REG Flashcards
What items are NOT a deductible expense on Schedule C?
The following are NOT deductible expenses:
- Wages paid to owner - considered a draw, not an expense
- Business meals are only 50% deductible, can’t deduct the entire amount
- Health insurance for owner - not deducted on Schedule C, 100% is an adjustment FOR AGI
- Business bad debt loss (allowance) - direct write-off only for accrual basis taxpayer
- State income taxes - not deducted on Schedule C, itemized deduction
- Investment expenses
- Custodial fees for self-employed retirement accounts
What is the rule with deducting foreign airfare?
If foreign travel is primarily personal in nature (e.g., vacation), none of the travel expenses (e.g., round-trip airfare) incurred will be allowable business deductions, even if the taxpayer was involved in business activities while in the foreign country.
What is the rule regarding deducting interest?
Interest that is prepaid is deductible in the tax year to which, and to the extent that the interest is allocable, i.e., as it accrues. This allocation is required even by cash basis taxpayers.
What items appear on Schedule B?
- Interest income
- Dividend income
What items appear on Schedule E?
- Net rental real estate income or loss
What items appear on Schedule D?
- Capital gains and losses
- Net capital losses can be deducted from ordinary income up to $3,000 [Individuals]
- Net capital losses are carried back 3-years and forward 5-years [Corporations]
- Net capital losses can only offset capital gains; CANNOT create a net operating loss
- Capital losses CANNOT reduce taxable income; unused capital losses can be carried back or forward
- Capital losses carried back or forward ALWAYS treated as Short-Term
What items appear on Schedule A?
- Itemized deductions
- Charitable contributions [cash subject to 60% limitation, carried forward only for 5 years]
- Medical and dental expenses
- Casualty and theft losses
- Home mortage interest
- SALT
- RE taxes
What items appear on Form 1065?
[Partnership/ LLC]
- Business income
- Business expenses
- Ordinary business income or loss
- Guaranteed payments to partners
- Partner’s health insurance premiums (included as part of guaranteed payments)
- Retirement plan contributions for EE’s
What items appear on Schedule K and K-1?
- Ordinary business income or loss
- Guaranteed payments to partners
- Net rental real estate income or loss
- Interest income
- Dividend income
- Capital gains and losses
- Net Section 1231 gain (loss)
- Charitable contributions
- Section 179 expense deduction
- Investment interest expense
- Partner’s health insurance premiums (included as part of guaranteed payments)
- Retirement plan contributions for Partners
- Tax credits (reported by partnership but claimed by partners)
What are examples of itemized deductions?
Itemized deductions are deductions FROM AGI. Once AGI is calculated, then these deductions are subtracted from AGI:
- State income taxes [$10k max]
- Real estate tax on personal residence [$10k max]
- Personal property tax on personal automobile
- Current year state and city income taxes withheld
- Medical [7.5% of AGI max]
- Mortgage Interest [$750k max]
- Charity [50% of AGI for property, 60% of AGI for cash, 30% of AGI if LTCG contribution “i.e. stock”]
- Casualty [Lower of decline in FMV or basis. Less: insurance reimb., $100 floor per casualty, 10% of AGI limit]
- Gambling losses [Limit up to winnings]
- Employee business travel expenses [100% meal costs at restaurants, meals + lodging “away from home overnight”]
What is the gifted property basis rule for gains and losses?
Donor’s rollover cost basis = Rollover cost = NBV - this means that property acquired as a gift generally retains the cost basis of the donor at the time of gift and basis is increased by gift taxes paid.
Exception: Lower FMV at date of gift
Example: If Donor Basis = $5,000; Lower FMV at Date of Gift = $3,000
* If sell higher than $5,000 - use “Donor’s Basis”
* If sell lower than $3,000 - use “Lower FMV at Date of Gift”
* If sell between $3,000 and $5,000 - NO gain or loss
How do you calculate Gain/Loss REALIZED in Like-kind exchanges?
