Tax Planning Flashcards
Basis for acquired property
1) Purchase = cost + acquisition cost
2) inheritance = DMV date of death or alt valuation date,always lt holding period
3) gift = assume donors basis and donors holding period
Or if sold for less than donors basis then fmv on date of gift
Or of sold between fmv and donor basis tax payer reports neither gain or loss
Rule 179 expense election
Limited to income
$139,000 in 2012
Phased out for personalty property over $560,000
Ex: income $40,000, personalty property, $125,000= 179: $40,000 expense deduction
Income $150,000, property $600,000= 170: $99,000, $139,000-$40,000
Section 121requirements
Gain on sale of primary residence
-$250,000 single…$500,000 joint exclusion
-principle residence for 2 out of prior 5 years
-partial exclusion for health, job or unforeseen circumstances: 24 months x maximum exclusion
Example 6 mo/24 mo = 25% x $250,000 = $62,500
Section 1231, 1245 rules property used in trade or business
24k-------------sold
$4,000 cap gain 1231
20k-------------original basis
$8k. Depreciation = 1245 recovery (ordinary income)
12k------------adjusted basis
$4k capital loss 1231
8k-------------sold
**Look back 5 years
** 1231 Cap gain tax is 25%Calculating fed income tax
Adjustment to get AGI
- IRA or Keogh plan
- alimony paid
- penalty on early withdrawal of savings
- student loan interest
- job related moving expenses
- jury fees paid to employer
- hsa saving deduction
Cash vs accrual accounting
Cash recognizes income when actually paid
Accrual basis method:
must be used for inventory, unless ave annual gross < $1,000,000
Hybrid method
Percentage completion method: long term contact > 1 year
Casualty + theft loss calculation for tax deduction
Lesser of the decrease of fmv or adj basis. $10,000
Reduced by
1) insurance. $ 6,000
2) 10% AGI. $3,000
3) $100 floor per occurrence. $100
=$ 900
Income tax of Life insurance
- At death lump sum: income tax free, but maybe subject to estate tax
- At death installment payments: earnings are taxable pro rata
- prior to death lump sum: ordinary income above cost basis
- prior to death installment payments: amounts in excess of cost basis taxable pro rata over installment period
Life insurance June 1988
Law crated MEC
MEC is life insurance contract that fails 7 pay test ( greater than 7 yearly premiums over the 1st 7 years)
Distributions are LIFO and subject to 10% penalty if younger than 59 1/2
Annuity distributions, non- periodic
Pre 1982 FIFO
Post 1982 LIFO
Taxability of all Annuity distributions periodic payments
Pre 1987, pro rata distributions apply to ALL payments
Post 1987, pro rata distributions apply to payments until basis is recovered, then fully taxable
Fixed annuity installment exclusion ratio
Investment in contract / total expected return (total payments)
$20,000/$60,000=33% return of principle, tax free
Variable annuity exclusion ratio
Investment in contract / total number of payments
$20,000/60= $333 per payment is tax free ( return of principle)
Net capital gain or loss tax calculation
1) Net lt gain with lt loss
2) net st gain with st loss
3) net lt gain/loss with st gain/loss
Up to $3,000 loss against ordinary income
Long term capital gain tax rates
1) If marginal tax rate is 0-15%, ltcg rate is 0%
2) If marginal tax rate is above 15%, ltcg rate is 15%
3) Collectibles 28%
4) Ltcg on property 1231 is 25%
Investment interest expense ( margin) deductibility
Deductible up to the amount of net investment income
Investment income, less
Investment advisor fee ( only amount over 2% AGI deducted)
= net investment income
Ex if net inv income is $7,000 and margin is $9,000, then only $7,000 is deductible
Taxation of disability insurance
Employer pays pretax premium , then benefit is taxable as ordinary income
Employee pays after tax premium, then benefit is tax FREE
Payments can be pro rata
Dependent UNearned income rules
If eligible to be claimed as dependent, NO personal exemption, only standard deduction $950
Age 18 or 19-24 if full time student
Kiddie tax next $950 unearned
Over $1900 taxed at parents marginal tax rate
