REG1 Flashcards
When should a cash basis taxpayer report income?
In the year in which income is either actually or constructively received, whether in cash or property.
State the basic tax formula
Gross Income Less: Deductions FOR AGI = Adjusted gross income Less: Deductions FROM AGI (Greater itemized or standard deduction) Less: Exemptions = Taxable Income * Tax rate = Gross tax liability Less: Credits and prepayments =Tax due
Identify the due date and extension available for individuals
Due date: April 15
Extension: Form 4868 - Automatic 6 months
Identify the various filing statuses
- Single
- Married filing jointly
- Married filing separately
- Head of Household
- Qualified widow with dependent child
Criteria for filing single
- Unmarried or legally separated from spouse at the end of the year
- Does not quality for another filing status
Criteria for filing married filing jointly
At the end of the tax year:
- married and living together or
- Living together in a recognized common law marriage or
- Married and living apart but not legally separated or divorced
Criteria for filing married filing separately
At the end of the tax year:
- Married AND
- if one spouse wants to be responsible only for own tax, or
- if both spouses do not agree to file a joint return
Criteria for filing head of household
- Individual is not married, legally separated, or is married and has lived apart from his/her spouse for the last 6 months of the year
- Individual is not a “qualifying widower”
- Individual is not a nonresident alien
- Individual maintained a home that, for more than half the taxable year, is the principle residence of a:
1. Son/daughter who is a qualifying child or dependent
2. Dependent relative who resides with taxpayer
3. Dependent father/mother, regardless is live with taxpayer
Criteria for filing qualifying widower/surviving spouse
- Unmarried at the end of the tax year
- Surviving spouse must maintain a household, which for the entire tax year was the principle place of abode of a son/daughter or step children and
- Surviving spouse is entitled to a dependency exemption for the son/daughter
(The taxpayer qualifies for this status for 2 years after the death of spouse)
Test for “qualifying child” CARES
Close relative Age limit (19/24) and younger than the taxpayer Residency and filing requirement Eliminate gross income test Support test changes
Test for “qualifying relative” SUPORT
Support over 50% test
Under the personal exemption amount of gross income test
Precludes dependent filing a joint return
Only citizens of US/Canada/Mexico
Relative test
Taxpayer lives with for whole year
Requirements for a multiple support agreement
- 2 or more people together provide more than 50% of support, but no one contributes more
- To claim the exemption, must provide more than 10% of support, and meet the other dependency tests
- A multiple support declaration, Form 2120, must be filed
Define gross income
Includes all income from whatever source derived, unless specifically excluded
4 categories of individual income
- Ordinary (wages/salaries)
- Portfolio (dividends/interest)
- Passive (real estate investment and limited partnership)
- Capital
Name some nontaxable fringe benefits (exclusions)
- De minimis fringe benefit
- Qualified tuition reduction
- Qualified employee discounts
- Employer paid accident, medical and health insurance
Are life insurance premiums paid by an employer taxable to employee?
Premiums on the first $50,000 of group term life insurance are not includible in gross income. Premiums paid over should be included.
Give some examples of exempt interest
- State and local gov’t bonds
- Bonds of a US possession
- Series EE if used for higher ed
- Interest on Veterans Admin insurance
Tax treatment of unearned income of a child who falls under the “Kiddie tax”
Is taxed at his parents’ higher tax rate.
Net unearned income = child’s total unearned income - standard deduction of $950 - additional $950(which is generally taxed at child’s 10-15% rate
State the tax treatment of property settlements in a divorce
The transferring spouse gets no deduction for the payments made or property transferred, and the payments are not includible in the gross income of the spouse receiving it.