Exam 12: The Choice of Business Entity

Platte River Corporation is a calendar year S corporation. At the beginning of the year, Mr. Reeves owned 100% of Platte River's outstanding stock. On June 30 of the current year, he gave 25% of the stock to his son Mark and 10% of the stock to his daughter Megan. Platte River's ordinary income for the year was $220,000. What portion of this income must each shareholder report?

Limited liability companies (LLCs) provide owners the tax advantages of a passthrough entity and the limited liability protection of corporations.

When a corporation is thinly capitalized, the IRS is more likely to reclassify a portion of the corporation's debt as equity.

Kansas Corporation is a 68% shareholder in Colorado, Inc. Last year, Colorado paid Kansas $100,000 as compensation for unspecified services provided by Kansas employees to Colorado, and deducted the payment on its federal income tax return. The revenue agent who audited both corporations' returns concluded that the payment is a constructive dividend. Both corporations have a 21% marginal tax rate. What is the effect of this audit conclusion on each corporation's income tax liability?

Loretta plans to start a small business, which will operate as a corporation. In year 0, she expects the corporation to generate a loss of $100,000. Subsequently, she expects the corporation to be profitable, and projects profit of $150,000 in year 1, and $250,000 in year 2. Using Appendix A and a 10% discount rate, calculate the present value of expected tax savings and costs on the business earnings for the first 3 years of operations if the business does not make an S corporation election.

Bryan Houlberg expects his C corporation to generate a profit of $200,000. What is Bryan's after-tax cash flow from the corporation if net income after corporate tax is distributed to him as a dividend and his marginal tax rate on ordinary income is 37%?

Kyrsten Haas expects her S corporation to generate a profit of $200,000. What is the effective tax rate on the $200,000 if no cash is distributed? Kyrsten's marginal tax rate on ordinary income is 37%.

Which of the following statements regarding the tax burden imposed on business entities is true?

One disadvantage of the creation of a family-owned entity is that there is dilution of control with respect to the original business owners.

Mrs. Jansen is the sole shareholder of Mimeo Corporation. She also owns the office building that serves as corporate headquarters. Last year, Mimeo paid $200,000 annual rent to Mrs. Jansen for use of the building. Mimeo's marginal tax rate was 21% and Mrs. Jansen's marginal tax rate on ordinary income was 37%. The revenue agent who audited Mimeo's return concluded that the fair rental value of the office building was $150,000. Compute the net impact of this audit conclusion on Mimeo's income tax liability.

Which of the following is a consequence of establishing a family partnership or a family-owned S corporation?

A business generates profit of $100,000. The owner has a 37% marginal tax rate. What amount of corporate and individual income tax will be paid on this profit if the business is an S corporation and no income is distributed?

A family partnership can be used to shift a portion of the income from an accounting practice to a taxpayer's young children.

When a closely-held business is formed as a regular corporation, earnings that are distributed to a shareholder-employee as dividends are taxed only once.

Mrs. Jansen is the sole shareholder of Mimeo Corporation. She also owns the office building that serves as corporate headquarters. Last year, Mimeo paid $200,000 annual rent to Mrs. Jansen for use of the building. Mimeo's marginal tax rate was 21% and Mrs. Jansen's marginal tax rate on ordinary income was 37%. The revenue agent who audited Mimeo's return concluded that the fair rental value of the office building was $150,000. Compute the net impact of this audit conclusion on Mrs. Jansen's income tax liability.

Because of conflicts of interest, shareholders are usually prohibited by law from serving as corporate officers and executives.

Following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, it is no longer possible to use a corporation as a tax shelter.

After-tax cash flow is minimized when a business operates as a passthrough entity rather than a taxable corporation.

Which of the following is not a good reason to form a family partnership?

Transfers of equity interests to family members may result in gift tax liability.