Amount realized [FMV of real property received + Boot received]
- Adjusted basis of property given up
- Boot paid
- Liability assumed
= Gain/ Loss REALIZED
Note 1: Gain realized is recognized to the extent of boot [non-like-kind property] received. If there is both debt relief + debt assumed, the debt is netted together [net the debt]
Note 2: Net debt relief = Boot received
Note 3: Net debt assumed = Boot paid
How do you calculate Loss RECOGNIZED in Like-kind exchanges?
Realized loss is never RECOGNIZED in like-kind exchanges; therefore, it is $0.
Instead, the realized loss [the deferred loss] is ADDED to the FMV of the new property RECEIVED
How do you calculate basis of NEW property received in a Like-kind exchange?
FMV of property RECEIVED
- Deferred gain
+ Deferred loss
= Basis of new property
Note 1: Gain is recognized to the extent of BOOT received. The deferred gain is the gain amount that is in excess of boot received.
Note 2: Boot received is considered cash and net mortgage RELIEVED.
Note 3: Boot received triggers gain recognition.
Note 4: If no boot received, then entire realized gain is DEFERRED, which means it is subtracted from FMV of property received to arrive at basis.
What is MARCS 5-year property?
- Automobiles
- Light trucks
- Typewriters
- Copiers
- Duplicating equipment
- Delivery van
- Computers
What is the charitable contribution deduction?
Charitable contribution deduction is limited to 10% of taxable income BEFORE the following deductions:
- Charitable contribution
- DRD
- Capital loss carry back
- Net operating loss carryback
Total income [TI] = taxable income + dividends received. Compare charitable amount to 10% x TI; deduction is the LESSER of the two amounts. Calculate DRD and Taxable Income = TI - [lessor of charitable contribution or 10% x TI] - DRD
What is section 1250 property?
- Depreciable real property (buildings) used in a trade or business for > 1 year.
- Gain on sec. 1250 property is recaptured Sec. 1250 gain to the extent of SL Accumulated Depreciation.
- Any excess gain is Section 1231.
What is Section 1231 property?
- Sec. 1231 assets are depreciable personal property and REAL property used in a business and held for over 12 months
- For example, land held for 18 months
- If sec. 1231 gains exceed 1231 losses, net gain is treated as LTCG
- If sec. 1231 losses exceed 1231 gains, loss is deductible as an ordinary loss
- Sec. 1231 lookback provision - 1231 gains must be offset by 1231 losses going back 5 years that have NOT been recaptured. Gains that can be “absorbed” by previous 1231 losses are treated as ordinary income. Remaining amounts are treated as a 1231 gain.
How do you calculate Gain RECOGNIZED in Like-kind exchanges?
Gain Recognized = LESSOR of realized gain and boot received.
Realized gain:
FMV of real property received
+ Boot received
- Adjusted basis of property given up
- Boot paid
- Liability assumed
= Gain REALIZED
Note 1: Gain realized is recognized to the extent of boot [non-like-kind property] received. If there is both debt relief + debt assumed, the debt is netted together [net the debt]
Note 2: Net debt relief = Boot received
Note 3: Net debt assumed = Boot paid
How do you calculate a Partner’s basis in a partnership interest?
Cash contributed
+ Adjusted basis of property contributed
+ FMV of services rendered
+ Liabilities assumed by new/incoming partner
- Liabilities assumed from other partners
= Partner Basis in partnership interest
What is Section 1245 property?
- Section 1245 property is equipment used in a trade or business for more than 1 year.
- Any gain is section 1245 ordinary income to the extent of prior depreciation taken on asset [total accumulated depreciation].
What is the 2023 IRA contribution limit for unmarried individuals?
Under Age 50:
* $6,500 or Earned income (lessor of)
Age 50 and over:
* $7,500 or Earned income (lessor of)
What is the 2023 IRA contribution limit for married individuals?
Under Age 50:
* $13,000 ($6,500 each) or Earned income [lessor of]
Age 50 and over:
* $15,000 ($7,500 each) or Earned income [lessor of]
What is 2023 AGI phase-out for employer-sponsored retirement plans?
