Exam 3: Tax Planning Strategies and Related Limitations

Implicit taxes may reduce the benefits of the conversion strategy.

If tax rates are decreasing:

Which of the following is an example of the timing strategy?

The business purpose, step-transaction, and substance-over-form doctrines may limit the conversion strategy.

Which of the following does not limit the income shifting strategy?

Assume that Keisha's marginal tax rate is 40% and her tax rate on dividends is 15%. If a city of Atlanta bond pays 7.65% interest, what dividend yield would a dividend-paying stock (with no growth potential) have to offer for Keisha to be indifferent between the two investments from a cash-flow perspective?

If Tom invests $60,000 in a taxable corporate bond that provides a 5 percent before-tax return, how much will Tom's investment be worth in either 8 or 20 years from now when the bond matures? Assume Tom's marginal tax rate is 35 percent.

Maurice is currently considering investing in a high dividend yield stock with no growth potential that pays a 6% dividend yield or bonds issued by The Coca Cola Company that pay 8%. If Maurice's ordinary tax rate is 25% and his dividend tax rate is 15%, which investment should he choose? Which investment should he choose if his ordinary tax rate is 30%? At what ordinary tax rate would he be indifferent to the stock or to the bond? What strategy is this decision based upon?

Assume that Marsha is indifferent between investing in a city of Destin bond that pays 6% interest and a corporate bond that pays 8% interest. What is Marsha's marginal tax rate?

Assume that Bill's marginal tax rate is 30%. If corporate bonds pay 8% interest, what interest rate would a municipal bond have to offer for Bill to be indifferent between the two bonds?

A taxpayer earning income in "cash" and not reporting it as taxable income is an example of:

Tax evasion is a legal activity that forms the basis of the basic tax planning strategies.

Investors must consider complicit taxes as well as explicit taxes in order to make correct investment choices.

The constructive receipt doctrine is a natural limitation for the conversion strategy.

Which of the following is an example of the conversion strategy?

Troy is not a very astute investor. He has a knack for investing in losing stocks. In his latest investment move, he has realized a loss of about $40,000 (original basis of $50,000; current fair market value of $10,000) in High Tech, Inc. The good news is that unlike prior years, he actually has $45,000 of gains that he can use to offset the loss. Troy is considering either selling the High Tech, Inc. stock to his sister, Louise, or on the stock market. Which should he choose and why? Please explain why the IRS may treat the two transactions differently.

Which of the following decreases the benefits of accelerating deductions?

Jayzee is a single taxpayer who operates a sole proprietorship. He expects his taxable income next year to be $150,000, of which $125,000 is attributed to his sole proprietorship. Jayzee is contemplating incorporating his sole proprietorship. Using the 2018 single individual tax brackets and the corporate tax brackets, how much current tax could this strategy save Jayzee? (Ignore any Social Security, Medicare, or Self Employment Tax issues.) How much income should be retained in the corporation? (Use tax rate schedule) Note: New Corporate income tax rate has been mentioned as "21% on all taxable income" as per the recent change.

When considering cash inflows, higher present values are preferred.

Boeing is considering opening a plant in two neighboring states. One state has a corporate tax rate of 15%. If operated in this state, the plant is expected to generate $1,200,000 pre-tax profit. The other state has a corporate tax rate of 5%. If operated in this state, the plant is expected to generate $1,085,000 of pre-tax profit. Which state should Boeing choose based upon tax considerations only? Why do you think the plant in the state with a lower tax rate would produce a lower pre-tax income?