Tax Flashcards
Congressional committee reports
Explains the intent of tax laws.
Sham transaction
Intended for tax avoidance
Penalty for tax fraud
75% of tax due
Step transaction
Ignore the individual transactions and instead tax the ultimate transaction
Substance over form
An example is a president of a company receiving a loan from said company but never intending to pay it back
Assignment of income
An example is a parent giving income to the child due to being in a lower tax bracket
Schedule C income
Business income that must be included in gross income for tax purposes.
Scholarships and taxable income
Tuition and books are excluded from income but room and board are taxable. Entitled to standard deduction.
Taxable fringe benefits
Health insurance premiums paid for self-employed, partners, and more than 2% owners of an S corporation. 100% is deductible. Does not include disability insurance premiums.
Group life policy
Taxable in excess of $50k if the plan is nondiscriminatory.
Adjustments
IRA contributions, student loan interest, Keogh or SEP, self-employment tax, certain alimony paid, self-employment health insurance, moving expenses for military, penalty for early withdrawal of savings, HSA, $4k educational expense
Calculation of a deductible loss
Step 1: Use the lesser of basis or FMV
Step 2: Subtract any insurance coverage
Step 3: Subtract $100 (floor)
Step 4: Subtract 10% of AGI
Personal exemption
Always 0
Marginal tax rate
Percentage applying to the last dollar of taxable income.
Kiddie tax
- $1,250 standard deduction (no tax). If earned income is greater, add $400
- Next $1,250 taxed at 10%. Amounts greater than $2,500 taxed at the parents’ marginal tax rate.
Unearned income under $2,500 re kiddie tax
No need to know parent’s tax rate.
Self-employed income
Either salary or investment income. Does not include distribution from an S corporation
Childcare credit vs. child credit
$6k x 20% = $1200 vs. $2k x 3 = $6,000
Tax deduction vs. tax credit
Deduction is worth more to a high-bracket taxpayer and a credit is worth more to a low-bracket taxpayer.
Medical expense deduction
Not deductible if it has been reimbursed, subject to 7.5% of AGI floor, only deductible if itemizing, includes medical insurance premiums.
Child support payments
Not included in gross income
Itemized and standard deductions
Deductions from AGI
Cash gift at work
Subject to gift tax but not income tax
Margin interest
Only deductible up to investment income
S corporation wages
Subject to FICA, not self-employment taxes
Value of personal casualty loss (federally declared disaster)
The lower of basis or FMV
Investment interest expense
Deductible up to the amount of the year’s net investment income.
Phaseout of itemized deductions
Eliminated for 2018 through 2025
Constructive receipt and cash method
Revenue from services performed in the year the payment is received, regardless of when the services were performed.
Accrual method
Realize revenue when the earnings process with goods or services they provide is complete, regardless of when payment is received.
How does a business increase cash flow?
When they collect the revenues owed.
Installment sales
Permits capital gain recognized to be spread over the life of the note rather than in the year of the sale.
LIFO
Reduced earnings, deferral of taxes, understated inventory
FIFO
Increase earnings, greater tax liability, current cost inventory. Company will sell its lowest cost goods first.
What does a net operating loss (NOL) accomplish?
Corporations can utilize losses from prior years to offset current year income. Can only carry forward.
NOL and Schedule C
Losses attributable to a sole proprietorship can be claimed on personal 1040 and reduce AGI.
Accounting method for $25m or more in revenues
Accrual
How will inventory be reflected with FIFO?
It will reflect current cost.
Why would a business use the accrual method?
It maintains inventory
When can the sale of property be recognized under the installment method?
Property sold is undeveloped land.
S Corporations and NOL
S corps can’t use NOL because they already pass-through annual losses.
What inventory method to use to reduce taxes in an inflationary period?
LIFO
Qualified Business Income (QBI)
Net income (profit) from a pass-through business
Difference between a C Corp and an S Corp/Partnership/Sole Proprietorship
C Corp is not a pass through entity, so can’t utilize a tax deduction.