- Unmarried = $73k to $83k
- Married filing jointly = $116k to $136k
What is the 2023 AGI phase-out for employer-sponsored retirement plans - Special Rule?
Special rule = Married taxpayer is NOT active participant in an employer retirement plan, but spouse is:
- Married filing jointly = $218k to $228k [couple’s AGI]
- Married filing separately = $0 to $10k [each spouse subject to limitation - Participant and nonparticipant]
What are rules around personal use property (i.e., personal furniture)?
- No Recognized gains or losses on personal-use property.
- No deduction allowed for losses on sale of personal-use property.
- Holding period is N/A because no gain or loss is recognized.
What are rules around the same stock purchased and sold within 30 days?
- The same stock purchased and sold within 30 days is called a wash sale
- No Recognized loss on wash sales; instead, repurchased stock basis is calculated and the disallowed loss [realized loss from the sale] is ADDED to the basis
- Wash sale rule applies to losses NOT gains
What are rules around related party transactions pertaining to gains, losses, and holding period?
- Gains from related party transactions are RECOGNIZED
- Losses from related party transactions are NEVER recognized
- Holding period is N/A for related party transaction losses because losses are NOT recognized
What are rules around related party transactions pertaining to basis?
- Selling price to unrelated party [if selling price is HIGHER than RP basis] then; taxpayer Basis = RP’s basis. Recognized gain will be the same as realized gain. Holding period is based on when taxpayer acquired the property.
- Selling price to unrelated party [if selling price is BETWEEN RP basis and purchase price from RP] then; taxpayer Basis = Selling price to unrelated party. No gain or loss recognized; holding period does not apply because no gain/loss is recognized.
- Selling price to unrelated party [if selling price is LOWER than RP basis] then; taxpayer Basis = Purchase price from RP. Recognized loss will be the same as realized loss. Holding period is based on when taxpayer acquired the property.
What are rules around multiple stock sales in the same year?
- Realized loss/gain will need to be calculated for each stock sale
- Realized capital loss/gain need to be calculated
- Net LT and ST capital loss/gain; if capital loss then $3,000 can be recognized and the remaining can be carryforward indefinitely [for individual taxpayers]
- C-corporations - no distinction between ST and LT capital gains and losses. C-corporations can ONLY offset capital losses against capital gains; net capital losses can be carried BACK 3 years and FORWARD 5 years.
- Holding period is based on netting of capital gain/loss as to whether it takes the form as ST or LT
What items are a deduction for AGI?
- Above the line deductions
- Deductions to arrive at AGI
- Deductions for AGI
- Deductible as a deduction toward AGI on Form 1040
Deductions for AGI are items that lower your gross income to arrive at AGI:
- 50% of SE tax
- Alimony paid before 2019
- Educator expenses
- Trade or business expense
- Rent or royalty expenses
- 100% of medical insurance premiums (for self-employed)
- Contributions to retirement plans
- Contributions to HSAs
- Student loan interest (limited to $2,500)
- Penalty on early withdrawal of savings
- Attorney fees paid in discrimination + whistle-blower cases
How do you prepare a Schedule M1 reconciliation?
Net Income/Loss [per books]
+ Federal income tax [per books]
+ Excess capital losses over gains
+ Income subject to tax NOT recorded on books [installment sales, rent received in advance]
+ Expenses recorded on books NOT on tax return [book depreciation, meals in excess of 50% allowance, Allowance for doubtful accts (increase), warranty accrual, goodwill impairment per books, pension expense accrued, penalties]
- Income recorded on books NOT on tax return [tax-exempt interest, life insurance proceeds]
- Deductions on return NOT charged against book income [tax depreciation, contribution carryover, section 179 deduction, direct bad debt write-offs, actual warranty costs, amortization or org cost, goodwill amortization per return, pensions paid]
= Taxable Income [per return]
Note: Taxable income per page 1 of tax return, BEFORE DRD and NOL carryforward deduction.
