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Starr, a self-employed individual, purchased a piece of equipment for use in Starr's business. The costs associated with the acquisition of the equipment were:
What is the depreciable basis of the equipment?
Choice 'd' is correct. The rules for depreciable basis in tax are generally the same as the GAAP rules for capitalizing an asset. The depreciable basis is the cost associated with the purchase of the asset and with getting the asset ready for its intended use. Further improvements are also capitalized, and the basis is reduced for any accumulated depreciation. In this case, the cost of obtaining the equipment and getting the equipment ready for its intended use includes all the items shown above, as follows:
Choice 'a' is incorrect. The costs of delivery charges, installation, and sales tax are all part of the cost of obtaining the asset and getting the asset ready for its intended use. All of these charges are included in the depreciable basis of the equipment.
Choice 'b' is incorrect. The costs of delivery charges and installation are both part of the cost of obtaining the asset and getting the asset ready for its intended use. These charges are included in the depreciable basis of the equipment.
Choice 'c' is incorrect. The cost of installation is part of the cost getting the asset ready for its intended use. This charge is included in the depreciable basis of the equipment.
Which of the following sales should be reported as a capital gain?
Choice 'd' is correct. Government bonds held by an individual investor are considered capital assets in the hands of the investor. When these types of security investments are sold, the resulting gain or loss is reported as capital.
Choice 'a' is incorrect. In this case, we must assume that the BEST answer is option 'd' (as that option would ALWAYS result in capital gain or loss treatment) and that the examiners are assuming that the equipment is depreciable equipment that has been used in a business for over one year. [If the equipment had been considered a personal asset by the examiners and had sold for a gain, it would also be a capital asset that sold for a capital gain, and there would be two correct answers. Remember that the correct answer is the option that best answers the question.] Depreciable equipment used in a business and held for over one year falls under the category of Section 1245 property. When Section 1245 assets are sold at a gain, all the accumulated depreciation on the asset is recaptured as ordinary income (the same category as the depreciation expense was deducted against), and any remaining gain (typically, in practice, this is not the case, though, as the asset would have had to sell for an amount greater than its purchase price) is capital gain under Code Section 1231. [Note that Section 1245 applies only to gains. If the asset had sold for a loss, the loss would have been ordinary under Section 1231.]
Choice 'b' is incorrect. Real property sold by a dealer is considered inventory and results in ordinary income or ordinary losses upon sale. Inventory is not a capital asset and is not afforded the capital gain benefits.
Choice 'c' is incorrect. Inventory is not a capital asset and is not afforded the capital gain benefits. The sale of inventory results in ordinary income or loss (e.g., gross profit on sales) being reported on the tax return, as inventory is an asset held for sale in the ordinary course of business.
Clark bought Series EE U.S. Savings Bonds after 1989. Redemption proceeds will be used for payment of college tuition for Clark's dependent child. One of the conditions that must be met for tax exemption of accumulated interest on these bonds is that the:
Choice 'a' is correct. One of the conditions that must be met for tax exemption of accumulated interest on the bonds is that the purchaser of the bonds must be the sole owner of the bonds (or joint owner with his or her spouse).
Choice 'b' is incorrect. The bonds must be bought and put in the name of the owner or co-owner, not in the name of the dependent child.
Choice 'c' is incorrect. The owner must be at least 24 years old before the bonds issue date.
Choice 'd' is incorrect. There is no requirement that the bonds must be transferred to the college for redemption by the college rather than by the owner of the bonds.
Parker, whose spouse died during the preceding year, has not remarried. Parker maintains a home for a dependent child. What is Parker's most advantageous filing status?
Choice 'd' is correct. A qualifying widow (er) is a taxpayer who may use the joint tax return standard deduction and rates (but not the exemption for the deceased spouse) for each of two taxable years following the year of death of his or her spouse, unless he or she remarries. The surviving spouse must maintain a household that, for the whole entire taxable year, was the principal place of abode of a son, stepson, daughter, or stepdaughter (whether by blood or adoption). The surviving spouse must also be entitled to a dependency exemption for such individual. Parker may file as a qualifying widow (er) since her spouse died in the previous tax year, she did not remarry and she maintained a home for a dependent child. Since, qualifying widow (er) is the most advantageous status and Parker qualifies, Parker would file as a qualifying widow (er).
Choice 'a' is incorrect. Even though Parker would qualify as single, filing single would give Parker a high tax liability than the qualifying widow (er) status and therefore is not most advantageous.
Choice 'b' is incorrect. Parker would not qualify as head of household for the first two years after the death of Parker's spouse because one of the requirements for Head of Household status is that the taxpayer is NOT a surviving spouse. (Also, note that the likely reason for this requirement is that filing as Head of Household status would give the qualifying surviving spouse taxpayer a higher tax liability than the Qualifying Widow(er) status, which would be less advantageous.)
Choice 'c' is incorrect. Parker would not qualify to file married filing separately.
Tom and Joan Moore, both CPAs, filed a joint 1994 federal income tax return showing $70,000 in taxable income. During 1994, Tom's daughter Laura, age 16, resided with Tom. Laura had no income of her own and was Tom's dependent.
Determine the amount of income or loss, if any that should be included on page one of the Moores' 1994 Form 1040.
In 1994, Joan received $3,500 as beneficiary of the death benefit, which was provided by her brother's employer. Joan's brother did not have a nonforfeitable right to receive the money while living.
'A' is correct. $0. Life insurance proceeds received by reason of the death of the insured are not taxable income to the recipient.
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