Tax Lesson 5 Flashcards
Selection process for entities includes consideration of factors:
Ease & cost of formation
Complexity of management & governance
How transferability & dissolution are achieved
Liability protection for owners’ personal assets
Reporting requirements & taxation
Entities almost always formed under
State law
Proprietorships & general partnerships
Less complex, inexpensive, easy to form
Requirements for registration may include:
Initial registration with state
Annual filing requirements
State imposed operational requirements
Proprietorships can be dissolved
At election of owner with no formal steps
Liability protection
Not available for proprietorships, general partnerships, nor general partners of limited partnership & only to limited extent for LLPs
For limited liability protection to continue
Entity must alert public to limited liability status in clear & identifiable manner
Failure to identify status pierced the veil & could result in personal liability of owners
To avoid piercing the veil: keep business & personal books/records separate, follow corporate formalities, address content in contracts/correspondence from view point of business entity not owners
Also maintain reasonable amount of liability insurance & be vigilant in meeting formalities
Sole Proprietorships
1 individual
No filings, filing fees, transfer of assets
Formation easy & inexpensive
If collecting sales tax, register with state or local taxing authority
100% ownership interest, easy to self if find a buyer
Dissolution by discontinuing business & paying creditors or death
Capital limited to resources of proprietor
Unlimited legal liability
No guarantee of continuity
Sole Prop Tax
Add schedule c to 1040
Use SSN unless employees then need EIN
No unemployment taxes on self, only employees
Does pay self-employment tax (15.3%) on own earnings & 1/2 SS taxes for employees
Can deduct all ordinary & necessary business expenses from gross income (deductions part 2 of schedule c)
Profit/loss from schedule c carried over to 1040
May make qualified contributions to retirement plan
To calculate self employed contribution to Keogh plan, use formula
Keogh Contribution
1) self employment income x 92.35%
12.4% of $147k
Plus 2.9% all income
Equals self employment tax
Self employed contribution rate = contribution to others/1+ contribution to others
2) net self employment income - 1/2 self employment taxes = adjusted net self employment income x contribution rate = self employed contribution
25% compensation limit for
Deductible employee contributions
Advantages of sole prop
Easy to form Simple to operate Easy to sell business assets Few admin burdens Income passed through schedule c 1040
Disadvantages of sole prop:
Limited sources of capital
Unlimited liability
No guarantee of continuity
Business income subject to self-employment tax
General Partnerships
Joint
Not required to register with Secretary of State
Each general partner participate fully in management & act with full authority
Equal ownership/profits/loss unless specified
Usually have voting power proportionate to interest
Difficult to dispose of interest
Dissolution either voluntary or judicial (when don’t agree - most likely to arise when required unanimous)
Should have written agreement about interests & distributive share of profits/losses
Unlimited liability
Relaxed formalities
Employees able to receive tax free fringe benefits; not true for partners (can participate in qualified plan subject to limitations of sole prop)
General Partnership Taxation
Not taxed at entity level
Form 1065 schedule k
Net income subject to self employment tax (15.3%)
Required to obtain EIN
Can deduct all ordinary & necessary business expenses from income
Can deduct losses against ordinary income to extent of investment/at risk amount
For contributions of services partner must recognize ordinary compensation income for value of services; amount recognized becomes basis
Basis adjusted each year (increased by income, decreased by losses, non deductible expenses, distributions)
Withdrawals not taxable but do reduce basis; additional withdrawals beyond basis considered capital gain
Advantages of Partnerships
More sources of initial capital
More management resources available
Fewer admin burdens
Income/losses passed through for tax purposes
Disadvantages of Partnerships
Transfer of interests more difficult
Unlimited liability
Income tax & basis adjustment results complex
Business net income subject to self employment tax
Partners entitled to few tax-free fringe benefits
Limited Partnerships
2 or more
If limited participate in management become general
Usually at least one general partner
File partnership agreement - establishes who limited & who general
Dissolution same as general partnership
Transfer of limited difficult
Easier to raise capital because of liability shield for limited partners
General partners still have unlimited liability
Income Tax for Limited Partnerships
Limited partners not subject to self employment tax
Form 1065 & schedule k1
Advantages of Limited Partnerships
Pass through tax status
Flexibility in structuring interests
Limited partners not personally liable as long as don’t engage in management
Disadvantages of Limited Partnerships
Must file with state to register
General partners liable for debts/obligations
Losses generally passive losses for limited partners
Limited Liability Partnerships
Typically licensed professionals practicing together
Limited liability except for personal liability & malpractice
File with state to register; likely annual filings
Dissolution same for partnership (can be difficult due to finding similarly licensed professional)
Amount of capital contributed determines interest
Not personally liable for acts of other partners
Treated as partnership for tax
Flow through - not taxed at entity level
Advantages of LLP
Pass through taxation
Flexibility in structuring ownership interests
Partners can insulate selves from acts of other partners
Disadvantages of LLP
Required to file with state to register
Unlimited liability for own acts of malpractice
Example Exam Question: Basis in LLP was $150j. Receive k1 from partnership showing the following: Cash withdrawal $30k LLP income $17500 Dividend income $5000 STCL $1400 Charitable contributions $2900 What is new basis?
A. $31400
B. $76400
C. $138200
D. $150000
C
Family Limited Partnerships
Primary purpose of transferring to younger generations using annual exclusions & valuation discounts for minority interests & lack of marketability
Usually transfer highly appreciated property that is expected to continue appreciating in return for small general & large limited partnership interests
No income or gift tax consequences upon creation
Owner values limited partner interests
Usually transferability restrictions
Usually valued 20-40% discount from FMV for calculating gift tax payable
Original owner/transferor can maintain control
Often a series of transfers
Individual who transfers to FLP needs to be financially secure without transferred property from net worth & cash flow perspective
Can help protect assets from creditors & in case of divorce