Is employer reimbursement of college tuition expenses included in income?
- Maximum of $5,250 can be excluded from gross income for payments made by an employer on behalf of an employee for an employee’s educational expenses.
For example, if employer reimbursed employee $8,000 of college tuition expenses, $5,250 is Nontaxable and $2,250 is taxable.
What portion of a scholarship should be included in gross income?
- Scholarships for degree-seeking student are excludable from income only up to amounts actually spent on tuition, fees, books, and supplies.
- Amounts used to pay for other items [i.e., room and board] or retained by the recipient is taxable.
Would a taxpayer include in current gross income for their federal return a state income tax refund from prior year?
- State or local income tax refund received in a subsequent year is NOT taxable if taxes paid did NOT result in tax benefit in PY.
- If taxpayer used standard deduction in PY; no tax benefit received because taxpayer did not deduct state income taxes on federal return.
- If taxpayer had itemized deductions in PY; then taxpayer would have deducted state income taxes on federal return and a tax benefit would have been received. In this case, taxpayer would include PY state income tax refund as gross income in current year.
Should a taxpayer include in gross income a prize won in a raffle drawing?
- Yes. The FMV of prizes and awards is INCLUDED in taxable income.
- Limited exception exists when taxpayer selected for an award without entering a contest and assigns award directly to a charity.
Should a taxpayer include damage awards received as compensation for non-physical injuries or illnesses in taxable gross income?
- Damages received as compensation for NON-physical injuries or illnesses [i.e., damages received for emotional distress] are INCLUDED in gross income.
- Damages received as compensation for personal [PHYSICAL] injuries are EXCLUDED from gross income.
How do you calculate total taxable amount for annuities?
1st: Need original investment in fixed annuity [contract cost]
2nd: Need to calculate the Expected value of the annuity = Monthly payment amount x # of months per contract
3rd: Calculate Exclusion ratio = Original investment/ Expected value
4th: Calculate Taxable portion of each annuity payment = 100% - Exclusion ratio
5th: Calculate total payments received in CY
6th: Calculate taxable amount = Total payment x Taxable portion %
What makes a contract void?
- Fraud in the execution - party did not know they were signing a contract
- Physical coercion (or the threat) - type of duress
- Contracting with a person under guardianship
- Contracting with a person adjudicated mentally incompetent
What parties can’t be petitioned to involuntary bankruptcy?
- Farmers
- Nonprofit charities
What are the steps in calculating casualty loss AFTER consideration of threshold limitations?
- Calculate the LESSOR of decrease in FMV [before and after casualty] AND adjusted basis.
- Subtract insurance proceeds received from step #1.
- Subtract $100 floor [applied to each SEPERATE casualty loss] from the economic loss calculated in step #2.
- Subtract AGI threshold applied to ALL casualty losses in the aggregate [10% of AGI]
Note: The $100 reduction applies to each SEPERATE casualty loss, while the reduction for 10% of AGI applies to casualty losses in AGGREGATE.
What entities are NOT eligible for Chapter 11 bankruptcy?
- Banks
- Insurance companies
- Generally no trustee
Note: Chapter 11 bankruptcy is a “reorganization” for the business or individual to stay in business. It must be approved by CREDITORS that make up 2/3rds of claims. The court must also approve the plan.
Who can file Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
- Only for individuals
- Always a trustee
- Corporations and Partnerships CANNOT file
Note: Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows for adjustment of debts of individual based on regular income. Allows individual to keep property and catch up on missed payments. There are unsecured and secured debt limits with Chapter 13; if individual debts exceed this limit, then they must file for Chapter 11.
What are items that CAN’T be discharged in bankruptcy?
- Alimony and child support
- Student loans
- Federal tax liens (unpaid taxes)
- Debt acquired through false representations or fraud
What priority does a creditor with a PERFECTED security interest in collateral have over other creditors?
