT adjustments are required for assets purchased in 2008-2012 that use bonus depreciation.
What are five AMT adjustments for itemized deductions?
- The phaseout of itemized deductions does not apply for AMT(subtracted). Note that there is no phaseout for 2010-2012.
- Medical deduction is allowed only to the extent it exceeds 10% of AGI.
- No deduction allowed for taxes (must add back to taxable income).
- 2% miscellaneous deductions are not allowed.
- Home mortgage interest is deductible only if the loan proceeds are used to improve the home.
How are personal exemptions & standard deductions handled for AMT purposes?
- AMT adjustment
2. Personal exemptions and the standard deduction (if used) are added back.
What effect does incentive stock options have on AMT?
- Adjustment
2. The compensation element on the exercise date for an incentive stock option.
What effect do preferences have on AMT?
Preferences ALWAYS increase AMT income.
What are four common AMT preferences?
- Tax-exempt interest on private activity bonds.
- Percentage depletion in excess of cost basis on mineral properties.
- 7% of the gain excluded from income under the qualified small business stock provision is a preference item for the AMT.(Excluded only if the stock was held for more than five years)
- Gain on the sale of qualified small business stock that was acquired after Sep 27, 2010 and before Jan 1, 2012 and is sold more than five years after the purchase date will not be subject to the AMT(also excluded from regular tax).
Describe the AMT exception:
- Subject to a phaseout triggered by AMTI over $150,000 if married, $112,500 if single.
- The phaseout rate is 25% of the amount of AMTI over the trigger.
- For children subject to the kiddie tax, the AMT exemption cannot exceed the sum of the child’s earned income plus $6,950 (in 2012).
What is the AMT exception amount for MFJ? Single?
$45,000 if married filing joint ($33,750 if not married) in 2012.
What is the AMT tax rate for individuals?
The AMT tax rate is 26% up to $175,000 and 28% over $175,000.
What are some credits that are ALLOWED for AMT?
- foreign tax credit
- child tax credit,
- adoption credit,
- low-income saver’s credit,
- residential energy efficient property,
- American Opportunity (education) tax credit,
- nondepreciable property portion of the alternate motor vehicle credit,
- new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit.
Describe the AMT credit carryback/carryforward:
AMT credit can be carried forward indefinitely
What are some personal tax credits?
Child Tax Credit Saver's (IRA) Credit Education Tax Credits Dependent Care Adoption Expense Credit Elderly Credit Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit Foreign Tax Credit
What are three general business credits?
- Research and Development
- Rehabilitation
- Miscellaneous
What are four refundable credits?
- Earned Income
- Child Credit (partially refundable)
- American Opportunity/Hope Credit (partially refundable)
- Health Coverage Tax Credit
What is the carryover provisions for personal, business and refundable credits?
- Personal: Credits limited to gross tax; no carryover of excess
- Business: Excess carries back 1 year; forward 20 years
- Refundable: No carryover; excess refunded to taxpayer.
Describe the child tax credit:
A $1,000 Child Credit is allowed for each qualifying child under the age of 17.
Explain the phaseout rules for the child tax credit:
The credit is phased out for married taxpayers with AGI in excess of $110,000 ($75,000 for unmarried). The credit is reduced $50 for each $1,000 (or portion) over the trigger AGI amount.
Who is a qualifying child for purposes of the child tax credit?
A dependent son, daughter, stepchild, or grandchild whose name and social security number is included on the return.
What is the hope(aka american opportunity) credit?
- A credit for up to a maximum of $2,500 per year for each eligible student.
- Computed as 100% of the first $2,000 and 25% of the next $2,000 of qualified educational expenses.
- Qualified educational expenses are nondeductible tuition and academic fees (reduced scholarships) incurred during a student’s first four years of post-secondary education.
- Qualifying student includes the taxpayer, spouse, or any dependent of the taxpayer enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education.
- Student must be enrolled in a degree program.
What is the phaseout for the hope(american opportunity) credit?
- Phase out for single taxpayers with AGI in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 for MFJ).
- The credit is phased out over a $10,000 range ($20,000 MFJ) and is gone when AGI reaches $90,000 ($180,000 MFJ).
What is the lifetime learning credit?
- Allowed to a max of $2,000 per taxpayer per year.
- Computed as 20% of $10,000 of qualified educational expenses incurred for the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent.
- The expenses must be for post-secondary education, but need not relate to a degree program.
- Student does not need to be at least half-time for expenses to qualify.
What is the phaseout for the lifetime learning credit?
Similar to hope credit, phased out ratably for single taxpayers with an AGI for 2012 in excess of $52,000 ($104,000 for MFJ) and is phased out over a $10,000 range ($20,000 MFJ).
What is a major difference between the hope credit and the lifetime learning credit?
The Hope applies per student ($2,500 per student), whereas the Lifetime Learning Credit applies per tax return (maximum $2,000 credit per year).
Describe the saver’s credit:
- For voluntary contributions to IRA and qualified retirement accounts
- Max of $1,000 and is based upon IRA contributions (Roth or Traditional).
- Taxpayer must be 18 or older, not a full-time student, or claimed as a dependent on another return, and cannot receive a distribution from the account.
What is the phaseout for the saver’s credit?
No credit is allowed for taxpayers with an AGI (2012) in excess of $57,500 ($43,125 for head of household and $28,750 for single taxpayers).