Exam 9: Business Income, Deductions, and Accounting Methods

Ed is a self-employed heart surgeon wholives in Michigan and has incurred the following reasonable expenses. How much can Ed deduct? $1,340 in airfare to repair investment rental property in Colorado. $650 in meals while attending a medical convention in New York. $375 for tuition for an investment seminar, "How to pick stocks." $142 for tickets to a football game with hospital administrators to celebrate successful negotiation of a surgical contract earlier in the day. The correct answer is _____.

Blackwell Manufacturing uses the accrual method and reports on a calendar year. This year, a customer was injured when visiting the Blackwell factory. The customer sued the company for $500,000, and the case is still being litigated. However, Blackwell's attorney expects that the company will pay at least $250,000 to settle the claim. What amount, if any, can Blackwell deduct for the expected claim settlement this year?

David purchased a deli shop on February 1^st of last year and began to operate it as a sole proprietorship. David reports his personal taxes using the cash method over a calendar year, and he wants to use the cash method and fiscal year for his sole proprietorship. He has summarized his receipts and expenses through January 31^st of this year as follows: What income should David report from his sole proprietorship?

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

Holly took a prospective client to dinner, and after agreeing to a business deal, they went to the theater. Holly paid $290 for the meal andseparately paid $250 for the theater tickets, amounts that were reasonable under the circumstances. What amount of these expenditures can Holly deduct as a business expense?

Murphy uses the accrual method and reports on a calendar year. This year, Murphy signed a binding contract to provide consulting services to Kirby beginning next year. Murphy incurred $15,000 to train his staff for this particular project. In addition, Murphy estimates that he will incur another $60,000 to complete the Kirby contract. What amount, if any, can Murphy deduct this year for the services expected to be rendered next year?

Bryon operates a consulting business and he usually works alone. However, during the summer Bryon will sometimes hire undergraduate students to collect data for his projects. This past summer Bryon hired Fred, the son of a prominent businessman, for a part-time summer job. The summer job usually pays about $17,000, but Bryon paid Fred $27,000 to gain favor with Fred's father. What amount of Fred's summer wages can Bryon deduct for tax purposes? Bryon is on the cash method and calendar year.

Business activities are distinguished from personal activities in that business activities are motivated by the pursuit of profits.

Gabby operates a pizza delivery service. This year, she paid delivery personnel $18,000 in salary. She carefully documented the business use of the auto (11,700 miles this year), and her $7,350 of vehicle expenses (for gas, oil, repairs, and auto lease payments). What amount of these expenses may Gabby deduct as business expenses? Gabby is on the cash method and calendar year.

Jim operates his business on the accrual method, and this year, he received $4,000 for services that he intends to provide to his clients next year. Under what circumstances can Jim defer the recognition of the $4,000 of income until next year?

John is a self-employed computer consultant who lives and works in Dallas. John paid for the following activities in conjunction with his business. Whichof the following expenditures is not deductible in any amount?Dinner with a potential client where the client's business was discussed.A trip to Houston to negotiate a contract.A seminar in Houston on new developments in the software industry.A trip to New York to visit a school chum who is also interested in computers.

Danny owns an electronics outlet in Dallas. This year, he paid $655 to register for a four-day course in management in Chicago. Danny paid $745 in airfare and $780 for five nights' lodging. After the course, Danny spent the last day sightseeing. During the trip, Danny also paid $250 a day for meals, and $190 a day for a rental car. What amount of these travel expenditures may Danny deduct as business expenses?

Colbert operates a catering service on the accrual method. In November of year 1, Colbert received a payment of $9,000 for 18 months of catering services to be rendered from December 1 ^st of year 1 through May 31 ^stof year 3. When must Colbert recognize the income if his accounting methods are selected to minimize income recognition?

Which of the following expenditures is most likely to be deductible for a construction business?

Danny owns an electronics outlet in Dallas. This year, he paid $600 to register for a four-day course in management in Chicago. Danny paid $800 in airfare and $1,000 for five nights' lodging. After the course, Danny spent the last day sightseeing. During the trip, Danny also paid $140 a day for meals, and $80 a day for a rental car. What amount of these travel expenditures may Danny deduct as business expenses?

The phrase "ordinary and necessary" has been defined to mean that an expense must be essential and indispensable to the conduct of a business.

Ranger Athletic Equipment uses the accrual method and reports on a calendar year. Ranger provides two-year warranties on all sales of equipment. This year, Ranger estimated warranty expense for book purposes, and he accrued $1 million of warranty expenses. However, during the year Ranger only spent $400,000 repairing equipment under the warranty. What can Ranger deduct for warranty expense on the tax return for this year?

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?

A business generally adopts a fiscal or calendar year by using that year-end on the first tax return for the business.

Ralph borrowed $4 million and used the proceeds in his Internet business. The interest on this debt is not subject to an interest limitation if Ralph's business has average annual gross receipts of $26 million or less for the prior three taxable years.