- Creditor with a security interest that is UNPERFECTED
- Unsecured creditors
- Lien creditors [interest perfected BEFORE lien attached]
- Judgement liens [interest perfected BEFORE judgment lien attached]
Who takes priority and wins?
- Purchase money security Interest [PMSI] creditor vs.
- Perfected secured party [PSP] in inventory
PMSI wins if:
- Perfected BEFORE delivery
- Notifies PSP BEFORE delivery
Who takes priority and wins?
- Purchase money security Interest [PMSI] creditor vs.
- Perfected secured party [PSP] in NON-inventory (i.e., equipment or fixtures)?
PMSI wins if:
- Perfected within 20 days of delivery
Who takes priority and wins?
- Perfected secured party [PSP] vs.
- Perfected secured party [PSP]
- PSP that PERFECTED first wins
Who takes priority and wins?
- Perfected secured party [PSP] vs.
- Lien creditor/ Lienholder [LC]
- The first to ATTACH wins
Who takes priority and wins?
- Perfected secured party [PSP] vs.
- Secured party [SP]
- PSP wins
Who takes priority and wins?
- Secured party [SP] vs.
- Secured party [SP]
- The first to ATTACH wins
Who takes priority and wins?
- Secured party [SP]
- Unsecured party [UP]
- SP wins
Who takes priority and wins when a debtor moves to a new jurisdiction?
- Creditor with a security interest has 4 months to file a financing agreement in new jurisdiction
- Until the 4 months passes, previous filed security interest has superiority [even against another security interest in new jurisdiction]
- AFTER 4 months, if oldest security interest has not been filed, then oldest properly filed security interest become superior
What entities are NOT eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy?
- Credit unions
- Banks
- Insurance companies
- Railroad companies
- Small business investment companies
Note: Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy, can be voluntary or involuntary, means test to determine whether debtor can pay debts, anyone can file, don’t need to be insolvent or have certain # of creditors.
What are AGI limitations on charitable contributions for 60%?
- Cash - for Public charities and Private operating foundations
Note 1: Church is a type of public charity
Note 2: Remaining contribution in excess of 60% of AGI limit can be carried forward up to 5 years.
What are AGI limitations on charitable contributions for 50%?
- Ordinary income property - for Public charities and Private operating foundations
Note: Stock held for 1 year of less = ordinary income property. Amount deductible is LESSOR OF property adjusted basis or FMV at contribution date.
What are AGI limitations on charitable contributions for 30%?
- Cash - for private Non-operating foundations
- Ordinary income property - for private Non-operating foundations
- LTCG property - for Public charities and Private operating foundations
Note 1: Remaining contribution in excess of 30% of AGI limit can be carried forward up to 5 years.
What are AGI limitations on charitable contributions for 20%?
- LTCG property - for private Non-operating foundations
How should an employee recognize income from a Nonqualified stock option plan?
- Employees receiving a nonqualified stock option must recognize as Ordinary income the value of the option if traded on an established market:
Option price per share x # of shares
When are gains from an incentive stock option recognized?
- Gain on incentive stock is NOT recognized until the sale occurs:
Stock price when sold = purchase price x # of shares
How do you calculate Tax Basis per share?
Tax basis per share = Total tax basis / # of shares
How do you calculate Total tax basis?
Total tax basis = # of shares purchased x Stock price
How do you calculate Tax Basis of shares sold?
Tax basis of shares sold = Tax basis per share x shares sold
What is Donee’s basis in gifted property?
[General Rule]
General rule:
- FMV > NBV at time of gift = use Rollover basis - [property has APPRECIATED in value]
- Donee’s basis = Donor’s basis (NBV)
What is the beginning date of holding period for gifted property?
[General Rule]
General rule:
- Donee’s beginning holding date = Donor’s holding date
- To determine holding period, compare Sale date and Donor’s holding date; if less than or equal to 1 year = Short-Term. If > 1 year = Long-Term
What is Donee’s basis in gifted property?
