Exam 6: Corporations: Redemptions and Liquidations

In comparing a qualifying stock redemption with a complete liquidation, which of the following statements is incorrect?

A subsidiary corporation is liquidated at a time when it is indebted to its parent corporation. The subsidiary corporation distributes property to the parent corporation in satisfaction of the indebtedness. If the liquidation is governed by § 332, neither the subsidiary nor the parent recognize gain or loss on the transfer of property in satisfaction of indebtedness.

Compare the sale of a corporation's assets with a sale of its stock from the perspective of the seller.

If a parent corporation makes a § 338 election, the subsidiary corporation recognizes gain but not loss on the deemed sale of its assets on the qualified stock purchase date.

Hannah, Greta, and Winston own the stock in Redpoll Corporation (E & P of $900,000) as follows: Hannah, 600 shares; Greta, 400 shares; and Winston, 1,000 shares. Greta is Hannah's daughter, and Winston is Hannah's brother. Redpoll Corporation redeems 400 of Hannah's shares (basis of $55,000) for $240,000. Hannah purchased the stock three years ago as an investment. With respect to the stock redemption, Hannah has:

Puffin Corporation's 2,000 shares outstanding are owned as follows: Paul, 800 shares; Sandra (Paul's sister), 800 shares; and Greta (Paul's granddaughter), 400 shares. During the current year, Puffin (E & P of $1 million) redeemed 600 shares of Paul's stock for $100,000. If Paul had acquired the 600 shares five years ago for $30,000, he will have a long-term capital gain of $70,000 from the redemption.

Lupe and Rodrigo, father and son, each own 50% of the stock outstanding of Heron Corporation (E & P of $400,000). During the current year, Heron redeems all of Lupe's shares for $250,000. The transaction cannot qualify as a complete termination redemption if:

Which of the following statements is correct with respect to a partial liquidation?

To qualify a partial liquidation under the termination of a business test, the distribution must consist of the assets of a qualified trade or business.

As a result of a redemption, a shareholder's interest (direct and indirect) in the corporation decreased from 80% to 55%. The redemption qualifies for sale or exchange treatment as a disproportionate redemption.

For purposes of a partial liquidation, the termination of a business test is a subjective test that should be relied upon only after obtaining a favorable ruling from the IRS.

Rodolfo makes a gift of § 306 stock (basis of $75,000, fair market value of $100,000) in Kiwi Corporation to his daughter, Josie. When the stock was issued to Rodolfo, his share of Kiwi Corporation's E & P was $80,000. When its E & P is $200,000, Kiwi Corporation redeems all of Josie's stock for $100,000. With respect to the stock redemption:

The stock in Rhea Corporation is owned by Jennifer (80%) and Lucy (20%), mother and daughter. In a liquidation of the corporation in the current year, Rhea distributes land that it purchased two years ago for $675,000 to Lucy. The property has a fair market value on the date of distribution of $450,000. One year later, Lucy sells the land for $400,000. What loss, if any, will Rhea Corporation recognize with respect to the distribution of land?

As a general rule, a liquidating corporation recognizes gains but not losses on the distribution of property in complete liquidation.

If a parent corporation makes a § 338 election, the subsidiary corporation is treated as a new corporation as of the day following the qualified stock purchase date.

In general, if a shareholder's ownership interest is not diminished as a result of a stock redemption, the Code will treat the transaction as a sale or exchange.

Sparrow Corporation purchased 90% of the stock of Warbler Corporation eight years ago for $1 million. In the current year, Sparrow liquidates Warbler and acquires assets with a basis to Warbler of $850,000 (fair market value of $1.2 million). Sparrow will have a basis in the assets of $850,000 (Warbler's basis in the assets), and no recognized gain or loss.

The built-in loss limitation in a complete liquidation does not apply to losses attributable to a decline in a property's fair market value after its transfer to the corporation.

Leon owns 750 shares of the 2,000 outstanding shares of Crane Corporation (E & P of $900,000). None of the other shareholders of Crane are related to Leon. Leon acquired his Crane shares ten years ago for $80,000. Crane has operated several trades or businesses for more than five years. In the current year, Crane sells the assets of one of those trades or businesses and distributes the proceeds from the asset sale to the shareholders in a pro rata stock redemption. In this transaction, Leon receives $250,000 in redemption of 300 shares of Crane. As a result of this transaction, Leon will recognize:

If a parent corporation makes a § 338 election, the subsidiary corporation must be liquidated.