Exam 1: Business Income, Deductions, and Accounting Methods

Sam operates a small chain of pizza outlets in Fort Collins, Colorado. In November of this year Sam decided to attend a two-day management training course. Sam could choose to attend the course in Denver or Los Angeles. Sam decided to attend the course in Los Angeles and take an eight-day vacation immediately after the course. Sam reported the following expenditures from the trip: What amount of travel expenditures can Sam deduct?

Mike started a calendar-year business on September 1^st of this year by paying 12 months of rent on his shop at $1,000 per month. What is the maximum amount of rent that Mike can deduct this year under each type of accounting method?

George operates a business that generated revenues of $50 million and allocable taxable income of $1.25 million. Included in the computation of allocable taxable income were deductible expenses of $240,000 of business interest and $250,000 of depreciation. What is the maximum business interest deduction that George will be eligible to claim this year?

Marilyn operates a day care center as a cash-method sole proprietorship. On August 1^st of this year Marilyn received a prepayment of $4,000 for child care services to be rendered evenly over the next 20 months. How much income must Marilyn recognize this year if she is attempting to minimize her tax burden?

Otto operates a bakery and is on the cash method and calendar year. This year one of Otto's ovens caught fire and was partially destroyed. Otto bought it a few years ago for $20,000 and claimed depreciation of $12,000 up to the fire. Otto was charged $4,400 for repairs to the oven but the insurance company paid Otto $1,500 for the damage. What is Otto's casualty loss deduction?

Brad operates a storage business on the accrual method. On July 1 Brad paid $48,000 for rent on his storage warehouse and $18,000 for insurance on the contents of the warehouse. The rent and insurance cover the next 12 months. What is Brad's deduction for the rent and insurance?

Which of the following is likely to be a fully deductible business expense?

The test for whether an expenditure is reasonable in amount is whether the expenditure was for an "arm's length" amount.

Shelley is self-employed in Texas and recently attended a two-day business conference in New Jersey. After Shelley attended the conference, she had dinner with an old friend who lived nearby. Shelly documented her expenditures (described below). What amount can Shelley deduct?

Which of the following types of expenditures is not subject to capitalization under the UNICAP rules?

Manley operates a law practice on the accrual method and calendar year. At the beginning of the year Manley's firm had an allowance for doubtful accounts with a balance of $15,000. At the end of the year, Manley recorded bad debt expense of $23,000 and the balance of doubtful accounts had increased to $18,000. What is Manley's deduction for bad debt expense this year?

Beth operates a plumbing firm. In August of last year she signed a contract to provide plumbing services for a renovation. Beth began the work that August and finished the work in December of last year. However, Beth didn't bill the client until January of this year and she didn't receive the payment until March when she received payment in full. When should Beth recognize income under the accrual method of accounting?

A short tax year can end on any day of any month other than December.

Only half the cost of a business meal is deductible even if the meal is extravagant.

Todd operates a business using the cash basis of accounting. At the end of last year, Todd was granted permission to switch his sales on account to the accrual method. Last year Todd made $420,000 of sales on account and $64,000 was uncollected at the end of the year. What is Todd's §481 adjustment for this year?

Colby Motors uses the accrual method and reports on a calendar year. In December of last year, Colby acquired auto repair equipment. As part of the acquisition, Colby purchased a warranty agreement that requires the seller of the equipment to provide repairs on the equipment for three years. Colby paid the cost of the warranty, $15,000, in January of this year. What can Colby deduct for the cost of the warranty on the tax return for last year?

In order to deduct a portion of the cost of a business meal, which of the following conditions must be met?

Even a cash-method taxpayer must consistently use accounting methods that "clearly reflect income" for tax purposes.

Which of the following is a true statement about a request for a change in accounting method?

Big Homes Corporation is an accrual-method calendar-year taxpayer that manufactures and sells modular homes. This year for the first time Big Homes was forced to offer a rebate on the purchase of new homes. At year-end, Big Homes had paid $12,000 in rebates and was liable for an additional $7,500 in rebates to buyers. What amount of the rebates, if any, can Big Homes deduct this year?