[Exception]
- FMV < NBV at time of gift = Basis + holding period depends on future price of stock - [property has DEPRECIATED in value]
- Donor’s Basis [NBV] > FMV at gift date = Exception applies
There are three (3) scenarios:
- If future sale price of stock > Donor’s Basis [NBV]; use this as basis [Gain] + Rollover holding date
- If future sale price of stock < FMV at gift date; use FMV as basis [Loss] + Gift Date for holding period
- If future sale price of stock is BETWEEN Donor’s Basis [NBV] and FMV at gift date = No Gain or Loss + Holding date unnecessary
What is Shareholder’s basis in stock received?
Basis of transferred property
+ Gain RECOGNIZED
- Boot received
- Liabilities ASSUMED by corporation [debt relief]
= Shareholder basis in corporation stock
What are the Dividends Received Deduction [DRD] amounts?
- Corporation owns < 20%; DRD = 50%
- Corporation owns 20% - 80%; DRD = 65%
- Corporation owns > 80%; DRD = 100%
Note 1: S-Corps NOT eligible for DRD
Note 2: If a question states “unrelated domestic corporation” it’s assumed that corporation owns less than 20% stock, and DRD = 50%
Note 3: DRD is lesser of: 1. 50% or 65% of dividends received OR 2. 50% or 65% of taxable income w/o regard to the DRD, NOL carry-forward, capital loss carry back
What are capital assets?
- Capital assets are assets that are NOT business assets or 1231 assets
- Assets held as investments
- Stocks, bonds, real estate + goodwill of a corporation
What is Donee’s/ Decedent’s basis in Inherited property?
- For inherited stock, use a “stepped-up” basis to FMV
- NBV is NOT needed; only care about FMV at time of death
- If no alternative valuation date selected; use FMV as Basis per share
- If alternate valuation date is elected; DON’T use FMV; use share price as of alternate valuation date
- Alternate valuation date is the EARLIER of 6 months OR date of distribution/sale of property. Only available if its use LOWERS entire gross estate + estate tax
- Holding period for ALL inherited property = ALWAYS long-term
- All capital gains on sale of inherited property = Long-term - [does not matter how long property was held]
What are the rules regarding exclusion of gain on sale of personal principal residence?
- Gain on sale of personal principal residence may be eligible for exclusion from gross income
- Losses from sale of personal principal residence = NOT deductible
- Exclusion = $500k MFJ; $250k Single, MFS, and HOH
- Must own + used property as principal residence for 2 yrs.+ during 5-year period ending on sale date
What is the Hardship provision?
- If sale of residence is due to a change in place of employment, health or other unforeseen circumstance taxpayer may prorate the exclusion
- Change in place of employment requires new work location to be at least 50 miles farther from home sold than old work location
- Hardship exclusion is $250k [1/2 of $500k full exclusion] from sale of personal residence
What is the Nonqualified use provision?
- Nonqualified use is any use of home other than use as a principal residence
- Nonqualified use does NOT include any portion of the 5-year period ending on sale date after last date home was used as a principal residence
- Portion of gain attributed to nonqualified use is NOT eligible for exclusion
- Portion of gain NOT eligible for exclusion = Period of nonqualified use / Total property ownership period
What are losses that are NOT deductible?
Mnemonic: WRaP them up and throw them away!
Losses that are NOT deductible:
W = Wash sale - if stock sold at loss + repurchased within 30 days; loss is DISALLOWED and will be deferred. It is ADDED back to shares repurchased within 30 days.
R = Related party transactions
P = Personal losses
What is depreciation recapture?
- The amount personal property sold for over NBV up to the original cost
- Taxed as ordinary income
- General rule: NO depreciation recapture for real property owned by individuals
What are MACRS 5-year property items?
- Computers
- Delivery van
- Automobiles
- Light trucks
- Typewriters
- Copiers
Note 1: Remember Electronics + vehicles are 5-year.
Note 2: Use half-year convention. Half-year convention built into first + last year MACRS rates. If property disposed of before last year, full MACRS rate must be multiplied by 50%.
Note 3: 200% Declining balance method used for recovery period.