Exam 6: Corporations: Redemptions and Liquidations

One advantage of acquiring a corporation via an asset purchase instead of a stock purchase is that an asset purchase avoids the transfer of the acquired corporation's liabilities.

Penguin Corporation purchased bonds (basis of $190,000) of its 100% owned subsidiary, Finch Corporation, at a discount. Pursuant to a § 332 liquidation and in satisfaction of the indebtedness, Finch distributes land worth $200,000 (basis of $160,000) to Penguin. Which of the following statements is correct with respect to the distribution of land?

During the current year, Ecru Corporation is liquidated and distributes its only asset, land, to Kena, the sole shareholder. On the date of distribution, the land has a basis of $250,000, a fair market value of $650,000, and is subject to a liability of $500,000. Kena, who takes the land subject to the liability, has a basis of $120,000 in the Ecru stock. With respect to the distribution of the land, which of the following statements is correct?

In a redemption of § 306 stock, the redemption proceeds constitute dividend income to the extent of the corporation's E & P on the date of the redemption.

Lucinda owns 1,100 shares of Blackbird Corporation stock at a time when Blackbird has 2,000 shares of stock outstanding. The remaining shareholders are unrelated to Lucinda. What is the minimum number of shares Blackbird must redeem from Lucinda so that the transaction will qualify as a disproportionate redemption?

Connie sold 400 shares of § 306 stock (basis of $20,000) in Blackbird Corporation to Larry (an unrelated individual) for $50,000. When the § 306 stock was issued to Connie, the stock had a value of $50,000, and Blackbird had E & P of $500,000. At the time the § 306 stock is sold, Blackbird's E & P is $550,000. At the time of the sale, Connie owned 900 shares of common stock (basis of $210,000) in Blackbird. With respect to the sale of the § 306 stock by Connie:

Legal dissolution under state law is required for a liquidation to be complete for tax purposes.

To carry out a qualifying stock redemption, Turaco Corporation (E & P of $800,000) transfers land held for investment purposes to Aida, a shareholder. The land had a basis of $250,000, a fair market value of $400,000, and is subject to a $300,000 liability. Aida has a basis of $70,000 in the shares redeemed. Which of the following is a correct statement regarding the tax consequences of this redemption?

At a time when Blackbird Corporation had E & P of $700,000 and 1,000 shares of stock outstanding, the corporation distributed $300,000 to redeem 400 shares of its stock. The transaction qualified as a disproportionate redemption for the shareholder. Blackbird's E & P is reduced by $300,000 as a result of the distribution.

Raul's gross estate includes 1,500 shares of stock of Orange Corporation (basis to Raul of $600,000, fair market value on date of death of $4.1 million). The estate will incur $2.2 million of death taxes and funeral and administration expenses, and the adjusted gross estate is $9 million. Denise, Raul's daughter and sole heir of his estate, owns the remaining 500 shares of Orange Corporation's (2,000) shares outstanding. In the current year, Orange (E & P of $5 million) redeems all of the estate's 1,500 shares for $4.1 million. What are the tax consequences of the redemption to Raul's estate?

Which of the following statements is correct with respect to the § 338 election?

Tammy forms White Corporation in a transaction qualifying under § 351. In that transaction, Tammy transferred cash and equipment in exchange for White Corporation common (1,000 shares) and preferred (200 shares) stock. The preferred stock is not § 306 stock for Tammy.

One similarity between the tax treatment accorded liquidating and nonliquidating distributions is with respect to a shareholder's basis in property received in such distributions. For each type of distribution, the shareholder's basis is the property's fair market value on the date of distribution.

Three years ago, Darlene received preferred (§ 306) stock pursuant to a nontaxable stock dividend from Grackle Corporation. In the current year, Darlene gives the Grackle preferred stock to her sister, Nancy. The Grackle preferred stock is § 306 stock with regards to Nancy.

For purposes of a partial liquidation, a distribution is not essentially equivalent to a dividend if it results in a genuine contraction of the business of the corporation.

Pursuant to a liquidation, Coral Corporation distributes to Lucinda, a shareholder, land (basis of $90,000, fair market value of $200,000). The land is subject to a $75,000 liability. Lucinda will have a basis of $125,000 in the land.

Bristlebird Corporation (E & P of $700,000) has 3,000 shares of common stock outstanding. Juan owns 1,500 shares and his wife, Roberta, owns 1,500 shares. Juan and Roberta each have a basis of $90,000 in their Bristlebird stock. In the current year, Bristlebird Corporation redeems 1,000 shares from Juan for $250,000. With respect to the distribution in redemption of the Bristlebird stock:

The stock of Loon Corporation is held as follows: 85% by Duck Corporation and 15% by Gerald, an individual. Loon Corporation is liquidated in December of the current year, pursuant to a plan adopted earlier in the year. Loon Corporation distributes land with a basis of $350,000 and fair market value of $390,000 to Gerald in liquidation of his stock interest. Gerald had a basis of $200,000 in his Loon stock. How much gain will Loon Corporation recognize in this liquidating distribution?

The Code treats corporate distributions that are a return of a shareholder's investment as sales or exchanges and corporate distributions that are a return from a shareholder's investment as dividends.

Vireo Corporation redeemed shares from its sole shareholder pursuant to a written agreement between the parties that clearly identified the transaction as a stock redemption (and not a dividend distribution). Since the agreement is binding under state law, the shareholder will receive sale or exchange treatment with respect to the redemption.